Apple Hardware Test error on 12 core :(

[Silly John Fatty]

I've had the opportunity to turn on my 12 core for the first time today (bought it a few weeks ago), and the first thing I've done is run the apple hardware test.

It states an error sadly, which I've decoded already. The code includes 4SNS (system sensors), it also includes "T" for Temperature and "M" for Memory or memory riser board, according to this site:
http://www.cnet.com/news/how-to-invoke-and-interpret-the-apple-hardware-tests/

I'm wondering - what exactly are these memory temperature sensors and where do I find them? Are they hard to replace? I still have one year warranty on the Mac.

Are these sensors in the Mac, or in the RAM? According to the seller the RAM was new.

The only thing I've changed in the Mac so far was the graphic card. I don't think it has to do with this, however.
Thanks a lot!

 

[Silly John Fatty]

I have another error coming up, which is: 4SNS/1/40000001: Ip6M-0.957
According to this Apple Support article, I can ignore it.

The first error core (4SNS/1/C0000008: TMA1--24) disappeared after I took the RAM out and put it in again, restarted the computer and reset everything, etc. I had done the test 4-5 times maybe, only the second error (with Ip6M) appeared. Today the memory sensor error appeared again…

I don't know what to do… if anyone could help, I would truly appreciate.

 

[maflynn]

I don't know what to do

Call apple. Clearly its defective and if its a fairly new computer they'll replace it.

 

[Silly John Fatty]

I can't spend any more money sadly, and it will surely be expensive. In this case I'd rather send it back to the seller (which he suggested), as I still have 1 year warranty. It's not fairly new BTW, it's from 2011.

But I thought they might be a simpler solution, maybe just sending the RAM back or so. Or finding out which one doesn't work. For example, is this a RAM issue at all? If yes, shouldn't there be a LED showing which one doesn't work? (no turned on LEDs for me) Etc.

 

[Macsonic]

I can't spend any more money sadly, and it will surely be expensive. In this case I'd rather send it back to the seller (which he suggested), as I still have 1 year warranty. It's not fairly new BTW, it's from 2011.

But I thought they might be a simpler solution, maybe just sending the RAM back or so. Or finding out which one doesn't work. For example, is this a RAM issue at all? If yes, shouldn't there be a LED showing which one doesn't work? (no turned on LEDs for me) Etc.

Sorry to hear about the hardware errors. Try to make further observations in a couple of days and see how the computer behaves before deciding to return it. It may just be a ram problem. If you can get the seller to let you borrow another ram and test it out if that is causing the error. With 2009-2012 Mac Pros, as far as I know, for ram errors there are no LED warnings unlike the 2006-2008 Mac Pros.

 

[Silly John Fatty]

Sorry to hear about the hardware errors. Try to make further observations in a couple of days and see how the computer behaves before deciding to return it. It may just be a ram problem. If you can get the seller to let you borrow another ram and test it out if that is causing the error. With 2009-2012 Mac Pros, as far as I know, for ram errors there are no LED warnings unlike the 2006-2008 Mac Pros.

I tried doing the test with both RAM sticks now, and both show the test. I'll have to bring both back. According to the result of the test, is it safe to assume it's the RAM anyway?
And also, is it safe to continue using the Mac?

I do think my Mac has the LEDs, I can see the 8 spots that look like LEDs. There's this article here that shows them on page 9 I think: http://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/0/MA918/en_US/Mac_Pro_2009_2010_Memory_DIMMs_DIY.pdf

Apparently the PDF is for 2009 and 2010 models. Mine was built in January 2011.

 

[Macsonic]

I tried doing the test with both RAM sticks now, and both show the test. I'll have to bring both back. According to the result of the test, is it safe to assume it's the RAM anyway?
And also, is it safe to continue using the Mac?

I do think my Mac has the LEDs, I can see the 8 spots that look like LEDs. There's this article here that shows them on page 9 I think: http://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/0/MA918/en_US/Mac_Pro_2009_2010_Memory_DIMMs_DIY.pdf

Apparently the PDF is for 2009 and 2010 models. Mine was built in January 2011.

About the ram test results, sorry I cannot comment if it's safe to assume it's a defective Ram. Did you noticed any kind of bad symptoms when using your Mac? Some bad symptoms may be crashes, cannot boot to the desktop, kernel panics, no image, loud fans or some of the ram cannot be detected or constant restarting. Your Mac Pro model is a good one and not easy to find. If it is showing signs of abnormal behavior that cannot be fixed, and the seller cannot offer other means to fix the problem, probably best to return it.

Thanks for pointing out the LED Ram warnings, I was not aware of these feature in 2009-2012. If you're Mac was built on 2011 its a Mid 2010 model. That time, the 12 core 2.93ghz was the top model and not many can afford to get it.

 

[Silly John Fatty]

Didn't notice any bad symptoms. The fans are a bit louder yes, but I swapped my graphics card with a 7950 3GB Mac Edition. I was told by a user on this forum that this card is quite noisy compared to other cards, and that even when scrolling with safari, the fans go up a bit. This was exactly the case for me, so all fine I believe.

For now I turned it off and unplugged it and won't touch it anymore. Too scared I might make things even worse… the seller wants me to send it back, have to see who takes care of the costs. I hope my little mac will be cured soon