PDA

View Full Version : RED Rocket won't go to sleep?


sander kamp
03-06-2010, 03:31 AM
I have just installed a RED Rocket in my 2009 MacPro and have noticed that when I put the computer in sleep mode the monitor goes black but the computer doesn't. And when I try to wake it up sometimes the monitor just has random noise on it - no image. Pushing the power button gets the monitor into sleep mode again and waking it up gets an image again.

I am afraid not being able to put it into sleep mode will shorten the life of the board and the computer, as both tend to get pretty hot in the warm climate I live in.

Any solution? I tried re-installing the firmware and driver but that didn't make any difference.
Kevin Wild
03-06-2010, 07:09 AM
YES! This has only recently happened to us, too. We actually had to remove the card from the computer as the fans wouldn't turn off.
Bastiaan Houtkooper
03-06-2010, 12:37 PM
Same here no sleep mode anymore on my early MacPro and the card makes a hell lot of noise too. Would be great to be able to switch it off when not in use. Energy mode?????
Alexander Alexandrov
03-06-2010, 01:23 PM
same here.
sander kamp
03-06-2010, 05:23 PM
Same here no sleep mode anymore on my early MacPro and the card makes a hell lot of noise too. Would be great to be able to switch it off when not in use. Energy mode?????

True. My super-silent MacPro is suddenly not silent anymore.
Joel Jameson
03-07-2010, 10:19 AM
True. My super-silent MacPro is suddenly not silent anymore.

I got a message back from support and apparently by design it is the driver not allowing the computer to go to sleep.

I did submit a request to allow sleep over a month ago, but no response.

I did a work-around by installing a SSD boot drive, takes about 20 seconds to boot. Not convenient, but beats installing the card when needed, and pulling it out when not.
Deanan
03-07-2010, 12:17 PM
We're not able to do it due to current driver limitations but we're looking at ways around the limitations. However, there are higher priority items that have to be completed first.
sander kamp
03-07-2010, 01:41 PM
We're not able to do it due to current driver limitations but we're looking at ways around the limitations. However, there are higher priority items that have to be completed first.

Sorry to say but that doesn't seem good. Doesn't this shorten the life of the computer and the Rocket? I live in a hot climate and the computer running all the time is not something that I want. Yes, I have a SSD drive as start up drive but I have noticed start up and shut down of the computer have become longer as well with the card installed, so it is not comparable with putting the computer into sleep mode.

I think this should at least be mentioned in the installation guide.
Deanan
03-07-2010, 01:49 PM
Sorry to say but that doesn't seem good. Doesn't this shorten the life of the computer and the Rocket? I live in a hot climate and the computer running all the time is not something that I want. Yes, I have a SSD drive as start up drive but I have noticed start up and shut down of the computer have become longer as well with the card installed, so it is not comparable with putting the computer into sleep mode.

I think this should at least be mentioned in the installation guide.

Actually, shutting down (including sleep) shortens the lifespan of computers alot more than leaving it on. It's the main reason why servers are left on all the time.

Even so, we are working to add it if we can but we ran into some OSX limitations for now.
Mike Prevette
03-07-2010, 02:46 PM
Ahh, I was wondering about this.
Bastiaan Houtkooper
03-08-2010, 02:59 AM
Deanan, thanks for the honest answers, good to know it is on the list.

Off topic: my servers draw less than 200Watts but my MacPro doubles that very easily....
sander kamp
03-08-2010, 04:27 AM
Actually, shutting down (including sleep) shortens the lifespan of computers alot more than leaving it on. It's the main reason why servers are left on all the time.

Were did you find that information? The only thing I can find through google is that it actually does not shorten the lifespan of your computer here (http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer/5397661.html). And of course it costs electricity and the fans wear out if you leave it on.
Mike Prevette
03-08-2010, 09:55 AM
Were did you find that information? The only thing I can find through google is that it actually does not shorten the lifespan of your computer here (http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer/5397661.html). And of course it costs electricity and the fans wear out if you leave it on.


The truth lies somewhere in the middle. Electronics hate shock, any kind of shock thermally, physically, electrically. They like to operate at median operational spec all the time. The Mac Pro also has a relay in it's power supply, A physical electromagnetically operated switch and those can wear out over time. A single capacitor that is off spec can cause lots of cascading damage when powered off and on, when it might not cause as much damage when in full operational state. The fans have bearings these days almost as good as hard drives, and can spin for millions of revolutions without needing replacement. If they do go down they are a cheap part to replace.

The safest of all for the electronics is a low power "on" state. Sleep and the off/on cycle are the toughest. That being said computers that are properly designed are meant to handle it.