Mac Pro early 2008 no chime and does not start up

Hi All,
My MacPro early 2008 will start up beautifully today, but the next day .....nothing.
No power light comes on, no chime, memory riser board leds all come on.
It looks/sounds like only the hard drives power up and the fan from the video card spins.
But for the rest nothing.
It can take several days before it will start again.
When it runs and I switch it off it will not switch back on again.
Tried all tricks in the book for resetting, but still random result.
I have 4Gb of memory, changed it out for a different set...no difference.
I have the standard video card it came with and a new Radeon 5770....no difference.
Tried different HD....and no HD installed, no difference.
Machine is very clean inside because it is cleaned on a regular base.
I am starting to suspect the power supply.
But i am not an expert in this and help in South Africa unfortunately is not around the corner.
I had problems with this machine before when it still was under 3 years warranty.
It took me 4 months to get it back fixed with everything working again.
I had to send it back 3 times to get all issues sorted.
So....yes i am a bit worried to go this route again and now all costs are on me.
Is there anybody out there with similar issues that can help me sort out where to look for ?
And is it still worth to fix it or not ?
Like to hear from you.
Cheers, Kavango

go to a black screen after 15 minutes or a couple hours
That is probably an indication that you need to find a new graphics card.
RE: Mac Pro Replacement Graphics cards
1) Apple brand cards,
2) "sold in the Apple store" cards, and
3) "Mac Edition" cards ...
... show all the screens, including Boot up screens, Safe Mode, Installer, Recovery, debug screens, and Alt/Option boot screens. At this writing, these choices include:
1) Apple brand cards:
• Apple-firmware 5770, about US$250** works near full speed in every model Mac Pro, Drivers in 10.6.5
• Apple-firmware 5870, about US$450
2) "sold in the Apple store" cards
• NVIDIA Quadro 4000, about US$1200
• NVIDIA Quadro 5000, about US$2500
3) "Mac Edition" cards -- REQUIRE 10.8.3 or later:
• SAPPHIRE HD 7950 3GB GDDR5 MAC Edition, about US$480** Vendor recommends Mac Pro 4,1
• EVGA GTX 680 Mac Edition, about US$600
The cards above require no more than the provided two 6-pin aux power connectors provided in the Mac Pro through 2012 model. Aux cables may not be provided for third-party cards, but are readily available.
If you are Meet ALL of these:
• running 10.8.3 or later AND
• don't care about "no boot screens" etc AND
• can re-wire or otherwise "work out" the power cabling, THEN:
You can use many more cards, even most "PC-only cards"

Similar Messages

Mac Pro (early 2008) No chime, pixelated white apple screen

My Mac Pro (early 2008) stopped working this morning. It was working fine yesterday, but did not start today.
i Press the power button, and there is no chime. The fan whirls around and the cd disc drive makes a noise. The startup screen shows up with Pixelated black bars across the whole screen.
this his stays onscreen, freezes for a few minutes, then restarts And continues the cycle of freezing and restarting.
iI've tried to reset the smc and pram and that hasn't done anything.
i've cleaned the inside of the computer, checked the RAM and graphics card, they seem to be in good working order.
does anyone know what's wrong with it?

Hi BDAqua
i tried safe boot. The white apple screen still comes up pixelated but with a grey loading bar at the bottom. Once the bar has loaded fully, nothing happens. it stays frozen on that screen until I have to force it to shutdown by pressing and holding the power button on the front of the tower.
i Tried holding the alt key. It brings up the devices, the screen is still pixelated. Pressing either one of the disk drives, didn't do anything new Unfortunately.
https://mobile.twitter.com/SundeepToor/status/559966340883415040/photos
hopefully you can see what my screen looks like in the link.

Mac Pro early 2008 2 x 2.8GHz Quad Core 10.7.5, replaced 4 x 500ghds with 4 x 3Tb and Raid card Raid5 them OK but can not load time machine back up as it does not see any of the 4 drives, neither does disc utilities, any thoughts?

On my Mac Pro, early 2008 2 x 2.8GHz Quad Core 10.7.5, replaced 4 x 500ghds with 4 x 3Tb. The Raid card Raid 5ed them OK but can not load time machine back up as it does not see any of the 4 drives, neither does disc utilities, any thoughts?

You don't see drives when using a hardware RAID only the volumes.
WD Green are not suitable for hardware RAID (or software RAID for that matter).
USB2 and TimeMachine are a disaster waiting to happen. I've used SATA (internal) and eSATA (using SATA PCIe cards) trouble-free.
I can't say I begin to understand your use or "choosing the install drive for the backup"
Install what?
You don't load TimeMachine. Maybe seems minor but that is not how to describe the behavior of software.
You read FAQ and How To http://www.apple.com/support/timemachine
Time Machine’s Gory Details:
https://www.apple.com/support/timemachine/
TimeMachine 101
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427
Lion Recovry & TimeMachine
http://www.apple.com/support/lion/installrecovery/
http://www.apple.com/support/lion/
How To Restore Your System
http://pondini.org/TM/14.htmlMac OS X v10.7 Lion
Pondini's Blog: Time Machine - Troubleshooting -- B5. Would you like to inherit (or re-use) the backup . . . ?

Mac Pro Early (2008) and ATI Radeon X1900 XT

Hey, I recently got the new Mac Pro (2008), and wanted to put my old ATI Radeon X1900 XT in my new machine, however when i put it in the extra wide x16 PCIe 2.0 slot, secured it and fired up my machine, the screen remained black and the fans went constantly on full speed, i swapped over the DVI to the other graphics card, ATI Radeon HD 2600 in slot 2. In system profiler it didn't recognise the X1900 XT.
According to the apple site, a PCIe 1.1 card can be put in a 2.0 slot and vice versa, so im not quite sure why its not working!
Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated .
Chris

It appears that you can run the 1900 xt in the new Mac Pro early 2008. Rob Morgan has benchmarked the results. Apparently it works well in gaming, however, it does not offer all that much over the stock 2600 xt for Motion performance. With Motion the 1900 XT was only a few seconds faster than 2600 XT. Good luck.
Go to http://www.barefeats.com/quick.html

MAC PRO (Early 2008) RAID CARD ISSUE - SYSTEM FREEZEHello (hopefully someone can shed some light on my issue) I own as above a MAC PRO (Early 2008) this has a RAID card installed along with two 15k.7 cheetah hdd (320gb) and a spare drive, (which i m

Hello (hopefully someone can shed some light on my issue)
I own as above a MAC PRO (Early 2008) this has a RAID card installed along with two 15k.7 cheetah hdd (320gb) and a spare drive, (which i made a regular drive)
a while ago i had to replace the RAID card battery, so i did this, over a year later the same thing happened again, but as previous just left it and the system seemed fine for ages, until last night i was working in PHOTOSHOP and everything just froze and the screen kind of appeared GREEN, could not do a single thing. So restarted the mac, this time grey screen for ages and a message appeared, (macs version of blue screen) (see attached).
I restarted the machine and this time a flashing question mark folder!
could not do a thing.
so i found my copy of snow leopard and got the computer to run this and at least launch the DISK UTILITY and (Interestingly in the drop down menu RAID UTILITY was also in the menu) but it did not matter which utility i used the (RAID or DISK) neither could see any of drives, just the dvd drive.
so looked around on you tube and various forums and discovered if i take out the RAID CARD and re-plug the main lead from the RAID card back in to the LOGIC BOARD I would be reverting the MAC to a normal regular non-RAID computer.
After performing this HARDWARE task and inserting all three HDD, and running the DISK utility from the drop down menu via the SNOW LEOPARD disc.
(interestingly since the RAID card had been removed the RAID UTILITY from the drop down menu no longer appeared). running disk utility I can now only see the regular (spare) hdd and DVD Drive, but the two RAID HDD , again, still do not show up DISK UTILITY?
O.K. so i could chuck out the RAID card (AND RAID HDD) and just go with a regular set-up, and run a back restore from Time Machine on a NEW hdd purchased.
but what is wrong with the RAID, is the card at fault or are both HDD used for the RAID knackered? can i perform any tests, to see whats what?
thanks for your help in advanced.

