and discovered that it is missing an airport extreme wifi card
(yeah what's with that on a $2500+ computer !?)
purchasing and installing an Airport Extreme (802.11 a/b/g/n) card is a relatively easy process.
Aside from dragging your expensive (and heavy once you've added your 4 x 1TB drives) machine
into your local Apple Service Centre you can probably install it yourself....
Where I live currently (Paris, France) there is no Apple Store and the few reputable Service Centres would take over 2 weeks
to get the machine, order the part, install it and then remember to call me up to tell me it's ready.
...which is why I decided to research and do it myself.
NOTE: Just click on the pics to expand.
DISCLAIMER: If you follow the instructions below, it is at your own risk and you accept full responsibility for your machine and warranty.
This procedure worked for me but I’m not responsible for any damage you might do to your computer.
1. Choosing the right Airport Extreme Card
There are a number of versions floating around although its not clear exactly what the difference is between them, and how much each one is supposed to cost.
I may get this list a little wrong but so far this is what I've figured out (see pics as well):
MA688z/A - wireless LAN card for early (core duo) Macs
(this pic is apparently from an 'early' Macbook Pro)
- MA688Z_A 3.jpg (27.4 KiB) Viewed 9010 times
MA688z/B - wireless LAN card for core 2 duo Intel Mac Pros
(only a slight upgrade from the previous version - apparently circuit board layout changed)
- MA688Z_B.jpg (19.79 KiB) Viewed 9019 times
MB363Z/A - wireless LAN card for quad core Intel Mac Pros (early 2008)
- MB363Z_A.jpg (54.46 KiB) Viewed 8954 times
Here's an Apple discussion from early 2008 - but as you can see it's not still not entirely clear.
Like I say, I could have got these wrong - someone correct me if I have - but the point is this:
When I looked at what was supposedly a picture of each of these cards I noticed that they all looked pretty much the same...
All these cards have a similar OEM serial number which is BCM94321MCA.
...so I searched for the supplier of the cards which is Broadcom Corporation (headquarters in Irvine, California but pretty much everything made in China).
I found the card pretty easily and you can find the web page and pdf spec sheet here.
This is generally a lot cheaper than buying an Apple version which can cost anywhere from $49 to around $165 !!!
Try this search on Ebay with the keywords "broadcom wireless" or "broadcom wireless mac" and see what it comes up with
you'll usually get one sent from China for around $35 or less (incl postage)
Remember you're looking for the BCM94321MC which is the PCI Express Mini Card - there are a number of other types of BCM94321 (as you'll see in the spec sheet) - but these won't fit in your Mac Pro !!
Here are front and back pictures of the one that arrived:
- DSC_3307r.jpg (64.39 KiB) Viewed 8957 times
- DSC_3306r.jpg (57.62 KiB) Viewed 8929 times
As you can see it's very similar except for the perforations (cut-outs) in the front side... no big deal.
Apple obviously prefers to add their own metal top case with Apple ID etc etc. Makes sense I guess.
Interestingly, since I purchased mine there's a new model which has been added to the Broadcom site called the BCM94322MC and spec sheet
which is about half the size (they managed to fit all the elements on a single chip), uses 65 nanometre achitecture and gives a 50% power reduction (from 130 mW down to around 75mW - hey it all counts !)
- BCM4322.jpg (29.59 KiB) Viewed 8913 times
I think we'll start seeing these cards on the new Macbook series (coming 14th Oct 2008) and probably on the Mac Pro update in January 2009.
I'd be keen to try one, since it can apparently transmit at around 200 megabits/s of "actual wireless throughput" (which is a lot more than the 54 Mb/s for 802.11n)
however since it's half the size it probably won't screw into the circuit board mounting posts (more on that later).
2. Tools required:
1 x small Phillips head screw driver (preferably long shaft type, also preferably with a magnetised tip)
- DSC_3320r.jpg (42.09 KiB) Viewed 8892 times
1 x pair pliers with the ends wrapped in thick electrical insulation tape
so as not to scratch/damage the gold antenna wire connectors. See pic below - it's easy to do.
- DSC_3294r.jpg (54.9 KiB) Viewed 8885 times
3. Installation
Now installing the card isn't particularly hard if it's all done in the right order - and with a little patience - have a read first,
be sure to check out the photos so you know what to expect (and see if it's above your skill level):
A quick word about static:
Static electricity kills components because human bodies can generate a potential/charge within them (for various reasons) which can be released to components (if touched)
(like kids in school, scuffing shoes on carpet then touching classmates...)
