Resolved Mac Pro 3,1 Sudden Freeze

[z970]

I was casually on the Internet as usual, running 10.6.8, Firefox 45.9, on YouTube, and all of a sudden, the video freezes, the last played back bit of audio keeps looping, the cursor won't move, and the computer won't respond at all to keyboard commands. Wouldn't even enter sleep mode with a press of the power button, so I had to do a hard reboot.

When it came back up, it showed the "Your system shut down because of a problem" message, I click "show details", and it gives me this.

Fri Oct 6 00:28:13 2017
panic(cpu 4 caller 0x9d4c97): NVRM[0/2:0:0]: Read Error 0x00000100: CFG 0xffffffff 0xffffffff 0xffffffff, BAR0 0x92000000 0x90436000 0x092880a2, D0, P1/2
Backtrace (CPU 4), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
Kernel Extensions in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.GeForce(6.3.6)@0xc5c000->0xd12fff
dependency: com.apple.NVDAResman(6.3.6)@0x96e000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.2.1)@0x961000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6.5)@0x928000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.2.1)@0x93f000
com.apple.nvidia.nv50hal(6.3.6)@0x15d5000->0x19e9fff
dependency: com.apple.NVDAResman(6.3.6)@0x96e000
com.apple.NVDAResman(6.3.6)@0x96e000->0xc5bfff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6.5)@0x928000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.2.1)@0x961000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.2.1)@0x93f000

After that, I fire up Console, and the entry closest to the freeze period was this one.

"10/6/17 12:28:44 AM com.apple.WindowServer[79] Fri Oct 6 00:28:44 Mac-Pro.local WindowServer[79] <Error>: kCGErrorFailure: Set a breakpoint @ CGErrorBreakpoint() to catch errors as they are logged."

If it is of any help, I also just recently installed an IDE hard drive into the second bay in the optical drive bays. I also set that IDE drive to be the Time Machine disk, and Disk Utility doesn't display any errors for it.

This came as a great shock after all the wonderful stories and reviews I've seen/heard of this machine's robustness and reliability, and I really hope there's nothing wrong with any hardware, aside from maybe the hard drives. Any help would be massively appreciated.

 

[OS6-OSX]

I was casually on the Internet as usual, running 10.6.8, Firefox 45.9, on YouTube......

I'm sure someone will chime in with an answer to why the freeze. I have an emergency disk with 4-5 utilities to run on my 3,1. The boot OS is 10.6.8 and while the app/apps are running I sometimes go online in that OS. All this to say Firefox has the version 48.02 that works in 10.6.8

 

[z970]

All this to say Firefox has the version 48.02 that works in 10.6.8

48.02 was last updated in August '16. 45.9 was last updated in April '17.

They don't call it an Extended Support Release for nothing.

 

[h9826790]

How long you own this 3,1? Did you install the Wifi card yourself? Do you have any other graphic card that can work in 10.6.8 for testing purpose?

Anyway, you may try to stress the current GPU (e.g. by Furmark) and see if that cause any trouble.

 

[owbp]

Yep, reading report it's most likely graphic card or airport card.
Stress both separately and see if it will happen again.

 

[z970]

How long you own this 3,1? Did you install the Wifi card yourself? Do you have any other graphic card that can work in 10.6.8 for testing purpose?

Anyway, you may try to stress the current GPU (e.g. by Furmark) and see if that cause any trouble.

I've owned it since the 3rd, three days ago. No, it came with the WiFi card, and sadly, I don't, although I plan to get a new one for an LED Cinema Display soon.

Thanks, will do.

EDIT: Concerning the WiFi card, if it's any help, it cannot see my network, although I suspect this may be an antenna issue? Or is that perhaps a symptom of failure?

 

[h9826790]

I've owned it since the 3rd, three days ago. No, it came with the WiFi card, and sadly, I don't, although I plan to get a new one for an LED Cinema Display soon.

Thanks, will do.

EDIT: Concerning the WiFi card, if it's any help, it cannot see my network, although I suspect this may be an antenna issue? Or is that perhaps a symptom of failure?

