Berry with an "A"

Q: 27-inch / 27" iMac Random Shut down

SPECS:____________________________________________________________________________
• 27" 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7 / 8gig / 1TB
• OS 10.6.3 (about to update to 10.6.4)
• All firmware updates have been applied according to software update
• 3 external drives: 1-320 gig 800fw / 1-TB USB 2.0 / 1-500gig USB 2.0

INFORMATION:____________________________________________________________________

I've been running with this configuration ( 3 extra drives) since approximately December with no issues. Out of the blue... only running Aperture and Safari - my iMac JUST SHUTS off- WITHOUTwarning. It acted as though I was running a MacBook and the battery going dead/asleep. That's how random and sudden it shut down - NO WARNING. I did have the iMac asleep for about three hours before coming back to it to start working again when it shut down, but it should have even been cool.

I only started reading around on the web to see of other incidents after this random shut down this evening, but I can't find anything specific. I've found A LOT of similar things - all seemingly related to "HEAT."

And heat seems to be a certain issue recently - in the last day or two. Today I noticed my top back side to be hot, which isn't uncommon, however, it became so hot I really wasn't able to keep my hand on the top back. I've also noticed A LOT of spinning beach balls, and lots of processor delay! Heat??

There are NO energy saver pref's set to automatically shut it down. The power was and is firmly set. There are no network settings, nor access to the iMac to have it shut down. It is not shared with anyone on the network.

SUMMARY:___________________________________________________________________________

• Today, I grabbed a couple temp / monitor widgets and am trying to watch the data. All components seem to be at/around/below 140 degrees F with ambient air at 77 degrees. I don't know numbers, but that all seems reasonable.
• Going to update to OS 10.6.4 (doubt that's it!!)
• I'm going to run the hardware test from my disc to see if ANYTHING. 8-p
• AND... I'm going to call Apple to set up a case. It's still full under warranty, and I have 2 more years of AppleCare on it. But there's been too many things pointing to hardware to call this a software issue.

I've dodged all the display issues with my iMac, but now.. I'm a bit hacked knowing how much I spent on this thing, with the initial DELAYS I went through, ordering it before it had even been released!

?? QUESTION ??_____________________________________________________________________

So, has anyone else been having this issue, heard of a solution, seen anything on Apple's website of known issues ??

Barry
( Grumbling bout my Mac)

Which one of twelve??, Mac OS X (10.5.6), ever hear Newton?!! ;-) One of those, too!

Posted on Jun 22, 2010 8:59 PM

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Q: 27-inch / 27" iMac Random Shut down

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  • by Tank9,

    Tank9 Tank9 Feb 17, 2011 11:02 PM in response to Berry with an "A"
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 17, 2011 11:02 PM in response to Berry with an "A"
    I just want to add a different ram brand that nobody has yet mentioned and is specifically sold for apple iMacs, "Mushkin."

    I bought two of the following:
    Mushkin Enhanced 8GB (2 x 4GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Laptop Memory Model 996647

    * DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)
    * Cas Latency 9
    * 1.5V

    My iMac has turned off randomly while working on Premiere CS5, Maya, After Effects, and while watching a movie on VLC player.
  • by malavya,

    malavya malavya Feb 19, 2011 7:03 PM in response to ChoPraTs
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 19, 2011 7:03 PM in response to ChoPraTs
    Thanks for this fine post. I have just read the past three months' post on this topic, because my new 27" iMac lasted all of 20 minutes before it shut down today. In my case, I can't get it started again. It's the same as if there were no power supply. Does this sound like part of the same problem, or a different one?

    My iMac came with 16GB of RAM, specified only as "Expercom", the re-seller's name. I'm reasonably sure it's not Samsung.