You need to be at the same charge as your Mac Pro throughout this installation procedure - so that no static electricity flows suddenly from you to a component (or vice versa)
...which means you should be connected at all times to your Mac Pro case.
You can buy anti-static wrist bands which are effectively like tying a wire around your wrist and clipping it to your case
but you can also do this manually - by always having some skin touching the case (elbow, leg, wrist etc) and make sure that if you leave to get something
you touch the case first when you return (to equalise the charge in your body with that of your Mac Pro).
Again - make sure your Mac Pro is unplugged from mains power before doing any work on it !!
i. Turn off, disconnect Mac Pro and place on side on a soft surface (don't want to scratch it).
Make sure the left side (when you look from the front) is upwards.
- DSC_3264r.jpg (98.35 KiB) Viewed 8888 times
ii. Lift hatch release lever at the back of the machine and remove the (left) side.
Place this somewhere secure where it won't get scratched or fall on your feet (it's heavy).
Make sure to leave the level up or else it locks the hard drives in their positions.
If the hard drive locks look like this - red means locked - it means your lever has been pushed in (somehow?)
- DSC_3279r.jpg (64.05 KiB) Viewed 8862 times
If they look like this - aluminium/silver only - then hard drive trays are unlocked and your 'good to go' !
- DSC_3281r.jpg (60.57 KiB) Viewed 8866 times
iii. Remove hard disk trays 1 and 2 (they're labelled) to give access to the wifi antenna cables
which are usually stored somewhere underneath.
They can be a bit stiff but pull them slowly and surely. It may help to put 4 fingers under the tray
with your thumb above the drive trays on case (see below). Pull with your fingers and push with your thumb.
- DSC_3284r.jpg (54.45 KiB) Viewed 8861 times
Under no circumstances should you need to use a tool (screwdriver or pliers).
If it's that stiff then the drives are either locked in position (see above) or there's something wrong
so take it to a Service Centre rather than break your expensive machine !
iv. Take the drives out and place them somewhere clean, dry and non-magnetic.
Also (it goes without saying) don't touch any of the electrical parts... static electricity kills all sorts of things.
- DSC_3285r.jpg (69.31 KiB) Viewed 8839 times
v. Locate the antenna wires 1, 2 and 3 which will be attached to the wireless LAN card.
These are normally found at the top of the circuit board and labelled with fairly clear black labels
- DSC_3325r.jpg (78.62 KiB) Viewed 8822 times
As you can see the wires are black with gold ends, and a small plastic sleeve protecting the metal connector
(or rather protecting circuit board components from connecting to the aerial).
vi. Wires 1 and 3 will be connected to the wireless LAN card as per the Apple Mac Pro Early 2008 Service Manual
- mac pro service manual - wifi install.jpg (34.38 KiB) Viewed 8810 times
(Yes you will read other versions elsewhere but I suggest following the manual...)
So pull back the plastic sheath on these two wires (only) in preparation for installation.
Leave wire 2 'sheathed' to protect from short-circuiting components in the case if it moves somehow.
- DSC_3330r.jpg (52.22 KiB) Viewed 8792 times
There have been some stories of mis-labelling of these wires - apparently on some early machines
but there's no reason to believe that your Mac Pro should be like this (I've not read anywhere that Apple has admitted this either).
In any case, follow the manual and if it doesn't work (some people have reported bad reception)
then you can lug your unlucky Mac Pro into a Service Centre for a diagnosis.
vii. Attach the aerial leads to the two coaxial connectors on your wireless LAN Mini PCI card.
This is the hardest part of the procedure - so take your time and be patient.
The "card connectors" are coaxial (ie carry two separate wires) and are of the Hirose U.FL type - the two gold circles at the screw end of the board - the opposite end to the PCI pins.
- DSC_3338r.jpg (57.45 KiB) Viewed 8794 times
I suggest you try to do this by coming from the back (lever end) of the Mac Pro case... there should be enough room to get both hands in (just)
Hold the card in one hand by the sides of the board (so as not to touch any electrical components) - making sure the BCM94321MC face is up.
The card connector have an outer ring and an inner pin.