If you own it only for 3 days, then there is no guarantee this is a flawless Mac Pro.

The Mac Pro 3,1 can still be a very robust machine now, only if it is properly maintained. If you can't guarantee the 3,1 was well maintained. Or you were not bought it from Apple. Then it's hard to tell how reliable it can be.

Anyway, if I were you, try to stress test the GPU first.

Most browsers are GPU accelerated (including Firefox). If the GPU is falling, there is a high chance that can cause issue when you using browser.

 

[z970]

I am having a hard time finding a Mac download for Furmark. Can anybody give me a link to direct me to a site's download?

EDIT: Just to put the WiFi possibility to rest, WiFi was off when the freeze happened. I was using Ethernet via Port 1.
[doublepost=1507309894][/doublepost]Will Cinebench be a good alternative to Furmark?

 

[h9826790]

I am having a hard time finding a Mac download for Furmark. Can anybody give me a link to direct me to a site's download?

EDIT: Just to put the WiFi possibility to rest, WiFi was off when the freeze happened. I was using Ethernet via Port 1.
[doublepost=1507309894][/doublepost]Will Cinebench be a good alternative to Furmark?

Cinebench is the worst for GPU test / stress.

Furmark for MacOS is inside GPU test, but not stand alone.

http://www.geeks3d.com/gputest/

 

[z970]

Cinebench is the worst for GPU test / stress.

Furmark for MacOS is inside GPU test, but not stand alone.

http://www.geeks3d.com/gputest/

Well, I did a couple of tests from what you gave me, including Furmark, but I haven't encountered any more freezes, even when I simultaneously played a 1080p video in YouTube. This was done in Safari on El Capitan.

I have a feeling that, regardless of the errors from Console, it was the failing hard drive.

Although I still plan to get a new GPU.

 

[h9826790]

Well, I did a couple of tests from what you gave me, including Furmark, but I haven't encountered any more freezes, even when I simultaneously played a 1080p video in YouTube. This was done in Safari on El Capitan.

I have a feeling that, regardless of the errors from Console, it was the failing hard drive.

Although I still plan to get a new GPU.

You know the HDD is failing?

 

[z970]

You know the HDD is failing?

A 10 year old IDE in OD Bay 2 at the time of the freeze. After I booted the computer back up, it was making a constant strange sound. I suspected it was bad. Removed it, and haven't had any problems since.

 

[LightBulbFun]

I see no one here knows how to read a kernel panic dump properly (when you do as much System-OS X tinkering/hacking/messing around as I have done you pick up on how to read these things )

the problem above is caused by your graphics card, notice the GPU drivers in back trace.

the 8800 GT is a rather hot running card and is known to die quite frequently like this. I hope for your sake its just a 1 off but I recommend keeping an eye on your GPU

 

[z970]

I see no one here knows how to read a kernel panic dump properly (when you do as much System-OS X tinkering/hacking/messing around as I have done you pick up on how to read these things )

the problem above is caused by your graphics card, notice the GPU drivers in back trace.

the 8800 GT is a rather hot running card and is known to die quite frequently like this. I hope for your sake its just a 1 off but I recommend keeping an eye on your GPU

Thanks, Light. Will do.

If you know, what are the reliability rates on a GeForce GT 120? Or how about a Radeon HD 5770? For future investments.

And, I'd just like to know, are there any confidential bits in the dump I posted? Should I remove it?

 

[LightBulbFun]

Thanks, Light. Will do.

If you know, what are the reliability rates on a GeForce GT 120? Or how about a Radeon HD 5770?