    I was going through the initial set-up and migrating files from my old Mac when the new iMac shut down. I only mention this to emphasize that I did not run across in these posts any which experienced a shut down so quickly and, apparently, permanently.
  • by peterwillem,

    peterwillem peterwillem Feb 20, 2011 3:29 AM in response to malavya
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 20, 2011 3:29 AM in response to malavya
    Well I think it is a different problem. Because in most cases written about before in this thread and the many others in this forum the shutdown did not happen so fast after the first start of the iMac.
    And ,as far as I know, you could always start the iMac again after pressing the power button behind.
    Advise to go back to your reseller asap.


    peterwillem
  • by pedro3178,

    pedro3178 pedro3178 Feb 20, 2011 4:48 AM in response to Tank9
    Level 2 (230 points)
    Feb 20, 2011 4:48 AM in response to Tank9
    There seems to be people having problems with RAM. If you buy RAM upgrade for your iMac then obviously check everything is seated corrected, you need to give the RAM a good hard push so its seated correctly, yes you will get sore fingers! lol, once your RAM is installed select about this Mac once booted up and make sure it tells you you have the correct amount installed.
    If everything seems fine and you still get the shutdowns then remove the newly installed RAM
  • by EKOisGPSy,

    EKOisGPSy EKOisGPSy Feb 20, 2011 5:06 AM in response to Berry with an "A"
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 20, 2011 5:06 AM in response to Berry with an "A"
    Purchased my 27" iMac Jan/2011 year from a Dealer (Hard und Software Blüm) in Germany (I am German) and have had the random shut down problem almost from day one after first Power On.
    My dealer is NOT interested in solving the problem. :-((
    I do NOT know which RAM is inside, only 16 GB i know ...

    Is it a Problem which fix with a FW or OS Update from Apple ?
    Did anybody have a DIRECT (Apple) Support E-Mail Adress zu tell/describe THIS problem ?

    *!!! Apple please FIX this blameful Bug *

    Message was edited by: EKOisGPSy
  • by pedro3178,

    pedro3178 pedro3178 Feb 20, 2011 5:22 AM in response to EKOisGPSy
    Level 2 (230 points)
    Feb 20, 2011 5:22 AM in response to EKOisGPSy
    Hi,

    it doesn't seem that apple would release an update fix for this, why would they? it doesn't seem to be the OEM RAM causing issues?

    Anyway you say you have 16G RAM, is this 16G straight from apple or installed elsewhere?
  • by EKOisGPSy,

    EKOisGPSy EKOisGPSy Feb 20, 2011 5:28 AM in response to pedro3178
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 20, 2011 5:28 AM in response to pedro3178
    I do not know...., my Dealer send the iMac with 16 GB. Which manufacturer = ???
  • by pedro3178,

    pedro3178 pedro3178 Feb 20, 2011 5:35 AM in response to EKOisGPSy
    Level 2 (230 points)
    Feb 20, 2011 5:35 AM in response to EKOisGPSy
    Ok, i am beginning to get a picture here of people having problems with using an iMac with the full 16G RAM! unless its the samsung OEM type,

    1 thing you could try if you are ok with removing RAM? Please dont if you are not!

    Remove 2 sticks of the RAM and leave your iMac with 8G, i assume you have 4x4G installed?

    Try that, if no shutdown then there is indeed some sort of issue here!

    Before you remove RAM touch the iMac case to make sure you are grounded!!
  • by malavya,

    malavya malavya Feb 20, 2011 9:04 AM in response to peterwillem
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 20, 2011 9:04 AM in response to peterwillem
    I just spoke with someone from Apple Support Express Lane who agrees with peterwillem about my iMac: the one that shut down yesterday during the initial set-up after only 20 minutes, and cannot be restarted at all.

    The Apple guy said that I got a dud, and I should return it to the re-seller and get a replacement. And not settle for having this one repaired, because I would lose time on my warranty.

    After reading this thread, I now have an opportunity to avoid the grief others have had.

