ATSServer CPU @ 200% LOCKS-UP Mac Pro dual quad-core desktop

My dual quad core running Mac OS X 10.5.5 locks-up frequently at boot.
Required hard (destructive) reboot, until I figured out workaround
described below. Apple really needs to fix this as a high priority.
Symptom: Desktop freezes and the system becomes unusable.
Usually occurs when booting the system, but can happen
at other times spontaneously.
When it occurs during boot (after desktop first appears, usually
as task bar is starting to populate), the wedging is so bad that
applications are effectively 'suspended' mid-launch.
Icons and menu and mouse buttons and keyboard completely unresponsive.
Usually just a spinning beach ball that tracks with the mouse is present.
Attempts to resolve (both failed):
1. Did a fresh install of Mac OS X (with data transfer) and upgraded,
which brought system to 10.5.5. (Problem appeared immediately
on fresh installed system).
2. Totally re-indexed Spotlight and de-selected option to not index
PDF documents.
Workaround:
1. Enable 'ssh' logins and root user.
2. Login via 'ssh' from remote system, while Mac Pro desktop frozen.
3. Become super user in 'ssh' session.
4. Find ATSServer with 'ps -ef' or 'top' command.
5. Terminate ATSServer with 'kill -9'
6. Desktop on Mac Pro immediately unwedges and applications
that hung during start-up finish launching.
/var/log/system.log (many messages like this):
System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Frameworks/ATS.framework /Support/ATSServer[241]: FOExceptionMainHandler caught a fatal exception at 0x96028036
Safari[151]: GCGetStrikeMetrics failed: error 5.
Plea from customer:
Apple: PLEASE post an update to fix this very soon.
If anyone has clear instructions on what I can do to fix properly until
Apple comes up with a real fix, for example, caches to clear,
how to identify a faulty file, or quarantine a faulty faunt,
or any other diagnostics, please feel free to reply.
My machine was already in the shop for five weeks recently for repair,
and I can't afford down time, because I'm mid-project right now,
and it will be a HUGE setback to have to bring my machine into the
shop again for another 'n' days.

I'm also seeing this problem on my MacBook with 10.5.5. After killing ATSServer via ssh, I looked in the Console, and found these console messages which occurred when the GUI locked up:
10/18/08 12:44:03 PM com.apple.ATSServer[2554] Notice ATSServer(2554,0xa076afa0) malloc: * error for object 0x83ac00: incorrect checksum for freed object - object was probably modified after being freed.
10/18/08 12:44:03 PM com.apple.ATSServer[2554] Notice * set a breakpoint in mallocerrorbreak to debug
The problem seems to happen whenever I mount a certain remote shared volume (AppleShare) from my old desktop computer (G4 Dual 450 running 10.4.11). I guess it could be that ATSServer is choking when trying to generate QuickLook previews for some document on the shared volume...

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Mac Pro Dual Quad Core won't boot OS/X, but plays fine with Linux/Windows

I've got a Mac Pro Dual Quad Core won't boot OS/X, but plays fine with Linux/Windows. I've tried all of the following initial tests as suggested on forums:
-Ram swaps
-Alternating video card in PCIe slots
-Trying alternate video card
-resetting pram and smc
-Multiple tests with memtest86+ over 26hrs and no failed ram
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-Firmware is approved firmware for early 2008 model...no new updates.
Gentoo livecd works fine and I even installed to hard drive and it boots fine with it. In addition to above tests I also ran a linux stress test putting all 8 cores at a load of 22 for 2.5hrs with no problems.
Memtest86+ for 24hrs+ yields no problems.
Where problems occur:
Booting off hard drive, DVD or firewire yields an immediate curtain of death and booting off a new snow leopard DVD dies about 25% into the install.
Looking at error log and a quick dmesg shows "Package 0 didn't get an HPET" and complains about AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement.kext. Google turns up illegal uses of this, so doesn't apply to my use case.
I'm a bit stumped since all was working well until one day it was non-stop curtains of death and can't get them to go away.
A logic board replacement at $1100 is not a feasible option for something that works on linux and windows, but not OS/X, is a bit disappointing and somewhat surprising.
Thanks for your help and advice.
Regards,
Marcos

Someone here once thought they knew EFI and Open Firmware a little, and used some commands from OF library that an Intel EFI Apple system didn't like. New logicboard.
Of course to run or boot OS X and see video you need EFI based card. The presence of some PC cards can block OS X from booting.
The fact you get part way through SL DVD, pull all the drives, put in a new drive and format it from SL DVD.
Most of the things you tried are what are more common with PC hardware. Including where people have tried and failed to install OS X on unsupported hardware.
I suppose it is possible something tried and failed to modify the Mac's firmware.
If you have Windows running, and you have WD drives, WD just posted new Lifeguard utility which is what I use to do a good job of stripping a drive down and recertify it for reuse, works wonders. Maybe same for other makes with vendor utility.

