MP 1,1-5,1 Help: Mac Pro 5,1 Suddenly Won’t Boot/CPU Fan Blasting/Solid Red LED on board

[judino28]

Just now my single processor six core 3.33ghz genuine Mac Pro 5,1 won’t boot. My wife told me she heard a loud fan noise all of a sudden. Sure enough, the computer was unresponsive with the fans running full speed.

I force shut down and when pressing the power button there is a click, nothing happens for a second (no hard drives spin up) then only the CPU heat sink fan turns on full blast. Solid red LED on the board immediately upon power up (LED is DSI510)

I did an SMC reset and no change. Removed the board and gave it a good air dusting (it was very dusty), no change. CPU Heat sink is not loose. Removed it and no rivets or screws are broken.

Reassembled and still no change.

Please help!

 

[tsialex]

Just now my single processor six core 3.33ghz genuine Mac Pro 5,1 won’t boot. My wife told me she heard a loud fan noise all of a sudden. Sure enough, the computer was unresponsive with the fans running full speed.

I force shut down and when pressing the power button there is a click, nothing happens for a second (no hard drives spin up) then only the CPU heat sink fan turns on full blast. Solid red LED on the board immediately upon power up (LED is DSI510)

I did an SMC reset and no change. Removed the board and gave it a good air dusting (it was very dusty), no change. CPU Heat sink is not loose. Removed it and no rivets or screws are broken.

Reassembled and still no change.

Please help!

Download the Apple Technician Guide for your year model, go to the DIAG button part of the guide (around page 28, if I'm not mistaken), see how to use it.

Power on and press the DIAG button, now see if EFI_DONE is on/off/blinking when pressed. If the EFI_DONE LED is not fully lit when you press the DIAG button, you have a brick to repair.

Btw, DSI510 is always lit when you power on your Mac Pro and turns off during POST.

 

[judino28]

Thank you. EFI Done doesn’t light at all. Only 5v Standby (amber) and GPU OK (green) are lit, with CPU fan at maximum.

So what does this mean?

 

[tsialex]

Thank you. EFI Done doesn’t light at all. Only 5v Standby (amber) and GPU OK (green) are lit, with CPU fan at maximum.

So what does this mean?

If the PSU is working correctly, the SPI flash that stores the BootROM is dead, or at least corrupted. It's a very common failure, search for EFI_DONE with the forum search box and you will see lot's of threads about this issue.

 

[judino28]

If the PSU is working correctly, the SPI flash that stores the BootROM is dead, or at least corrupted. It's a very common failure, search for EFI_DONE with the forum search box and you will see lot's of threads about this issue.

I have searched the forum. Your posts are very helpful. So, my understanding is that at this point, there is nothing I can do? I just need to get a new machine as ther other fixes would be beyond the realistic scope of things to fix? Is my understanding correct?

 

[tsialex]

- What to do if your Mac Pro bricked:

You have three options:

1. Buy a replacement backplane on eBay and replace the backplane yourself, cheapest option if you can't solder SMD. Remember that you need a 2009 backplane if you have an early-2009 Mac Pro. If you have a mid-2010 or mid-2012 you can use either 2010 or 2012 backplanes. Don't mix early-2009 backplanes with mid-2010/mid-2012 CPU trays, or vice-versa - either scenario is a SMC firmware version mismatch and all your fans will run at maximum RPM, full time and without any software control.
2. Buy a Mac Pro MATT card and use it as a replacement SPI flash, this is not recommended since all MATT cards are clones and won't work for iCloud/iMessage/FaceTime. A replacement backplane is usually cheaper. You will need to re-flash your own BootROM to it.
3. Desolder, reprogram and solder back the SPI flash, chip U8700 on the backplane. It's not possible to read or write to the SPI flash memory while it's soldered on the MP5,1 backplane. A cheap SPI flash programmer like ch341a will work for read/write the BootROM after the SPI flash memory is desoldered from the backplane. Start reading here, read all my posts on the subject from there. I strongly recommend that you replace your original SPI flash memory with a brand new one, don't solder it back to the backplane, it will fail soon since SPI flash memories have limited lifetime (manufacture rated for just 100.000 erase/write cycles) when used as NVRAM for a Mac Pro. Again, most hard bricks are caused by the failure of the SPI flash, it's a US$ 2 component easily available, MXIC MX25L3206E, just replace it! Btw, yes, you can use a MXIC MX25L3206E as a modern replacement for the two older models SST25VF032B and MXIC MX25L3205D used on early-2009 and mid-2010 respectively, Apple did it for mid-2012 Mac Pros.
   
   Mojave has the generic MP51.fd firmware image inside the full installer, it's enough for boot your Mac Pro again but not for iCloud/iMessage/FaceTime login.
   
