Video RAM Error fix?

The VRAM is built into the logic board. No way to remove or replace it unfortunately, at least not without replacing the entire logic board. Disabling it isn't practical either, as it means that you wouldn't be able to see anything on the display.

Just had exactly the same error message on my 2nd Gen 2GHz G5 iMac 20".

I had the same issue a couple of months ago (I posted then too) and it seemed to resolve itself after running the Apple Hardware Test, and disconnecting everything, opening the back of the the mac and leaving it for a minute or two turned off.

But then just the other day I was playing Call of Duty: United Offensive online and suddenly I am seeing the vector lines and the polygons arent rendering correctly.

On normal desktop use it is only detectable, the shadow under the top white bar in Finder is rendered with a sort of feint grid pattern. Interestingly, taking the colour depth down in the System Settings from Millions to Thousands exaggerates the effect and worsens when reduced to 256 colours.

When I restarted the iMac with the HW test disc it rendered a grid of vertical dashed lines (about 2mm line, 2mm gap; spaced about 3mm apart across the screen.

I am guessing this time it is fried for good… As I have tried my previous ‘fix’.

Is there a way I can flush the VRAM on the machine, by resetting it?

I am very disappointed in a machine that is only some 3.5 years old, and Apple always lord up the build quality on their products, last year I replaced the HD after that failed after 2 years.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

pvteyes99

*Don't throw away your mac yet.* I sure felt like binning mine.

I know exactly what you are talking about here. I just bought a second hand 1st generation G5 imac and it worked fine for a few days but then I left it in a cupboard turned on and left for a couple of hours, When I opened the cupboard it was quite warm/hot inside. Maybe this didn't help???? Some people have said it shouldn't matter??

I had all the symptoms you mentioned and more.

Anyway what I've done is zero everything, re-install Panther, then get all software updates, then install Tiger, get all software updates. I then removed all the GE Force drivers from the Library/Extensions as per another blog. This all helped but it was still a bit sticky. i.e. freezing up a bit and sometimes completely. But it was working. My i-tunes wouldn't show album covers so I returned the GE force drivers to their rightful place and restarted and was all right for a day but then wouldn't start, which has also been happening a lot all through this and I have used command-option-P-R with varying success.

So I'm unable to start using all previous measures so I then restarted using the Panther install 1 Disc and opened utilities and used verify permissions and repair permissions a few times over and over and also verify disc and repair disc over and over. To be sure to be sure.

I'm now working away fine with much fewer problems but will I be able to start up tomorrow???


*Maybe the heat did have something to do with this* as per this other blog I just found: http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=7519792#7519792

OK, just read this thread and i realise i'm way below the techno norm in terms of trying to figure out a solution to this issue, which i too am facing. my imac G5worked fine for 18 months or so and then over the last few months it has been getting progressively worse -- lock-ups, images frozen in the middle of minimizing them, etc. I also get random horizontal, multi color lines across the screen, no more than a pixel or two in height.

Anyway, ran the TechTool and got the same message "Video RAM Failed." I actually reinstalled the OS, wiping everything cleanin hopes that would do the trick. Lo and behold, same lines showing up (right now in fact) and a rerun of TechTool renders same Video Ram Failed message.

Anyone have any ideas of what a non-techie can do to remedy the situation (aside from binning the whole thmg...)?

Thx.

Same problem.
I have tried a variety of the cures listed above, but suspect we are just staggering on for now.
Very disappointed that this 17'' imac is apparently dying with no cure.
Not very sustainable Apple.
Repair would cost £400 - 500 or a new computer. Neither are affordable at present.
Sounds like built in obsolescence.

In response to GunPaulus and TMac-daddy I must strongly reiterate: there is no solution aside from replacing the logic board, which can be quite expensive. There is no software fix; reinstalling the OS has no effect. There is no extension fix; disabling the video card drivers means the computer will be useless instead of broken.

I hate to be a downer, but those are the facts.

I'm having exactly the same problems and bumming out. I think Apple had a repair extension available for these models but when I enter my serial number, nothing comes up. Does anyone know if Apple is providing repairs for this obvious manufacturing defect? Will be happy to join a class action.

I had the exact same problems, the exact same error code. After a week or so of desperately seeking a solution, I finally solved the problem by buying a new MacBook. Fortunately, I had backed up with Time Machine and now I have the entire contents of my old iMac G5 loaded onto my new MacBook. I guess you could call it a positive outcome, except for the $1300 it cost me. I am more than a little bit irritated that this happened exactly one month after my AppleCare expired. But I guess that's life in the computer world.