Accidentally Cut the Power to Mac Pro

[Tucom]

So I have a 5,1 Mac Pro that I acquired a few months ago for Logic Pro and school, and I set it up on a new outlet which has a switch controller the power to that outlet, and I got into the habit of flipping the switch to turn out the lights, that I accidentally just totally forgot and out of habit cut the power to my Mac Pro while it was one - but idling.

Is there anything to worry about? It seems to boot up fine, though it appears to be taking a few seconds longer to log in Could just be me though.

No HDD's - only one Crucial MX100 SSD.

It's also now making this low drone whirring fan noise that I've never heard before - it does this then it settles down to near silent, normal operation.

Damnit @##($* - I really hope I didn't mess anything up.

Any input is greatly appreciated!

 

[CaptainChunk]

I wouldn't worry about it too much. If it's still booting and functioning as normal, I doubt anything is wrong.

 

[Tucom]

I wouldn't worry about it too much. If it's still booting and functioning as normal, I doubt anything is wrong.

Thank you good sir! I just reset the NVRAM/PRAM and the low drone fan noise isn't happening anymore.


I mean this thing happens, right? Like people either trip over the power cord, a power out happens, w/e - so yeah, I'm sure it's fine.

Thanks again for the reply, seriously that does help, haha.

 

[ZombiePhysicist]

Thank you good sir! I just reset the NVRAM/PRAM and the low drone fan noise isn't happening anymore.


I mean this thing happens, right? Like people either trip over the power cord, a power out happens, w/e - so yeah, I'm sure it's fine.

Thanks again for the reply, seriously that does help, haha.

Not only odes it happen, the Mac Pro is set to deal with it (as are most macs). Look in the power settings under Sys Prefs. There's an option to automatically reboot in event of a power failure.

Barring something really rare, you're most likely hunky dory.

Although you may want to invest in a UPS for the Mac Pro to smooth out the rough spots with occasional power outages.

 

[h9826790]

I did it quite a few times, not a good practice, but as long as it still function normally, nothing really need to worry about.

Regarding the fan noise, most likely this power cut induced a unwanted SMC reset, that's all.

 

[alphaod]

Should probably invest in a pure sine UPS anyways.

 

[lowendlinux]

You came out better than me. I plugged in a printer that I rarely use at work and it tripped the breaker which cut power to both the PC and the MP. The PC ended up OK put the power loss killed the Time Machine drive in the MP.

 

[ActionableMango]

You came out better than me. I plugged in a printer that I rarely use at work and it tripped the breaker which cut power to both the PC and the MP. The PC ended up OK put the power loss killed the Time Machine drive in the MP.

I don't understand how cutting power can cause damage to electronics. I have a family member who is quite the miser; she has all electronics in the house on power strips so she can completely cut power, even power loss from AC/DC adapters, internal clocks, etc. Via this method she has been routinely cutting power externally from computers and other electronics for decades and it's always been fine.

Note: I believe you that it happened--I'm not questioning that. I just don't understand what happened in your case.

 

[lowendlinux]

I don't understand how cutting power can cause damage to electronics. I have a family member who is quite the miser; she has all electronics in the house on power strips so she can completely cut power, even power loss from AC/DC adapters, internal clocks, etc. Via this method she has been routinely cutting power externally from computers and other electronics for decades and it's always been fine.

Note: I believe you that it happened--I'm not questioning that. I just don't understand what happened in your case.

I don’t either. I’ve never had it happen to me before either. Before the power cut everything was fine but when I booted it up right after power was restored I got the little exclamation point on my time machine icon. A couple day back the drive wouldn’t mount, yesterday it sorta did so I decided to try to zero the drive after three hours it just locked up. I’m assuming that the power cut killed the drive because I have no other answer. If it helps it’s a WD Green 4TB.

 

[IowaLynn]

I don't understand how cutting power can cause damage to electronics. I have a family member who is quite the miser; she has all electronics in the house on power strips so she can completely cut power, even power loss from AC/DC adapters, internal clocks, etc. Via this method she has been routinely cutting power externally from computers and other electronics for decades and it's always been fine.

Note: I believe you that it happened--I'm not questioning that. I just don't understand what happened in your case.

and sudden loss of power, spikes, brown outs can affect modems, disk drives (esp when data is being written) which is why everything I have is on UPS - on battery - except laser printer and shredder - even some lights are on battery backup, and all TVs are on battery.

A storm blew out modem - even getting onliine was difficult but managed to order a new modem - the modem was on battery but coax coming in was not filtered (APC had trouble, CyberPower unit did not have an adverse effect).

One example or more does not make for what everyone should do or be thought of as "wisdom." Lots of discussion here and MacIntouch over the years on the wisdom and use of UPS units.

 

[ActionableMango]

and sudden loss of power, spikes, brown outs can affect modems, disk drives (esp when data is being written) which is why everything I have is on UPS - on battery - except laser printer and shredder - even some lights are on battery backup, and all TVs are on battery.

A storm blew out modem - even getting onliine was difficult but managed to order a new modem - the modem was on battery but coax coming in was not filtered (APC had trouble, CyberPower unit did not have an adverse effect).

One example or more does not make for what everyone should do or be thought of as "wisdom." Lots of discussion here and MacIntouch over the years on the wisdom and use of UPS units.

Hmmm. I don't see how you so completely misinterpreted me and the entire context of this thread, but okay.

 

[Tucom]

You came out better than me. I plugged in a printer that I rarely use at work and it tripped the breaker which cut power to both the PC and the MP. The PC ended up OK put the power loss killed the Time Machine drive in the MP.

Yeah that's why I mentioned I had no HDD's - only SSD. I know that a sudden, abrupt power cut to an HDD can disallow it from properly returning the read head to idle position for power down, which is what killed your TM drive most likely.


Yet another reason to go SSD! :>

 

[lowendlinux]

Yeah that's why I mentioned I had no HDD's - only SSD. I know that a sudden, abrupt power cut to an HDD can disallow it from properly returning the read head to idle position for power down, which is what killed your TM drive most likely.


Yet another reason to go SSD! :>

That would need to to be justified to both the boss and IT and that’s not going to happen. To replace Macintosh HD I’d need a 1.5TB of SSD.

 

[Tucom]

That would need to to be justified to both the boss and IT and that’s not going to happen. To replace Macintosh HD I’d need a 1.5TB of SSD.

Sure, cost of them can be prohibitive. Bummer though... you're really missing out. There WILL be a time though when everything is solid state, so hopefully your boss and IT are willing by then, I guess.

 

[lowendlinux]

Sure, cost of them can be prohibitive. Bummer though... you're really missing out. There WILL be a time though when everything is solid state, so hopefully your boss and IT are willing by then, I guess.

I’ve been using SSD’s in my computers since ’09 but the sell just isn’t there. I’m trying to sell RAM that I desperately need right now but IT is holding that up.

 

[IowaLynn]

Sure, cost of them can be prohibitive. Bummer though... you're really missing out. There WILL be a time though when everything is solid state, so hopefully your boss and IT are willing by then, I guess.

SSDs vfor vsystem nor scratch or even Lightroom is an easy sell.

How did we ever sell anyone on Ultra2 and 15k SCSI? And then in hopes of 220MB/sec for $1500 and up?

A 500GB $500 SSD with 1500MB/sec today is a dream, a reality, and SSDs as front-end access low latency, 100k IOPS

Not for media files that are in the TBs where a 8TB drive $600 180MB/sec still holds its own.