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2009 Early iMac Freezing 3.06GHz,24", ATI 4850

Hi all.

First mac for me so I'm probably missing out on obvious steps.

Similar to the issues other people are having, my computer is freezing up. What no other thread seems to mention is whether their macs freeze exclusively in OSX or in Windows as well (under bootcamp).

In my case its freezing under both and it doesn't happen in any particular moment. It can happen whilst playing a game or simply leaving the computer on at night.

I've tried the following tests:

· Apple hardware test - All ok
· Rember (GUI for Memtest) - All ok
· Repair disk permissions - There were many errors but fixing them didn't do anything

I have yet to try the "SMC reset" if I knew how to... anyone?

Remaining things to try:

· SMC reset
· PRam reset
· Reinstall OS (which option do i choose? Erase or not erase?)

· Phone Apple - I imagine they will keep me in hold forever and ask me to do a zillion tests so I want to try out all the tests I can so that the call doesn't become one of many.

iMac 24" 3.06Ghz ATI 4850 HD (Early 2009), Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Apr 16, 2009 6:55 AM

Best reply

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,676 points

Posted on Apr 16, 2009 7:02 AM

Below are instructions on how to do SMC and PRAM reset together:

1. Turn off your iMac and unplug everything from it for 30 seconds.

2. Plug in the power cord, keyboard and mouse only.

3. Press the power button and immediately hold down the Option, Command, P & R keys until you hear the second gong then release the keys. Your machine will start up normally, then check for the issues you are having.

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224 replies

jmpage2

Level 1

16 points

Apr 17, 2009 10:33 AM in response to Tenesmia

I hope Apple visits the thread on this problem at Macrumors.com as there do appear to be a large number of people having this issue based on the responses there. Apple needs to provide info on this before it makes front page news on Engadget, Gizmodo, Applerumors and Macrumors sites.

I have an iMac with this video card on order and am considering cancelling my order due to this issue and Apples refusal to acknowledge it. They have a poor history of fixing these issues, as I believe many previous ATI card owners suffered with issues for months and months before Apple finally acknowledged and fixed the problems.

I had someone from Apple customer care call me after filling out a support survey and commenting on some of this. I called them back twice and left messages 24 hours ago and have gotten no followup calls from them.

Great customer service Apple.

Domo888

Level 1

0 points

Apr 17, 2009 10:35 AM in response to Community User

I received the same model yesterday and since it has hung 6 times with no mouse or keyboard response, caps lock light wont go on or off and needs to be powered off and back on. It hangs mostly when opening any video but also hung every time when the migration tool was running. It seems more likely to occur when running anything full screen. Have called Apple and have done disk repair and permissions, SMC reset and now have been asked to rebuild which im now doing. Ill update this when I know more but my gut instinct is this is something to do with the Graphics card.

Apr 17, 2009 11:24 AM in response to Domo888

I have just got off the phone to apple support, they asked me to reset the PRAM which I have already tried and check disk permissions which I have all ready tried. I have unplugged the computer from all sockets and left it for 1/2 an hour as instructed. The next step is to re-install leopard. If I still encounter the freeze issue after these steps, Apple will replace my Imac within 14 Days.

But if it is the graphics card what's to say the next one wont be the same. Maybe they have had a bad batch of graphics cards, surely they must have tested the cards extensively before releasing the option to install one.

Has anyone eles checked the temperature of their GPU after a freeze, use istat widget, restart and read the temp mine was reading 72c or there abouts. maybe if we post them up we can build a picture of whats happening.

If you are having these problems and have not yet called support do so just to make them aware there is an un-isolated problem.

Apr 17, 2009 11:27 AM in response to Mr Flirkins

Mine was at 64c on a restart after freezing during WoW.

GPU under web surfing use is 59c

Apr 17, 2009 3:34 PM in response to James Looker

Just had another freeze while full screen on youtube. The console log last report was that cs3 version que failed to log in. Im not sure if this is relevant or not as Im not sure how to interpret the console log. But are any of you guys have CS3 installed? Version que was not in use at the time.

Apr 17, 2009 3:50 PM in response to Mr Flirkins

This doesn't feel like software related. I don't have CS installed at all. In fact my first freeze occurred very soon after the initial boot up. My freezes so far have occurred while sending an email before ANYTHING else was installed, and three times while beginning the Logic Studio install (the first app to be installed by me), and finally once while attempting to watch a decidedly-non-full-screen non-HD YouTube video. The audio for the video stuttered until I held the power button down, the only method available to restart in all cases (full-on freeze). Frustration. The computer froze again during the install of the second content DVD for Logic (4 hours into the install, which takes more than 5 hours). I had to restart it and it didn't pick up where it left off. I'm going to play around and use the computer over the weekend and then assuming the problems continue I'm going to call Apple.

Tenesmia

Level 1

0 points

Apr 18, 2009 3:57 AM in response to Community User

Just had another freeze, this time in mail ... 52c GPU temp at freezeup .. seems like a very normal temp to me to operate on for a 4850 ? ...

