Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Level 1

0 points

2009 Early iMac Freezing 2.93GHz,24", ATI 4850

I just took delivery of my new iMac 2 days ago.

It's a 2009 2.93GHz, 24" iMac, 4GB RAM with ATI Radeon 4850.

As usual when I take a new delivery, perform a hardware test using the test diagnostic DVD that came with it, checks out fine.

Next, erase the HD and reinstall 10.5.6 from the supplied DVD, applied the updates, then use Disk Utility to check the HD and repair permission, no problems, then after a couple of minutes, the iMac froze. I have nothing connected except for the keyboard and mouse.

Mouse does not move, keyboard does not respond to input. Pressed the power button for 5 secs to shutdown. Booted up in single user mode to repair HD, started up fine again, started to install my apps and move the files over from my previous iMac. Played movies on it, and it froze again. Mouse & keyboard does not respond to input, just a short 1 sec sound from the movie that kept looping.

This happens a few times a day.

Got fed up, reinstalled the OS again, zapped NVRAM, PRAM, Disk Utilities check, repaired permissions, started to play COD4, just a couple of mins into the game, the iMac froze again. Keyboard & mouse will not respond to input, sound stutters.

What's wrong? Any ideas?

2009 Early iMac 2.93GHz, 24" ATI 4850, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Apr 15, 2009 11:16 AM

163 replies

Apr 22, 2009 1:13 AM in response to rithim

I had several (10+) freezes in the last week. Yesterday I turned off my WIFI and started using Ethernet instead. No freezes so far ... only weird thing has been a freeze of my mighty mouse, but the system is working fine from my other wired mouse.

Apr 22, 2009 1:26 AM in response to Jesper M DK

It's good to see that people seem to be honing in on the root cause - seemingly using WIFI - but what will be the fix?

...I can't live without using WIFI in my home setup... and I feel that this shouldn't be my problem, given the money I shelled out for this thing.

Apr 22, 2009 4:13 AM in response to Jesper M DK

Hello,

I also had no freezes since I turned off WIFI. I'm using Ethernet at the moment and it seems to work, it's a strange problem.

Greetings

Sermon

Level 1

9 points

Apr 22, 2009 5:13 AM in response to Mr. Maintenance

Did you TURN OFF WiFi or did you leave WiFi ON and just connected via Ethernet?

If your WIFI is deactivated, can you please re-activate WiFi, but stay connected to the internet with your Ethernet connection and let us know if you get some freezes that way?

Message was edited by: Sermon

Apr 22, 2009 5:08 AM in response to Sermon

In my case I turned it OFF and then connected the Ethernet cable.

I am working with some statistics and I don't want to turn on WIFI again just to test. Might do so when I have some spare time. At the moment I am satisfied (albeit annoyed that I even have to turn off WIFI) and can get the work done I need to.

Sermon

Level 1

9 points

Apr 22, 2009 5:19 AM in response to Jesper M DK

The annoying thing is that I'd like to buy a Time Capsule in a few months time(which connects to the iMac via WiFi) and don't know if I'm affected by the freeze issue, as I can only connect to the Internet via cable modem and don't have any WiFi-peripherals for testing ... don't want to find out if my iMac suffers from freeze issues when I've bought my Time Capsule in a few months time. I'd rather like to know now ...

ivanbg

Level 1

0 points

Apr 22, 2009 5:20 AM in response to Jesper M DK

I have used my imac with ethernet and wifi ON, and i haven't have problems since 20 April.

No freeze in the 3 days since i have my new apple

Apr 22, 2009 8:11 AM in response to Nic T

Add me to the list. Brand new 3ghz with ATI. Not 10 minutes out of the box, and dead (freezing). Apple support was useless. Complaint logged, nothing else I can do. Either bring it to store (WHY?) or return it. Now my reseller is jerking me around wanting me to use the Apple Care. I should haven't to repair a BRAND new product. LAME Apple. Where was my HP rep's phone #? I'm sure they can send over their touch screen knock off tomorrow.

Ken Peck

Level 1

20 points

Apr 22, 2009 11:05 AM in response to Nic T

Just took delivery of a new 24" 3.06 ghz ATI 4850, 4 GB RAM, 1 TB hard drive iMac. I am a hypochondriac as it is, so reading the posts here and on other sites had me quite worked up before the box even fell off the FedEx truck!

So, without any attempts to install software beyond OS updates, as well as smcFanControl and Temperature Gauge, I'm open for suggestions for tests to run.

