G5 Dual 2.3GHz 9748xx Model/Failed Flex Cable Test

[andrej770]

I had to step away from the Studio stuff for a while and now I am back. Its good to be back. Being back I have read up on all the information on the Dual 2.3GHz G5 and its intermittent issues in the compat docs. Well I upgraded from PT6 in a Single 1.8GHz G5 to 7.2 in a Dual 2.3GHz G5. I have to say I am always very meticulous about the PCI cards and the flex cables. Before I moved the cards I did a digitest and all came back fine. I moved them to the Dual 2.3GHz so carefully it was like brain surgery. Well when I do the digitest on the Dual 2.3GHz, the HD Core card, by itself, passes. Then I put the HD Process cards in and both process cards fail with the following error(s):

HD Process #1
TDM-II Flex Cable Test Bus A DSP A - Passed
TDM-II Flex Cable Test Bus B DSP A - Failed - expected 11EE11B actual 11EC11B

HD Process #2
TDM-II Flex Cable Test Bus A DSP I - Passed
TDM-II Flex Cable Test Bus B DSP I - Failed - expected 11EE11B actual 11EC11B

I am at a loss. I know I did nothing to these Flex Cables. I had read about the 2.3GHz Dual G5 ahead of time and wanted to make dang sure I had no other issues than those mentioned IF those issues even came up in relation to this particular G5. In my situation the G5 sees all three cards all the time. It's the digitest that keeps failing.

Does anyone have any other way to test to see if this is truly a Flex cable issue or if I actually have one of the Dual 2.3 G5's that has the issue mentioned in the compat doc. These Flex cables cost $70 each from the digistore. So I'd really like to do some thorough testing before I fork out $140 +S&H. Also, Digi mentioned that anyone that calls them and goes through their test and still cannot resolve the issue they MAY swap out the affected cards. Does this only apply to cards still under warranty or not! I mean I know mine are no longer under warranty, I bought them back in '03.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Specs:
Dual 2.3GHz G5
2.5GB RAM
250GB HD
OSX 10.4.8
PT7.2
HD3 PCI
192 Digital I/O

Thanks.

[crizdee]

Hi,

I doubt very much if these cables are faulty! i have to ask? but are they connected the correct way round? i seem to remember its a bit odd as "i think"!! it goes from core card slot B to card 1 slot A then card 1 slot B to card 2 slot A. am i wrong? i'm not totally sure!!! but its worth checking.

Is the system running OK? if it is then don't worry as i've often seen posts where Digi test as failed and the system is running fine!

Chris

[andrej770]

To be honest I am not sure. In the Dual 2.3GHz, the Video card is at the bottom of the stack (or completely left when the system is on its side - looking at it from the rear). From left to right I have Video card, HD Process, HD Process, HD Core. (that is when this error -flex cable - appears). I tried puting it in this setup (video card, HD Core, HD Process, HD Process) which means the cable was going to "B" on the Core card. Digitest complained badly, said something was drastically wrong and would go no further. I put it back to the original slot order.

I searched the compats and DUC to find the correct slot order for the Dual 2.3GHz and was not successful. Can anyone tell me what the correct slot order should be for an HD3 PCI setup?

I figured if I had the cards slotted wrong, I would get an error about that from Digitest (which I did in 1 configuration).

You are right, the system may still work even though I failed digitest. I am just a stickler for ensuring my cards pass this test. I haven't connected my 192 Digital I/O to this setup yet as I wanted to pass this test first, but I guess I will try to see what happens (if anything). I'd still like to know the correct slot order if anyone knows (or if I have them in the right order already).

Thanks.

[Stig Eliassen]

Display card > Core > Process

Flex cable from port B on the Core card to port A on the next. I recommend reading the "Pro Tools HD Getting started Guide".

[andrej770]

I said I tried that slot order and digitest failed on it. If you had read the the previous post you would have realized just how "helpful" you were really being. Typical newbie response!

Thanks any way!

[andrej770]

I resolved this issue. Took the cards out, reseated them and the Flex cables. I did this two times before. I guess three times the charm. All works now.

Thanks.

[Stig Eliassen]

I said I tried that slot order and digitest failed on it. If you had read the the previous post you would have realized just how "helpful" you were really being. Typical newbie response!

Thanks any way!

???

Would you care to explain to this newbie how I should've replied?

[crizdee]

I resolved this issue. Took the cards out, reseated them and the Flex cables. I did this two times before. I guess three times the charm. All works now.

Thanks.

Hi,

All's well that ends well glad you've got this fixed finally! and i do understand how stressful having such issues can be, but i have to say PTLover has been helping users on this forum on a daily basis since 2004 and that's what this forum is about! it would be fantastic if the first post was always what you wanted to know or hear and always fixed the issue, but it sometimes takes complex answers and sometimes basic ones! and PTLover was just confirming the install order of the cards for you! this might have helped if you were a little unsure and couldn't find this confirmation on the Digi site.

Anyway! Onwards and upwards and its good you're back with a working rig, and hopefully this thread has helped in some small way.

Chris