hello people, the issue was in fact the GRAPHICS card nothing to do with the HDD or RAID system ( although this did cause issues with the RAID system it basically lost its way) below is my replay to another similar problem some one else had!
working in photoshop and then everything stopped working and the lot froze! only option was to force shutdown (via button).
and try to restart, hoping all was fine, this was not the case :-(
I had the added issue of the RAID card system, that i have, this was confused to say the lease and would not behave or work, causing the start up to hang.
so i thought the HDD must be bust and the root cause. ( but soon learnt it was not the cause )
...bought a new HDD removed the RAID card and replugged the cable from RAID card into LOGIC board, ( making the computer act like any normal non-RAID system). I managed to install the OSX, using the snow leopard disk way. once the mac was running, i started to notice the screen would flicker and started to see 'artefacts'. so i started to reveal my symptoms to the web and forums and soon discovered that my graphics card could be the issue all along?.
(nvidia geforce 8800gt 2x dvi).
I read up on that a fix, could be either A. reply the thermal paste, as the card could be over heating or B. stick the card in the oven trick.
Tried option A. first and nothing still issues, so last night took the plunge carried out option B. and ta da it worked! i even managed to run
from my new HDD my lasted install OS X, absolutely fine. I then thought, maybe i could repair my RAID so replugged all the HARDWARD back in and
carried out a disk repair and disk permissions on drives( took a small amount of time), via the SNOW LEOPARD disc - (Disk utilities) and this worked and now have my system working as it was just over 6 days ago.
what was the cost to get this? bought a new hdd so 40.00gbp and thermal paste and cleaner kit ( your still need to do this ) search video card trick on you tube.
and renew thermal paste, approx 15.00gbp, technically i don't need the new HDD, but it was all part of the trial and error way i went. ( i do have extra storage as a result!)"

Hello. My mac pro early 2008 restarts after sleep mode and it works slower. I tested it with apple hardwear test and it seems to be ok. Thank you.

Hello. My mac pro early 2008 restarts after sleep mode and it works slower. I tested it with apple hardwear test and it seems to be ok. Thank you.

Try this:
clone your system and repair it with Disk Warrior instead
Or try a clean test system install on another drive
A must: SmcFanControl 2.2 - a mere 400 rpm extra to keep air cooling up
Try to run w/o externals. MyBook included.
Is that a 7200.11 1TB? they had a lot of issues.
Run AHT off your OEM DVD.
2008 had to have EFI and SMC updates to deal with freezes on wake from sleep, and like all models, high inrush current. Hopefully you have a UPS and is 1500VA unit.
When you do hard restart from power button, you almost certainly add more directory errors and to files requiring immediate attention to repair and rebuild the directory; and to scan and repair and delete cache and temp files and folders. A must. Invest in bootable backups SuperDuper along with Disk Warrior (or TechTool Pro 6, maybe Drive Genius 3 but I'd rate that #3).
TimeMachine has its own bad habits, especially with Green drives and some externals.
Try to rule out everything and then add back one at a time.
And it may just be time to replace the 8800, very common, a couple threads this week, and it is 3 yrs old. Might want ATI 5870 or 5770.

Mac Pro (Early 2008) and HP LP3065 30" display compatibility issue

Hello!
Is there FIX / Workaround to Mac Pro (Early 2008) and HP LP3065 30" display compatibility issue ? ( +w/ ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT display adapter+ ). Its really annoying problem :-/.
Main problem is when i start my Mac, my 30" HP screen dosen't wake up, it always on suspend mode. Sometimes it wakes up on the 3rd try orso, sometimes it ruins my motivation, ideas and i give up (talk about inspiration killer). If i connect PC Laptop to that screen, sreen wakes up straight away. ATI says display adapters "drivers" are included on the OSX install. Great. Weird thing is i didn't recognize this problem at all 6-8 months ago, so i thought my system is fine. So i can't return my HP screen anymore.
My choices are to buy another 30" screen or buy different display adapter; there's two choices atm i think;
*-ATI Radeon HD 3870 512MB PCI-E for Mac Pro (~200€)*
*-EVGA GeForce GTX 285 Mac Edition 1GB (~500€)* (this one has seperate OSX drivers).
_Can anyone confirm if those display adapters work with HP 3065 30" screen ?._
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=687624
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=9388978
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1794155&tstart=60
Br,
Petri

Thanks for all information. I haven't been Mac user very long . I just want to get rid of my annoying problem. I'll do music composing mainly on my Mac Pro. So, it dosen't really matter what display card i'm using, i want to just make sure it works with HP 3065 .

What's the best graphic card for FCP X and a Mac Pro (early) 2008?

I have a Radeon HD 3870 in my Mac Pro, it seems that I cannot use this configuration with Final Cut Pro X. Then what's the best graphic card for FCP X usable in a Mac Pro (early) 2008?
Thx,
Phil

You can get a 5770 radeon ATI MAC card
Avoid the 5770 cards on ebay and Amazon - many are black market or manipulated cards.
Buy it from Apple online store or B&H photo or Macconection
And in my case, I was able to sell my old 2600 XT card on ebay for $65 and put that money toward a 5770 card (Which was about $230 minus the $65)
I installed the 5770 in my early Mac Pro 2 x 2.8 and it works great

Difference between mac pro early 2008 and 2008

What is the difference between mac pro early 2008 and 2008? There are specs warning me it won't work on early 2008 but it will on 2008 models when I'm looking for components to buy. Is this true?

Not true.
There is 3,1, there was nothing else.
you can pull up Apple Support Mac Pro specs easy enough and tell by RAM speed and other items - or go to Everymac.com even.
All we need and what you could have done is taken the top line of System Profile that tells the model.

Mac Pro Early 2008 not booting

Hey guys!
I walked into a problem with a Mac Pro early 2008 model.
I got this Mac Pro from somebody since it wasn't working anymore. I was told there could be a graphic card (Nvidia) issue which I think should at least be correct but I am also having trouble with loading EFI. The following things happen:
When I turn on the mac using a DVI to VGA adapter i have no screen at all. (I don't have any other options atm)
There is no HD inserted.
PRAM and SMC reset won't do anything, i'm not even sure it reads keyboard commands.
The fans all work even the one on the GPU.
Front LED just burns steady.
No lights on my USB (non Apple) Keyboard turn on.
The lights of the mouse just flashes on start up.
RAM LEDS light up on startup.
Motherboard reset button doesn't make anything change.
When I Press the button for the diag LED's, the Trickle Power and the Good Power led come on, the GPU LED stays off. The EFI LED is off aswel.
No RAM errors show up. Tried switching RAM and disconnecting RAM and GPU.
No startup chime what so ever.
I figured there could be something wrong with the EFI firmware (or logic board is just broken). I am trying to restore the firmware with a firmware restoration cd, but I can't get the cd tray to open. I pressed the on button and kept pressing it for a long time. All it does is makes my status LED flash a couple of times real fast, but then it goes back to normal state. No cd tray is opening and its not flashing 3 times fast, 3 time slow, 3 times fast as it probely should be doing.
You guys have any idea what to try next or how to restore the firmware?
Thanks in advance.

there's a boot code to run with the older machines
Pike wrote this code
Using this code will get you around the efi/boot issue and move on to OS 10.10.02
Installing Yosemite just prior to entering the efi/boot, then restart twice.
You'll need to research Pike's code, but your 2006 to 2008 machines are long ways from trash.
I'm upgrading my 2006 to 8 cores, Yosemite and 32 gig of ram.
Long live these early Mac Pros
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&v ed=0CB8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fforums.mac…
maybe your issue is not related

Mac Pro Early 2008 - random reboots!

