Does the G5 dual 2.0 GHz blow chunks?

[Greg Wells]

I've hated mine since I got it two Decembers ago. I really miss my G4's solidity - what a workhorse. Anyone else encounter similar grief with the G5 dual 2.0?

[picksail]

We experienced some major issues with ours that continued for about six weeks.

The first symptom occured at the tail-end of a session when we tried to activate a plug-in within ProTools. We were receiving the strangest errors. None that I've ever seen in my 20+ years on a Mac and 10+ years on ProTools. Anyway...So we attempted to suss it out, first by removing some extraneous RAM. Afterwhich, we began to incur repeated Kernel Panics. It got to point to where the machine was totally unusable and had to be brought in for repair (Melrose Mac). It was concluded by the service department that the computer required a new mother board. ($1000)

So after about a week or so, the machine is returned. We reinstall everything in hopes of getting back to work. Unfortunately, we are bombarded by the same symptoms- only this time more frequent.

At this point I decided that perhaps the system drive had failed and attempted to rectify it by first backing up the drive then reformatting. Everything was once again reinstalled only to discover the same issues. Out the computer goes back to the repair people.

We get the computer back once again, yet the problem still exists. So I'm trying to impart logic here and determine that it's not:

a) the motherboard
b) the power supply
c) the system drive (a new one was purchase during this fiasco)

So what could it be? The RAM?

I began researching the slot order for the proper installation of the RAM in that particular machine. Everything checked out. I'm totally baffled now.

When the machine was originally purchased from Apple, it was installed with the the standard 512Mb RAM. An additional 1.5G was also included at an extra charge.

What was discovered was that even though all RAM was purchased new and installed by Apple the original 512Mb still needed to be installed in the machine for it to operate properly. This is something that I had never experienced on any other machine-even other versions of the G5.

It turns out that the original 512Mb RAM was of a different brand, yet still works perfectly even after adding the other sticks of RAM around it in there respective slot order.

The thing is rock solid now.

I can't really attest to the particular model of G5 "blowing chunks", but that expererience certainly did.

By the way Greg, you unequivocally rock!!!!

[elambo]

I have three of those machines and no problems. At least nothing I can blame on the machine.

[Greg Wells]

Originally Posted by picksail

What was discovered was that even though all RAM was purchased new and installed by Apple the original 512Mb still needed to be installed in the machine for it to operate properly. This is something that I had never experienced on any other machine-even other versions of the G5.

It turns out that the original 512Mb RAM was of a different brand, yet still works perfectly even after adding the other sticks of RAM around it in there respective slot order.

The thing is rock solid now.

Thanks for the indepth reply, Stewart, and the kind words!

I've had more kernel meltdowns and completely off the radar error messages than I care to recall.

My G5 showed up already "set up" by the guy at GC Pro... I wonder if I even have the original 512 Mb RAM. Unlikely. Are you saying that I could install any 512 Mb of RAM or that it must be what originally shipped from Apple?

Thanks again,
Greg

[toolskid]

OT, but GREAT website!

[max cooper]

Originally Posted by toolskid

OT, but GREAT website!

Yeah, very nice!

I've got a dual 2G G5 and it's been great. I just bought a Mac Book Pro for my dad, and the G5 blows it's doors waaaaay off.

It's paid for itself several times over. I've never traced a single issue to the computer itself, even when I originally thought it was the culprit.

It's got six gigs of RAM, half is cheapo stuff, and half is premium stuff.

Once I spilled a cup of coffee down the front of it, and it sucked practically the entire contents through the front, into the fans, through the CPU sinks, and out the back.

And never had a problem.

Yeah, I'll never sell it. Especially now that everyone knows about the coffee thing.

[bleen]

I have the last generation of dual 2GHz G5 (standard PCI slots, 4GB RAM max) and it's been the most stable Mac I've owned in 13 years of owning them. I have an HD2 Accel and UAD-1 in it, but have also run completely natively using Firewire interfaces, and it's never been anything but spot on.

I added RAM that I bought from Crucial and it's always tested out okay. My $02.

[Ashermusic]

My dual 2.0 runs beautifully.

[blackcatdigi]

Originally Posted by picksail

We experienced some major issues with ours that continued for about six weeks.

I've been experiencing problems w/my first gen dual 1.8 for two years. The first problem was finally (after months) traced back to bad ram (apple installed). After that it was solid for about a year. Now, it will only boot 'cold' (one boot per day). It's back at repair and I'm using a fuggin Imac with PT M-powered for editing, while my HD interfaces sit there, idle...

I'm not pleased, at all.

[scott petito]

my 2.0 dual has been fine for 2 years now.... I did opt for the high price memory spread I think that's helps a lot with stability....actually this is the longest I've gone between computer upgrade cycles....the quad looks good but I'm waiting on the intel towers to make a new purchase..... oh and by the way Greg, I got my um900 from you last summer ... love that mic! you should hear it through a wunder Peq1 you might not have gotten rid of it!

cheers
SP

[6strings]

Originally Posted by max cooper

Once I spilled a cup of coffee down the front of it, and it sucked practically the entire contents through the front, into the fans, through the CPU sinks, and out the back.