    I like ChoPraTs' advice in this thread to "use Samsung RAM or configure the machine with less than 16 GB" because I want this machine and I want it to work! But maybe getting any configuration of this model is only asking for trouble?
  • by pedro3178,

    pedro3178 pedro3178 Feb 20, 2011 9:30 AM in response to malavya
    Level 2 (230 points)
    Feb 20, 2011 9:30 AM in response to malavya
    I am using an iMac 27" i7 with 8G RAM, 2 sticks are OEM and 2 sticks I purchased myself, I have been using this for video editing and some gaming and music, not one single shut down or error or anything else, it works perfect. I have yet to come across an app where I feel I need to increase my RAM so can't comment on the 16G problems, all I know is you do not and never will need to use OEM RAM, it could be maxing it out has problems but then that's down to apple
  • by pdpratt,

    pdpratt pdpratt Feb 20, 2011 5:29 PM in response to Berry with an "A"
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 20, 2011 5:29 PM in response to Berry with an "A"
    Very interesting to read your issue. I am having the exact same issue with a brand new i7. Mine has went "DEAD" at random two times in two weeks. How concerned should I be. The Apple Tech was not near as concerned as I was, but he did not pay $3,000 + for an iMac that is supposed to be the top of the line.
  • by Benjamin Running,

    Benjamin Running Benjamin Running Feb 22, 2011 8:55 PM in response to Berry with an "A"
    Level 1 (85 points)
    Feb 22, 2011 8:55 PM in response to Berry with an "A"
    I upgraded my 27" i7 with 2x4GB DIMMs from Crucial.com soon after the release of the machine and I was having the shutdown problem.

    I contacted Crucial to see if they were aware of the problem.

    They told me that the chipset had been updated, issued me an RMA, and I've been using the new DIMMs for about two weeks now with no shutdowns. I'm not ready to say it's been solved for sure, but so far, so good!
  • by geo_head,

    geo_head geo_head Feb 24, 2011 10:21 PM in response to Fatbot
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 24, 2011 10:21 PM in response to Fatbot
    Hi

    I have the same 2.93 Quad Core. Its one week old (this is lat Feb 2011). I upgraded the RAM to 16 GB and it shuts down randomly - similar patters as others have observed. I bought the 16 GB at Fry's and the guy assured me it was the actual brand Apple uses. He lied. When I removed the 2x2 I had they are Samsung. I just switched it to the 12 GB (2x2 samsung, 2x4 Corsair) and hope this stops the random off's. Its 2 to 3 times a day for me.

    So to the person who posted the excellent and detailed description of this problem and suggested Samsung a big THANKS - I think you nailed this problem for this model.

    TO APPLE - this is EXTRAORDINARILY frustrating - you should do better. Inform your patrons of the exact memory to buy. This has been going on for some time. You should have the decency to specify exactly which ram we can buy. Nobody wants to buy your ram in the store as it is ridiculously expensive. We all love your products. Either drop your in store prices or say, very clearly, exactly which make and models of RAM will work in the case of 16 GB. PLEASE TREAT US WITH MORE RESPECT!!

    There are excellent posts here and I appreciate the info.
  • by pedro3178,

    pedro3178 pedro3178 Feb 24, 2011 11:28 PM in response to geo_head
    Level 2 (230 points)
    Feb 24, 2011 11:28 PM in response to geo_head
    Glad you got it sorted geo_head, this seems to be a complex program, from the research i have done and from what others say if you where to use your non OEM brand ram but not take it to 16G then it would work fine, thus leaving the conclusion its not the actual RAM thats faulty, maxing the RAM at 16G without OEM seems to cause problems.
  • by Satoneko,

    Satoneko Satoneko Feb 25, 2011 2:19 AM in response to geo_head
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Feb 25, 2011 2:19 AM in response to geo_head
    I think Apple’s thought process is this: because RAMs are “peripherals” like your external HDD or printer, it’s not their business if the Mac goes crazy when the user puts in incompatible RAMs. Apple is not obligated to fix your iMac just so a particular peripheral part/device would work properly.

    Now, I do understand this stance. Although I do feel it is more efficient and elegant if they’ve told us to just change the RAM, instead of going through the ritual of fixing the power supply unit, motherboard, and maybe replacing the entire computer. For those of us who use the iMac for work, the downtime during repair and the worries about loosing files are extremely frustrating.

    I think there is some legal bind or corporate concern that prevents Apple from talking about the RAM, and they seem to be relying on these forums to get the word around. All people have to do is to search “iMac 2010 random shutdown,” and these threads in the Apple Support Discussion come to the top. Still it’s not convenient for people who are not good with search engines and for non-English speakers.
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