Mac Pro Firmware Updates
Firmware is the name given to software that is written into memory circuits, such as flash memory, that will hold the software code indefinitely, even when power is removed from the hardware. Firmware on Intel Mac computers is designed to be updated if necessary through a software update. EFI and SMC firmware is stored on the Mac Pro 8x logic board. EFI firmware updates update the Boot ROM, and SMC updates update the System Management Controller firmware. The SMC manages fans and other...
Serial Number Location
The Mac Pro 8x serial number is located on the configuration label, directly below the configuration description. lt v Because Mac Pro 8x is a product configuration of the original Mac Pro, Mac Pro 8x computers do not have serial numbers distinct from Mac Pro serial numbers. There is also no separate Mac Pro 8x product pull-down list in GSX. When using a computer's serial number to look up Mac Pro 8x parts in GSX, be aware that you will receive a list of parts for both Mac Pro and Mac Pro 8x ....
Procedure Emo
1. Disconnect the power cable harness connectors from the logic board. 2. Using a Phillips screwdriver, remove the two mounting screws on the power supply cable cover located at the back of the optical drive bay. 3. Slide the cover toward the top of the enclosure, tilt it up until the two tabs on the cover clear the slots in the media shelf, and remove the cover from the enclosure. Replacement Note Replace the cover at an angle so that the tabs engage with the slots in the media shelf. Then...
Part Location Ruf
1. Using a Phillips screwdriver, remove the two mounting screws on the power supply cable cover located at the back of the optical drive bay. 2. Slide the cover toward the top of the enclosure, tilt it up until the two tabs on the cover clear the slots in the media shelf, and remove the cover from the enclosure. Replacement Note Replace the cover at an angle so that the tabs engage with the slots in the media shelf. Then lower the cover into place. 3. Using a short-handled, magnetized 2.5 mm...
Part Location Ebl
1. Disconnect the rear fan cable from the logic board. 1. Disconnect the rear fan cable from the logic board. 2. Using a long-handled, magnetized 1 Phillips screwdriver, remove the two long screws that mount the memory cage to the logic board. 3. Using a short-handled, magnetized jeweler's 1 Phillips screwdriver or right-angle, magnetized 1 Phillips screwdriver, carefully remove the two short screws that mount the memory cage to the bottom panel of the enclosure. Note To remove the memory cage...
Procedure
1. Make sure the latch on the back panel is up, so that the drives and carriers are unlocked. 2. Pull the hard drive out of the drive bay. 3. If you are replacing the hard drive with a new drive, remove the four screws that mount the drive to the carrier and mount the new drive in the carrier. Important Hold the drive by its sides. Be careful not to touch the printed circuit board on the bottom of the drive. Replacement Note Slide the carrier and drive over the guides and into the drive bay,...
Unacceptable examples
The following are examples of unacceptable applications of the coating. Return new parts or replace existing parts that exhibit similar applications. I Void I I Void II I Splash I Void I I Void II I Splash Void I The silver-colored coating shows missing areas of within the normal coated area. Void I The silver-colored coating shows missing areas of within the normal coated area. Void II The silver-colored coating shows missing areas along the edge of the coated area. Splash The silver-colored...
Exploded View
Optical Drive 661-4276 Hard Drive 250 GB 661-4273 500 GB 661-4274 750 GB 661-4275 Processor Heatsink Cover 922-8001 Front Fan 922-7999 Heatsink 661-4332 Bluetooth Card 922-7289 AirPort Extreme Card 661-4060 AirPort Antenna Board and Cables 076-1257
Antenna Wire Connectors Mac Pro
1. Remove the two AirPort Extreme card mounting screws. 1. Remove the two AirPort Extreme card mounting screws. 2. Lift the AirPort Extreme card a short distance from the logic board. 3. Disconnect the AirPort antenna wires from the card. 4. Remove the card from the enclosure. Replacement Note To replace the AirPort Extreme card, do the following Connect the antenna wires to the card. Important Be sure to connect the wires that are marked 1 and 3 to the card the antenna wire that is marked 2...
Power Supply Verification
To power on, the computer's logic board requires trickle power. If the system fails to power on, first reset the SMC as described in this chapter. If the computer still doesn't power on, follow the procedure outlined below to determine whether the issue is related to the power supply. Diagnostic LED 1 indicates the presence of trickle power required by the logic board to begin the startup process. LED 1 should be yellow when the DIAG_ LED button is pressed, indicating that trickle voltage is...