LOL!

Anyway, my dualie 2.0 has had EVERY componant replaced except the hard drive. It's a long story, but needless to say I'm glad Apple will be using Intel hardware from now on...

I get a Finder lock-up every few (3-8) weeks (see log message below), but otherwise it kicks ass for power...

------
When my Finder locks up (Dock still works) the system log reveals the following message:

"localhost kernel: IOATAController device blocking bus."

Any clues? I hate to think my second motherboard has got a glitch. The hard drive seems okay according to S.M.A.R.T. in disk utility...

[raydo]

Originally Posted by Greg Wells

I've hated mine since I got it two Decembers ago. I really miss my G4's solidity - what a workhorse. Anyone else encounter similar grief with the G5 dual 2.0?

ive got a really solid workhorse G4 to swap for your "blow chunks G5

[Trebor Flow]

Once I spilled a cup of coffee down the front of it, and it sucked practically the entire contents through the front, into the fans, through the CPU sinks, and out the back.

And never had a problem.

De-caf? Apparently it makes a difference.

Trebor

[Schmacko]

My dual 2.5 G5 has been solid for a year and a half now. I'm using 4x1GB DIMMs of ram purchased through www.ramjet.com. Actually, I've bought all of my Mac's RAM from RamJet over the last few years and never had a problem. They also offer a lifetime guarantee on their memory as well. Not trying to pimp them, but they were recommended to me a few years back, so I thought I would pass the good word on too.

I must note that I don't run HD with mine, just Logic7 with a UAD-1 in the PCIx slot. But, the dual 2.7 @ work w/ HD3 Accel ALWAYS has kernel panics. Regarding Pro Tools, it seems more of a Digi software engineering problem. When I used to have PT LE @ home with an 002, my computer would make squeeling noises everytime I ran Pro Tools.

[Marky]

My G5 2x2.3GHz is easily the best computer I've ever owned, I really have had zero problems with it in the years I've owned it. I've put it through some pretty intense usage in that time too.

[Matthew Murray]

I can echo the sentiments around here, Greg. My dual 2.0ghz has been the best computer I've ever owned. Not one problem.. and it's damned speedy. I'd get a tech looking at yours if it's giving you trouble... these things are beautiful machines.

[dpianomn]

just picked up a G5 2.5 DP today--i had been using a powerbook G4 1.67

absolutely no comparison! the G5 just smokes

[djui5]

I run a dual 2G G5. It's been f'n awesome to me.

[Football]

I run a Dual 2.7 and get those kernal panics regularly.

[Greg Wells]

we maxxed out the RAM tonight... i'll see if that makes a difference tomorrow. we checked to see if the original RAM was still in the computer, and it was. i got a kernel meltdown again today. i hate this computer... it's always felt spongy in its response.

[cl516]

2nd or 3rd generation dual 2.0 G5.
6.5 gigs of RAM.
Works wonderful, ultra stable.

[Greg Wells]

i still have a UM900 - glad you like yours! I'm trying to get some OSA's to listen to.

I've had techs look at my G5 2.0, and been on the phone with Apple literally for hours and hours. There's no smoking gun, other than I'm sure it's posessed by Satan.

I still have my trusty G4... and two trusty Powermac 9600's... even have my old Powermac 170!

[Schmacko]

Just in case - you've ran the Apple hardware test CD that came with the G5, right? If not, take out all of the RAM except for the RAM that the G5 shipped with, then run the extended test to see if any of the hardware fails testing.

Did you mention if you run Pro Tools HD? If you do, and the cards are in the G5, that may be part of the problem (possibly). And like I said above, at work the G5 2.7 with Core/Accel cards has kernel panics, while the original G5 2.0ghz has no kernel panics; however, it uses an expansion chassis which ma help the problem.

[Greg Wells]

Schmacko - we've performed every available exorcism on the 2.0. Hardware tests, pulling the RAM, pusing the little button inside the computer, kicking it, insulting it, etc. It's very unreliable and does insane things. For awhile, it would re-route the entire I/O setup in the middle of a session. In fact, today, the kick and snare tracks just stopped making any sound. And the Pro Tools crashed.

One big love fest.

When it works well it's amazing, but there's been SO many inconsistencies with it.

[dpianomn]

did you try buying it a drink?

[HudHudson]

No problems with my Dual 2.0 after replacing crappy memory, just as Picksail reported. Solid as a rock for over 18 months.

[choodelphia]

I work for a VFX company that has about 50 original first generation G5 2.0's that have been kicking arse for 2 1/2 years straight. I also have one of the same in my studio running ProTools LE that has been flawless. I love my G5. Very happy with it.

Out of the 50 we have at work, there have been only a few problems. 1 bad motherboard, 1 bad CPU, a couple of bad video cards. We have been working the crap out of these things, 24/7. We use them as workstations during the day(50-60 hours per week) and they render at night.

[choodelphia]

By the way. We use only Crucial RAM, which is the same that Apple uses.

[Football]

Choodelphia, do you do much with soft synths on your LE rig?

[cl516]

damn it after i posted in this thread i get a kernel panic