My Mac Pro tower quad core crashed and is showing a NO sign (the circle with a slash through it). How do I safely get it to come back up ? Model A1186

My Mac Pro tower quad core crashed and is showing a NO sign (the circle with a slash through it). How do I safely get it to come back up ? Model A1186

General purpose Mac troubleshooting guide:
Isolating issues in Mac OS X
Creating a temporary user to isolate user-specific problems:
Isolating an issue by using another user account
Identifying resource hogs and other tips:
Using Activity Monitor to read System Memory and determine how much RAM is being used
Starting the computer in "safe mode":
Mac OS X: What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode?
To identify potential hardware problems:
Apple Hardware Test
General Mac maintenance:
Tips to keep your Mac in top form
Troubleshooting: My computer won't turn on
https://support.apple.com/kb/TS1367
Where are your bootable backups and clones stored?
What do you have to boot from to restore or attempt to recovery files that are not backed up?
It won't be a PowerMac. People tend to think they look alike? or mean the same thing.
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/mac_pro/specs/mac-pro-quad-2.66-specs.html
Try zap PRAM and SMC Reset. If you have ATI 5770 which many have upgraded to you won't be able to use older DVD or systems than 10.6.5

Audition CC - Compatibility with Mac Pro 2012 (Quad-Core) & RME UFX

I am new here and wanting to use Audition again after being away for years, so I apologize if this is a dumb question. In previewing a training video about Audition CC it highlighted that Audition CC is now 64 bit. Before I download CC I want to be sure that the 64 bit part does not present a problem for me on my system. I do not know if my hardware is 32 or 64 bit. My question is - Will I have any compatibility issues with my hardware: Mac Pro 2012 Quad-Core & RME UFX interface and the Audition CC software? Thanks for any light you can shed on this for me.

It's not the hardware you want to worry about (that will be 64-bit capable, as all Macs are) but the software. If it's a recent Mac I don't think you'll have any problems at all, though - do they actually do a 32-bit release?
The best thing to do if you're worried about this is to download the trial version and see if that's okay.

Wake up problems - mid 2010 Mac Pro - dual hex core OS X

Mid- 2010 Mac Pro desktop (dual hexcore) running Mountain Lion OS X version 10.7.5 will often refuse to awaken properly after being left alone for a few hours.
Will not respond to wireless mouse or wireless keyboard and sometimes not to USB mouse or keyboard ... requiring a "hold in the power button until it powers off, then push power button to restart."
Also, often notice fan on (can hear it) when computer has been "asleep" and shouldn't be requiring much fanning (to my way of thinking.
Nice machine - MacBeast, I call it - but with these persistent, though sporadic issues.

That 10.7.x is Lion, not 10.8.2 ML but that is minor probably.
What about strip your beast down to bare tacs hardware adn clean system and resetting SMC?
I would not be surprised BT wireless problem as well.

GeForce GTX 680 Mac Edition Graphics Card advice wanted 2008 Mac Pro. Eight core desktop.

I have read some threads yet it is not clear to me if it is a good move to upgrade an Mac Pro eight core 3.1- 2008 to use GeForce GTX 680 Mac Edition Graphics Card. I ask as my GeForce 8800 GT 2008 card has given up the ghost, and it has done sterling service R.I.P.. The machine is in the repair shop for a service itself, and this problem. So I thought an upgrade, as I am at it. Daunting choice out there. Um, learning curve and all that!
I mainly do 2D graphics, Canvas, Adobe stuff, yet a little amount of video, which may grow some. No games on this work horse!
So here I am fishing for experienced advice were my own is not, from anyone who has done this. Has it held up, do you get a boot screen, does it run two monsters easily via DVI.
If you have one or something good fitted please share the skinny!
For me it is turning into the year of the video card. My laptop looks like it got the disease first!
Thanks.

