Mac Pro 4,1 All Fans Running Full Speed

[pablomanda]

Hello everyone,

I’ve a Mac Pro 4,1 flashed to 5,1 that is running constantly all the fans in full speed (very loud).

This happens even before the booting sound.

So I downloaded TG Pro to see if all sensors and temperatures are OK.
I got the PS, EXHAUST AND INTAKE fans in 0 RPM. But they’ definitely spinning 100%.

Already done SMC, PRAM/NVRAM reset with no luck. Cleaned all the dust I can see. No heavy workloads in Activity Monitor.

Can someone help me? What’s causing the fans running full speed?

Specs of my Mac:
Mac Pro 4,1 (5,1 firmware)
Radeon 5770 HD
6GB RAM 1066Ghz
OS X El Capitan

https://app.box.com/s/1ibj1rbikji2d1h4abwfsae2oyjoekbh

 

[tsialex]

Hello everyone,

I’ve a Mac Pro 4,1 flashed to 5,1 that is running constantly all the fans in full speed (very loud).

This happens even before the booting sound.

So I downloaded TG Pro to see if all sensors and temperatures are OK.
I got the PS, EXHAUST AND INTAKE fans in 0 RPM. But they’ definitely spinning 100%.

Already done SMC, PRAM/NVRAM reset with no luck. Cleaned all the dust I can see. No heavy workloads in Activity Monitor.

Can someone help me? What’s causing the fans running full speed?

Specs of my Mac:
Mac Pro 4,1 (5,1 firmware)
Radeon 5770 HD
6GB RAM 1066Ghz
OS X El Capitan

https://app.box.com/s/1ibj1rbikji2d1h4abwfsae2oyjoekbh

Check if backplane and tray have the same SMC version. For a 2009 Mac Pro, both have to be 1.39f5.

 

[pablomanda]

Check if backplane and tray have the same SMC version. For a 2009 Mac Pro, both have to be 1.39f5.

Oh my gosh!! I forgot to check that!!
I’ve:
SMC Version (System): 1.39f5
SMC Version (processor tray): 1.39f11

Thank you very much tsialex!! Would you recommend me to buy a 1.39f5 tray and sell the 1.39f11 one? Thank you again.

 

[tsialex]

Oh my gosh!! I forgot to check that!!
I’ve:
SMC Version (System): 1.39f5
SMC Version (processor tray): 1.39f11

Thank you very much tsialex!! Would you recommend me to buy a 1.39f5 tray and sell the 1.39f11 one? Thank you again.

I don't like at all frankenstein Mac Pros, so if I was correcting this, I'd check if the serial number for the case (check the ESN label near the video outputs) is for a 2009 Mac Pro, then I'd buy a 2009 tray.

If it's a 2010/2012 case, I'd buy a 2010/2012 backplane.

 

[KingCachapa]

hi @tsialex @h9826790 I found this thread because I found the same problem.

I have a discrepancy in the versions specified above as well. Is this 100% the culprit of fans being full speed, as well as not being able to control them at all?

SMC - System -> 1.39f11
SMC - Processor Tray -> 1.39f5


In my case, it seems that NO fans are responding to settings changes despite trying two different programs. MacFanControl, and through istatmenus.

As you can see, in this screenshot they were all set manually to 100% on the top left (after trying 0% no result), but you can also see on the bottom "actual" status, it seems that Boosters are running all the way while the rest of fans are doing what they want without obeying MacFanControl or iStat (which I usually only use for monitoring, not control).

What are my options here?


Bonus question: is there any way to control third party additional custom fans as well, if it's plugged in to the 15v aux @ PCIe?

 

[tsialex]

hi @tsialex @h9826790 I found this thread because I found the same problem.

I have a discrepancy in the versions specified above as well. Is this 100% the culprit of fans being full speed, as well as not being able to control them at all?

SMC - System -> 1.39f11
SMC - Processor Tray -> 1.39f5

Mismatched SMC firmware version, backplane from a mid-2010/mid-2012 and CPU tray from an early 2009.

In my case, it seems that NO fans are responding to settings changes despite trying two different programs. MacFanControl, and through istatmenus.

View attachment 1856823

As you can see, in this screenshot they were all set manually to 100% on the top left (after trying 0% no result), but you can also see on the bottom "actual" status, it seems that Boosters are running all the way while the rest of fans are doing what they want without obeying MacFanControl or iStat (which I usually only use for monitoring, not control).

