Q: 24" iMac Screen Freezes since 10.6.3 update - pls help!

You're all getting too technical for me! I don't know what kexts are, but am still getting the freezing. It seems random. Sometimes it goes for several hours ok, with maybe one freeze, then next day it will freeze 5 or 6 times. Firefox or Chrome -doesn't seem to matter. The on/off button is getting a LOT of action.......and what on earth is a "kernel panic" ?

Kexts stands for Kernel Extension. Kernel extensions are little pieces of code that are needed for various hardware and software to run in OS X on your Mac. There is an extensions folder located in OS X system folder where kexts reside. The kext file everyone is talking about is a kext driver code fix for the iMac's video card. I haven't read this whole topic here, but the kext file seems to be specific to a certain video card model. But then, I am not completely sure of this. The kext file fix needs to be downloaded and the file placed or replaced in OS X system>library>extensions folder for the file to work.

A Kernel Panic or KP is a situation where OS X base Unix code called a "kernel" finds either a hardware or software issue that it can't resolve that results in a freeze or "panic" of the basic Unix software code.

If your iMac is experiencing KPs, it could be related to the problems you are having.

Hey guys

iMac 2009, 2,66, 2GB here,

applied the patch on a 10.6.8 with 64 kernel. I think my computer is overheating.

(from iStat: GPU Diode is 64C and Power Supply 80C)

Anyone else experiencing something like that?

cheers

I have this issue with my iMac:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVM0QuVaV3o

I would like to sell my iMac for a little cash to upgrade. Anyone have any suggestions on how to explain this whole fix issue to someone, since they will have to do it any time they want to upgrade the OS?

Hello KrzusiuTurek and everybody,

great great great work around !!!!!

Thank you so much. Working fine for me : fresh installation of OS X.8.2, 3 kext replaced with 10.6.2 version and the machine is now stable.

I have 2 identical machines : same model, same graphic card (HD 2400 XT), same ROM, same EFI version, ...

One is running 10.6.8 without any problem.

The second one freeze every 3 minutes with : 10.6.6, 10.6.8, 10.8.2, ... Now installed with 10.8.2 and 3 kext from 10.6.2.

Why this difference between the two maxhines ? I don't know. Any idea ?

iMac 20" with following graphics card

ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT :

  Jeu de composants :          ATI,RadeonHD2400

  Type :          Processeur graphique (GPU)

  Bus :          PCIe

  Longueur de la voie PCIe :          x16

  VRAM (totale) :          128 Mo

  Fournisseur :          ATI (0x1002)

  Identifiant du périphérique :          0x94c8

  Identifiant de révision :          0x0000

  Révision de la ROM :          113-B2250A-207

  Version du gestionnaire EFI :          01.00.207

  Moniteurs :

iMac :

  Résolution :          1680 x 1050

  Profondeur de pixels :          Couleurs 32 bits (ARGB8888)

Hi,

what about 10.8.3 beta ?

Does it change antything about this freezing problem. I have just had a freeze which is related to the GPU. My GPU is brand new - a replacement for GS 8800.

I cannot belive that is was not fixed since 10.6.3 !!!!

This topic is largely about the iMac 24" 8.1 with Radeon HD 2600 (2400).

There is no doubt about it that the Kext fix is the solution for topic problem for iMac 8.1

Believe it! it is not fixet. And probably wil not be fixet.

(After 2 years Apple thinks you have a very old computer and wants you to buy a new one, i think)

The 10.8.3 update is out :)

Does it update the ATI Radeon 2600 drivers ?

indeed, it does.

2400 was version 8.0.61, became version 8.10.44.

-rwxr-xr-x  1 root  wheel  343848 Sep 11  2012 AMD2400Controller

new:

-rwxr-xr-x  1 root  wheel  1856224 Mar 12 01:24 AMD2400Controller

same goes for 2600.

old:

-rwxr-xr-x  1 root  wheel  343976 Sep 11  2012 AMD2600Controller

new:

-rwxr-xr-x  1 root  wheel  1856344 Mar 12 01:24 AMD2600Controller

way bigger, folks. had no chance to upgrade my imac7,1 but will report as i'm done.

I updated the system just a few hours ago and is has been stable since then. But I have not been using it very extensively.

So the questions are again:

* Does the ML 10.8.3 update fix the freeze problem with the 24" 8.1 radeon HD 2600 pro and HD 2400

(Every time I installed a ML update the first couple of hours/days it seemed like it was fixed, but the freeze problem always returend and I had to apply the kext fix again!)

* If the 10.8.3 update did not fix the freeze problem, does the kext fix still work?

Hope to hear some reactions soon.

For me, the answers are: no – to Apple's continuing shame – and yes!

Updated yesterday from 10.8.2 to 10.8.3 : freeze of my iMac come back immediately.

Kext work around applied with success and my Imac is working properly !

Everything is rock solid so far.

Three days post update.