Level 1

0 points

iMac Freezing

Hi there,

I have one of the older (first gen 24" intel) iMacs. Its been fine until recently.

However, it now occasionally locks up (once 3 times in a day) and over the past week I'd say its occurred about 7-10 times.. The freezing seems to come about shortly after I notice some gfx glitches.

The problem seems to arise after running a movie or flash movie.

I had noticed a similar issue before whilst playing World of Warcraft, a problem solved by running smc fan control and setting the fans to run at a high rpm. I suspect the problem is gfx kernel panic related. However, I dont wish to run the fans at full pelt all the time as it will shorten their lifespan and its hardly a decent solution.

Can anyone offer any help?

Thanks..

iMac 24", Mac OS X (10.5.2)

Posted on Mar 31, 2008 7:35 PM

562 replies

jfmori

Level 1

0 points

Aug 23, 2009 1:50 PM in response to Winfer

Apple changed my logical board, all my Ram, an they replaced my Nvidia 7300 GT card for another one. It didn't resolved the problem. The only way to use my MacPro is by reverting back to Mac Osx 10.5.6. Now it's working fine. So I have setup my HD to run either 10.5.7 or 10.5.6.

Mac Pro crash all the time with my 3D Application under 10.5.7 but NEVER under 10.5.6

The problem IS IN THE VIDEO CARD UPDATE that is in Mac Osx 10.5.7

Message was edited by: jfmori

Zachnap

Level 1

10 points

Aug 23, 2009 1:59 PM in response to jfmori

This topic isn't about the MacPro, it is about iMacs. Also, it has nothing to do with the operating system as it occurs on both Tiger and Leopard.

Aug 23, 2009 2:34 PM in response to Zachnap

Zachnap, there are problems with Leopard too. With Tiger less problems.

http://www.bresink.com/osx/216202/issues.html

Zachnap

Level 1

10 points

Aug 23, 2009 3:49 PM in response to tyc314159

I never said there weren't problems in Leopard, I said that there were problems with both meaning it wasn't a Leopard isolated issue. It happens with both Ati and Nvidia cards in Leopard and Tiger. If you are posting on this board about a Leopard "timeout channel error" or whatever, you are posting on the wrong topic.

Otherwise, please post on GetSatisfaction thread which we have posted over and over again. There are only 7 posts there now, that means that no one who has posted here in the past week has followed-up there. why not?

Aug 23, 2009 4:44 PM in response to Zachnap

Zachnap, you're absolutely right reason. I have post in GetSatisfaction too. However I think I will put mi Imac for sale (pieces). This computer is to wate time and money. It has a maximum continuous power of 220W and It´s a **** because didn't even work and electrical invoice up. It´s the last Apple Computer I buy forever and ever.

Aug 23, 2009 8:07 PM in response to dynamostia

I suggest people to talk to the different apple podcast, this way we can get the word out and get some feedback from the audience;
some suggestions:

Mac Geek gab
Maccast
Macbreak weekly
Nosillacast
Geekbrief

I have already left a voicemail to the guys at the Mac Geek Gab, if more of us do the same we can create some fuzz!
Here is how to contact the guys at Mac Geek Gab:

Contact The Mac Geek Gab: Email John and Dave feedback@macgeekgab.com (even an audio comment, if you please!), Skype your message to "macgeekgab", or call and leave a voice-mail at 206-666-GEEK!

Zachnap

Level 1

10 points

Aug 24, 2009 6:20 AM in response to vote_4pedro

contacted macgeekgab by email. Of course, we can barely get anyone to make a post at GetSatisfaction.

Aug 24, 2009 8:01 AM in response to Micah D.

Has anyone actually determined that it is the video card that is compromised by excess heat. Has replacing the card, increasing ventilation holes and fan speed actually solved the problem for anyone?

Micah D.

Level 1

80 points

Aug 24, 2009 9:10 AM in response to Paul Quinn1

Paul Quinn1 wrote:
Has anyone actually determined that it is the video card that is compromised by excess heat. Has replacing the card, increasing ventilation holes and fan speed actually solved the problem for anyone?

Yes, I ordered and installed a "new" nvidia 7600GE card in my 24" late 2006 iMac and drilled about 15 or so vent holes to improve cooling. For a few days everything was solved, I was able to watch videos in itunes, hulu.com, DVD player etc. all simultaneously while streaming google earth and had zero problems. Previously (and now again, read below) I can't even watch a video in full screen via Hulu without my whole system freezing.

Unfortunately the "new" card I was sent was not actually new, it was a used part. It was not connecting properly with the motherboard and after a few days stopped working all together. A replacement is on the way (so they tell me) so I'll be trying it all again.

Unfortunately

Aug 24, 2009 9:17 AM in response to Paul Quinn1

Hello Everyone,

I have contacted another podcaster, Adam Christianson, from the MacCast podcast, he was kind enough to reply to my email, and he said that he will mention this problem on his show, on his own words:

"I am going to mention this on
the show, so maybe raised awareness will get Apple to react."

So I invite everyone to drop a line to Adam, this way he will know that is not just an isolated case, please write to

maccast@gmail.com

his website is

http://www.maccast.com/

if you want to subscribe to his podcast.

Thanks,

Pedro

Micah D.

Level 1

80 points

Aug 24, 2009 9:17 AM in response to Zachnap

Zachnap wrote:
contacted macgeekgab by email. Of course, we can barely get anyone to make a post at GetSatisfaction.

Is it possible that only a handful of people are having these problems? If it's only a few dozen people there's virtually zero chance of anything being done about it.

Winfer

Level 1

5 points

Aug 24, 2009 9:54 AM in response to Micah D.

Problems are getting worse. As of today, my iMac does not finish booting anymore.
I had a crash with horizontal lines and a spinning beachball while no program was running. I just hovered the mouse over the dock and boom, it crashed.
Now my iMac does not finish booting. Not from the HD, not from an external backup, not even from the original leopard install DVD. I shows the grey apple on a white background, wheel beyond is spinning for about 30 seconds and then it crashes.
If I boot with "ALT" pressed to get the boot menu, it shows the icons WITH HORIZONTAL LINES in the background. I'll bring it in for repair the third time tomorrow.

Aug 24, 2009 10:10 AM in response to dynamostia

Apple recognises the problems met with the 7300 GT in the Mac Pro but not with ours models. why?

http://www.hardmac.com/news/2009/08/24/apple-recognises-the-problems-met-with-th e-7300-gt-in-the-mac-pro

MarekSz

Level 1

0 points

Aug 24, 2009 10:53 AM in response to tyc314159

Just because NVidia pays (perhaps partly) for replacement. Notice, it is just grafic card.
In our case whole mainboard must be replaced. It is expensive.

just my 3 cents...

Micah D.

Level 1

80 points

Aug 24, 2009 11:08 AM in response to MarekSz

MarekSz wrote:
Just because NVidia pays (perhaps partly) for replacement. Notice, it is just grafic card.
In our case whole mainboard must be replaced. It is expensive.

Where do you get the idea the whole "mainboard" must be replaced? I haven't seen any indication that it's the mother board.

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iMac Freezing