External Display Causing Kernel Panic

Question

I have had a Samsung monitor hooked up to my ~2008 iMac (Intel; see below for more information) for about 3 months and I&#x27;ve had no problems.  A week ago, I started getting the "You Need to Restart your Computer" screen due to a kernel panic.  I followed Apple&#x27;s directions for troubleshooting a kernel panic (http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3742), and I narrowed the problem down to my external Samsung display.The kernel panic happens every time my external display is connected and the screen saver has been on for about 8-10 minutes.  I only get a kernel panic when the external display is connected.  See below for my computer information and the kernel panic log.  How can I fix this problem?Hardware Overview:  Model Name:          iMac  Model Identifier:          iMac7,1  Processor Name:          Intel Core 2 Duo  Processor Speed:          2.4 GHz  Number Of Processors:          1  Total Number Of Cores:          2  L2 Cache:          4 MB  Memory:          2 GB  Bus Speed:          800 MHz  Boot ROM Version:          IM71.007A.B03  SMC Version (system):          1.20f4  Hardware UUID:          00000000-0000-1000-8000-001B63B25192Kernel Panic Log:Interval Since Last Panic Report:  706 secPanics Since Last Report:          2Anonymous UUID:                    87195EA1-746B-4068-808E-A8277AFA6070Sun Mar  4 23:52:33 2012panic(cpu 0 caller 0x001AB0FE): Kernel trap at 0x00d4545d, type 14&#x3D;page fault, registers:CR0: 0x8001003b, CR2: 0x00000000, CR3: 0x0119b000, CR4: 0x00000660EAX: 0x00000000, EBX: 0x00000036, ECX: 0x044b0d94, EDX: 0x0001a5e0CR2: 0x00000000, EBP: 0x00108b18, ESI: 0x04794440, EDI: 0x00108ff0EFL: 0x00010006, EIP: 0x00d4545d, CS:  0x00000008, DS:  0x00520010Error code: 0x00000000Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)0x108918 : 0x12b4c6 (0x45f91c 0x10894c 0x13355c 0x0) 0x108968 : 0x1ab0fe (0x469a98 0xd4545d 0xe 0x469248) 0x108a48 : 0x1a1713 (0x108a60 0x108ab4 0x108b18 0xd4545d) 0x108a58 : 0xd4545d (0xe 0x286f0048 0x10 0x10) 0x108b18 : 0xd45fa4 (0x0 0x2f 0x12 0x0) 0x108b58 : 0xd46109 (0x0 0x0 0x0 0x528ce8) 0x108cb8 : 0xd46267 (0x1 0x4 0xd50d7c 0x0) 0x108cf8 : 0xd46085 (0x4 0xd50d7c 0x0 0x0) 0x108d38 : 0xd3a71f (0xd523e8 0xd52ebc 0x0 0x0) 0x108d98 : 0xd33912 (0x43cb410 0x108e58 0x1 0x1) 0x108dd8 : 0xd35ec8 (0x43cb410 0xd5843c 0x108e58 0x40) 0x108e08 : 0xd35efd (0x43cb410 0x8 0x108e58 0x0) 0x108e38 : 0xd32b1b (0x43cb410 0x8 0x108e58 0x49f78b8) 0x108ea8 : 0xd41d66 (0x43cb410 0xd568b4 0x10c60 0x6) 0x108ed8 : 0xd1a2b3 (0x4bb5954 0x3de13c50 0xd 0xd568b4) 0x108f08 : 0x6aacbd (0x4794440 0x36 0x23eff000 0x0)           Backtrace continues...      Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):         com.apple.kext.ATY_Hypoprion(5.4.8)@0xce5000-&gt;0xd5ffff            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(1.7.3)@0x6a0000            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6)@0x5ce000            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(1.7.3)@0x683000            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily(1.2.0)@0x627000         com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(1.7.3)@0x6a0000-&gt;0x6adfff            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6)@0x5ce000            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(1.7.3)@0x683000BSD process name corresponding to current thread: WindowServerMac OS version:9L31aKernel version:Darwin Kernel Version 9.8.0: Wed Jul 15 16:55:01 PDT 2009; root:xnu-1228.15.4~1/RELEASE_I386System model name: iMac7,1 (Mac-F4238CC8)System uptime in nanoseconds: 1421066020480unloaded kexts:com.apple.driver.InternalModemSupport          2.4.0 - last unloaded 125555815961loaded kexts:com.apple.driver.InternalModemSupport          2.4.0 - last loaded 18399940146com.apple.driver.AppleHDAPlatformDriver          1.7.1a2com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager          2.1.8f2com.apple.filesystems.autofs          2.0.2com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient          2.7.5com.apple.driver.AppleHDAHardwareConfigDriver          1.7.1a2com.apple.driver.AppleHDA          1.7.1a2com.apple.kext.ATY_Hypoprion          5.4.8com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor          1.9d0com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X          6.0.3com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl          2.8.15com.apple.driver.AppleTyMCEDriver          1.0.0d28com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController          1.7.1a2com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP          1.7.7com.apple.driver.AudioIPCDriver          1.0.6com.apple.ATIRadeonX2000          5.4.8com.apple.driver.AppleIRController          113com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin          3.4.0a17com.apple.driver.AppleLPC          1.3.1com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight          1.6.0com.apple.driver.CSRUSBBluetoothHCIController          2.1.8f2com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHIDMouse          1.2.4b3com.apple.driver.AppleHIDKeyboard          1.0.9b4com.apple.driver.CSRHIDTransitionDriver          2.1.8f2com.apple.driver.iTunesPhoneDriver          1.0com.apple.iokit.IOUSBMassStorageClass          2.0.8com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub          3.4.6com.apple.driver.PioneerSuperDrive          2.0.9com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient          2.1.1com.apple.driver.XsanFilter          2.7.91com.apple.driver.AirPortBrcm43xx          366.91.21com.apple.driver.AppleFileSystemDriver          1.1.0com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage          1.2.2com.apple.iokit.IOATAPIProtocolTransport          1.5.3com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI          3.9.7com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub          3.4.9com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient          3.4.9com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort          1.7.0com.apple.driver.AppleIntelPIIXATA          2.0.1com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI          3.4.6com.apple.driver.AppleUSBUHCI          3.3.5com.apple.iokit.AppleYukon2          3.1.13b2com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM          1.2.0com.apple.driver.AppleRTC          1.2.3com.apple.driver.AppleHPET          1.4com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPCI          1.2.5com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons          1.2.5com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS          1.4com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC          1.2.5com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC          1.4com.apple.security.seatbelt          107.12com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall          1.6.77com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet          3com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement          76.2.0com.apple.driver.DiskImages          199com.apple.BootCache          30.4com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily          9.4com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib          1.7.1a2com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily          1.7.1a2com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily          1.6.9fc5com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib          1.1com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily          3.4.0a17com.apple.driver.AppleSMC          2.3.1d1com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport          1.7.3com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily          1.7.3com.apple.driver.AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController          2.1.8f2com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily          2.1.8f2com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse          1.2.4b3com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver          3.4.6com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite          3.2.0com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice          2.1.1com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice          2.1.1com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily          1.5com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily          1.5com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily          1.5com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family          216.1com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily          2.1.1com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily          3.4.9com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily          1.5.0com.apple.iokit.IOATAFamily          2.0.1com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily          3.4.9com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily          1.6.1com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime          1.2.0com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily          1.1com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily          1.5.6com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily          1.5.5com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform          1.2.5com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily          1.2.0com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily          2.6