Reinstalling Existing HeatsinksProcessors
If you are re-installing existing heatsinks and processors, or transferring existing heatsinks and processors to a replacement logic board, in most cases you do not need to reapply Krytox grease. However, if additional grease must be added, do the following Order the Mac Pro 8x Grease Kit part number 076-1258 . Reassemble the unit while you wait for the kit to arrive. Once you have the kit, remove the heatsink and or processor from the enclosure. Using first the lint-free cloth and then the...
i i Iii lp
ru o . O J . I Use the following table to interpret the LEDs. Use the following table to interpret the LEDs. Power supply is providing trickle power CPU B halts on an IERR instruction error CPU A halts on an IERR instruction error EFI has configured the graphics card Note There is a position on the logic board next to LED 1 for a SLEEP LED that does not have any LED installed. This is normal the LED was used only in development. To determine if a Mac Pro 8x computer is in sleep mode, watch the...
Part Location 1
1. Holding the memory riser card by the two finger holes, pull it out of the memory cage and place the card DIMM side up on a soft, clean cloth. Replacement Note Align the DIMM in the slot on the riser card and push both ends of the DIMM down until the ejectors snap back up into place. Warning FB-DIMMs carry heatsinks on either side of the DIMM. Never attempt to remove the heatsinks from the DIMMs. Doing so could damage the DIMM.
Mac Pro Fan Replacement
Note The heatsink cover is held in place by a number of tabs and magnets on the underside of the cover. You must release the tabs before you can remove the cover from the enclosure. 1. Place the fingers of one hand under the lip of the heatsink cover nearest the logic board. Lift the lip slightly toward the media shelf to release the tabs and magnets under the top face of the cover. 2. With your fingers still under the cover's bottom lip, lift the cover straight up to release the remaining tabs...
PCI ExpressGraphics Card
The Mac Pro 8x logic board includes one double-wide PCI Express graphics slot and three PCI Express expansion slots, for a total of four slots. The computer comes with a graphics card installed in slot 1. You can install additional PCI Express graphics and expansion cards in the remaining three PCI Express expansion slots. Important Graphics cards from previous Power Mac G5 models are not compatible with Mac Pro 8x models. In addition, Mac Pro 8x graphics cards are not compatible with previous...
Mac Pro Assembly
1. Using a long-handled, magnetized 1 Phillips screwdriver, remove the screw at the top rear of the front fan assembly that mounts the assembly to the logic board. 2. Remove the second Phillips screw at the bottom front of the assembly. 3. Place one hand on each end of the fan, lift straight up, and remove the fan from the enclosure. Replacement Note Before re-installing the front fan assembly in the enclosure, make sure that the fan cables are routed correctly in the fan channel. Replacement...
AirPort Extreme Card 1
AirPort Extreme Card does not appear to function and is not recognized by System Profiler 1. Start up the computer from a known-good volume such as an external hard drive with AirPort driver software installed, to isolate the issue to software or hardware. If the computer seems to perform adequately when booted in this way, troubleshoot as a software issue. If the computer continues to exhibit the issue, follow the steps below. 2. Reseat card and antenna cables connected to card AirPort Extreme...
Preliminary Steps Abn
Before you begin, open the computer, lay it on its side with the access side facing up, and remove the following Hard drives and hard drive carriers in drive bays 3 and 4 Optical drive carrier and optical drives Any PCI Express cards that block access to the power supply mounting screws 1. Disconnect the power supply fan cable from the logic board and thread the cable through the opening in the media shelf. 2. Using needlenose pliers, pull out the four grommets that mount the power supply fan...
Take Apart
General Information 14 Orientation 14 Tools 14 Differences Between the Original Mac Pro and Mac Pro 8x 14 Opening the Computer 16 Hard Drives 18 Optical Drive Carrier and Optical Drives 21 Memory FB-DIMMs and Memory Riser Cards 25 AirPort Antenna Board with Cables 104 Optical Drive Power Cable 108 Optical Drive Data Ribbon Cable 111 Ambient Board 113 Ambient Board Cable 115 Bluetooth Antenna Board and Cable 117 Hard Drive Cable Harness 120 Hard Drive Temperature Sensor Cable 122 Hard Drive...
Part Location Tzv
Note This procedure illustrates how to remove the lower processor CPU B . The instructions are the same for removing the upper processor CPU A . You may, however, want to use a flat-blade screwdriver to release the latch on the upper processor. 1. Release the latch on the metal processor holder. Note You may want to use a flat-blade screwdriver to release the latch on the upper 2. Rotate the top of the holder to the open position. 2. Rotate the top of the holder to the open position. 3. Placing...
Startup Failures
When testing a computer for the following symptoms, remove the side access panel so you can better observe or listen for fan movement. Note Be sure to check the Memory and Power-On Self Test topics in the General Information section of this chapter. Incorrect installation of DIMMs or incompatible memory will not allow the system to start up correctly. For information on how to correctly install DIMMs, see the Memory DIMMs topic in the Take Apart chapter. Important For troubleshooting purposes,...