Hello!
I have a problem with my Mac Pro Early 2008...
Processor 2 x 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon
Memory 10 GB 800 MHz DDR2 FB-DIMM
Graphics NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT 512 MB
Software OS X 10.8.4 (12E55)
...ther screen will break up into random blocky pattern (like the video card freezes) and the Mac will reboot, kernel panic basically...
...3 months ago i updated the RAM from 6gb to 10gb, but haven't done anything else to the **** thing.
...it's done it five times in the last two days now.
...here is my lates panic report...this happened 10 minutes ago.
...does this report make sense to anyone?
===================================
Interval Since Last Panic Report: 1997046 sec
Panics Since Last Report:          3
Anonymous UUID:                    E39A1BFB-D1E1-D614-7991-B49386694DC1
Wed Jul 24 16:56:33 2013
panic(cpu 1 caller 0xffffff801669e53b): "TLB invalidation IPI timeout: " "CPU(s) failed to respond to interrupts, unresponsive CPU bitmap: 0x4, NMIPI acks: orig: 0x0, now: 0x0"@/SourceCache/xnu/xnu-2050.24.15/osfmk/x86_64/pmap.c:2337
Backtrace (CPU 1), Frame : Return Address
0xffffff813feeb960 : 0xffffff801661d626
0xffffff813feeb9d0 : 0xffffff801669e53b
0xffffff813feeba50 : 0xffffff80166a3a3a
0xffffff813feebae0 : 0xffffff80166a53a6
0xffffff813feebb00 : 0xffffff8016664406
0xffffff813feebbf0 : 0xffffff801666706c
0xffffff813feebce0 : 0xffffff801666b0e0
0xffffff813feebd10 : 0xffffff8016665bdf
0xffffff813feebd40 : 0xffffff8016717554
0xffffff813feebd70 : 0xffffff80167197c3
0xffffff813feebdc0 : 0xffffff801691184f
0xffffff813feebdf0 : 0xffffff80169062e6
0xffffff813feebea0 : 0xffffff80166fa0af
0xffffff813feebed0 : 0xffffff80166f37a7
0xffffff813feebf30 : 0xffffff80166fa029
0xffffff813feebf50 : 0xffffff80169e16aa
0xffffff813feebfb0 : 0xffffff80166ce9c3
BSD process name corresponding to current thread: launchd
Mac OS version:
12E55
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 12.4.0: Wed May 1 17:57:12 PDT 2013; root:xnu-2050.24.15~1/RELEASE_X86_64
Kernel UUID: 896CB1E3-AB79-3DF1-B595-549DFFDF3D36
Kernel slide:     0x0000000016400000
Kernel text base: 0xffffff8016600000
System model name: MacPro3,1 (Mac-F42C88C8)
System uptime in nanoseconds: 14846309182590
last loaded kext at 3120916610267: com.apple.filesystems.smbfs    1.8.4 (addr 0xffffff7f98562000, size 229376)
last unloaded kext at 410364773343: com.apple.driver.StorageLynx    3.1.7 (addr 0xffffff7f9853e000, size 8192)
loaded kexts:
com.Logitech.Control Center.HID Driver    3.6.0
com.metakine.handsoff.driver    2.0.8
com.apple.filesystems.smbfs    1.8.4
com.apple.driver.Oxford_Semi    3.1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor    1.9.5d0
com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC    1.60
com.apple.filesystems.autofs    3.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient    3.5.10
com.apple.driver.AppleHDA    2.3.7fc4
com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl    1.1.11
com.apple.iokit.CSRBluetoothHCIControllerUSBTransport    4.1.4f2
com.apple.GeForce    8.1.2
com.apple.iokit.IOUserEthernet    1.0.0d1
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager    4.1.4f2
com.apple.driver.AppleLPC    1.6.0
com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X    7.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleMCEDriver    1.1.9
com.apple.driver.ApplePolicyControl    3.4.5
com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin    1.0.0
com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient    3.5.5
com.apple.driver.XsanFilter    404
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage    2.3.1
com.apple.driver.AppleIntel8254XEthernet    3.1.1b1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub    5.5.5
com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI    4.9.6
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless    1.0.0d1
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib    1.0.0d1
com.apple.BootCache    34
com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort    2.5.2
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelPIIXATA    2.5.1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI    5.5.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBUHCI    5.2.5
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM    1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons    1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC    1.5
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET    1.8
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS    1.9
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC    1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC    1.6
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient    196.0.0
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall    4.0.39
com.apple.security.quarantine    2.1
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement    196.0.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice    3.5.5
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireSerialBusProtocolTransport    2.1.1
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireSBP2    4.2.2
com.apple.kext.triggers    1.0
com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib    2.3.7fc4
com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily    1.8.9fc11
com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib    1.6
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusController    1.0.11d0
com.apple.nvidia.nv50hal    8.1.2
com.apple.NVDAResman    8.1.2
com.apple.iokit.IOSurface    86.0.4
com.apple.iokit.AppleBluetoothHCIControllerUSBTransport    4.1.4f2
com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily    10.0.6
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController    2.3.7fc4
com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily    2.3.7fc4
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP    2.2.5
com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl    3.4.5
com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport    2.3.7
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily    2.3.7
com.apple.driver.AppleSMC    3.1.4d2
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginLegacy    1.0.0
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily    5.3.0d51
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHIDKeyboard    170.2
com.apple.driver.AppleHIDKeyboard    170.2
com.apple.driver.IOBluetoothHIDDriver    4.1.4f2
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily    4.1.4f2
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver    5.2.5
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub    5.5.5
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite    5.2.5
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice    3.5.5
com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily    1.7
com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily    1.7.1
com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily    1.7.1
com.apple.iokit.IOATAPIProtocolTransport    3.5.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily    3.5.5
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient    5.5.5
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily    4.5.5
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily    3.0
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily    2.3.1
com.apple.iokit.IOATAFamily    2.5.1
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily    5.6.0
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily    1.8.1
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime    1.7
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily    1.1
com.apple.security.sandbox    220.3
com.apple.kext.AppleMatch    1.0.0d1
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet    7
com.apple.driver.DiskImages    345
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily    1.8
com.apple.driver.AppleKeyStore    28.21
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform    1.7
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily    2.7.3
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily    1.4
com.apple.kec.corecrypto    1.0
System Profile:
Model: MacPro3,1, BootROM MP31.006C.B05, 8 processors, Quad-Core Intel Xeon, 2.8 GHz, 10 GB, SMC 1.25f4
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT, NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT, PCIe, 512 MB
Memory Module: DIMM Riser B/DIMM 1, 2 GB, DDR2 FB-DIMM, 800 MHz, 0x0D9B, 0x000000000000000000000000000000000000
Memory Module: DIMM Riser B/DIMM 2, 2 GB, DDR2 FB-DIMM, 800 MHz, 0x0D9B, 0x000000000000000000000000000000000000
Memory Module: DIMM Riser A/DIMM 1, 2 GB, DDR2 FB-DIMM, 800 MHz, 0x802C, 0x3138484632353637324A4438304545314434
Memory Module: DIMM Riser A/DIMM 2, 2 GB, DDR2 FB-DIMM, 800 MHz, 0x802C, 0x3138484632353637324A4438304545314434
Memory Module: DIMM Riser A/DIMM 3, 1 GB, DDR2 FB-DIMM, 800 MHz, 0x80AD, 0x48594D5035313241373243503844332D5335
Memory Module: DIMM Riser A/DIMM 4, 1 GB, DDR2 FB-DIMM, 800 MHz, 0x80AD, 0x48594D5035313241373243503844332D5335
Bluetooth: Version 4.1.4f2 12041, 2 service, 18 devices, 1 incoming serial ports
Network Service: Ethernet 1, Ethernet, en0
PCI Card: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT, sppci_displaycontroller, Slot-1
Serial ATA Device: ST3500630AS P, 500.11 GB
Parallel ATA Device: PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-112D
USB Device: hub_device, 0x0409 (NEC Corporation), 0x005a, 0xfd400000 / 2
USB Device: Keyboard Hub, apple_vendor_id, 0x1006, 0xfd410000 / 4
USB Device: USB Laser Mouse, 0x046d (Logitech Inc.), 0xc069, 0xfd413000 / 6
USB Device: Apple Keyboard, apple_vendor_id, 0x0221, 0xfd412000 / 5
USB Device: EIZO USB HID Monitor, 0x056d (Eizo), 0x0002, 0xfd430000 / 3
USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller, apple_vendor_id, 0x8206, 0x5d200000 / 2
FireWire Device: built-in_hub, 800mbit_speed
FireWire Device: OEM ATA Device 00, G-TECH, 800mbit_speed
==============================

