New Mac Pro

[mp2017]

I finally bit the bullet and purchased a used 6,1 Mac Pro. It's the six core configuration which I picked up on Ebay. After the purchase and before shipping the seller reached out to me to make me aware of an issue with the display when utilizing the Lightningbolt connector (display through the HDMI port is said to be OK).

As the unit is still covered under AppleCare they offered to have it fixed (with a 2 - 3 week delay), I could take it to Apple to have it fixed, or I could opt to cancel the purchase. Given the price I paid I think it's a good deal and decided to accept the sale on the condition Apple would repair the unit. I also requested a discount on the price in order to compensate me for my inconvenience to which they agreed.

With the details worked out the unit is on the way and should be here on Wednesday. I'd like to schedule a trip to the Apple Store to have the unit repaired. However since they stated the issue was observed when connecting to the Lightningbolt connector I'm not quite sure what the issue is as there are not Lightningbolt connectors. My assumption is the seller confused Lightningbolt with Thunderbolt. I've sent them an e-mail requesting details about the issue so that I can communicate it to Apple.

Due to the excitement I have about buying this system I'm filling the time by doing as much research on it as I can. So I signed up to Mac Rumors to see if the folks here can offer some possible explanations as to what may be the issue and anything I should check when the unit arrives or ask the Apple Genius to check while I am there.

The seller appears to be one who buys used systems and resells them. While the auction gives the appearance of a single individual the person I have been communicating with stated he had to check with the manager on the discount. This leads me to believe it's a small company and not just a private seller. There were a number of issues in the description of the auction which required me to ask a number of questions. I'm saying this as I don't believe the seller has a lot of Mac experience and may not be doing something right in their testing. This is not to say I am dissatisfied with the seller. To the contrary they've been great to work with and have been very helpful. Just trying to offer my interpretation on their Mac knowledge.

Having said all this the issue, as I know it, is there is a display issue when using an adapter with the Lightningbolt port. I've asked for specifics (such as clarification regarding Lightningbolt / Thunderbolt) and if the issue is limited to one or multiple ports. I've also requested specifics of the adapter they used to test. Being a Mac user for many, many years I've learned that sometimes a third party adapter can cause issues.

When I go to test the system I assume I can used an Apple mini Display Port to DVI adapter to test? I have one for my rMBP. Of course I'll be testing using the HDMI connector too. Should I also look to test other peripherals with the Thunderbolt ports (I don't currently have any so I was going to request Apple, if possible, to that).

Thanks for taking the time to read this and in advance for any advice.

 

[hfg]

Perhaps he was slightly confused by the "lightning bolt" icon symbol next to the Thunderbolt ports?

 

[MarkJames68]

Perhaps he was slightly confused by the "lightning bolt" icon symbol next to the Thunderbolt ports?

I would make sure the system covered came as a 6-core. There are a lot of upgraded 4-core systems being sold that are covered by AppleCare...and if the main board gets replaced you could end up with a 4-core.

 

[pat500000]

I finally bit the bullet and purchased a used 6,1 Mac Pro. It's the six core configuration which I picked up on Ebay. After the purchase and before shipping the seller reached out to me to make me aware of an issue with the display when utilizing the Lightningbolt connector (display through the HDMI port is said to be OK).

As the unit is still covered under AppleCare they offered to have it fixed (with a 2 - 3 week delay), I could take it to Apple to have it fixed, or I could opt to cancel the purchase. Given the price I paid I think it's a good deal and decided to accept the sale on the condition Apple would repair the unit. I also requested a discount on the price in order to compensate me for my inconvenience to which they agreed.

With the details worked out the unit is on the way and should be here on Wednesday. I'd like to schedule a trip to the Apple Store to have the unit repaired. However since they stated the issue was observed when connecting to the Lightningbolt connector I'm not quite sure what the issue is as there are not Lightningbolt connectors. My assumption is the seller confused Lightningbolt with Thunderbolt. I've sent them an e-mail requesting details about the issue so that I can communicate it to Apple.

