Dead Mac Pro early 2009

[upsaker]

Hey you!

Have got hold of an early 2009 Mac Pro does not start anymore and I'm in doubt about what to do with it. Diagnostic lights on the motherboard flashes on CPU A and B, so when I put in a CPU board from a similar machine it starts up just fine. I have read that there isn't a big problem for a technically astute person to switch CPUs, but wonder if there is a chance that it is the CPU board and not the CPUs that are broken given it says both are dead.

My questions are:

1) Can it be only the CPU boards that are broken?

2) Is it worth buying new CPUs, possibly new CPU board to try to get this machine up again?

3) Where do I find the best guide for switching the CPUs?

 

[GP-SE]

I would try removing the old CPU and inspect the Pins if they're bent, if they are bent good chance someone tried a CPU swap and screwed up.

 

[bibi2205]

1) Could be, but you'll only find out by removing the heatsink and inspecting the CPU. If they look fine and you're up for it, put the CPU's from your working boards into the dead ones and try to boot (you'll have to clean the cooling paste and reapply though). CPU's don't die by themselves so someone might indeed have tried to upgrade them and messed up.

2) CPU boards cost around 400€, I don't know what you paid for the system but it is a lot of money. I've recently had the PSU on my 2010 fixed for 300€, which is also a lot but the machine will be able to live on for a couple more years. The 2009 is still a nice system, if I were you I'd probably do it.

3) Try Apple's Technician Guide: http://tim.id.au/laptops/apple/macpro/macpro_early2009.pdf

 

[upsaker]

Thanks for your answer.

That was a good suggestion. I know this machine have been in use in a very professional firm and I think they just decided it was easier to buy a new than try to repair it when it happened as the warranty was expired a long time ago.

I would assume it is easier to switch the CPUs when you use a pair from a Mac Pro of the same type, as they don't have the integrated heat sink?

 

[applereviewguy]

Any update?