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MacSince1985

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 18, 2009
406
297
All of a sudden, the screen connected to my MP 5,1 went blank. When I tried rebooting, the chime repeats continuously and the Mac wouldn't boot.

I tried the usual tests:
1- option key to select other drive: no effect
2- reset SMC: no effect
3- reset PRAM: no effect
4- removed video card: apparently booted
5- reinstalled video card: chime problem reappeared
6- disconnected all USB + FW peripherals: no effect
7- removed all PCI card: no effect
8- removed video card - booted in target mode: all disks visible on host computer

Based on these tests and some web search, I suspect my video card is fried.

Questions:
- Can you think of anything else to test?
- Can you recommend a replacement video card for Mac Pro 5.1?
 
Other World Computing carries new video cards. You can only use video cards that support Mac and they are not cheap.

All of a sudden, the screen connected to my MP 5,1 went blank. When I tried rebooting, the chime repeats continuously and the Mac wouldn't boot.

I tried the usual tests:
1- option key to select other drive: no effect
2- reset SMC: no effect
3- reset PRAM: no effect
4- removed video card: apparently booted
5- reinstalled video card: chime problem reappeared
6- disconnected all USB + FW peripherals: no effect
7- removed all PCI card: no effect
8- removed video card - booted in target mode: all disks visible on host computer

Based on these tests and some web search, I suspect my video card is fried.

Questions:
- Can you think of anything else to test?
- Can you recommend a replacement video card for Mac Pro 5.1?
 
If you prefer an official Mac Edition card, I agree that 680 probably the best option.

This is my main work computer, so I prefer a reliable solution. I just ordered a 680 with delivery expected for Friday. It should give me a good speed bump from the 5770 too.
 
This is my main work computer, so I prefer a reliable solution. I just ordered a 680 with delivery expected for Friday. It should give me a good speed bump from the 5770 too.

Wow, I was going to guess if it was a 5770, the Apple supplied one in my 2011 5,1 went south in just over a year, kept giving me crazy lines all over the screen and boot issues as well. I got rid of it and replaced it with Mac GTX680 and have been signing along ever since, great card.

I'm also generous with the air flow with SMC fan control now, gotta keep the "family" happy....
 
Wow, I was going to guess if it was a 5770, the Apple supplied one in my 2011 5,1 went south in just over a year, kept giving me crazy lines all over the screen and boot issues as well. I got rid of it and replaced it with Mac GTX680 and have been signing along ever since, great card.

I'm also generous with the air flow with SMC fan control now, gotta keep the "family" happy....

I wish I had a bit more warning. It went from fully functional to bricked in the blink of an eye (in the middle of a project, of course). But a video card is much easier to replace than a logic board, so I'm glad that's all it is (my wallet isn't).

I'll have to look at SMC fan control next.
 
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