Safety and First Aid Guidelines
Below is a summary of safety and first aid measures for exposure to the coating on the processor heatsink and processor or the Krytox grease used in sealing the processor heatsink to the processor. For complete instructions, refer to the specific Material Safety Data Sheets MSDS included with the replacement parts. Avoid contact with eyes. Avoid contact with skin. Wash thoroughly after handling. Do not store or consume food, drink, or tobacco in areas where they may become contaminated with the...
Part Location
Removing the Optical Drive Carrier and Optical Drives 1. Make sure the latch on the back panel is up, so that the drives and carriers are unlocked. 2. Pull the optical drive carrier part way out of the computer. 3. Disconnect the power and ribbon cables from the optical drive s and remove the carrier. 4. If you are replacing the optical drive with a new optical drive, do the following Remove the four mounting screws and remove the optical drive from the carrier. Use the four screws to mount the...
Resetting the Logic Board
System Management Controller SMC Reset The System Management Controller SMC is a chip on the logic board that controls all power functions for the computer. If the computer is experiencing any power issue, resetting the SMC may resolve it. The SMC controls several functions, including Telling the computer when to turn on, turn off, sleep, wake, idle, and so forth Handling system resets from various commands It is also recommended that the SMC be reset after a logic board, ambient board, or...
Part Location Vyl
1. Remove the two Bluetooth card mounting screws. 1. Remove the two Bluetooth card mounting screws. 2. Lift the Bluetooth card a short distance from the logic board. 3. Disconnect the Bluetooth antenna wire from the card. 4. Remove the card from the enclosure. Note If you are not replacing the Bluetooth card, cover the connector on the Bluetooth antenna wire with Kapton or other non-conductive tape to prevent it from shorting out components on the logic board.
LED CPU B Lower Processor Error LED CPU A Upper Processor Error
Normally off. These LEDs come on if an error occurs or if the BootROM is corrupted. They do not depend on the DIAG_LED button being pressed. Related symptoms include no video or the computer is hung up. If the BootROM is corrupted, the optical drive tray should eject, prompting for the insertion of a recovery disc to restore the BootROM. With the computer booted, up press the SYS_RST switch. If this clears the CPU Error LED, check for incompatible device driver software that may have been...
Diagnostic LEDs
The Mac Pro 8x logic board includes a set of LEDs to help service providers troubleshoot the computer. The LEDs are located toward the rear of the logic board, under the memory cage, next to PCI card slot 1. You can view these LEDs by removing the computer's side access panel and looking through the memory cage to the logic board below. LEDs 2, 3, 4, and 5 are normally off and will automatically illuminate if an error occurs. To read LEDs 1, 6, 7, and 8, you must press the DIAG_LED button,...
LED CPU B Lower Processor Overtemp LED CPU A Upper Processor Overtemp
Normally off. These LEDs come on if an error occurs. They do not depend on the DIAG_LED button being pressed. These two LEDs can operate in two different modes they will either flash or stay on. If either LED is flashing, it may indicate an initial processor over-temperature condition. If either LED is solidly on, it may indicate a chronic processor over-temperature condition. Initial processor over-temperature can cause symptoms such as sluggish computer performance. Chronic processor...
Mac Pro Cpu Heatsink
1. Disconnect the 2-pin cable for the upper processor CPU A heatsink from the logic board. 2. Using a long-handled, magnetized 3 mm flathead hex screwdriver, loosen the four captive mounting screws for the upper processor heatsink in the order indicated below. 3. Lift the heatsink straight up and out of the enclosure. 4. Disconnect the cable connector for the lower processor CPU B heatsink. 5. Using a long-handled, magnetized 3 mm flathead hex screwdriver, loosen the four captive mounting...
Identifying Version and Version Processors
There are two versions of the processor, Version 1 and Version 2, which must be replaced like-for-like. In addition, both processors in a dual configuration must be the same version, either Version 1 or Version 2. Different versions in the same computer could cause a system failure. Note You may still replace a single processor, but you must replace it like for like. There is no performance advantage to either version of the processor. To identify the correct processor for the computer you are...
Handling Instructions
Use these guidelines when handling the Mac Pro 8x processor heatsink and processor Wear disposable nitrile or latex gloves when handling the processor heatsink and processor. Avoid touching the silver coating on the underside of the heatsink and the top of the processor. Use care when removing the heatsink from the computer. As much as possible, lift the heatsink straight up off the processor. Use care when removing the processor from the logic board. Lift the processor out of the processor...
Memory FBDIMMs and Memory Riser Cards
The Mac Pro 8x computer has two memory riser cards with a total of 8 memory slots. On each card, the slots are arranged as two banks of two slots each. The computer comes with a minimum of 1 GB of memory, installed as a pair of 512 MB fully buffered, dual inline memory modules FB-DIMMs in two of the DIMM slots. Additional DIMMs can be installed in the open DIMM slots, as illustrated below. Note DIMMs must be installed in pairs of equal size from the same vendor. In the illustration below, DIMMs...