...and this is my report from yesterday when it last happened to me...
==============================
Tue Jul 23 22:05:20 2013
panic(cpu 5 caller 0xffffff80156b8655): Kernel trap at 0xffffff7f96aed154, type 14=page fault, registers:
CR0: 0x0000000080010033, CR2: 0x0000000000000010, CR3: 0x00000000238e8000, CR4: 0x0000000000000660
RAX: 0x0000000000000001, RBX: 0xffffff811be18000, RCX: 0xffffff802e224e98, RDX: 0xffffff813df6ba38
RSP: 0xffffff813df6bb60, RBP: 0xffffff813df6bb60, RSI: 0x0000000000000000, RDI: 0x0000000000000000
R8: 0x0000000000000000, R9: 0x00000000000003ff, R10: 0xffffffffffffffff, R11: 0x00000000ffffffff
R12: 0xffffff811be18000, R13: 0x0000000000000000, R14: 0x0000000000000002, R15: 0x0000000000000000
RFL: 0x0000000000010246, RIP: 0xffffff7f96aed154, CS: 0x0000000000000008, SS: 0x0000000000000010
Fault CR2: 0x0000000000000010, Error code: 0x0000000000000000, Fault CPU: 0x5
Backtrace (CPU 5), Frame : Return Address
0xffffff813df6b800 : 0xffffff801561d626
0xffffff813df6b870 : 0xffffff80156b8655
0xffffff813df6ba40 : 0xffffff80156ce17d
0xffffff813df6ba60 : 0xffffff7f96aed154
0xffffff813df6bb60 : 0xffffff7f96ad6844
0xffffff813df6bbb0 : 0xffffff7f96ad679a
0xffffff813df6bbd0 : 0xffffff7f96ab228e
0xffffff813df6bc00 : 0xffffff7f95c913a0
0xffffff813df6bc40 : 0xffffff7f95c9130f
0xffffff813df6bc60 : 0xffffff7f95c9675c
0xffffff813df6bcf0 : 0xffffff7f95c8ee50
0xffffff813df6bd20 : 0xffffff7f95ce01cf
0xffffff813df6bd70 : 0xffffff8015a33efb
0xffffff813df6bdc0 : 0xffffff8015a65297
0xffffff813df6be30 : 0xffffff801569874f
0xffffff813df6be80 : 0xffffff8015620b3d
0xffffff813df6beb0 : 0xffffff8015610448
0xffffff813df6bf00 : 0xffffff801561961b
0xffffff813df6bf70 : 0xffffff80156a6536
0xffffff813df6bfb0 : 0xffffff80156ce9e3
      Kernel Extensions in backtrace:
         com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.3.7)[990D1A42-DF16-3AB9-ABC1-6A88AC142244]@0 xffffff7f95c85000->0xffffff7f95cbcfff
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.7.3)[1D668879-BEF8-3C58-ABFE-FAC6B3E9A292]@0xffff ff7f95c46000
         com.apple.NVDAResman(8.1.2)[96AE69DE-8A37-39D0-B2D3-D8446A6AA670]@0xffffff7f95c dc000->0xffffff7f95f81fff
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.7.3)[1D668879-BEF8-3C58-ABFE-FAC6B3E9A292]@0xffff ff7f95c46000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.3.7)[6C8CFC18-75F0-3DEF-86C7-CEB2C1FD6BB1]@0xff ffff7f95cc8000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.3.7)[990D1A42-DF16-3AB9-ABC1-6A88AC142244]@0 xffffff7f95c85000
         com.apple.GeForce(8.1.2)[7EC545A4-4B57-32F1-8DC3-C31023AFBDCB]@0xffffff7f96aae0 00->0xffffff7f96b7bfff
            dependency: com.apple.NVDAResman(8.1.2)[96AE69DE-8A37-39D0-B2D3-D8446A6AA670]@0xffffff7f95c dc000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.3.7)[6C8CFC18-75F0-3DEF-86C7-CEB2C1FD6BB1]@0xff ffff7f95cc8000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.7.3)[1D668879-BEF8-3C58-ABFE-FAC6B3E9A292]@0xffff ff7f95c46000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.3.7)[990D1A42-DF16-3AB9-ABC1-6A88AC142244]@0 xffffff7f95c85000
BSD process name corresponding to current thread: WindowServer
Mac OS version:
12E55
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 12.4.0: Wed May 1 17:57:12 PDT 2013; root:xnu-2050.24.15~1/RELEASE_X86_64
Kernel UUID: 896CB1E3-AB79-3DF1-B595-549DFFDF3D36
Kernel slide:     0x0000000015400000
Kernel text base: 0xffffff8015600000
System model name: MacPro3,1 (Mac-F42C88C8)
System uptime in nanoseconds: 43990035275
last loaded kext at 33162859687: com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC    1.60 (addr 0xffffff7f96d60000, size 32768)
loaded kexts:
com.Logitech.Control Center.HID Driver    3.6.0
com.metakine.handsoff.driver    2.0.8
com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC    1.60
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager    4.1.4f2
com.apple.driver.AppleTyMCEDriver    1.0.2d2
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAHardwareConfigDriver    2.3.7fc4
com.apple.driver.AppleHDA    2.3.7fc4
com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient    3.5.10
com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl    1.1.11
com.apple.filesystems.autofs    3.0
com.apple.iokit.IOUserEthernet    1.0.0d1
com.apple.GeForce    8.1.2
com.apple.iokit.CSRBluetoothHCIControllerUSBTransport    4.1.4f2
com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X    7.0.0
com.apple.driver.ApplePolicyControl    3.4.5
com.apple.nvidia.NVDAStartup    8.1.2
com.apple.driver.AppleMCEDriver    1.1.9
com.apple.driver.AppleLPC    1.6.0
com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin    1.0.0
com.apple.driver.CSRHIDTransitionDriver    4.1.4f2
com.apple.driver.AppleFireWireStorage    3.1.7
com.apple.driver.initioFWBridge    3.1.7
com.apple.driver.IOFireWireSerialBusProtocolSansPhysicalUnit    3.1.7
com.apple.driver.LSI_FW_500    3.1.7
com.apple.driver.Oxford_Semi    3.1.7
com.apple.driver.StorageLynx    3.1.7
com.apple.driver.PioneerSuperDrive    3.1.7
com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient    3.5.5
com.apple.driver.XsanFilter    404
com.apple.driver.AppleFileSystemDriver    3.0.1
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless    1.0.0d1
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib    1.0.0d1
com.apple.BootCache    34
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage    2.3.1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub    5.5.5
com.apple.driver.AppleIntel8254XEthernet    3.1.1b1
com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI    4.9.6
com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort    2.5.2
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelPIIXATA    2.5.1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI    5.5.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBUHCI    5.2.5
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM    1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons    1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC    1.5
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET    1.8
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS    1.9
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC    1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC    1.6
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient    196.0.0
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall    4.0.39
com.apple.security.quarantine    2.1
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement    196.0.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily    10.0.6
com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib    2.3.7fc4
com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily    1.8.9fc11
com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib    1.6
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusController    1.0.11d0
com.apple.kext.triggers    1.0
com.apple.nvidia.nv50hal    8.1.2
com.apple.NVDAResman    8.1.2
com.apple.iokit.IOSurface    86.0.4
com.apple.iokit.AppleBluetoothHCIControllerUSBTransport    4.1.4f2
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController    2.3.7fc4
com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily    2.3.7fc4
com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl    3.4.5
com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport    2.3.7
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily    2.3.7
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP    2.2.5
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI    1.0.11d0
com.apple.driver.AppleSMC    3.1.4d2
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginLegacy    1.0.0
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily    5.3.0d51
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice    3.5.5
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHIDKeyboard    170.2
com.apple.driver.AppleHIDKeyboard    170.2
com.apple.driver.IOBluetoothHIDDriver    4.1.4f2
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily    4.1.4f2
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver    5.2.5
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireSerialBusProtocolTransport    2.1.1
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireSBP2    4.2.2
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub    5.5.5
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite    5.2.5
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice    3.5.5
com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily    1.7
com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily    1.7.1
com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily    1.7.1
com.apple.iokit.IOATAPIProtocolTransport    3.5.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily    3.5.5
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily    3.0
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient    5.5.5
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily    4.5.5
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily    2.3.1
com.apple.iokit.IOATAFamily    2.5.1
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily    5.6.0
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily    1.8.1
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime    1.7
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily    1.1
com.apple.security.sandbox    220.3
com.apple.kext.AppleMatch    1.0.0d1
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet    7
com.apple.driver.DiskImages    345
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily    1.8
com.apple.driver.AppleKeyStore    28.21
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform    1.7
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily    2.7.3
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily    1.4
com.apple.kec.corecrypto    1.0
==============================

