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MP 1,1-5,1 No boot white led stays on on Mac Pro 4.1 flashed 5.1

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Muziekschuur

Muziekschuur

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 14, 2023
120
5
Just purchased a 4.1 Mac pro with 5.1 upgrade flash. I purchased a 4.1 dual socket tray. When I take out the single socket tray and insert the dual socket tray with x5550 xeons it does not boot. Front startbutton led (white) stays on.

Using option command R P command does not help.

I have looked at several guides... Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Single socket tray with 16gb ram just starts up when inserted. I have (new to me x5675) 6 cores on the way and 128gb ram.
 
It should work. Does it chime?

Have you unplugged the mains before swapping CPU boards?

You checked the Ram in the dual board?
 
I did not unplug. It does not chime. I used the ram from the singlecore tray that is known to work.

I started the dual core tray in an off machine. Then put on the power. Then hit the power-switch on the Mac.
 
A visual check of the dual core board makes me think it is fine.
SMC reset does not seem to change anything.

After failed boot. Inserting the single tray makes the machine boot.
 
I just received new CPU's. I will check if new cpu's will make a difference.
 
Just swapped out the 5550 xeon's for x5675's (6 cores with 90w draw). The fans start. But no boot.

Maybe I should conclude the dual cpu tray is destroyed?

I did power off the power between boot try's. When I inserted the single core tray the system booted without issue.
 
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Gotta check if this is a true 2009 version. It was purchased in 2009. It clearly stated in the advert. And the seller said he upgraded the firmware from 4.1 to 5.1. But that would mean it needs a 4.1 dual cpu tray.
 
the CPU Board has no firmware.

It should boot with the original 4,1 CPUs with MP4,1 and MP5,1 firmware.

If you upgrade the dual board with X5675 Westmeres (think you got a number reverse) the Mac Pro backplane must have the 5,1 firmware.

IF you swapped the dual cpu board in without unplugging the Mac Pro's power, there is a chance you botched the dual CPU board.

Never change any hardware part (what is not rated hot swappable) with not unplugging the mains.

Westmere CPUs like the X5675 don't work with a MP4,1 firmware in the backplane.
 
The Mac Pro runs with the original tray. It has the gt120 graphics card. (It came with two).
 
well, if the dual board does not run with this Mac Pro it could be simply not ok.

I hope you did no more damage by swapping the CPUs if they are not delidded.
 
smc version of the system = 1,39f5
smc version of the single core tray = 1,39f5

serialnumber: ck9420c8bxe
serialnumber single core tray: j5937019A4MFE

Mac pro with quad core xeon 2,66ghz. So to me this is a 2009 with a flash. Just as the seller stated. So I am happy with that.

Looks like there is an issue with the dualcore tray... Or something I have not figured out yet. It does not boot with the x5550's or the x5675's

The memory I used in both tray's is two sticks of 8gb OCW ddr3 ecc registered memory. Running at 1066mhz with the single core tray.

System runs high sierra of of a pci-e card with a sata ssd on it (512gb) (OCW)
128gb of Samsung registered ecc memory is on order arriving next week.
 
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This box is way out of support.

To nail things 100,0 % down you will need a known working dual cpu tray. In theory it could be a bad backplane, bent pins on the cpu board connector or a power issue.

but thats the last 5 % I guess...
 
I bought it as 'for parts'. I have tested what I could test. I am not dissapointed since I could now practice on this board. I will purchase either another dual cpu tray or a complete machine. Maybe both. I think within a year I will have a 'old HD setup (digidesign cards)' and a 'new setup' with a avid hd native card with dual cpu's and maxxed out memory.

I own a digidesign control24. It is no longer supported in new Protools. It can run using v-control Pro (software midi translator). The old integration with Protools 10 was breathtakingly good.

So I might build two systems to see what suits me best.

I am the son of an electrical engineer. I used to tinker with tube amps. I had an amazing collection. I left all of that for a few years. Now I might get me a whole Mac DAW setup. I allready own three 2012 Mac book Pro's and a mac mini 2012 with a i7 quadcore that I upgraded with two SSD's.

I sometimes take a gamble on old electronics. Sometimes it's worth it. Sometimes it's not. I got three Mac screens (20 inch aluminium) that were thrown in the deals. So I cannot complain. We will see what's next. Thank you for the help. The Power Mac is now running again as a stock single cpu Mac. Ready to test the new memory once it arrives.


'I'll be back'.
 
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if it was for parts I would clean the areas with the voltage regulation under the heat sinks.

Where its sticky and oily. Use a lot of isopropyl and let it dry for hours. This residue could be conductive.

Also inspect the CPU sockets for bent pins.

Use the original CPUs again as some early dual CPU boards could not handle CPUs with higher TDP.
 
The dual tray will leave tomorrow. When I am ready I will order another. This thing was, like the former owner said, toast.

I don't have a scope here. Nor the knowledge to deal with what this repair needs.

With 4 x5675's and soon 128gb of registered ecc ram I will be ready for the next.
 
You should try the cleaning procedure. Even for the next one, and even if its working.

This happens to all CPU boards.
 
I cleaned the brown voltage regulators. Try to boot. White light stays on. No boot. Insert single tray. System boots. System shuts down on it's own. Does not boot anymore with single tray.

Could this be a bad powersupply? That could not handle the draw of two cpu's?

Will try to boot in a few hours. If it boots the powersupply is suspicious. Not crasy after more than 10 years of service.
 
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reduce the machine's hardware, take all out, GPU, Hard Drives, etc.

If the box does not power off it could be the PSU.
 
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