   

   Install\ macOS\ Mojave/Install\ macOS\ Mojave.app/Contents/Resources/Firmware/MP51.fd

The whole SPI flash replacement procedure is:

• desolder the U8700 flash memory from the backplane PCB,
• use an external SPI flash programmer and it's own app (or flashrom, if it's on the supported list of programmers) to dump the contents of the SPI flash memory removed from the MacPro backplane,
• program MP51.fd to the replacement SPI flash memory (Macronix MX25L3205A/MX25L3205D/MX25L3206E, SST 25VF032B),
• verify if the flashing process was done correctly,
• solder back the SPI flash memory,
• while the backplane is outside the case, take a picture of the MLB label near the AirPort Extreme connector, also take a picture of the ESN label, the one on the case near the GPU outputs,
• reinstall the backplane in the Mac Pro case,
• test if the Mac Pro is now capable of POST and it's booting macOS with the replacement flash memory,
• if the Mac Pro is now booting macOS, ask a firmware engineer to do a BootROM reconstruction service based on the corrupt dump, the case ESN and the backplane MLB labels to get your Mac Pro fully working again.

 

[judino28]

- What to do if your Mac Pro bricked:

You have three options:

1. Buy a replacement backplane on eBay and replace the backplane yourself, cheapest option if you can't solder SMD. Remember that you need a 2009 backplane if you have an early-2009 Mac Pro. If you have a mid-2010 or mid-2012 you can use either 2010 or 2012 backplanes. Don't mix early-2009 backplanes with mid-2010/mid-2012 CPU trays, or vice-versa - either scenario is a SMC firmware version mismatch and all your fans will run at maximum RPM, full time and without any software control.
2. Buy a Mac Pro MATT card and use it as a replacement SPI flash, this is not recommended since all MATT cards are clones and won't work for iCloud/iMessage/FaceTime. A replacement backplane is usually cheaper.
3. Desolder, reprogram and solder back the SPI flash, chip U8700 on the backplane. It's not possible to read or write to the SPI flash memory while it's soldered on the MP5,1 backplane. A cheap SPI flash programmer like ch341a will work for read/write the BootROM after the SPI flash memory is desoldered from the backplane. Start reading here, read all my posts on the subject from there. I strongly recommend that you replace your original SPI flash memory with a brand new one, don't solder it back to the backplane, it will fail soon since SPI flash memories have limited lifetime (manufacture rated for just 100.000 erase/write cycles) when used as NVRAM for a Mac Pro. Again, most hard bricks are caused by the failure of the SPI flash, it's a US$ 2 component easily available, MXIC MX25L3206E, just replace it! Btw, yes, you can use a MXIC MX25L3206E as a modern replacement for the two older models SST25VF032B and MXIC MX25L3205D used on early-2009 and mid-2010 respectively, Apple did it for mid-2012 Mac Pros.
   
   Mojave has the generic MP51.fd firmware image inside the full installer, it's enough for boot your Mac Pro again but not for iCloud/iMessage/FaceTime login.
   
   

   Install\ macOS\ Mojave/Install\ macOS\ Mojave.app/Contents/Resources/Firmware/MP51.fd

The whole SPI flash replacement procedure is:

• desolder the U8700 flash memory from the backplane PCB,
• use an external SPI flash programmer and it's own app (or flashrom, if it's on the supported list of programmers) to dump the contents of the SPI flash memory removed from the MacPro backplane,
• program MP51.fd to the replacement SPI flash memory (Macronix MX25L3205A/MX25L3205D/MX25L3206E, SST 25VF032B),
• verify if the flashing process was done correctly,
• solder back the SPI flash memory,
• while the backplane is outside the case, take a picture of the MLB label near the AirPort Extreme connector, also take a picture of the ESN label, the one on the case near the GPU outputs,
• reinstall the backplane in the Mac Pro case,
• test if the Mac Pro is now capable of POST and it's booting macOS with the replacement flash memory,
• if the Mac Pro is now booting macOS, ask a firmware engineer to do a BootROM reconstruction service based on the corrupt dump, the case ESN and the backplane MLB labels to get your Mac Pro fully working again.

Thank you so much. I will look into getting a new backplane. I truly apprecaire your help!

 

[judino28]

FYI, for anyone reading this and interested: it ended up being an SSD, attached via SATA in the second optical drive bay, that was causing a short. With that SSD removed, everything functions fine.

 

[amstel78]

1. Buy a Mac Pro MATT card and use it as a replacement SPI flash, this is not recommended since all MATT cards are clones and won't work for iCloud/iMessage/FaceTime. A replacement backplane is usually cheaper. You will need to re-flash your own BootROM to it.

Just to clarify, this is only if one uses the ROM shipped with the Matt card, correct? I assume iCloud/iMessage/Facetime would work correctly if the ROM on the Matt card is replaced with a clean ROM built for that specific machine? I ordered a Matt card earlier today to serve as a sacrificial ROM chip, rather than constantly using the SPI ROM on the backplane.

 

[tsialex]

Just to clarify, this is only if one uses the ROM shipped with the Matt card, correct? I assume iCloud/iMessage/Facetime would work correctly if the ROM on the Matt card is replaced with a clean ROM built for that specific machine? I ordered a Matt card earlier today to serve as a sacrificial ROM chip, rather than constantly using the SPI ROM on the backplane.