Can't install montain lion, mavericks or yosemite on my mac pro early 2008 8core

I tried installing mountain lion mavericks and yosemite on my mac pro early 2008 I upgraded the video card to see if that was the problems and still the same the problem is that after installing even during install the mouse moves super slow and the keyboard won't work at all so I can't entern
any information this is with a clean install and even if I update lion it does the same everything works fine on lion 10.7.5 problems there does any one know what could be the issue here? I'm only running one monitor and its the 30 inch cinema display here are the specst of my machine excuse my grammar and spelling it was never my favorite subject
Model Name: Mac Pro
Model Identifier: MacPro3,1
Processor Name: Quad-Core Intel Xeon
Processor Speed: 2.8 GHz
Number of Processors: 2
Total Number of Cores: 8
L2 Cache (per Processor): 12 MB
Memory: 8 GB
Bus Speed: 1.6 GHz
Boot ROM Version: MP31.006C.B05
SMC Version (system): 1.25f4
Serial Number (system): G881111VXYK
Hardware UUID: 714C0BE4-9A35-5C33-BF74-0F55F7C31B5F
AMD Radeon HD 6870:
Chipset Model: AMD Radeon HD 6870
Type: GPU
Bus: PCIe
Slot: Slot-1
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 1024 MB
Vendor: ATI (0x1002)
Device ID: 0x6738
Revision ID: 0x0000
ROM Revision: 007-NETKAS-ORG
EFI Driver Version: 01.00.507
Displays:
Cinema HD:
Display Type: LCD
Resolution: 2560 x 1600
Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)
Display Serial Number: CY03018WXMP
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Rotation: Supported
ECC: Enabled
DIMM Riser B/DIMM 1:
Size: 2 GB
Type: DDR2 FB-DIMM
Speed: 667 MHz
Status: OK
Manufacturer: 0x014F
Part Number: 0x5453324741504D41435038502D5420202020
Serial Number: 0x00031CFB
DIMM Riser B/DIMM 2:
Size: 2 GB
Type: DDR2 FB-DIMM
Speed: 667 MHz
Status: OK
Manufacturer: 0x014F
Part Number: 0x5453324741504D41435038502D5420202020
Serial Number: 0x00031CFB
DIMM Riser A/DIMM 1:
Size: 1 GB
Type: DDR2 FB-DIMM
Speed: 667 MHz
Status: OK
Manufacturer: 0x80AD
Part Number: 0x48594D5035313241373243503844332D5335
Serial Number: 0x01431026
DIMM Riser A/DIMM 2:
Size: 1 GB
Type: DDR2 FB-DIMM
Speed: 667 MHz
Status: OK
Manufacturer: 0x80AD
Part Number: 0x48594D5035313241373243503844332D5935
Serial Number: 0x57656411
DIMM Riser B/DIMM 3:
Size: Empty
Type: Empty
Speed: Empty
Status: Empty
Manufacturer: Empty
Part Number: Empty
Serial Number: Empty
DIMM Riser B/DIMM 4:
Size: Empty
Type: Empty
Speed: Empty
Status: Empty
Manufacturer: Empty
Part Number: Empty
Serial Number: Empty
DIMM Riser A/DIMM 3:
Size: 1 GB
Type: DDR2 FB-DIMM
Speed: 667 MHz
Status: OK
Manufacturer: 0x80AD
Part Number: 0x48594D5035313241373243503844332D5335
Serial Number: 0x01172313
DIMM Riser A/DIMM 4:
Size: 1 GB
Type: DDR2 FB-DIMM
Speed: 667 MHz
Status: OK
Manufacturer: 0x80AD
Part Number: 0x48594D5035313241373243503844332D5335
Serial Number: 0x01172714
Intel ESB2 AHCI:
Vendor: Intel
Product: ESB2 AHCI
Link Speed: 3 Gigabit
Negotiated Link Speed: 3 Gigabit
Description: AHCI Version 1.10 Supported
WDC WD5000AAKS-00A7B0:
Capacity: 500.11 GB (500,107,862,016 bytes)
Model: WDC WD5000AAKS-00A7B0
Revision: 01.03B01
Serial Number:     WD-WMASY0158891
Native Command Queuing: Yes
Queue Depth: 32
Removable Media: No
Detachable Drive: No
BSD Name: disk2
Medium Type: Rotational
Bay Name: Bay 1
Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)
S.M.A.R.T. status: Verified
Volumes:
disk2s1:
Capacity: 209.7 MB (209,715,200 bytes)
BSD Name: disk2s1
Content: EFI
HD:
Capacity: 499.25 GB (499,248,103,424 bytes)
Available: 484.82 GB (484,820,348,928 bytes)
Writable: Yes
File System: Journaled HFS+
BSD Name: disk2s2
Mount Point: /Volumes/HD
Content: Apple_HFS
Recovery HD:
Capacity: 650 MB (650,002,432 bytes)
BSD Name: disk2s3
Content: Apple_Boot
WDC WD5000AAKS-00A7B0:
Capacity: 500.11 GB (500,107,862,016 bytes)
Model: WDC WD5000AAKS-00A7B0
Revision: 01.03B01
Serial Number:     WD-WMASY0158891
Native Command Queuing: Yes
Queue Depth: 32
Removable Media: No
Detachable Drive: No
BSD Name: disk2
Medium Type: Rotational
Bay Name: Bay 1
Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)
S.M.A.R.T. status: Verified
Volumes:
disk2s1:
Capacity: 209.7 MB (209,715,200 bytes)
BSD Name: disk2s1
Content: EFI
HD:
Capacity: 499.25 GB (499,248,103,424 bytes)
Available: 484.82 GB (484,820,348,928 bytes)
Writable: Yes
File System: Journaled HFS+
BSD Name: disk2s2
Mount Point: /Volumes/HD
Content: Apple_HFS
Recovery HD:
Capacity: 650 MB (650,002,432 bytes)
BSD Name: disk2s3
Content: Apple_Boot
Intel ESB2 AHCI:
Vendor: Intel
Product: ESB2 AHCI
Link Speed: 3 Gigabit
Negotiated Link Speed: 3 Gigabit
Description: AHCI Version 1.10 Supported
HDS725050KLA360:
Capacity: 500.11 GB (500,107,862,016 bytes)
Model: HDS725050KLA360
Revision: K2AOAB5A
Serial Number:       KRVN67ZBHBEEAH
Native Command Queuing: Yes
Queue Depth: 32
Removable Media: No
Detachable Drive: No
BSD Name: disk1
Medium Type: Rotational
Bay Name: Bay 2
Partition Map Type: MBR (Master Boot Record)
S.M.A.R.T. status: Verified
Volumes:
UNTITLED 1:
Capacity: 500.11 GB (500,107,860,992 bytes)
Available: 449.41 GB (449,412,988,928 bytes)
Writable: Yes
File System: MS-DOS FAT32
BSD Name: disk1s1
Mount Point: /Volumes/UNTITLED 1
Content: DOS_FAT_32
HDS725050KLA360:
Capacity: 500.11 GB (500,107,862,016 bytes)
Model: HDS725050KLA360
Revision: K2AOAB5A
Serial Number:       KRVN67ZBHBEEAH
Native Command Queuing: Yes
Queue Depth: 32
Removable Media: No
Detachable Drive: No
BSD Name: disk1
Medium Type: Rotational
Bay Name: Bay 2
Partition Map Type: MBR (Master Boot Record)
S.M.A.R.T. status: Verified
Volumes:
UNTITLED 1:
Capacity: 500.11 GB (500,107,860,992 bytes)
Available: 449.41 GB (449,412,988,928 bytes)
Writable: Yes
File System: MS-DOS FAT32
BSD Name: disk1s1
Mount Point: /Volumes/UNTITLED 1
Content: DOS_FAT_32
Intel ESB2 AHCI:
Vendor: Intel
Product: ESB2 AHCI
Link Speed: 3 Gigabit
Negotiated Link Speed: 3 Gigabit
Description: AHCI Version 1.10 Supported
HDS725050KLA360:
Capacity: 500.11 GB (500,107,862,016 bytes)
Model: HDS725050KLA360
Revision: K2AOAB5A
Serial Number:       KRVN67ZAK1RKSF
Native Command Queuing: Yes
Queue Depth: 32
Removable Media: No
Detachable Drive: No
BSD Name: disk0
Medium Type: Rotational
Bay Name: Bay 3
Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)
S.M.A.R.T. status: Verified
Volumes:
disk0s1:
Capacity: 209.7 MB (209,715,200 bytes)
BSD Name: disk0s1
Content: EFI
machd:
Capacity: 499.25 GB (499,248,103,424 bytes)
Available: 372.42 GB (372,419,407,872 bytes)
Writable: Yes
File System: Journaled HFS+
BSD Name: disk0s2
Mount Point: /
Content: Apple_HFS
Recovery HD:
Capacity: 650 MB (650,002,432 bytes)
BSD Name: disk0s3
Content: Apple_Boot
HDS725050KLA360:
Capacity: 500.11 GB (500,107,862,016 bytes)
Model: HDS725050KLA360
Revision: K2AOAB5A
Serial Number:       KRVN67ZAK1RKSF
Native Command Queuing: Yes
Queue Depth: 32
Removable Media: No
Detachable Drive: No
BSD Name: disk0
Medium Type: Rotational
Bay Name: Bay 3
Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)
S.M.A.R.T. status: Verified
Volumes:
disk0s1:
Capacity: 209.7 MB (209,715,200 bytes)
BSD Name: disk0s1
Content: EFI
machd:
Capacity: 499.25 GB (499,248,103,424 bytes)
Available: 372.42 GB (372,419,407,872 bytes)
Writable: Yes
File System: Journaled HFS+
BSD Name: disk0s2
Mount Point: /
Content: Apple_HFS
Recovery HD:
Capacity: 650 MB (650,002,432 bytes)
BSD Name: disk0s3
Content: Apple_Boot
Intel ESB2 AHCI:
Vendor: Intel
Product: ESB2 AHCI
Link Speed: 3 Gigabit
Description: AHCI Version 1.10 Supported
Intel ESB2 AHCI:
Vendor: Intel
Product: ESB2 AHCI
Link Speed: 3 Gigabit
Description: AHCI Version 1.10 Supported
Intel ESB2 AHCI:
Vendor: Intel
Product: ESB2 AHCI
Link Speed: 3 Gigabit
Description: AHCI Version 1.10 Supported

