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Level 1

5 points

iMac Freezing Issues...

Hi,

I purchased a new iMac around July/ August. This Mac worked fine for all my needs but within no time at all Apple brought out a new version. Due to this, they allowed me to send mine back and get the new one as it had been so close to release.

Therefore, i was able to get the newer version using the i3 processor with 4x2gb of RAM and 1TB hard drive. My problem is, it is very slow to start-up compared to the previous 'new' one (From a matter of seconds to a matter of minutes), and also, this Mac consistently freezes randomly when it is left on for a while.

My old iMac and Macbook before that practically never crashed and were very fast to start up yet this one which is supposedly better is experiencing constant crashing and slow start-up. I admit i leave it on most of the day (although it sleeps quite a lot) but this happened with my previous 2 Mac's and they never had any issues - Also, it doesn't seem to get too hot where it is so i really have no idea - Why is my better Mac worse?

Any help would be great.

thanks,

Martyn

iMac 21.5" - 3.20GHz Intel Core i3 - 8 GB DDR3, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Jan 19, 2011 11:55 AM

Best reply

B33-J4Y Author

Level 1

5 points

Posted on Jan 21, 2011 4:50 AM

Anyone? This is a really annoying issue and i'm not really sure where the problem lies...?

Thanks

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25 replies

WZZZ

Level 6

13,226 points

Jan 31, 2011 3:23 PM in response to B33-J4Y

OK, Hardware Test next.

WZZZ

Level 6

13,226 points

Jan 31, 2011 3:42 PM in response to WZZZ

Make sure you run it in extended and try several runs. It may not pick up an error the first time.

B33-J4Y Author

Level 1

5 points

Feb 1, 2011 9:59 AM in response to WZZZ

Just came on to say i tried the normal one as i didn't have time to try the extended but nothing came up. I hadn't seen your second post though lol.

I'll run it a few times later whilst i'm doing other things in that case.

Thanks

B33-J4Y Author

Level 1

5 points

Feb 1, 2011 4:52 PM in response to WZZZ

Just ran the extended test 3 times over and there's still no problems as far as the test is concerned. Any other ideas??

Thanks

WZZZ

Level 6

13,226 points

Feb 1, 2011 5:16 PM in response to B33-J4Y

Only other thing besides bringing it in to Apple, who can run much more sophisticated tests, is to create a new admin user account and see what happens there. If the freezes don't happen from there, then you know it's something specific to your regular user account and not the system (then you have to go hunting for exactly what that is.) I know this isn't very helpful since the freezes are so random and sporadic.

You could also try a reinstall, which in Snow Leopard will give you new system files and leave everything else in place. But as problem solving goes, that's just a guess. You would want to run one of the Combo Updates (below) afterward.

Another thing to throw at it (in other words, another big guess) is to run the Combo Update. This will include all modifications from 10.6 on and may fill in anything that's corrupted or missing. If you're currently on 10.6.4, you could try applying the 10.6.5 or 10.6.6 Combo. You can get either from Apple Downloads.

Sorry I can't be much more helpful than that.

WZZZ

Level 6

13,226 points

Feb 1, 2011 8:16 PM in response to WZZZ

*12-Step Program to Isolate Freezes and/or Kernel Panics*

http://macosg.com/group/viewtopic.php?t=800

I think we've tried most of these, except for 9, 10, 11. Step 9 in 10.6 is a simple reinstall.

Also, try a PRAM Reset. Hold CMD-Option-P-R together at startup chime until you hear two more chimes, total three, then let keys go to finish booting.

B33-J4Y Author

Level 1

5 points

Feb 17, 2011 10:44 AM in response to WZZZ

Thanks for all the help - Been very busy recently so not had a chance to look at these ideas but will do asap. I'm getting more and more issues at the moment so it looks like it could be going back to Apple at this rate 😟

Apr 11, 2011 10:12 PM in response to B33-J4Y

Well, my i3 have exactly the same issue. Sometimes it just freezes when idle. I've tried to run AHT and Rember for a very long time (for several weeks), no error ever happened. However, I've also found that it never freezes with loads: the system never freezes with Rember running!

Since...
1.Most of the iMac freezing problem happens with all four memory sticks installed.
2.CPU supply voltages will be lower when idle. (power saving)
3.Core i3/i5/i7 series uses IMC.

I once have a PC system equipped an AMD Phenom 9500, and it has very similar issue. There must be a load to make system stable (to prevent entering power saving mode), or I have to raise the idle voltage. Later BIOS from the vendor also raises the default idle voltage a bit.

Message was edited by: Polyrumors

Apr 24, 2011 8:23 PM in response to Polyrumors

Tried KTA/KVR/ADATA/Kingston/Transcend DDR3-1333 4GB modules in past few months, all have similar issues. Currently I'm using four Kingston DDR3-1066 4GB and it's stable for now. Transcend and Samsung 1066 modules are stable as well.

Lowering the frequency to 1066 seems to be a solution...

B33-J4Y Author

Level 1

5 points

May 9, 2011 6:53 AM in response to Polyrumors

So changing the RAM fixed the problem? I've still been getting issues and whilst it's good to know there's a solution i'm still going to be bringing this up with Apple as i don't think after spending all this money it should be my prerogative to chage the RAM.

Thanks

iMac Freezing Issues...