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User profile for user: Community User
Community User Author

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

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User profile for user: rkaufmann87
rkaufmann87
User level: Level 10
140,346 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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User profile for user: rkaufmann87
rkaufmann87
User level: Level 10
140,346 points

Apr 16, 2009 7:02 AM in response to Community User

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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User profile for user: Community User
Community User Author

Apr 16, 2009 2:01 PM in response to rkaufmann87

Tried it out. 3 hours later computer crashed on me 😟

Phoned apple, talked to them for 5mins and they hung up on me. Called back and got a answering machine saying their support line closes at 19.45 ... sigh.

Will try tomorrow.

If anyone has any other ideas they are appreciated.
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User profile for user: rkaufmann87
rkaufmann87
User level: Level 10
140,346 points

Apr 16, 2009 2:26 PM in response to Community User

Sorry to hear the SMC and PRAM reset did not work.

Were you actually talking to someone when it hung up or were you on hold? If you were hung up on by a person make sure you complain about that, that isn't OK.

For the hours of operation I would recommend looking in your manual.

I'm sure Apple will get to the bottom of your issue, hang in there!
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User profile for user: Mr Flirkins
Mr Flirkins
User level: Level 1
4 points

Apr 16, 2009 4:13 PM in response to Community User

I have the same model as you (processor "graphics card") and have had my Mac 3 days now and it has froze about 5 times. I have visited some forums (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=686283&page=4) and it seems that there are a few people experiencing the same problem, they all have the ATI 4850 graphics card and are running 10.5.6 It has happened to me when watching DVDs playing x-plane and using Safari.
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User profile for user: Community User
Community User Author

Apr 17, 2009 6:18 AM in response to Community User

Called Apple today and told them I've tried it all and want to get it replaced with a new one (I've had it for 5 days). The said no problem, ordered a new one and said they will send me by email the details on how I've got to arrange for a pickup of the old one.

Hope I'm lucky with the second machine, and if it is a software/driver fault, I hope it is fixed by the time it arrives.

From what I saw in a poll in a macrumours forum, it seems about 50% of people with this graphics card is having freezing issues to varying degrees.

Some people can reproduce the freezes by playing HD video, others such as myself just have to wait and watch and it will eventually freeze.
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User profile for user: rkaufmann87
rkaufmann87
User level: Level 10
140,346 points

Apr 17, 2009 6:58 AM in response to Community User

While I'm glad you are getting your machine replaced which I hope solves your problem your comment:

+"it seems about 50% of people with this graphics card is having freezing issues to varying degrees."+

is way off. That is like going to a hospital, seeing a ward of people with broken bones and coming to the conclusion that 50% of the general population have broken bones.

While I will admit there seems to be some type of issues with some of the iMacs with the ATI 4850 who knows how many Apple has sold and are having problems.

At any rate let us know how your new machine is when it arrives!
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User profile for user: Community User
Community User Author

Apr 17, 2009 9:39 AM in response to rkaufmann87

You are absolutely right, perhaps I should have said, 50% of people visiting the iMac forums in MacRumors...

Since it was in a general forum and not in a problem forum I'm assuming the people reporting that they had no problems are general mac fans.

The people reporting they had problems are either general mac fans or people who simply have the problem.

The bias is definitely inclined towards the second and no conclusions can be made about what % of overall imacs shipped that have this problem. Given time and a larger number of participants in that poll I reckon we can identify if there really is a problem with this model in particular, otherwise it can simply be a bunch of bad apples (pun intended).
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User profile for user: Tenesmia
Tenesmia
User level: Level 1
0 points

Apr 17, 2009 10:00 AM in response to Community User

Same problem here, have my new iMac ( 2.93 Ghz ) for 3 days now, frose 5 times, 1 time in WoW, 2 times in Safari, 1 time in windows under bootcamp ( Halflife 2 ) and 1 time in iTunes ... ... Really getting frustrated with it now ...

Is reinstalling everything, including all the apps i installed the last few days really going to help ? in my opinion it doesnt seem like it, since it frose the first time just 15 mins after i first plugged it in ... ( frsh install !? ) ...

Thanks in advance !
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User profile for user: James Looker
James Looker
User level: Level 1
29 points

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

Considering it is happening under Boot Camp it suggests it is a hardware issue as opposed to an OS X issue.

Mine froze again today while playing WoW. I spoke to a very useful after sales guy. A new machine is being ordered and will ship asap. I can return my machine after the new one arrives.

Disappointing but can't fault the Applecare or aftersales team.
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2009 Early iMac Freezing 3.06GHz,24", ATI 4850

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