Just a wild guess, couldn't it be a software/driver problem in 10.5.6, which wasn't supposed to support the new ATi cards, but was crafted quite quick to be able to lauch the new iMac's and MacPro's ? ( i remember when i first ordered my iMac it was said we had to wait for 10.5.7 to be shipped ? )

Afterall, i'm just running the ati software that is supplied via BootCamp under windows, maybe same prblems there ?

Apr 18, 2009 3:57 AM in response to John Taylor9

I just got the same issue (2.93ghz)

I have my iMac for 2days now and loaded a lots of stuff on it, it freezed over 10 times!!!
Even in my best Pc-Windows times i didnt have such a high ratio(freezes per time)!!!

Often freezes as already mentioned while watching youtube vids, browsing or doing other normal stuff!!!

Apple has to do something about it, fast!!!

Apr 18, 2009 4:37 AM in response to Tenesmia

If it's a 10.5.6 issue, why does it hung up even on windows via bootcamp? And why not on every machine?

Same problem here, freezed 5 times in a day, mainly with video, youtube or stuff like that. I switched to iMac to avoid these PC-Windows problems... hope it's a driver issue, but I'm afraid it's hw and I've to contact apple care for substitution.

NZ Matt

Level 1

0 points

Apr 18, 2009 5:12 AM in response to Community User

Add another to the list - mine arrived 5 days ago and freezes regularly. Has done it using iTunes and Safari but Spore will freeze it every time.

Spoke to Apple today, they had me reset Safari and the PRAM but it sounds like my problems will continue.

I'm on my second MacBook Air due to faulty trackpad (and still have to suffer core shutdowns, squealing hard drive and spinning beach ball), my iPhone was just replaced due to cracks appearing in the housing and now a faulty iMac - my brand loyalty feels pretty rigorously tested!

Apple, please acknowlege and if there's a software fix coming, let us know - really don't want to go through the hassle of returning my machine over something that might be fixed in 10.5.7 ...

Aztian

Level 1

8 points

Apr 18, 2009 6:43 AM in response to Community User

same for me i have the 2.9 new mobel ATI 4850 and i been fressing reandom
and i made a reinstalled same deal i have run a hardware test 0 problems but still frezz total on me

i called the apple things in denmark and say hey and told me to take the imac into the shop so i dit 10days befor i get it back , but i am sure they dont find anything with it, other in that it frezz up, hagt i called apple again and they told me that we have reprots about this problem and they wil may have a fix in 5.7

Domo888

Level 1

0 points

Apr 18, 2009 8:57 AM in response to Aztian

After being asked to perform an erase and install twice more and the machine freezing within 20 minutes, I was directed to aftersales for a replacement. Fingers crossed that my replacement 3.06GHz,24",1tb HD, ATI 4850 wont come with exactly the same issue as Apple dont seem to be fessing up to this as yet. This is my 3rd Mac and only my original (oldest) white 15" iMAC G4 has been problem free. I worry that the inferred brand quality is fast getting diluted for sales as my loyalty is further tested.

Lee_Head

Level 1

0 points

Apr 18, 2009 8:59 AM in response to Community User

Been following all the macrumors.com threads on this and have posted my own experiences up there.

Just adding myself to the list of freeze victims over here, though, in the hope that it gets realised as a relatively widespread problem.

The fact it still happens under bootcamp doesn't necessarily mean it's a hardware problem. I agree it's not an OS problem but perhaps the issue can be fixed with a firmware update (as the firmware would affect either OS). Otherwise there's gonna be a lot of returned iMacs very soon.

Apr 18, 2009 12:59 PM in response to Community User

Also happening to me. Multiple freezing issues that I can't force quit out of, starting 5 minutes after first turning my computer on while trying to watch a vimeo video. So far I haven't noticed any freezes while using windows. It just seems to be happening with OSX, and is unpredictable in when it occurs. I called apple support to see if they are working on the issue or if there is a solution. The representative claimed that they have not heard of this issue which I find hard to believe, and told me I need to call them when I have my computer in front of me. Then they directed me to their website. I think it's them that needs to read the website as the freezing issue with the 4850 is all over the place! Im not that enthusiastic about spending hours on the phone with technical support when it doesn't seem to be helping anyone else. Blah

El Deanio

Level 3

805 points

Apr 18, 2009 1:28 PM in response to Community User

Bet you all, pound to a penny, that it's the ATI card, or rather its software.

I had a problem with my iMac when I bought it in late 07. Guess what, the ATI card software got the blame and, sure enough, the ATI was given a 'Firmware upgrade' via the Software Update and the problem went away. I had to wait about three weeks to a month (from the time I posted here) for the upgrade though - if I recall correctly.

I remember this particularly because, at the time, ATI had "previous" if you know what I mean. I thought Apple had dropped ATI for probably their crap driver software. It seems that maybe I thought wrongly.

El D

2009 Early iMac Freezing 3.06GHz,24", ATI 4850