Due to the excitement I have about buying this system I'm filling the time by doing as much research on it as I can. So I signed up to Mac Rumors to see if the folks here can offer some possible explanations as to what may be the issue and anything I should check when the unit arrives or ask the Apple Genius to check while I am there.

The seller appears to be one who buys used systems and resells them. While the auction gives the appearance of a single individual the person I have been communicating with stated he had to check with the manager on the discount. This leads me to believe it's a small company and not just a private seller. There were a number of issues in the description of the auction which required me to ask a number of questions. I'm saying this as I don't believe the seller has a lot of Mac experience and may not be doing something right in their testing. This is not to say I am dissatisfied with the seller. To the contrary they've been great to work with and have been very helpful. Just trying to offer my interpretation on their Mac knowledge.

Having said all this the issue, as I know it, is there is a display issue when using an adapter with the Lightningbolt port. I've asked for specifics (such as clarification regarding Lightningbolt / Thunderbolt) and if the issue is limited to one or multiple ports. I've also requested specifics of the adapter they used to test. Being a Mac user for many, many years I've learned that sometimes a third party adapter can cause issues.

When I go to test the system I assume I can used an Apple mini Display Port to DVI adapter to test? I have one for my rMBP. Of course I'll be testing using the HDMI connector too. Should I also look to test other peripherals with the Thunderbolt ports (I don't currently have any so I was going to request Apple, if possible, to that).

Thanks for taking the time to read this and in advance for any advice.

Any chance of reconsideration? Just asking.

 

[mp2017]

I would make sure the system covered came as a 6-core. There are a lot of upgraded 4-core systems being sold that are covered by AppleCare...and if the main board gets replaced you could end up with a 4-core.

It was listed as a MD878LL/A model and but the serial number showed it as a CTO quad core model. Given this I specifically questioned the seller who said he confirmed it as a six core. Since I got it at a good price I decided to take a risk on it. If it's not I'm sure the seller and I can work out an agreement. A couple of more days.
[doublepost=1506342911][/doublepost]

Any chance of reconsideration? Just asking.

What do you mean? Are you asking if I can cancel the transaction?

 

[pat500000]

It was listed as a MD878LL/A model and but the serial number showed it as a CTO quad core model. Given this I specifically questioned the seller who said he confirmed it as a six core. Since I got it at a good price I decided to take a risk on it. If it's not I'm sure the seller and I can work out an agreement. A couple of more days.
[doublepost=1506342911][/doublepost]
What do you mean? Are you asking if I can cancel the transaction?

Yeah. Cancelling or returnng?

 

[mp2017]

Yeah. Cancelling or returnng?

I can no longer cancel as the item shipped out on Friday. When they mentioned the issue I gave serious consideration to cancelling but decided to accept it on the condition Apple will repair the item (it's covered under Apple Care until mid 2018) and they provided me a discount for my trouble.

I may be able to return it but that would depend if there's a reason to do so. At this time I see no reason to do so.

 

[mp2017]

My nMP arrived this afternoon and the first thing I did was to power it up, check the configuration, and begin to investigate the issue the seller brought to my attention (and provided a discount for my trouble).

The seller did respond to my e-mail asking for additional details to help me know what to tell Apple when I bring it in for service. He stated the problem was with the Thunderbolt ports connected to a third party display adapter. With this information I knew where to investigate. The first thing I did was attempt to use it on my test setup. I plugged my mini Display Port adapter into one of the Thunderbolt ports, then plugged that into my DVI to VGA adapter which plugs into my test display. Result: Nothing. I moved the adapter to the remaining five Thunderbolt ports and still nothing. This appeared to confirm the sellers test.

I then took the system into my office and used the same mini Display Port adapter to plug it directly into my 23" ACD via its DVI connector. Immediately a picture was displayed and everything appears to work fine. I moved it to the remaining five Thunderbolt ports to see if they all worked and they did.

At this point I suspect there's nothing wrong with the system and that like my initial, convoluted setup the seller may have done something similar.

My question to the group is: Does it seem reasonable the first, multi adapter setup would not have worked? Or should it have worked? Everything works fine with the mini Display Port adapter as well as the HDMI connector (I tested that too).

Any thoughts?