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Powermac G5 Power Button 3 Times Flashing

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Madbones
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11 May 2011, 2:39 pm

my friend is willing to sell me his Powermac G5 Dual 2.00 because it is broken.
The power button flashes 3 times.
Accordingly, it could be the ram, or the motherboard.
If its the ram, then AWESOME.
But if it is not the ram, then its the logic board.

What do you think the flashes could mean?



Cornflake
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11 May 2011, 2:45 pm

Bottom of page:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2652?viewlocale=en_US


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Madbones
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11 May 2011, 2:50 pm

Cornflake wrote:
Bottom of page:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2652?viewlocale=en_US

So the power button flashing 3 times means that its only the ram is messed up?



Cornflake
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11 May 2011, 2:55 pm

According to that page - apparently "yes".
Try taking all the RAM out and see if it flashes twice instead (no RAM installed).

Are the other diagnostic LEDs mentioned on that page showing anything?


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zarshmagarsh
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23 May 2011, 10:52 am

I've seen the ram go bad on the G5 series -- other issues -- you have to used paired memory. Though word of advice -- you don't have to use "mac specific" memory -- all you have to do is match the ddr type and speed. The CD's that came with the G5 should have a memory test util on them (tech tool pro / lite) may be worth running it. Also if the tower has the original maxtor sata hard drive in it, scrap it -- I've had a bunch overheat on me, they were a junky drive. If the memory does test bad, its worth to replace all of it, I would recommend going with memory that has heatsinks on it -- patriot, gskill are both great brands.