iMac Freezing

So I called Apple support today with my imac late 2006 freeze problems. The tech said there is a known problem with a later model video card (8400 i think) with he said came out 1.5 years after mine. So I pointed him to this thread and that there are over 400 posts regarding this issue. He said they know of heating issues with this model but its only internal info not public and would not go into detail. So he did waive the phone tech fee, we ran the power up resets and hardware test which showed no problems. I sent the system info through the apple system utility. He said the info would be forwarded to the engineering department for review and would have a reply within 1-2 business days. He also mentioned that it would most likely not be covered under apple.

I'll keep you all posted. I suggest EVERYONE call and speak with a TECH and create a case! It sounds like they don't know about it. I want to emphasize SOUNDS.

I'll keep everyone posted. Let me tell you, this is REALLY frustrating!!! Apple should take care of their customers, especially in this economy. When I buy my next computer this ordeal will weigh in on my decision who to buy from. Don't let us down and stand behind your product and fix it if it is not right!

Here are my pictures of the process I followed to replace the card:

http://sap-dba.blogspot.com/2009/08/replacing-video-card-in-late-2006-24.html

Im interested in the 20" logic board repair as well. $200 is not bad to get my imac working again. ( even tho shipping it to the states will probably cost me some too ). The 20" model has the GPU soldered to the logic board right ? Can anybody confirm if the repair covers both the logic board and gpu ? They don't seem to have an email address on their website :s

Sorry for my english, but I am french ! ^^

Well, I have a lot of problems with my two iMac 24" late 2006 and the Nvidia 7600 graphic cards.
I had to change those cards 6 times ! I had no freeze, but they simply died (kernel panic at starting, blue screen or black screen). My Apple center tested all my computer and it was only the graphical cards which had problems.
I am really angry because my computers are not so old and it take each time more time to have my computer back, Apple seems to not undertsand why I have to change the card so many. Today, I am waiting the come back of my computer after 4 weeks at the Apple center. Too long. It's not my fault if there is a problem somewhere.

I have started posting pictures here. I'm drilling the casing for better ventilation while the board is out for repair on the 20" iMac. The 24" is actually easier to dismantle - more room to work in and no black tape around the LCD.

Sony repairs for free: http://www.itworld.com/hardware/74326/sony-warns-laptops-faulty-nvidia-chips

I´m get out hd and plastic bar for better ventilation. Photos: http://tyc314159.wordpress.com/2009/08/12/refrigerando-el-interior-del-imac/

I had my 7600GT replaced with a new one today. ROM-Version changed from 3021 to 3022. But unlike I hoped, nothing changed. I still have the following error which crashes my GUI:

+imac kernel[0]: NVDA(OpenGL): Channel exception! status = 0xffff info32 = 0x3 = Fifo: Unknown Method Error+

@al_broccoli: could you please download the Multiwinia Demo at http://www.introversion.co.uk/multiwinia/downloads/ and test it on your mac. This one crashes my GUI for sure everytime. Introversion told me, it is a bug apple is aware of.

@ Thomaspin - this is fantastic, thank you! Looks like I'm not late to the party after all - this very issue just started surfacing with my iMac. If this problem becomes epidemic, one would think Apple would have to act; however, it's great to have this as a workaround. Be sure to keep us posted!

Yep, crashed me, too. Same error.

sigh

It's interesting that the apps that were crashing me before replacing the video card are not crashing me now. But this app sure did.

Did the vendor identify the location of the bug? For instance, Apple code, or NVidia code, or even a bug in the NVidia ROM?

Winfer, since I use tiger no more "NVDA(OpenGL): Channel exception" bugs. I think Leopard is not good for ours iMacs. I have only horizontal lines and freezes. It is my last apple Macintosh if there are not solution for this big problem.

I bought my first Mac ever back in late 2006, it was an intel 24" iMac, I really enjoyed it, but lately it has stopped working properly, with similar symptoms referred on this thread: an horizontal line (or two). And the spinning beach ball, that freezes the iMac and renders it unusable unless I do a hard reboot. I am so disappointed, because it is apparent that I am not the only one, and it's a common issue. My computer lasted less than 3 years! That's not what I was expecting for a premium product. But reading the postings has opened my eyes, macs are as bad as pcs. Well maybe I'm exaggerating a little, but definitely macs have a dark side.

From what I can conclude the problem is the video card?

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Is there any hope on solving this problem?

In their finite wisdom Apple removed my previous reply to your post, even though it was a direct answer to your questions.

You have the problem, no one knows exactly what's wrong, graphics card is one of the probably causes as far as anyone can tell, a class action lawsuit will do little good, and no apple isn't going to do anything about it.

wait a minute, weren't you the one who said i was being paranoid because apple deleted my posts? oh yeah, here it is:
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=9920836#9920836