To Buy/Not Buy A 2008 Mac Pro

[Acaleus Thor]

Well I finally got a 2009, but...

Hi MacExperts

So I took the advice of the above posts and waited out and splashed on an 09 model (and thanks for helping me wait ; ), but I have a few issues with my setup.

I got it without the hdds and the Raid Card was not inserted when I picked it up. I got an installation up and going using an ssd installed in one of the DVD drive spots.
I was running fine on the ssd for a while and have now decided to insert some other hdds and raid them, but on inserting of the Raid card it sprang a nasty error "Battery Failed (code 0x#0 = 17)" and some past history from when it must have been removed. Full log shown below.

What I have noticed is that hdds that I have put in have not had issues with them in their previous locations or use (except 1 which I was hoping for the best) have started to be dropped by the Raid Utility as having some sort of problem, whether its SMART readings or as the latest errors are saying: Primary disk port unusable, previous drive status was inuse.

This is frustrating as before I go and get another Raid card battery I really would like to know if 1 that will help and 2 do I even need the Raid Card. So to answer the question this is what I was planning to do with this system.

HDD1 = SSD 120GB
HDD2 = Raid Setup 1T (2 HDDs Mirror Raid)

Boot Drive: HDD1
Programs: HDD1
Video Saved Projects: HDD2
Video Media Files: HDD2
HDD1 TM Bkup: HDD2

Completed Jobs copied to Networked NAS Duo

I understand that using the Raid setup as a backup location for HDD1 is not the smartest setup compared to having an external bkup, but I'm just trying to use what I have in the shed before I need to buy a new shed to house all the new stuff.

So with the above layout is it worth me hoping that a new Raid Card battery will sort out the below issues or should I ditch the Raid Card and just use the Disk Utility Raid option for my setup?

I currently have 1 file on the HDD2 setup which I put there as a test and then the error came up on the 18th.

Any experienced answers would be of great help.