Try this:
clone your system and repair it with Disk Warrior instead
Or try a clean test system install on another drive
A must: SmcFanControl 2.2 - a mere 400 rpm extra to keep air cooling up
Try to run w/o externals. MyBook included.
Is that a 7200.11 1TB? they had a lot of issues.
Run AHT off your OEM DVD.
2008 had to have EFI and SMC updates to deal with freezes on wake from sleep, and like all models, high inrush current. Hopefully you have a UPS and is 1500VA unit.
When you do hard restart from power button, you almost certainly add more directory errors and to files requiring immediate attention to repair and rebuild the directory; and to scan and repair and delete cache and temp files and folders. A must. Invest in bootable backups SuperDuper along with Disk Warrior (or TechTool Pro 6, maybe Drive Genius 3 but I'd rate that #3).
TimeMachine has its own bad habits, especially with Green drives and some externals.
Try to rule out everything and then add back one at a time.
And it may just be time to replace the 8800, very common, a couple threads this week, and it is 3 yrs old. Might want ATI 5870 or 5770.

Mac Pro Early 2008 crash after gear on boot

Hi. I have a Mac Pro (Early 2008), with Mavericks installed. A couple of days ago, it crashed hard (in Portal, as it happens) and then wouldn't boot. When it was crashing it showed full green in various (dark? or random?) areas of the screen, and then random vertical lines of coloured noise. The cursor went jerky, and then stopped moving at all. Having decided this was a more serious problem than a simple steam error, I forced the machine to shut down with the case button, and then turned it back on again, but it wouldn't come up, and hasn't (with exceptions, see below) since.
The behaviour is:
Boot chime, Apple, Apple-with-spinning-gear, a sensible (it seems) amount of spinning gear, then the gear stops and I get some flashing on my screen (like, a complete red screen, or orange screen – colours vary – displayed for less than one refresh, so I see a brief flash of colour with tearing). Occasionally instead of flashing I get an unexpected reboot: once when this happened I also got the kernel's (multiple language) "Your computer restarted because of a problem" screen.
Safe Mode has the same problem (I get a progress bar, when the progress bar completes everything stops and "screen flashing" happens).
EFI boot volume selector works fine, but when I continue to boot, either from my main partition or the Recovery partition, I get the same problem.
Verbose mode works until the point where the graphical user interface should come back, which gives me a white screen and nothing (except screen flashing). I do get a certain amount of "kSMCBadArgumentError" before that point, but see below.
Single User Mode works as it should, fsck finds no errors, all my data appears to be on my hard drive as expected, but on typing "exit" to continue boot I end up in the same position as Verbose Mode. Trying kextload to load all my extensions gives the kSMCBadArgumentError lines, but no other problems (until I try to boot). I have already tried using SUM to remove all the launch agents/daemons/extensions from /Library/ (leaving only the ones in /System/Library/). This worked (I modified the disk as I intended) but didn't help me boot.
I did get the recovery partition to boot once (seemingly randomly), Disk Utility found no errors. The full Apple Hardware Test doesn't seem to be an option from the recovery partition? (I've moved house a few times in the last 6 years, and I don't know where my physical AHT disk is any more. I do have a friend who would probably be able to burn one if Apple provides the disk image as a download.) I have had a full successful boot once too (maybe on the restart after using the recovery partition?) which let me use my administrator user perfectly (I used it for about 5 minutes?), but then after logging out and while trying to log in as my "standard" user I got full green noise as before, and the machine locked up again.
I've rotated my RAM (I have 2x1GB sticks and 2x2GB, as well as my usual 6GB config I've tried each of the pairs in "two-stick" configuration). No difference, except on one boot I got error lights (full on) on one riser, I assume that was because I hadn't seated it properly during rotation, because I took it out and put it back in again and I've not had the lights before or since.
I've also tried swapping in an older system drive, but that made no difference. (The old drive may have been a little flaky itself, but single-user mode booting reliably suggests, at least to me, that my normal drives aren't the problem?)
Without wishing to privilege a hypothesis, could it be the graphics card? I have the Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT, I believe (it looks exactly like the pictures of that card online, anyway) – installed by Apple at build time. I tried taking it out and putting it back in again, in case it had become poorly seated, but it seemed firmly in place – for example, the PCIe retainer clip was fully engaged before I removed the card – and reseating it didn't make any difference. I don't have a second card to test with, unfortunately. I wouldn't mind getting a new card to keep the machine running, of course, but I'd like to make sure that it's going to solve my problem before buying it!
Thanks for any help you can give!
Edited to correct OS field, which didn't work. I really do mean Mavericks.

RE: Mac Pro Replacement Graphics cards
1) Apple brand cards,
2) "sold in the Apple store" cards, and
3) "Mac Edition" cards ...
... show all the screens, including Boot up screens, Safe Mode, Installer, Recovery, debug screens, and Alt/Option boot screens. At this writing, these choices include:
1) Apple brand cards:
• Apple-firmware 5770, about US$250** works near full speed in every model Mac Pro, Drivers in 10.6.5
• Apple-firmware 5870, about US$450
2) "sold in the Apple store" cards
• NVIDIA Quadro 4000, about US$1200
• NVIDIA Quadro 5000, about US$2500
3) "Mac Edition" cards -- REQUIRE 10.8.3 or later:
• SAPPHIRE HD 7950 3GB GDDR5 MAC Edition, about US$480** Vendor recommends Mac Pro 4,1
• EVGA GTX 680 Mac Edition, about US$600
The cards above require no more than the provided two 6-pin aux power connectors provided in the Mac Pro through 2012 model. Aux cables may not be provided for third-party cards, but are readily available.
If you are Meet ALL of these:
• running 10.8.3 or later AND
• don't care about "no boot screens" etc AND
• can re-wire or otherwise "work out" the power cabling, THEN:
You can use many more cards, even most "PC-only cards"

Mac Pro (early 2008) keyboard stops working

My Mac Pro (early 2008) has the Apple USB extended keyboard go no ops after the computer has been on for a while. This has been happening for quite a while and began shortly after I installed 10.6. It seemed to disappear for a while after 10.6.6 showed up but has returned since 10.6.8 has arrived. It seems to happen only when the computer goes to sleep but it does not happen every time. But it does happen most times. It appears that all USB ports on the back of my Apple monitor become unusable when this happens.
Anyone have any ideas? This has the feel of the sleep issue this model had with an early OS a few years ago.
MacPro3,1, 10.6.8, 32 GB RAM, dual 32 GHz quad-core Xeon chips, 4 bays populated, 1 TB, 2 TB, 2 TB, 2 TB

Scott..
Try a Safe Mode boot...
Startup your Mac in Safe Mode
A Safe Mode boot takes a longer than a normal boot so be patient.
Once you are in Safe Mode, click Restart from the Apple () menu.
Then try the keyboard.
A Safe Mode deletes some system caches that may help, especially after an update.