#1: AMD 7950 Mac Edition, or not. $425
#2: GTX 680 Mac $625
#3: MacVidCards - various but worth a look
http://www.ebay.com/sch/macvidcards/m.html
#4: GTX 285, no idea how 'safe' as often read someone (not Macvidcards) flashed PC card and sold as "Mac" and they are old, and may not be supported in Mavericks (and that would apply to a 8800 too).
Information purposes only:
http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-Geforce-Gtx285-Graphics-Pci-express/dp/B00G9TQMOE/
Check out Barefeats, again, for ideas if you want 'near best.'
A new gpu is $5000 cheaper than an overhaul and new MP.
A 2008 though will never perform as well as later models. Ideal is 2010 or later.
Even a top of the line iMac with GTX if you are having a lot of trouble and thinking of ditching the 2008.

Mac Pro Dual Quad Xeon 2.66, Lion, weird pattern on display, then died. Won't reboot. Did hardware diagnostics, says no problem. Video screen still has weird pattern, see apple, spins no boot. HELP!

Gee...I didn't know I was going to get a whole box to describe the problem. We took it apart, checked memory, it's ok. When I pried open the dvd and started from the install disc to run the hardware diagnostics, I pressed d. It didn't give me a choice about hard discs to start from, I have a snow leopard bootable disc ad a lion bootable disc. It didn't even see them.
I have work to do! Freakin.
So, it chimes, shows the apple with the pattern all over the screen and it spins, and then you see a progress bar. it doesn't go any further.

Take the card out and boot the machine.
The hit one of the volume up/down keys on keyboad. If you here the usual sound, it booted.
With any luck you have Screen Sharing enabled and can remotely log in.
But reaching desktop with the card out is pretty much proof that card is gone.
8800GT is black with 2 silver arrow shapes.
You can try removing heatsink (12 screws) and baking it. (google)
You have exacty NOTHING to lose, so 50/50 odds are worth a shot.

CS4 wont install on Mac Pro Dual Quad 2.8

I had installed PS and DW just fine, but I went to install IL, and Setup only asks for my Admin password and quits.
Any ideas?

Ok. I'll do my best. About a week ago, I used my CS4 Master Collection installer to install PS and DW. I had no issues. I don't use IL much, so I hadn't installed it. However, a font designer I'm working with asked that I send him an IL file of what I was looking for, so I went back into the installer to install IL. I double-clicked Setup. It asked me for my admin user name and password (this is the standard OS dialog, not Adobe's). I entered my user name and password. (I'm the only user, so I am the Admin). Setup stayed open just another few seconds and quit without any further error, or dialog.
I tried this several times, all with the same result.
I hope this is enough to get you started. Sorry I wasn't clearer before

Is Lion compatible with Mac Pro Intel Quad Core 3.0 GHz x 2?

I couldn't find Lion requirements. Sorry to post the question.
In About this Mac it also says:
MacPro2,1
1.33 bus speed
8 GB RAM
1.5 TB hard drive
Currently on OSX 10.6.8
Thanks
Steven

Lion Specs:
http://www.apple.com/macosx/specs.html

Running 10.6.8 on Mac Pro Dual-Core Intel Xeon 2.66GHz processors. Can I upgrade to Lion 10.7

I've just upgraded from 10.5 to 10.6.8 on a Mac Pro Dual-Core Intell Xeon, 2.66GHz. Is it possilbe to upgrade to Lion 10.7 with my Mac Pro Dual Core or have I just hit my ceiling on 10.6.8 update ?

Mac Pros are not PowerMacs. In 2006, Apple changed all its cheesegrater enclosure Macs to have the Xeon chip installed, and changed the name to Mac Pro at that that time from PowerMac G5. That said, all Mac Pros can upgrade to a minimum of 10.7.5. Only the earliest ones can't upgrade to 10.8 and above. 10.7 and later do not have Rosetta, the ability to run PowerPC (pre-2006) applications natively. For other pitfalls, read this tip.

The AVI Radeon X1900 XT video card in my Mac Pro Dual-Core went bad and I need to replace it. I found one that is $250 but I don't think that I need the gaming-type processor. I am using a 23" Apple Display. Are there lower cost options? -C

The Radeon X1900 XT video card went bad in my Mac Pro Dual-Core Intel Xeon. (I tried it with a good one at the office). I found one online that was $250. I don't need the gaming capacity of this card and was wondering if there were less expensive video cards that I could use in this machine. I run Adobe Creative Suites for graphics design and have a 23" Apply display. Thank you for any help that you can provide. -PretzelMcK

Then pick up the ATI 5770 AND upgrade to 10.6.8.
Same price for a good card that will work and helps to have 1GB VRAM.
There aren't any other real choices let alone less expensive.
Even the ebay links I had and not a lot of choices.

