Comments on: Something Screwy Found in a New Mac Pro

By: Jerimy

Jerimy — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 05:40:11 +0000

Hi, I just had something similar happen to me on my 3 ghz mac pro (refurbished) that I just got. The video card was bent out in back (the card was good in back). I don’t know what happened if this left quality control and missed inspection or damaged while packing. Anyway, thought you would be interested.
Thanks!
Jerimy

By: Joe

Joe — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 05:53:13 +0000

Say, other than the loose screws. can anyone tell me how well the Mac Pro models work? I’d like to hear your feedback. Would you recommend that I buy one? I’m using a G5 right now, but I’m thinking of upgrading to a Mac Pro in the future. How would you assess:

1. the performance running Windows apps
2. Peformance running OS X apps
3. quality of the machine/value for the money
4. glitches (if any) with exiting hardware/software out there
5. Ease of maintaining the machine
6. Ease or difficulty in acquiring memory of peripherals for this model
7. Other performance issues

Or–should I wait for the next generation of Intel Macs with the Quad Cores?

THX, Joe

By: Mike M

Mike M — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 19:58:48 +0000

I purchased a Mac Pro a couple weeks ago. When moving the system, I noticed that it sounded like there was a loose screw in the bottom of the system unit. Since the bottom part of the unit is difficult to access, I couldn’t see it though I could hear it. Anyway, I took the system unit back to the Apple Store to the “genious” and he performed “level 2 hardware maintenance” in the back room and removed a screw that had apparently fallen in to the wiring in the bottom of the unit and been overlooked during system construction. He said that it was low enough in the unit that it should not have damaged the motherboad.

By: Marcia

Marcia — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 22:27:11 +0000

The eMac that we purchased in August 2003 had something loose in it when we took it out of the box. We took it back to the store to be removed by an Apple service tech. He found a loose screw but we didn’t see what kind it was. The computer has worked just fine ever since.

By: eodchop

eodchop — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 16:39:00 +0000

I will pop the cover off the side of my mac pro tonight and see if these screws look like they go to anything. I think they are heat sink screws.

By: Michael Potter

Michael Potter — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 14:04:25 +0000

As I normally buy refurbished Macs, and am always pleased with their condition, I was VERY surprised when I opened a brand new iMac, unpacked the keyboard and THREE keys fell off and into my lap.

Many people would see this as “defective” and not know that the keys could be easily snapped back in to place.

The point being, I’m generally very, very happy with the quality of Apple products, but this sure made me stop and wonder if QA was on break that day…

By: CalebC

CalebC — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 12:42:14 +0000

Its possible that the screws belong to the heatsinks (they may screw into the holes on the right side of that image). Since the heatsinks seem to be firmly in place on my machine, perhaps the person reponsible for installing them accidentally dropped extras in the case.

Thanks eodchop and chibianh.

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 04:07:43 +0000

no i dont think it looks like that

By: chibianh

chibianh — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 01:55:22 +0000

i agree with the previous commenter.. kinda looks like the heatsink screws. Here’s a link to the pic

http://powermax.download-files.net/macpro2/processor_sinc.jpg

By: eodchop

eodchop — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 15:57:01 +0000

I think those are the screws that hold the heat sinks in place over top of the xeons? Anypne else have any idea?

By: James "Psy" Kocsis

James "Psy" Kocsis — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 19:25:54 +0000

Free screws?!?! I’m getting a MacPro.

By: MRW|DESIGN

MRW|DESIGN — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 16:39:01 +0000

It looks like a screw for a paralell port or serial port cable / connector. Why this would be near a mac these days is beyond me. Just a thought.

By: Nate

Nate — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 19:15:51 +0000

Methinks its one of those 4:58PM on a Friday jobs, haha

By: CalebC

CalebC — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 19:07:59 +0000

I am the person who sent this issue to Adam and he was kind enough to try to help me with it. I am not upset at Apple for this error, I am just a bit concerned that a problem will arise later in the life of the machine (and I assure you that I do not have any motives other then the well being of my machine). I have always assumed that this was a simple mistake by a technician that happened to slip through the cracks of QA.

That being said, I really appreciate the feedback in the comments. The next time I shutdown my Mac, I will examine the power supply a bit closer. I do not believe that the screws are used to anchor the motherboard (they are 1 1/8″ long).

I love this machine (it is incredibly quiet and fast) and recommend it for anyone interested in purchasing a high-end desktop (Mac or PC).

By: BruceG

BruceG — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 05:28:31 +0000

Here’s something I thought of — and no proof of course, but suppose this listener had an ulterior motive — such as embarrassing Apple or Adam, and contrived this story. After-all, we don’t have any proof that this is what actually happened. A photo of screws, lugs or whatever could have nothing to do with the Mac Pro at all. All we have is what this individual claims happened.

By: Simpson

Simpson — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 01:08:32 +0000

I have used both Macs and PC’s since the the mid 80’s and Apple has always been at the top of quality when it comes to hardware, and of course they charge a premium for that. I don’t think that has changed and I do believe Apple still sweats bullets to keep that rep.

It seems hard to believe that this kind of thing would make it through QC, but stranger things have happened, this is - so far - an anomaly and should be treated so, NOT a sign the Apple quality is going downhill.

Nobody is perfect, no company is perfect.

and let’s face it, setting up factory’s in the US or Europe would be financial suicide, and WOULD NOT insure any better level of quality.

By: Alrui

Alrui — Sat, 19 Aug 2006 18:46:50 +0000

I dont believe there are actual “QA” departments in the majority of manufacturing companies these days (I have no clue about what a “production” facility looks like in China or any other 3rd world country & probably dont want to). My manufacturing background if from the “old days” where there were many layers of quality control & screws flopping around in the case would have been caught for sure. My bet on those screws is they are used in the power supply to case attachment.

By: Rod

Rod — Sat, 19 Aug 2006 14:01:03 +0000

The screws look something similar to screws that are used to anchor a motherboard to a chassis. In a PC there are about 4-5 similar types that are used for this purpose. I believe the quality control section should have caught this anomoly in production.
If they fell in, and lodged in between parts, unless the machine was turned over or like action it would have been difficult to see them. I can only hope this is not a sign of future Apple related issues (quality)

By: Colin

Colin — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 20:40:53 +0000

I getting more concerned that Apples quality is slipping, in order to make the price competitive.

I’m also concerned for Apples employees in China, its reported that many workers have to work more then 60 hours per week.

I would like to see Apple set up factory’s In America and Europe , both countries would benefit from the badly needed jobs

Apple be careful otherwise you may stop a lot of newbies moving over to the apple platform, remember the Ipod cant sustain a company forever

By: Avner

Avner — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 20:34:34 +0000

Apple seems to be trying very hard to push prices down so they can open up a to a larger market and better compete with PC manufacturers, as Steve pointed out in his WWDC keynote. I’d hate to think that such quality control issues and issues such as we’ve been seeing with the new MacBooks and MacBook Pros are the price we have to pay for that.

No pun intended here either