Mac Pro (Early 2008) periodically crashes in unusual way, requires reinstall

Mac Pro (Early 2008), 2 x Intel Quad-core Xeon 3.2 GHz (8 cores), 14 GB RAM, 3 TB hard drive, NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 and/or ATI Radeon HD 4870), OS X Lion 10.7.4
OK, I've got a weird one here. Every few days, my machine crashes in an unusual manner. Examples:
* the first time this happened, any attempt to play a video file (either from within iTunes or externally using Quicktime) would result in a blank, black video window, but I could still hear the sound from the video. If I moved my mouse within the black window I'd get playback controls and when pressed, I could hear the audio rewind/fast forward/etc. (but of course the video window would remain black) Also, any attempt to use screen sharing would result in a completely white window where the remote screen should be.
* another time this happened, I would constantly get the error message that VTDecoderXPCService quit unexpectedly, even if I wasn't playing a video. Trying the suggested fixes from https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3193904?start=15&tstart=0 did not fix the issue.
* another time this happened, the machine appeared to work fine, except any attempt to access System Preferences resulted in the spinning beach ball of death and would completely lock up the machine.
In any case, rebooting the machine does not result in the problem being fixed -- in fact, it gets worse. After I reboot, I am unable to log in to my machine at all. Either the desktop window flashes briefly but then it goes back to the login screen, or the login screen never appears. I have tried both the "guest" account as well as a standard "test" user I set up when I first installed OS X (i.e. a "clean" user), and none of those help.
What *does* help, however, is completely reinstalling OS X Lion (including running the combo updater to get back to 10.7.4). Once I do this, the machine becomes usable again, and I can use it error-free for a few more days - after which it fails again in some strange manner.
At first I thought my hard drive might be failing; however replacing the hard drive did not help. I then thought that I might have a glitchy graphics card (the black video windows and the VTDecoderXPCService crashing suggested this to me). However replacing the video card didn't help either. (I tried another GeForce GT 120 as well as an ATI Radeon HD 4870, both of which were known to be good in other machines). I have also tried countless times fixing permissions, clearing cache files, etc. and none of that helps. The only thing that brings this machine back from the dead is, like I said before, reinstalling OS X - but only for a few days.
I didn't see anything out of the ordinary when checking the system log files.
In case there was some sort of hardware problem going on, I tried running Apple Hardware Test overnight in loop mode. The hardware passed all checks. I also tried running Memtest86+ overnight, again with no failures or errors.
The machine doesn't seem to me to run particularly hot - typically temps hover in the 40-45 C range, and can jump to 55-60 when doing heavy activity (mostly video encoding). Voltage levels look good as well. (I'm using iStat Menus for both the temperature and voltage readings)
I'm about at my wit's end here. Unfortunately the machine is out of warranty (AppleCare too) and I don't really have the money to take this into a shop and get it diagnosed. So does anyone have any ideas?