Powerbook Ti to Mac Pro dual

Hi all its been a while since i have been in here, switcher 4 years ago when i bought my Ti 1Ghz now its time to upgrade as i am improving my art skills. I am thinking about Mac Pro Dual Core 2G ram etc, and a nice new 23" display. But i am concerend that my Photoshop CS2 may run slow under rosetta ( any one using the same ) Because i will not be able to afford to upgrade the software as well and also should i wait a month or two until we know when Leopard is going to be launched, I dont want to have to fork out for that 2weeks later either. Any advice on what i can expect on the performance side would be kind, oh and if you are wondering in 4 years only 1 Kernel Panic and never let me down or lost data. Its been the best....and now i want more...... need the banks help though....bummer eh never mind life is for living cheers in advance all.
regards
sparkd

As long as you know to install 4GB RAM, you will be fine. And reinstall from scratch your PPC programs or it won't run worth a darn. Mac Pro is light-years, 500% boost easily. It is/was 275% boost over G4 MDD.
Even if Leopard shipped tomorrow, I would probably caution on making it primary OS until it has had a couple updates, like 10.5.3, and CS3 has had a couple months of kicking the tires.
I like to either buy a system that earns income and pays off, or cash-only so I am not paying for plastic, setting aside $100/month since the G5 came out 3+ yrs ago knowing I would be buying something.
Even an iMac or MacBook Pro would be a big improvement. And you can save on Apple Specials.

Aja Kona Card (Migrating from G5 to Mac Pro Dual-Core)

I own a small video production company.
I am migrating from an old G5 to a Mac Pro Dual Core given to me. The Aja Kona card doesn't fit into the Mac Pro Dual-Core, as the card slots are different.
Any way to adapt the G5 compatible card to the Mac Pro slots? I would only use for importing older analog media, as the newer HD stuff we shoot is brought in electronically.
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DW

Thanks, Grant.
I gave the G5 to my kids, so I'll probably just keep the Kona card/bundle in there until needed, hook up the appropriate VCR/VTR, and then dump the captured footage onto a HD to bring onto the Mac Pro. Too bad there isn't some internal/external adapter solution...

Mac Pro: dual vs quad and other ?

Looking to upgrade my computer for my small business to a more robust machine. I run 3 screens at all times and generally keep 4-8 tabs open on my web browser for various sites that I input order info into. One of the tabs has Google Voice open for phone calls. I have a huge multi-thousand line Excel Spreadsheet open at all times for accessing client information. Also I keep Mail, Skype and Reminders open all the time. I copy and paste items all day long from one application to the other. Everything is backed up to the cloud and I run a 3TB external drive just in case for Time Machine.
I'm seeing the color wheel of death on my current machine that I've decided my wife needs since her's is even worse.
I'd like to go with a Mac Pro for my business (not the new one coming in Dec. 2013) but a slightly older new/used version tower.
I'd like 16GB RAM minimum.
My issue is I don't understand the difference Graphics Cards or the difference in the processor speeds and Dual vs Quad vs 6 and 8 Core.
Any assistance in guiding me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.

The silver 65lb tower is no longer for sale new or refurbished from Apple.
With the 2103 Mac Pro about to be released, you should not spend money on a Mac Pro older than a 2009 model. If you need to add RAM to these models, they do not require pairs. Do not buy modules (for these models) smaller than 8GB per module. [Two 4GB costs more.]
For what you are doing, you need big RAM far more than you need really big compute power. The dual socket Mac Pros (for 8-core and 12-core models) cost more than twice as much, and are overkill for your use. [Natural use of the 8core or 12-core is for Ray Tracing or Scene Rendering.]
The cards that came with those models include the Apple-firmware 4870 (supports two displays), the 5770 or the 5870 (each supports three displays with the right adapters). Any of those will be fine. The NVIDIA GT120 (supports two displays) was also an option, but is not quite as powerful a card, but should work fine. If you need to run two GT120 cards, you need to run 10.8.5 or Mavericks.

HT1338 I have a Mac Pro Dual Core, 3 Ghz, that I purchased in the Spring of 2007. What is the latest OS that i can upgrade to? And is that OS compatible with Logic 10?

I have a Mac Pro Dual Core, 3 Ghz, that I purchased in the Spring of 2007. What is the latest OS that i can upgrade to? And is that OS compatible with Logic 10?

Logic Pro 10 requires OSX 10.8.4, which is not officially supported on your Mac Pro (must be Early 2008).
There are, however, unofficial workarounds to install 10.8 on those older models that you can search for on Google.

ATSServer CPU @ 200% LOCKS-UP Mac Pro dual quad-core desktop

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