For future investments.

both those cards have good reliability records, if you plan on playing with High sierra on your Mac Pro I recommend going with a GeForce GT 120 (the Radeon 5770 has some compatibility issues with High sierra in Mac Pro 3,1s)

however keep in mind you will be paying out the ass if you go onto ebay and buy a Mac edition GT 120 or any Mac Card these days, its much cheaper (if you need 10.6.8 compatibility) to find a card you can flash yourself and doing so, if your running newer then SL, then any GeForce 8xxx card and higher PC card will work, you will just have no boot screens

 

[jbarley]

however keep in mind you will be paying out the ass if you go onto ebay and buy a Mac edition GT 120 or any Mac Card

Such as this one?
Seems pretty reasonable to me.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-Nvidi...156408?hash=item25e07e30f8:g:xe8AAOSwtplZwb3r

 

[LightBulbFun]

that card is $55 with shipping

a quick hunt on ebay shows the equivalent PC card for $15 free shipping... (the 9500 GT and GT 120 are identical to the point of sharing the same device ID)

 

[z970]

both those cards have good reliability records, if you plan on playing with High sierra on your Mac Pro I recommend going with a GeForce GT 120 (the Radeon 5770 has some compatibility issues with High sierra in Mac Pro 3,1s)

however keep in mind you will be paying out the ass if you go onto ebay and buy a Mac edition GT 120 or any Mac Card these days, its much cheaper (if you need 10.6.8 compatibility) to find a card you can flash yourself and doing so, if your running newer then SL, then any GeForce 8xxx card and higher PC card will work, you will just have no boot screens

Flippin' notifications never told me about the new replies from this thread. Fail... >_<

Anyway, but isn't the 5770 stronger than the GT 120? And if I someday end up upgrading to a MP 2012, I would have already had the 5770 from this 2008, so there would be dual GPUs present right off the bat. Also, no, I don't plan on playing with High Sierra on this sucker. A while after Sierra support goes, I'll likely make it a Linux machine. With OS X still on another drive, of course.

Although the GT 120 does seem to be cheaper, and I generally tend to side with Nvidia on my Macs...

I know you are a very knowledgable guy, so I must ask. What runs cooler, what holds better compatibility (aside from HS), and what would you recommend?

 

[LightBulbFun]

indeed the 5770 is a much faster card then the GT 120

assuming pricing was the same for a GT 120 and a 5770 I would go with the 5770 of course

do keep in mind while the GT 120 is compatible with 10.5.7 and up, the 5770 requires 10.6.4 and up to run, leopard will boot with the 5770 you will just have no QE/CI (PC 5770 Cards can be flashed to mac with some limitations like boot screens only on DVI)

other suitable options worth looking into would be the GeForce GTX 285, if you dont mind doing some soldering PC cards flash nicely into Mac cards... and works in 10.5.7+ (you can read a bit about swapping EEPROMs here https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...nd-flashing-x850-xt-rom-on-firegl-x3.2016538/ )

also if you dont care about a QE/CI GUI in SL, I recommend getting a GTX 680, not only does this card work OOB in modern OS X versions, it can easily be flashed to work fully with boot screens in your Mac Pro with no need to swap EEPROMs or the like, and it does work with high sierra in a 3,1 if you do decide to play with that, it is also a good bit faster then any other card mentioned here and fully supports metal)

 

[z970]

indeed the 5770 is a much faster card then the GT 120

assuming pricing was the same for a GT 120 and a 5770 I would go with the 5770 of course

do keep in mind while the GT 120 is compatible with 10.5.7 and up, the 5770 requires 10.6.4 and up to run, leopard will boot with the 5770 you will just have no QE/CI (PC 5770 Cards can be flashed to mac with some limitations like boot screens only on DVI)

other suitable options worth looking into would be the GeForce GTX 285, if you dont mind doing some soldering PC cards flash nicely into Mac cards... and works in 10.5.7+ (you can read a bit about swapping EEPROMs here https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...nd-flashing-x850-xt-rom-on-firegl-x3.2016538/ )

also if you dont care about a QE/CI GUI in SL, I recommend getting a GTX 680, not only does this card work OOB in modern OS X versions, it can easily be flashed to work fully with boot screens in your Mac Pro with no need to swap EEPROMs or the like, and it does work with high sierra in a 3,1 if you do decide to play with that, it is also a good bit faster then any other card mentioned here and fully supports metal)

OK, thanks for your help!

This thread is hereby solved!