Right now, the plan is to run the Hardware Test, then start comparing temperatures based on ethernet vs wifi vs bluetooth. I've also found using Safari and iTunes to cause the biggest spikes in temperature on my old 20" iMac, so I'll likely test those, too.

No crashes in the first 2 hours of use. I'd like to use Migration Assistant before the end of the week if all goes well.

Do we have baseline temps posted yet?

rithim

Level 1

25 points

Apr 22, 2009 12:33 PM in response to Sermon

I have WiFi activated, however I am not using it for the internet connection.

What this sounds like to me is that possibly the WiFi card and Graphics card are on the same circuit (in theory) and when they are both running there might not be enough power going to the 4850 which is causing the freezeups.

Just a thought - I don't really know how the innards of these things work.

I can try to connect to my network via WiFi, but I really don't want to tempt the devil and make my machine crash ~ does it get screwed up if it crashes?

rithim

Level 1

25 points

Apr 22, 2009 12:34 PM in response to Nic T

Ken Peck

Level 1

20 points

Apr 22, 2009 12:48 PM in response to Ken Peck

OK, all updated. Hardware tests were all good. A few odd app "crashes", where Temperature Monitor and Xbench just stopped responding. I Force Quit them, but the Finder didn't seem to think there was an issue (in other words, it did not indicate "not responding").

Here are my temps with ethernet on, no wifi, no bluetooth, no apps running in the background other than smcFan and Temperature Monitor Lite:
CPU A Heatsink: 35 C
CPU A Temp Diode: 35 C
Graphics Processor Chip 1: 51 C
Graphics Processor Heatsink 1: 47 C
Graphics Processor Temp Diode: 48 C
Hard Drive Bay 1: 51 C
Memory Controller: 43 C
Northbridge Heat Sink: 67 C
Northbridge Position 1: 52 C
Optical Drive: 44 C
Power Supply Position 1: 58 C
Smart Disk: 53 C
CPU Core 1: 34 C
CPU Core 2: 34 C

Fan speeds are default (ODD: 798 RPM, HDD: 1600 RPM, and CPU: 1199 RPM)

As a quick comparison, my 20" 2 ghz core duo iMac (which I've been working hard all day today) displays:
CPU A Heatsink: 51 C
Graphics Processor Heatsink 1: 56 C
Hard Drive Bay 1: 48 C
Memory Controller: 49 C
Optical Drive: 38 C
Smart Disk: 49 C
CPU Core 1: 44 C
CPU Core 2: 45 C

Ken Peck

Level 1

20 points

Apr 22, 2009 1:02 PM in response to Nic T

OK, off-topic? Yes.
Do I want to know? Yes!

iMac core 2 duo 3.06 ghz ATI 4850 4 MB RAM

Results overall: 211.23

1. Quartz Graphics Test - 246.22
2. OpenGL Test - 229.09
3. User Interface Test - 451.17

Mmmm... big numbers are good...

Nic T Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 22, 2009 7:53 PM in response to Nic T

OK, my replacement iMac came in this morning.

My xBench scores, ran it twice.

Results Overall - 272.06, 279.54
Quartz - 234.75, 235.78
OpenGL - 231.70, 230.77
UI Test - 407.98, 463.49

Hardware Overview:
Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac9,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.93 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 6 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz
Boot ROM Version: IM91.008D.B04
SMC Version (system): 1.45f0

ATI Radeon HD 4850:
Chipset Model: ATI Radeon HD 4850
Type: Display
Bus: PCIe
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 512 MB
Vendor: ATI (0x1002)
Device ID: 0x944a
Revision ID: 0x0000
ROM Revision: 113-B9090C-181
EFI Driver Version: 01.00.327

AirPort Card Information:
Wireless Card Type: AirPort Extreme (0x14E4, 0x8E)
Wireless Card Locale: Asia Pacific
Wireless Card Firmware Version: Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.10.38.25)

Can someone with the freezing iMac share the above information as well. I wanna check if the firmware has indeed been updated.

I am connected via Airport and am posting this using the replacement iMac. No freezes so far.

LanceFu

Level 1

0 points

Apr 22, 2009 8:42 PM in response to Nic T

@Nic T

I had a freezing iMac, and I just checked,
the only difference is the airport card firmware version:

AirPort Card Information:

Wireless Card Type: AirPort Extreme (0x14E4, 0x8E)
Wireless Card Locale: USA
Wireless Card Firmware Version: Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.10.38.27)

But mine is actually newer than yours. Weird.

2009 Early iMac Freezing 2.93GHz,24", ATI 4850