Results from Step 1:
com.rogueamoeba.InstantOn (5.0.2)
com.squirrels.driver.AirParrotSpeakers (1.7)
com.squirrels.airparrot.framebuffer (3)
com.attotech.driver.ATTOiSCSI (3.4.1b1)
com.avatron.AVExVideo (1.6.1)
com.makemkv.kext.daspi (1)
com.blackmagic-design.iokit.DeckLinkFrameBuffer (9.5.2)
com.blackmagic-design.iokit.DeckLinkHD_Driver (1.0.0)
com.blackmagic-design.iokit.DeckLinkDriver (9.5.2)
com.kensington.trackballworks.driver (1.1.0)
com.Cycling74.driver.Soundflower (1.5.3)
net.telestream.driver.TelestreamAudio (1.0.5)
com.avatron.AVExFramebuffer (1.6.1)
foo.tun (1.0)
foo.tap (1.0)
com.parallels.kext.prl_usb_connect (7.0
com.parallels.kext.prl_hypervisor (7.0
com.parallels.kext.prl_hid_hook (7.0
com.parallels.kext.prl_netbridge (7.0
com.parallels.kext.prl_vnic (7.0
Results from Step 2:
com.agilebits.onepassword-osx-thumbs
com.parallels.vm.prl_naptd
de.bernhard-baehr.sleepwatcher
com.squirrels.kextinstaller
com.parallels.desktop.launchdaemon
com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper
com.datarobotics.ddserviced
com.datarobotics.ddservice64d
com.blackmagic-design.streaming.BMDStreamingServer
com.bjango.istatlocaldaemon
Results from Step 3:
com.agilebits.onepassword-osx-helper
net.culater.SIMBL.Agent
com.parallels.vm.prl_pcproxy
com.parallels.DesktopControlAgent
com.parallels.desktop.client.launch
com.delicioussafari.DeliciousSafariAgent
com.blackmagic-design.DesktopVideoFirmwareUpdater
com.bjango.istatlocal
com.google.keystone.user.agent
com.adobe.AAM.Scheduler-1.0
Results from Step 4:
/Library/Components:
total 0
/Library/Extensions:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x 4 root wheel 136 May 31 12:21 fuse4x.kext/
drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 102 Apr 27 13:45 tap.kext/
drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 102 Apr 27 13:45 tun.kext/
/Library/Frameworks:
total 24K
lrwxr-xr-x 1 root wheel 71 Jun 4 14:47 AEProfiling.framework -> ../../Applications/Motion.app/Contents/Frameworks/AEProfiling.framework
lrwxr-xr-x 1 root wheel 74 Jun 4 14:47 AERegistration.framework -> ../../Applications/Motion.app/Contents/Frameworks/AERegistration.framework
drwxr-xr-x 6 root wheel 204 Apr 6 2011 Adobe AIR.framework/
lrwxr-xr-x 1 root wheel 74 Jun 4 14:47 AudioMixEngine.framework -> ../../Applications/Motion.app/Contents/Frameworks/AudioMixEngine.framework
drwxr-xr-x 6 root wheel 204 Jun 4 17:20 NyxAudioAnalysis.framework/
drwxr-xr-x 6 root wheel 204 Jun 4 17:20 PluginManager.framework/
drwxrwxr-x 6 dburr admin 204 Aug 9 2011 Turbo264.framework/
drwxrwxr-x 6 root admin 204 May 14 23:19 iLifeFaceRecognition.framework/
drwxrwxr-x 7 root admin 238 May 14 23:19 iLifeSlideshow.framework/
/Library/Input Methods:
total 0
/Library/InputManagers:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x 4 root wheel 136 Oct 27 2011 DeliciousSafari/
drwxr-xr-x 5 root admin 170 May 15 07:05 Ecamm/
/Library/Internet Plug-Ins:
total 16K
drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 102 Oct 25 2010 AdobePDFViewer.plugin/
drwxrwxr-x 3 root wheel 102 Jun 1 17:48 Flash Player.plugin/
lrwxr-xr-x 1 root wheel   80 Jun 4 15:30 JavaAppletPlugin.plugin -> //System/Library/Java/Support/CoreDeploy.bundle/Contents/JavaAppletPlugin.plugi n/
drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 102 Jun 16 2011 Quartz Composer.webplugin/
drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 102 Jun 19 2011 QuickTime Plugin.plugin/
drwxrwxr-x 3 root admin 102 Aug 25 2010 SharePointBrowserPlugin.plugin/
drwxrwxr-x 3 root admin 102 Aug 25 2010 SharePointWebKitPlugin.webplugin/
drwxrwxr-x 3 root admin 102 Apr 11 10:26 Silverlight.plugin/
-rw-rw-r-- 1 root admin 856 Apr 27 12:13 flashplayer.xpt
drwxrwxr-x 3 root wheel 102 May 15 10:27 npContributeMac.bundle/
-rw-r--r-- 1 root wheel 2.4K Jun 4 14:46 nsIQTScriptablePlugin.xpt
/Library/Keyboard Layouts:
total 0
/Library/LaunchAgents:
total 64K
-rw-rw-rw- 1 root wheel 612 May 15 10:11 com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root wheel 456 May 15 07:08 com.bjango.istatlocal.plist*
-rw-r--r-- 1 root wheel 574 May 24 22:05 com.blackmagic-design.DesktopVideoFirmwareUpdater.plist
-rw-r--r-- 1 root wheel 576 Oct 27 2011 com.delicioussafari.DeliciousSafariAgent.plist
-rw-r--r-- 1 root wheel 721 Apr 5 10:21 com.parallels.DesktopControlAgent.plist
-rw-r--r-- 1 root wheel 565 Apr 5 10:21 com.parallels.desktop.launch.plist
-rw-r--r-- 1 root wheel 797 Apr 5 10:20 com.parallels.vm.prl_pcproxy.plist
-rw-r--r-- 1 root wheel 508 May 17 21:18 net.culater.SIMBL.Agent.plist
/Library/LaunchDaemons:
total 104K
-rw-rw-rw- 1 root wheel 634 May 15 10:15 com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist
-rw-r--r-- 1 root wheel 421 Jun 4 14:44 com.apple.remotepairtool.plist
-rw-r--r-- 1 root wheel 1.1K May 15 08:53 com.attotech.iscsid.plist
-rwxr-x--- 1 root wheel 597 May 15 07:08 com.bjango.istatlocaldaemon.plist*
-rw-r--r-- 1 root wheel 471 May 24 22:05 com.blackmagic-design.streaming.BMDStreamingServer.plist
-rw-r--r-- 1 root admin 488 Jan 18 22:50 com.datarobotics.ddservice64d.plist
-rw-r--r-- 1 root admin 484 Jan 18 22:50 com.datarobotics.ddserviced.plist
-rw-r--r-- 1 root admin 510 May 23 2011 com.econtechnologies.ChronoAgentRemote.plist
-rw-r--r-- 1 root wheel 568 Aug 25 2010 com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist
-rw-r--r-- 1 root wheel 567 Apr 5 10:21 com.parallels.desktop.launchdaemon.plist
-rw-r--r-- 1 root wheel 675 May 17 21:43 com.squirrels.kextinstaller.plist
-rw-r--r-- 1 root wheel 517 May 15 09:45 de.bernhard-baehr.sleepwatcher-20compatibility.plist
lrwxr-xr-x 1 root admin   74 Apr 4 17:45 org.macports.rsyncd.plist -> /opt/local/etc/LaunchDaemons/org.macports.rsyncd/org.macports.rsyncd.plist
lrwxr-xr-x 1 root admin   72 Apr 4 23:19 org.macports.slapd.plist -> /opt/local/etc/LaunchDaemons/org.macports.slapd/org.macports.slapd.plist
/Library/Mail/Bundles:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x 4 root admin 136 May 17 16:43 GPGMail.mailbundle/
drwxrwxr-x 4 root admin 136 Jan 11 12:54 OMiC.mailbundle/
/Library/PreferencePanes:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x 3 root admin 102 Feb 6 15:03 Air Display Preferences.prefPane/
drwxr-xr-x 3 root admin 102 Jun 27 2010 Choosy.prefPane/
drwxr-xr-x 3 root admin 102 Feb 3 11:21 ChronoAgent.prefPane/
drwxr-xr-x 4 root admin 136 May 15 09:13 Cursorcerer.prefPane/
drwxr-xr-x 3 root admin 102 May 24 22:05 DesktopVideoPrefsPanel.prefPane/
drwxrwxr-x 3 root wheel 102 Apr 27 12:14 Flash Player.prefPane/
drwxr-xr-x 3 root admin 102 May 20 12:13 Hazel.prefPane/
drwxr-xr-x 3 root admin 102 Jul 23 2011 Perian.prefPane/
drwxrwxr-x 3 root admin 102 Jul 18 2011 TrackballWorks.prefPane/
drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 102 Aug 30 2011 Tuxera NTFS.prefPane/
/Library/PrivilegedHelperTools:
total 168K
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root wheel 102K Aug 25 2010 com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root wheel 59K May 17 21:43 com.squirrels.kextinstaller*
/Library/QuickLook:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x 3 dburr staff 102 Feb 12 12:36 QLMarkdown.qlgenerator/
drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 102 Jun 16 2011 iWork.qlgenerator/
/Library/QuickTime:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x 3 root admin 102 Jul 23 2011 AC3MovieImport.component/
drwxrwxr-x 3 root admin 102 Sep 12 2011 AppleAVCIntraCodec.component/
drwxrwxr-x 3 root admin 102 Sep 12 2011 AppleHDVCodec.component/
drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 102 Jun 13 2011 AppleIntermediateCodec.component/
drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 102 Jun 13 2011 AppleMPEG2Codec.component/
drwxrwxr-x 3 root admin 102 Sep 12 2011 AppleProResCodec.component/
drwxr-xr-x 3 root admin 102 May 24 22:05 Blackmagic Codec.component/
drwxrwxr-x 3 root admin 102 Sep 12 2011 DVCPROHDCodec.component/
drwxrwxr-x 3 dburr admin 102 Aug 9 2011 Elgato Turbo.component/
drwxrwxr-x 3 root admin 102 Sep 12 2011 FCP Uncompressed 422.component/
drwxrwxr-x 3 root admin 102 Sep 12 2011 IMXCodec.component/
drwxr-xr-x 3 root admin 102 Jul 23 2011 Perian.component/
/Library/ScriptingAdditions:
total 0
drwxrwxr-x 3 root admin    102 May 15 10:54 Adobe Unit Types.osax/
drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel    102 Oct 27 2011 DeliciousSafari Addition.osax/
drwxr-xr-x 3 dburr macports 102 Jan 5 06:45 SIMBL.osax/
drwxr-xr-x 3 root admin    102 Apr 26 00:00 TotalFinder.osax/
/Library/Spotlight:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 102 Jan 21 2009 Microsoft Office.mdimporter/
drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 102 Jun 16 2011 iWork.mdimporter/
/Library/StartupItems:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x 5 root wheel 170 Apr 27 13:39 tap/
drwxr-xr-x 5 root wheel 170 Sep 1 2009 tun/
/etc/mach_init.d:
total 0
/etc/mach_init_per_login_session.d:
total 0
/etc/mach_init_per_user.d:
total 0
Library/Address Book Plug-Ins:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x 3 dburr admin 102 Mar 5 02:01 SkypeABDialer.bundle/
drwxr-xr-x 3 dburr admin 102 Mar 5 02:01 SkypeABSMS.bundle/
Library/Fonts:
total 0
Library/Frameworks:
total 0
drwxrwxrwx 5 dburr staff 170 Aug 24 2010 EWSMac-GC.framework/
drwxrwxrwx 5 dburr staff 170 May 17 22:42 EWSMac.framework/
Library/Input Methods:
total 0
-rw------- 1 dburr staff 0 May 14 15:18 .localized
Library/Internet Plug-Ins:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x 5 dburr staff 170 Feb 4 04:26 Google Earth Web Plug-in.plugin/
Library/Keyboard Layouts:
total 0
Library/LaunchAgents:
total 32K
-rw-r--r-- 1 dburr staff 697 May 15 11:01 com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist
-rw-r--r-- 1 dburr staff 618 May 15 08:13 com.apple.AddressBook.ScheduledSync.PHXCardDAVSource.AA278322-D5AB-4321-B4ED-D9 0478690405.plist
-rw-r--r-- 1 dburr staff 886 May 14 15:18 [email protected]ist
-rw-r--r-- 1 dburr staff 802 May 14 18:47 com.google.keystone.agent.plist
Library/Mail/Bundles:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x 4 dburr staff 136 Jan 23 09:53 MailActOn.mailbundle/
drwxr-xr-x 4 dburr staff 136 May 11 10:08 MailTags.mailbundle/
drwxr-xr-x 3 dburr staff 102 Apr 26 08:28 SpamSieve.mailbundle/
Library/PreferencePanes:
total 0
Library/Services:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x 3 dburr staff 102 May 15 10:04 ToastIt.service/
Library/Spotlight:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x 3 dburr staff 102 May 11 10:08 MailTags.mdimporter/
Results from Step 5:
Cobook, ScreenSharingMenulet, PhotoSync, Growl, PinPoint, EvernoteHelper, Caffeine, TrackballWorksHelper, Alfred, DropCopy Pro, Fantastical, Moom, TextExpander, ChronoSyncBackgrounder, TotalFinder, Yoink, AirDisplayStatusItem, Choosy, AirParrot, Melo, Synergy, Cursorcerer, ScreenCapture, HazelHelper, PleaseSleep, SMARTReporter, iTunesHelper, DDAssist, Dropbox

Mac Pro early 2008 no chime and does not start up

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