Please explain what you didn't understood, seems I'm not making myself clear somewhere and I want to know where I'm failing to explain and improve it, since I clearly wrote that you need to flash your own BootROM image to the MATT card.

 

[amstel78]

Sorry, I apologize if my question frustrates you. Not my intent. I've just been reading up on the Matt card and from what I understand, the Matt card is shipped with a generic cMP ROM on it. This could cause the issues you mentioned if that ROM isn't replaced with a correct version specific to the machine it's being installed in.

Just wanted to make sure I understood your post correctly. I'm sure others have probably thought that just plugging a Matt card in without flashing it would have worked.

Anyway, sorry again. It's been a long day for me and I probably shouldn't be asking questions being this tired.

 

[tsialex]

I've just been reading up on the Matt card and from what I understand, the Matt card is shipped with a generic cMP ROM on it.

Not a generic version, cmizapper sends it with a BootROM image of GJ0340TXH2N mid-2010 Mac Pro - all MATT cards are clones of this Mac Pro from factory.

Besides being a clone, it's a BootROM image with failed garbage collection. It's trash.

This could cause the issues you mentioned if that ROM isn't replaced with a correct version specific to the machine it's being installed in.

Just wanted to make sure I understood your post correctly.

Installing a MATT card and booting from it will log-off from any Apple services, for two motives, it's a widely used clone and your hardware-IDs changed.

So, disconnect from the internet and use your rescue macOS disk (without any logged Apple services) to flash your own Mac Pro BootROM image to the MATT card.

Only connect to internet and boot your main macOS install, with iCloud/Messages/FaceTime logged, after you already flashed your reconstructed BootROM image to the MATT card.

 

[amstel78]

Thanks, Alexandre. It's crystal clear now. Have a nice evening.

 

[sfalatko]

Thanks, Alexandre. It's crystal clear now. Have a nice evening.

To make one other thing clear - using the MATT card is a way to "replace" your SPI chip without removing it and resoldering it.

The SPI chip on the MATT card will last longer than the rest of your machine will. You are not using the MATT card to "save" the SPI chip on your motherboard for later use you are using it to effectively replace the SPI chip on the motherboard.

Follow @tsialex's instructions - disconnect from the internet, power down your computer, install the MATT card, and reboot into firmware programming mode and flash your bootrom using ROMTOO (make sure SIP is disabled). It will flash your ROM onto the SPI chip on the MATT card. Reboot after the flash and check the serial number to verify the flash. Once that is done you can reconnect to the internet and should be good for another decade.

One thing to also remember - it is still a good idea to reflash your clean bootrom periodically. Most (myself included) reflash our clean bootrom every 90 days.

regards,
sfalatko

 

[amstel78]

To make one other thing clear - using the MATT card is a way to "replace" your SPI chip without removing it and resoldering it.

The SPI chip on the MATT card will last longer than the rest of your machine will. You are not using the MATT card to "save" the SPI chip on your motherboard for later use you are using it to effectively replace the SPI chip on the motherboard.

Follow @tsialex's instructions - disconnect from the internet, power down your computer, install the MATT card, and reboot into firmware programming mode and flash your bootrom using ROMTOO (make sure SIP is disabled). It will flash your ROM onto the SPI chip on the MATT card. Reboot after the flash and check the serial number to verify the flash. Once that is done you can reconnect to the internet and should be good for another decade.

One thing to also remember - it is still a good idea to reflash your clean bootrom periodically. Most (myself included) reflash our clean bootrom every 90 days.

regards,
sfalatko

Thanks, sfalatko. Yes, I do realize the Matt card replaces the SPI chip. I'd rather have that in place now though, before the SPI ROM on the backplane actually dies. That's what I meant by "sacrificial".

I also flash my FW using a cleaned up ROM image prepared by Alex. I try to do so every 3 months; the last being a couple of days ago. Glad to know the Matt card can be flashed in the exact same way, which makes things very simple.

Have a great day!

 

[amstel78]

Just a quick update in case anyone's interested. Got my Matt card in the mail today. Did the following:

1. Booted into vanilla Mojave and disconnected LAN cord and turned wifi off.
2. Turned cMP5,1 off and removed the power cord from PSU.
3. Removed OC ESP drive.
4. Removed GPU just to have more space to access the SPI port.
5. Attached Matt card with arrow pointed towards the top of the Mac. Reinstalled GPU.
6. Booted into recovery and turned SIP off.
7. Booted into vanilla Mojave and confirmed Mac S/N as being different.
8. Flashed using ROM Tool with a clean, never-booted ROM created by Alexandre.
9. Rebooted back into Mojave and confirmed S/N was back to my original one.
10. Shut down, reinserted OC ESP drive.
11. Powered back up and re-blessed OC.
12. Everything working the way it should!

The ROM chip that came on my Matt card is an MX25L3205D - which is the exact same chip on my backplane. Very hard to see the writing, even with a magnifying glass, but was able to take a photo of it.

Thanks again to all who answered my questions about this product here. Much appreciated.