Reader Dimitri wrote in to let us know that some owners with new Mac Pros and ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT are having some problems reminiscent of iMacs with the same model number video card:
I called Apple and they claimed to have no reports on this, even though people already have had their machines replaced over this. This is also affecting me with a brand new 2.8 model. Users are also widely reporting problems with waking from sleep mode.
I took a look in Apple’s forums and there are indeed people reporting problems with this particular configuration. I’m still rocking my original Mac Pro so I haven’t seen this issue, but perhaps you gentle readers can report in. Have you had any problems with your new Mac Pro with freezing?
Good thing I'm waiting for the Nvidia card to ship. Those ATI cards have been trouble since the last gen Mac Pro.
Yes. There is a big problem with the new MacPro... and I know I'm not the only one. Check out xlr8yourmac.com
Numerous lock-ups per day with different symptoms: black screen (of death), mouse moves but nothing works and my personal favorite, extreme, extreme digital artifacts. All require a hard reboot to overcome.
Sometimes, but not always, after a night of sleep the computer restarts instead of wakes from sleep. It used to be every time I put it to sleep, even for a few minutes, but once I removed my 30 inch display from the 1500 VA UPS the computer is plugged in to I can successfully wake from sleep some of the time.
All these are very annoying. I told Apple about it and even have a RMA number but am waiting a week or so to see if 10.5.2 helps a bit before returning the new computer and going back to a MDD G4.
The worse thing is a can't watch a video and work at the same time. Anything running in QT or VLC or DVD Player while I work in Dreamweaver, Mail and Safari will eventually start the screen displaying a few digital artifacts then the whole things locks-up. Work is now much more boring. :-)
I hate dealing with Apple, so I've put off buying a new MacPro because of this... till it's fixed. Was upgrading from G4
I just bought a new 2.8 GHz mac pro last Saturday, and I haven't had any issues with it (yet). I am using 2 X 24" LG monitors. I hope I don't encounter a problem since I now read this post.
i have exactly the same big problem like dude. my new mac pro 2008 freezes several times a day - all the same if i work in a program or in the finder. i took the machine back to the shop but they could not find anything. i will hope that apple will manage the desaster with the new mac pro very soon.
I actually have a 1st gen Mac Pro 3Ghz with the same problems described by SB Dude, so I don't think it is limited to the newer versions of the machine. Mine worked fine until the 10.5.1 update, so I think it is software related.
Apple sent me a new graphic card and I sent them back the original one. That fixed the graphics problem and the computer no longer hangs. Fantastic!
But I, and many others, still have the restart to blue screen instead of wake from sleep after a night of sleeping issue.
I have the same problem - Macpro / 10gbs Ram ATI card
eveytime i put it to sleep, when it wakes it restarts
also was having major problems with my dual monitors - i switched the arrangement and the cables and it fixed it - Im betting these ATI cards are the major problem I had nothing but issues with my G5 and the radeon card- they wont support the card that was in my G5. anyone know a good card for the original G5 dual 2.0ghz