Changes when installing a new NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT video card

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Level 1

4 points

Changes when installing a new NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT video card

The original video card in my iMac 24" (NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT) died on me and I installed a new NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT and it works really well, BUT, now the fan is running all the time. Is this normal? Or, should I I need to do something tocorrect this new behaviour?

Thanks for any input.

iMac 24" 2.16GHz, Mac OS X (10.6.4), 3 gig memory

Posted on Jun 30, 2010 9:46 AM

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Answer 1

den.thed

Level 10

90,916 points

Jun 30, 2010 10:03 AM in response to pescatruchas

Hi pescatruchas

Welcome to Apple Discussions

First reset the SMC > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

+1. Shut down the computer.+
+2. Unplug the computer's power cord.+
+3. Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds.+
+4. Release the power button.+
+5. Attach the computers power cable.+
+6. Press the power button to turn on the computer.+

Then if that doesn't fix it, it sounds like you may have a bad or disconnected temperature sensor.

Run the Apple Hardware Test > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1509

and/or

Use the iStat Pro widget to check the sensor readouts > http://www.islayer.com/apps/istatpro/

Dennis

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Answer 2

pescatruchas Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 1, 2010 8:11 AM in response to den.thed

Dennis, thank you very much for your help. I ran the Hardware test and came back with the error :

4MOT/1/40000003: HDD (I don't know if after the M is a zero or the letter "O")

I tried to find it on the Support page in Apple site but got no hit on it.

Also I have istat installed and here is what it shows in fans:

Optical Drive: 4602 rpm
Hard drive: 1423 rpm
CPU fan 1204 rpm

and in temperatures: it varies from the lowest 81º for ambient to the highest 153º for the power supply.

Thanks again

Hector

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Answer 3

den.thed

Level 10

90,916 points

Jul 1, 2010 5:28 PM in response to pescatruchas

Check the read outs for all the temp. sensors with iStat or iStat Pro, it kind of looks like maybe your Optical Drives temp. sensor cable is disconnected and causing that fan to run at full speed.

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Answer 4

tmolnar

Level 1

10 points

Jul 2, 2010 2:38 PM in response to den.thed

Interestingly I have a similiar problem.
My Nvidia 8800 gs died and was replaced under warranty last week.
Now my fan won't stop, unless i put the computer to sleep.
Tried all the things mentioned.

I wonder if the technician unknowingly dislodged a sensor. I phoned him and he said, "the fan is always on". I am going to phone him again I think after doing the hardware test.

Thanks for the information and ideas here.
tim

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Answer 5

pescatruchas Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 2, 2010 3:59 PM in response to tmolnar

Hurray, I opened the putter and sure enough, there was an "orfan" wire connector glaring at me, I found where it belonged (the dvd player and plugget in, the iMac is running silent now and istat Pro now shows the fan running a 975 instead of 4000 plus as before.

Thanks for the help and instructions Denny, you are the champ!!!

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Answer 6

Jul 2, 2010 5:01 PM in response to pescatruchas

My 7300 card is dying too in my 24" iMac. I thought it could not be replaced? Advice very much appreciated. Thanks.
--Katie
katie@katieblack.com

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Answer 7

den.thed

Level 10

90,916 points

Jul 2, 2010 6:07 PM in response to pescatruchas

Your welcome, good work on your part.

Oh and by the way, now we expect you to show up around here and help us out with hardware repairs.

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Answer 8

R C-R

Level 6

17,794 points

Jul 3, 2010 3:27 AM in response to Katie Black

AFAIK, only if you have a "Late 2006" model iMac can just the card be replaced, otherwise not. (The model ID shown in System Profiler will be 6,1; the model number will probably be A1200.)

I believe Apple will not do this, so either you will have to do it yourself or have a qualified technician do it for you. You will need the Apple replacement part, available from a few places specializing in such things, like this one or this one for the 7600 GT or this one for the 7300.

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Answer 9

pescatruchas Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 3, 2010 8:34 AM in response to Katie Black

Hi Katie, my iMac shows Model identifier as 6.1 came with the nvidia 7300 GT video card, I found that the 7600 was a good substitute and also found the instructions on how to open the computer
http://home.comcast.net/~woojo/DFFA5...sassembly.html
. Initially I was reluctant to do it myself, I got my son who is a car mechanic to help me do it the first time. This second time after having watched the procedure I just did it myself. It is not as difficult as I imagined.
But just keep track of where every screw goes and keep them separated in small containers.

Hector

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Answer 10

pescatruchas Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 3, 2010 8:41 AM in response to pescatruchas

Sorry, in my other post I gave the wrong site, that was for the earlier iMac, this is for the late 2006

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=350120&highlight=iMachard+drivereplace

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Answer 11

Jul 3, 2010 9:49 AM in response to pescatruchas

Thank you for the info but it looks a bit much for me. How did you know your video card was failing? My issue is that recently games freeze, and I'm guessing it's the card.

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Answer 12

pescatruchas Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 3, 2010 10:44 AM in response to Katie Black

Initially it started delaying the response when changing images or letting a ghost image while dragging a window and from there starting deteriorating untill finally would not start. I had recently taken the computer to a dealer to put a 1 tera hard drive and thought it was the new HD, then I took it back to them and of course it started and didn't show any of the things that I was experiencing. They suggested that it was maybe a bad memory chip. I removed the memory and tested them on by one eliminating them as culprits. Then I googled and found the responses in the net.

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Answer 13

Jul 3, 2010 11:30 AM in response to pescatruchas

Did you run Apple Hardware Test? I just did and it reported no problems. I have no idea why my games are freezing. They do it both in Boot Camp Windows XP and now in Mac OS. Surely seems hardware-related to me...

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Answer 14

den.thed

Level 10

90,916 points

Jul 3, 2010 12:39 PM in response to Katie Black

The hardware test may not detect an intermittent or heat related problem with the graphic's card, until the card has completely failed and then you wouldn't be able to tests or see the results anyway. +(sorry for the lack of a better explanation)+

I'm not sure if your in the States or elsewhere, but if your warranty has lapsed then the least expensive and best solution is to seek out an Authorized Apple Service Provider instead of an Apple Store to replaced or upgraded your card.

In the States see > http://www.apple.com/buy/locator/service/
Elsewhere in the world see > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1434

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Answer 15

Jul 3, 2010 2:39 PM in response to den.thed

Thank you for the response. I do have an Apple authorized repair place around the corner from me, but I'm not sure I'm keen on paying $400 - $600 (installed) for a new video card when I've never been particularly pleased with NVIDEA to begin with. I should still be able to sell my late 2006 imac 24" for...something...and buy a new, faster, greater computer for not much more. Of course that's what I said about the iPhone 4 too...and I'm unhappy with its reception issues... So I guess new is not always better, even with technology.

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