What are my options here?

Replace the backplane or the CPU tray - SMC versions matching are a requirement. Mismatched SMC between the CPU tray and backplane makes the SMC microcontroller to enter SAFE MODE, when all fans run full speed all the time.

Bonus question: is there any way to control third party additional custom fans as well, if it's plugged in to the 15v aux @ PCIe?

SMC can only manage what was designed to manage, you can't add additional fans without modifying the way it's managed with another microcontroller. Better to create a separate hardware management controller than trying to interface with the SMC without having access to it's source code.

 

[KingCachapa]

Mismatched SMC firmware version, backplane from a mid-2010/mid-2012 and CPU tray from an early 2009.


Replace the backplane or the CPU tray - SMC versions matching are a requirement. Mismatched SMC between the CPU tray and backplane makes the SMC microcontroller to enter SAFE MODE, when all fans run full speed all the time.




SMC can only manage what was designed to manage, you can't add additional fans without modifying the way it's managed with another microcontroller. Better to create a separate hardware management controller than trying to interface with the SMC without having access to it's source code.

You rock man, thank you for the detailed and quick response. This makes sense, and I guess I'm the hunt for a new CPU tray I'm on the final steps of migrating my bits and pieces from a 4,1 (had a few problems) to a "new" 5,1.

Completely overlooked the tray and backplane having to match. Cheers!

 

[Audiomangiraldo]

@tsialex as suggested i post here and not on the other thread.

After change the backplane i started the machine and all the fans spinning at maximum speed , i reset SMC and P-RAM and i'm check if the SMC versions of backplane and CPU tray are correct. how can I do or check for solve the problem?

 

[h9826790]

@tsialex as suggested i post here and not on the other thread.

After change the backplane i started the machine and all the fans spinning at maximum speed , i reset SMC and P-RAM and i'm check if the SMC versions of backplane and CPU tray are correct. how can I do or check for solve the problem?

AirOut: A solution to the racing fan bug

Introduction The racing fan bug is a well known issue that affects certain cMP systems with upgraded video cards, particularly systems with SMC version 1.39f5. On these systems the PCI, PS, and booster fans spin abnormally fast at idle, causing unnecessary noise. Although the issue appears to...

forums.macrumors.com

How-To: FIX MAC PRO FAN SPEEDS when using PC (non-EFI) Graphics Cards

The temperature sensors in the Mac Pro are not tuned for things like modern nVIDIA graphics cards and certain SSDs or HDs, and will ramp up the fans tremendously, even though the temperatures are low. The sensitivity range was tuned for the super-cold, old graphics cards the system shipped with...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[tsialex]

@tsialex as suggested i post here and not on the other thread.

Nope, not me, but correct suggestion anyway.

After change the backplane i started the machine and all the fans spinning at maximum speed , i reset SMC and P-RAM and i'm check if the SMC versions of backplane and CPU tray are correct. how can I do or check for solve the problem?

You are not describing you fan issue correctly, you have a racing PCI-e fan and not SMC mismatch/fail-safe mode with all fans at maximum RPM, these are very different things.

Which GPU you are using?

 

[Audiomangiraldo]

You are not describing you fan issue correctly, you have a racing PCI-e fan and not SMC mismatch/fail-out with all fans at maximum RPM, these are very different things.

Which GPU you are using?

Ciao tsialex , i use the original Apple GPU the GT 120

 

[tsialex]

You need to eliminate all possible causes, one by one, like a defective GPU/PSU/CPU tray.

Did you tested this backplane with a known working PSU and not just with the PSU of your defective Mac Pro?

Dump the factory installed BootROM and flash the mp51.fd, then test again.

 

[Audiomangiraldo]

You need to eliminate all possible causes, one by one, like a defective GPU/PSU/CPU tray.

Did you tested this backplane with a known working PSU and not just with the PSU of your defective Mac Pro?

Dump the factory installed BootROM and flash the mp51.fd, then test again.

I tested this CPU tray on my friend's Mac pro, and as I wrote to you in the other thread it started up on the first try without any problem regarding the fans. I have a rx 580 that I could try to mount instead of the gt 120. about the flash to Mac Pro 5.1 I don't know what the step by step procedure is so if you can post it here I would be grateful. let me know what you think

 

[tsialex]

I tested this CPU tray on my friend's Mac pro, and as I wrote to you in the other thread it started up on the first try without any problem regarding the fans. I have a rx 580 that I could try to mount instead of the gt 120. about the flash to Mac Pro 5.1 I don't know what the step by step procedure is so if you can post it here I would be grateful. let me know what you think

Eliminate all possible problems before looking at BootROM issues, even more so since you don't know how to do it.