- DSC_3307r2.jpg (59.44 KiB) Viewed 8769 times
The plug at the end of the wires is metal (gold plated at least) with a plastic inner ring.
- DSC_3347r.jpg (34.67 KiB) Viewed 8758 times
You will have to line up the each plug with a card connector - and push them together gently but firmly.
With the other hand line up the plug of the longest aerial wire (on mine it was wire 1) to the furthest card connector (ie furthest when installed) - and push it on with your fingernail.
- DSC_3336r.jpg (47.87 KiB) Viewed 8744 times
Note: From this photo it looks like I'm connecting the longest wire to the closest connector but that's just the position I'm holding the card
The card will be rotated 90º anti-clockwise to install it, at which point this connector will be the furthest away from the top of the case (see pics below).
It's pretty stiff and you probably won't manage - the point it not to get it on completely - but just enough so it stays in position
for when you'll use your pliers to click it in finally.
If it doesn't stay in place (at least long enough to pick up the pliers with that hand) then it's probably not in position.
Make sure you're not stretching the wire too much (ie bring the PCI card a little closer) and wiggle the wire plug on the card connector to properly locate it.
Now use your pliers to GENTLY click the plug onto the card connector - too much force and you'll crush both your plug and your connector.
Again if you have to use too much force you probably haven't located the wire plug on the connector correctly.
- DSC_3368r.jpg (44.24 KiB) Viewed 8729 times
Now do the same for the second wire (wire 3 in my case because this was the shorter of wire 1 and wire 3).
- DSC_3369r.jpg (29.92 KiB) Viewed 8731 times
As you can see you'll have to get yourself well into the case.
- DSC_3371r.jpg (49.73 KiB) Viewed 8706 times
Take your time and things should be fine... eventually you'll have your board with aerial wires 1 and 3 attached nicely.
- DSC_3373r.jpg (46.38 KiB) Viewed 8794 times
viii. Put the card in position by pushing it pins first into the card slot.
- DSC_3374r.jpg (48.37 KiB) Viewed 8704 times
Notice that you'll have to slide it UNDER the bluetooth card aerial wire...
It should slot in at an angle (pins down around 45º)
- DSC_3377r.jpg (59.42 KiB) Viewed 8693 times
When you let go the card will sit pretty much like this - the pin contacts in the slot appear to be slightly spring loaded.
- DSC_3381r.jpg (75.4 KiB) Viewed 8694 times
ix. Screw the card onto the mounting posts (with the M2x3mm screws provided) to secure the card
- DSC_3386r.jpg (74.59 KiB) Viewed 8677 times
Note that the necessity to screw the card on to the mounting posts will probably preclude using the newer Broadcom BCM94322MC card
I mentioned previously (unless you can rig up some kind of extension on the card to reach the posts or vice versa).
x. Tuck wire 2 out of the way under the hard drive sata connection slot
- DSC_3388r.jpg (65.85 KiB) Viewed 8670 times
Make sure that the wire 2 gold end plug is covered by the plastic sheath to prevent shorts etc.
And you've finished your install - congratulations !!
- DSC_3392r.jpg (109.38 KiB) Viewed 8673 times
xi. Now just put the drives back in and the case back together and you're done.
- DSC_3393r.jpg (85.11 KiB) Viewed 8662 times
Once you've re-installed your drives, put the left side of the case on and closed the locking lever you can re-connect your machine (power, monitor etc).
4. Boot up and have a look for your new wireless card.
Look in Applications/Utilties/Network Utility
- Picture 3.jpg (55.1 KiB) Viewed 8660 times
Click on the Network Interface drop down list and look for your airport card - Apple says it should be in "en1" but mine was in "en2" - no big drama it works fine.
If should come up as showing at least 802.11 a/b/g - at which point you may have to download / purchase the 802.11n enabler... $1.99 thanks Apple !
http://store.apple.com/us/product/D4141ZM/A
Your airport card should work without the enabler, but it just won't be quite as fast.
However, I was lucky and mine was already enabled - not sure why.
Oh... and note that even with my Broadcom card the 'vendor' comes up as "Apple" - it's obviously recognised as an Apple card - 'proof' that this is almost the genuine article
There you go - "Airport Extreme" wireless LAN installed (at home) in an Early 2008 Mac Pro.
I hope your install was as easy and successful as mine.
Feel free to correct anything I've said and add comments below.
Otway.