Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT

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

Imac 27 runs hot as ****, won't sleep, and cpu runs wild in w7

I have been having audio issues with the imac 27. plugging headphones or speakers causes cpu to run crazy, the mic in the triband trrs jack does not work, and the imac runs hot, and will not go into power saver mode.

When I came in I found my nephew who was listening to some music on the imac, and I felt the back top of the imac and it was hot as ****. I almost burned my hand. I realized then that he had plugged his headphones in.

Unplugging the headphones or speakers can solve some of these problems.

But, this is not an acceptable fix.

Please contact Apple and urge them to fix these sound card issues.

If anyone does not have these problems in w7 with the imac 27 even after the latest bootcamp and imac updates, let us know right here. I think this affects every one of the late 2009 imacs and maybe some earlier ones too running windows 7.

Here's the post I recently ran on the headphone jack issue.

Not only does the cpu run crazy but the imac 27 gets very, very hot. Since I unplugged the headphones, it runs much, much cooler.

Certainly, some Mac engineers should take care of this problem, it seems it is universal on all the imac 27's and from what I gather, the smaller screened cousins too.

Also, we certainly want a stereo mix option for audio in or out, or what is called "what you hear" or wave out. Imac is supposed to be much geared to multimedia apps.

Finally, the mic jack part of the trrs set up MUST be fixed! A lot of manufacturers are going to headset combo jacks as they call them, mic in and stereo out on the same tribanded plug. But, the old single jack for mic in and single jack for stereo out are two tiny parts of the hardware and super inexpensive for the manufacturer. Why in the **** to go to the "advanced" triplug if the **** thing doesn't work.

Mac has a great reputation. I hope they remedy these problems right away.

Anyone whose imac 27 or 24 whose headset plug is working correctly. Let us know! I don't think anyone's is, but I think that few people understand that their cpu is running so much faster with the plug in, plus few even understand the combo jack and the triband, or trrs audio jack! Out of 4 audio technicians I talked to, not one of them knew what a trrs jack was or that you even have a mic in jack as part of the headset jack!

When I told one senior that it worked on the Mac side, he didn't believe for a while, thought my sound might be recorded from the onboard mic, but I proved it to him by tapping iaudibly on my iphone mic headset and and it showing up in garage band clearly and listening to big difference in audio.

As for a usb audio adapter, I am in a neon light environment and find that those adapters are more sensitive to electrical interference. Besides I want to use the headset jack as it was meant to be used!

Thats it.

Again, if anyone using an imac 27 and windows 7 64 or 32 doesnt have these problems, let us know! We are all anxious for a fix!

Best to all!

imac 27, Windows 7

Posted on Jan 23, 2010 2:15 PM

Reply
45 replies

Apr 14, 2010 5:40 AM in response to djsomi

I installed video drivers found on forum for another computer with the same video card. I can't remember where, sorry. For the audiojack problem:
To unplug the cable just a bit renders high level of noise.
So that's not a working solution for me.
I will soon buy an usb or firewire audio card to solve the problem.
Apple *** really bad for not fixing this easy to fix problem 😟

Apr 14, 2010 5:46 AM in response to jasc20

TEMPORARY FIX

There is no need to go out and buy special adaptors and waste money and USB ports for Apple's mistake. Simply ease out your audio plug very very slowly while watching your CPU meter. Once you see the drop from ~20% to ~1%, stop pulling out your cable and let go, being careful not to pull it out anymore. If you did it right, your iMac should run Windows 7 normally and your speakers should have clear audio quality. If your sound is "fussy", rotate the cable or try pushing it back in and easing it out again. Hope this helps.

Apr 14, 2010 9:30 AM in response to Rmoran

There absolutely is a need.

The plug is a trrs plug.

That means it has 3 Channels, two audio out and one AUDIO in. With a simple adapter you can plug in a regular headset or a microphone + headset and use it as you do any other computer.

In the MAC os that will work right now with an adapter or simply with a iphone style headphones mic.

It won't work in Windows 7 because the DRIVERS are not there for SOUND CARD to power the plug properly!

So you may get a fix on the speakers out with a little fiddling but you cannot use the incoming mic jack.

So that's what it is all about.

Best to you,

Apr 14, 2010 9:48 AM in response to Rmoran

Thanks Rmoran, and I am aware of the workaround of pulling the plug out slightly until the CPU level goes back to normal. However, for whatever reason, I've had it happen more than once that the plug accidentally moves back in ever so slightly resulting in the CPU issue again. Trouble is, you don't notice it until the computer gets hot and the fans kick in. Not good, I don't want to burn up a 2000 computer for a (known!) issue as ridiculous as this. So I will try and see if the USB-to-Audio adapter is a viable fix. And of course continue to hope that

---> Apple supplies a working driver asap! <---

Apr 14, 2010 5:42 PM in response to EuropeanAmerican

I have the same problem running Windows 7 64 bit Ultimate on my iMac 27" i7. I have the latest updates but the heat is still there. Despite I didn't bother to check as detail as you guys did on the CPU usage etc, I can confirm that even I leave it idle (without playing music or sound), the heat generated is incredible and it won't go to sleep, the screen saver does not work though wall paper changes as per my setting.

I believe when summer comes, I dare not use Window 7 on the iMac and might have to uninstall Windows from the iMac and install it in my other PC which now runs Vista. Apple should alleviate the situation but I also wonder why we should keep on complaining on a machine which was not originally designed to run Windows at all. It seems no one is complaining to Intel, AMD, Asus, Gigabyte, Nvidia, ATI, WB why their products can't be assembled DIY to make a machine that we can freely install Mac OS.

Apr 14, 2010 11:42 PM in response to Gibson_Li

Complaints of course are justified.

The Imac 27 was advertised as compatible with windows 7. That should certainly include the most basic hardware such as the combo jack (mic in/audio out jack}

I wouldn't have bought mine except for that claim because my scientific work requires some windows programs.

So I certainly expect a fix. If these things work in the Mac side, it should only be a matter for proper drivers for the sound card. It should have been fixed months ago. They say they are working on a fix according to my mac senior rep, but nothing so far.

Apr 15, 2010 9:52 AM in response to jasc20

don't celebrate too fast!!!!

I installed the new firmware update.

The cpu running wild, won't sleep problem SOLVED.

But the combo jack does still not work properly!

The combo jack has from day one workded great on the mac side.

plug in a trrs (3band headset like the iphone)great on mac side.

but on the windows 7 side no dice.

Windows doesn't even see the jack and automatically uses the built in mic.

So, looks like the engineers did not finish this little problem.

I ran search for devices, but found no headphone jack and certainly it doesn't change to headphone jack automatically as it does in the mac side.

Can't record anything with the external mike. only the built in works.

My office has a lot of flourescnet lights which cause huge static in usb mikes but no problem on mike in jacks on my laptop or on my iphone.

Maybe someone has an idea of how to get it recognized. I will try to reinstall the ati high def audio driver.

any suggetions?

called support, they will send it to engineers, doesn't expect to hear anything at all for at least 5 days!

lol

Imac 27 runs hot as ****, won't sleep, and cpu runs wild in w7

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.