Did you checked the RTC battery voltage?

 

[Audiomangiraldo]

Did you checked the RTC battery voltage?

Yes and the CR2032 Is measure 3 volt

 

[tsialex]

Yes and the CR2032 Is measure 3 volt

Tested with another GPU? PSU?

 

[Audiomangiraldo]

Tested with another GPU? PSU?

unfortunately I don't have another PSU to try. as I told you before I have a rx580 to try, I change GPU and let's see what happens

 

[Audiomangiraldo]

Tested with another GPU? PSU?

@tsialex , I tried to mount the rx580, black screen result from both the DVI output and the two HDMI outputs. another strange thing the system starts with the fans at maximum but after a while they decrease the speed and return to normal operation, but always with a black screen. I'm with El capitan and the fact that the fans go down could be the "fan control" software that acts when the operating system starts. I don't understand why no video signal comes out neither from DVI nor from HDMI

 

[Audiomangiraldo]

@tsialex I was able to find Apple's hardware test for my Mac Pro 4.1 I ran it and this from the photo is the result

 

[tsialex]

@tsialex , I tried to mount the rx580, black screen result from both the DVI output and the two HDMI outputs. another strange thing the system starts with the fans at maximum but after a while they decrease the speed and return to normal operation, but always with a black screen. I'm with El capitan and the fact that the fans go down could be the "fan control" software that acts when the operating system starts. I don't understand why no video signal comes out neither from DVI nor from HDMI

RX 580 is only supported after 10.12.6.

@tsialex I was able to find Apple's hardware test for my Mac Pro 4.1 I ran it and this from the photo is the result

Borrow a known working early-2009 CPU tray and test your Mac Pro with it, this AHT error code is usually related to the CPU tray own SMC.

 

[Audiomangiraldo]

Borrow a known working early-2009 CPU tray and test your Mac Pro with it, this AHT error code is usually related to the CPU tray own SMC.

@tsialex If was a SMC problem on the CPU tray , Is it possibile to replace It like the backplane ?

 

[tsialex]

@tsialex If was a SMC problem on the CPU tray , Is it possibile to replace It like the backplane ?

Replace as buying a second hand tray? Yes. If you are somewhat thinking as replacing like we can do with the SPI flash memory that stores the BootROM, a bold no.

The SMC microcontroller is a 144-TQFP chip that we don't have access to it's source firmware to program it and can't be dumped from a already flashed one.

The only way to replace the Mac Pro SMC is to source it from another CPU tray with the same SMC firmware version, if you can work with a so small pitch and high count pin SMD.

 

[Audiomangiraldo]

Borrow a known working early-2009 CPU tray and test your Mac Pro with it, this AHT error code is usually related to the CPU tray own SMC.

Hi @tsialex today i've tested my CPU tray on the working mac pro 4.1 of my friend and the machine starts without any fans speed issue, after that i try his CPU tray on my mac pro 4.1 and the fans issue still remain , so apparently is not a problem on my CPU tray.
After that we had run the Boot ROM upgrade to version 144.0.0.0.0 but the fans issue persist.
Is it possible that is a issue of the new back plane ?
i attach a picture of the current machine status

 

[tsialex]

Hi @tsialex today i've tested my CPU tray on the working mac pro 4.1 of my friend and the machine starts without any fans speed issue, after that i try his CPU tray on my mac pro 4.1 and the fans issue still remain , so apparently is not a problem on my CPU tray.

Ok, but did you run AHT and ASD when the CPU tray was installed to your friend's Mac Pro to confirm?

After that we had run the Boot ROM upgrade to version 144.0.0.0.0 but the fans issue persist.

The EFI version have nothing to do with the SMC issues, not related.

Is it possible that is a issue of the new back plane ?

Yes, the backplane SMC could be defective, run ASD and see the error code.

i attach a picture of the current machine status

Nothing of note on this picture.

 

[Audiomangiraldo]

Ok, but did you run AHT and ASD when the CPU tray was installed to your friend's Mac Pro to confirm?

No, we forgot to run the AHT and ASD on the Mac Pro of my friend (also because I didn't know of the existence of ASD)

Yes, the backplane SMC could be defective, run ASD and see the error code.

Where i can download the ESD test ?