Raid Utility Screenshot

Tuesday, 19 February 2013 3:47:39 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Degraded RAID set RS1 - No spare available for rebuild	critical
Tuesday, 19 February 2013 3:39:48 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Write cache disabled due to insufficient battery charge	informational
Tuesday, 19 February 2013 9:33:36 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Degraded RAID set RS1 - No spare available for rebuild	critical
Monday, 18 February 2013 9:16:46 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Degraded RAID set RS1	warning
Monday, 18 February 2013 9:16:45 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Drive 3:ffffffffffffffffffffffff0000001c missing - Previous drive status was inuse	critical
Monday, 18 February 2013 9:16:45 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Drive 3:ffffffffffffffffffffffff0000001c failure detected - Primary disk port unusable, previous drive status was inuse	critical
Monday, 18 February 2013 9:16:42 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Controller detected disorderly shutdown without battery backup	critical
Tuesday, 19 February 2013 9:24:31 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Write cache disabled due to insufficient battery charge	informational
Monday, 18 February 2013 3:42:57 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Background task aborted: Task=Init,Scope=VOLUME,Group=RS1,Vol=R1V1	informational
Monday, 18 February 2013 3:42:56 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Drive 3:50014ee0ac0893fb missing - Previous drive status was inuse	critical
Monday, 18 February 2013 3:41:47 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Background task aborted: Task=Init,Scope=VOLUME,Group=RS1,Vol=R1V1	informational
Monday, 18 February 2013 12:25:58 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Background task started: Task=Init,Scope=VOLUME,Group=RS1,Vol=R1V1	informational
Monday, 18 February 2013 12:25:51 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Created volume “R1V1” on RAID set “RS1” 	informational
Monday, 18 February 2013 12:25:56 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Background task started: Task=Init,Scope=VOLUME,Group=RS1,Vol=R1V1	informational
Monday, 18 February 2013 12:11:36 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Created RAID set “RS1” (RAID 1)	informational
Monday, 18 February 2013 12:11:28 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Deleted RAID set “JBODSet1”	informational
Monday, 18 February 2013 12:10:38 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Write cache temporarily enabled	informational
Monday, 18 February 2013 12:10:37 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Write cache set to battery detect	informational
Monday, 18 February 2013 12:10:33 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Write cache temporarily enabled	informational
Monday, 18 February 2013 12:10:21 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Deleted RAID set “RS1”	informational
Monday, 18 February 2013 12:07:36 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Deleted volume “R2V1” on RAID set “RS1”	informational
Monday, 18 February 2013 9:16:56 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Write cache disabled due to insufficient battery charge	informational
Saturday, 16 February 2013 11:13:33 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Write cache disabled due to insufficient battery charge	informational
Friday, 15 February 2013 1:54:10 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Write cache disabled due to insufficient battery charge	informational
Friday, 15 February 2013 9:12:45 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Write cache disabled due to insufficient battery charge	informational
Thursday, 14 February 2013 9:45:44 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Write cache temporarily enabled	informational
Wednesday, 13 February 2013 9:09:39 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Battery failed (code 0x#0 = 17)	critical
Thursday, 14 February 2013 9:28:21 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Write cache disabled due to insufficient battery charge	informational
Wednesday, 13 February 2013 9:09:55 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Write cache disabled due to insufficient battery charge	informational
Tuesday, 12 February 2013 9:28:30 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Write cache disabled due to insufficient battery charge	informational
Monday, 11 February 2013 1:26:19 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Write cache disabled due to insufficient battery charge	informational
Monday, 11 February 2013 1:19:24 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Drive carrier 00:02 position has been updated	informational
Monday, 11 February 2013 1:19:24 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Drive carrier 00:02 inserted	informational
Monday, 11 February 2013 1:19:26 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time	A SMART prefailure has occurred for the drive in Bay 2	warning
Monday, 11 February 2013 1:05:16 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Created volume “R2V1” on RAID set “RS1” 	informational
Monday, 11 February 2013 12:51:32 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Write cache disabled due to insufficient battery charge	informational
Monday, 11 February 2013 12:47:21 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time	A SMART prefailure has occurred for the drive in Bay 2	warning
Monday, 11 February 2013 12:26:33 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time	A SMART prefailure has occurred for the drive in Bay 2	warning
Monday, 11 February 2013 10:47:38 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Battery failed (code 0x#0 = 17)	critical
Monday, 11 February 2013 12:24:30 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Write cache disabled due to insufficient battery charge	informational
Monday, 11 February 2013 11:46:52 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Created RAID set “RS1” (Enhanced JBOD)	informational
Monday, 11 February 2013 11:26:24 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Write cache temporarily enabled	informational
Monday, 11 February 2013 11:19:23 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Deleted RAID set “RS1”	informational
Monday, 11 February 2013 11:13:54 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Created RAID set “RS1” (Enhanced JBOD)	informational
Monday, 11 February 2013 11:13:46 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Deleted RAID set “JBODSet2”	informational
Monday, 11 February 2013 10:27:39 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Battery failed (code 0x#0 = 17)	critical
Monday, 11 February 2013 10:48:19 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time	A SMART prefailure has occurred for the drive in Bay 2	warning
Monday, 11 February 2013 10:48:19 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Write cache disabled due to insufficient battery charge	informational
Wednesday, 6 July 2011 5:48:10 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Controller detected disorderly shutdown without battery backup	critical
Wednesday, 6 July 2011 5:47:35 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Battery failed (code 0x#0 = 17)	critical
Monday, 11 February 2013 10:28:26 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time	Write cache disabled due to insufficient battery charge	informational

 

[seveej]

EDIT: Oops. This is what happens when you start typing something - go to bed and continue the next day. Seems the OP does not longer need my opinions, but I'll leave this for posterity anyways.


OP,

First off, you really sound like a guy who could use a Mac Pro.

Some here have said that a 3,1 MP (and I'd really stay away from anything older than that) serves them very well indeed. I'll cast my vote in that bin (but our individual needs vary), as I've been very happy with my 3,1. Running SL, the 8 gigs it has has sufficed without problem (i keep popping into Activity monitor now and then to have a look).

OTOH, there is no question that a 4,1 (2009) or newer is a vastly superior machine and has a longer life expectancy...

That said, realistically the best computer for you is the one you can afford.

This means you'll have to keep your eyes on what is on the aftermarket.

Considering your location and budget I'd say you need to keep a keen eye on what's around (and grab whatever fits your budget) and remember to not buy a 3,1 with minimum RAM.

Personally I always source used gear locally (and I'm in an even smaller market than you, but I have the advantage of a good online-classifieds service), as it is to my liking, but eBay (& co.) would not be in business if they were not viable channels.

RGDS,