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sknapp351 · May 28, 2007, 11:39 AM

Hey all,
I went to use my G5 ( DP 2.0, 6GB ram, 9800pro 128mb vram ) this morning and when I clicked the mouse and keyboard it wouldn't wake up. I tired for a while an nothing was happening. So I was eventually forced to power it down by holding the power button. When I went to power it back up The power button light comes on, the fans spin up, and I hear the hard drives making noise. But then the power button light ( and the power light on the ACD ) starts to blinking in pulses of three. I also never get any video. My initial searches point towards Power Supply issues, I had the power supply replaced under warranty a few years ago. The computer is connected through a UPS supply that I bought from an Apple store specifically for this machine. I have tried resetting the PMU ( pressing the little button below the ram ), but no difference. I also tried resetting the PRAM, but I don't even think it gets that far.
If anyone has any other ideas to try, by all means I am open to suggestions. I will probably have to take it to the Apple Store in Paramus, Nj tomorrow.

Sam

bballe336 · May 28, 2007, 11:59 AM

Maybe take out some of the ram, try and see if its possible that you have a bad stick. I'd also suggest reseating the video card or even trying a different card if possible.

sknapp351 · May 28, 2007, 11:59 AM

Crap. Just found another post on this forum for a similar problem. Now I just hav eot try and find the manual for the computer.

Sam

sknapp351 · May 28, 2007, 12:04 PM

I will try removing some of the Ram and resetting the video card. I also just found an article that says the three blinking lights indicate " No Good Banks". What does that mean?

Power On Self-Test Beep Definition - Part 2

SAm

sknapp351 · May 28, 2007, 12:24 PM

Ok, I tried removing all the Ram except 2 Dimms. I left in the two that were closest to each other. I think those are the proper ones to have in. I also removed and reseated the graphics card. Am I right in thinking that the "no good banks" might be referring to the logic board? It has already been replaced once as well....
SAm

GSixZero · May 28, 2007, 06:03 PM

It thinks the ram is bad, but three lights/beeps also sometimes means the logic board is shot. I'd put a pair of ram sticks in, and try to start it. If it doesn't start try another pair of sticks, etc... work through all your ram until you find a pair that work or you run out of ram.

I would say it's unlikely for all your ram to fail at once, and your logic board probably needs to be replaced.

sknapp351 · May 28, 2007, 06:23 PM

Well, I went through all the ram with no luck. Replacing the logic board is going to be expensive isn't it? Would I be better off financially by going to an authorized service provider or would that be about the same cost as just going to the Apple Store for the repair quote?
This Bites.

SAm

TyPod · May 28, 2007, 06:39 PM

I saw the same thing happen with an old iBook G3. Though I didn't know what the exact problem was, i'm guessing it was the memory.

GSixZero · May 28, 2007, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by sknapp351

Well, I went through all the ram with no luck. Replacing the logic board is going to be expensive isn't it? Would I be better off financially by going to an authorized service provider or would that be about the same cost as just going to the Apple Store for the repair quote?
This Bites.

SAm

Sorry to hear that... I'd call around for quotes for what might be the cheapest.

sknapp351 · Jun 4, 2007, 06:58 PM

Update =

I took the computer to a local Apple certified repair place, and they said it was the logic board and that the part was $599 and the labor was going to be $100. I was pissed that another logic board had gone out, so I took it to the Apple store to have them diagnose it as well. I wanted to call Apple Care to file a formal complaint about the hardware issues that I had had but wanted the diagnoses to be from them before hand. When I got to the genius bar the guy decided that it was the board and after looking at the history of repairs ( logic board, 3 CPU replacements, superdrive, graphics card, and 2 power supplies ) he went off in the back for a long while. When he came back he said that due to all the troubles we had he was giving me two options. Even though the computer was 7 months out of warranty he would replace the logic board for free. He said this would usually be an $854 repair through the store there. Or he would give me a Mac Pro for what the repair would normally cost.

I opted for the $900 Mac Pro at the moment. I really can't afford it any more than replacing the logic board on the G5, but at least now we have a new computer with a 3yr warranty again. They are transferring my data tonight and I can pick up the new computer tomorrow. They even gave me 6GB of my G5 ram and my 2nd hard drive. I already sold the ram to a friend to get money to shop for ram for the Mac Pro.

All around a good ending.
SAm