pschluet · Answer

Update: I ran both the quick and extended Apple hardware tests (initiated by holding down D during startup with the Mac OS X install disk in the optical drive), and both times it gave me an error code of 4SNS/1/40000000:TG0H.

X423424X · Answer

4SNS is a sensor error.  TG0H I believe indicates it&#x27;s a GPU heat sink sensor.  At least that is consistent with the fact you have a problem involving a display.It&#x27;s not obvious (to me) whether the video card has a problem or the external display is causing the problem.  If you could find another machine to attach the display to that may give a clue as to where the problem lies.

pschluet · Answer

I hooked up my external display to my old PowerBook G4 running the same OS as my iMac (Leopard - 10.5.8), and I ran a dual display screen saver (the same thing that caused my iMac to crash/kernel panic), and there was no crashing/kernel panic with the PowerBook.  It&#x27;s looking more and more like the problem is a hardware  issue (i.e. GPU heat sink sensor) with my iMac.Any ideas on how to fix this?  Can I buy the sensor alone or do I have to replace the whole graphics card?  Where can I buy these replacement parts?  Where is the sensor located in the computer?  Any insight you can give would be great.

X423424X · Answer

I would really recommend professional apple repair.  While iFixit has tutorials on how to take about these things it is not for the faint of heart.  And if it is the video card I think that is part of the logic board and may not be individually repairable.

pschluet · Answer

Solution: The GPU heat sink temperature sensor was faulty.  I couldn&#x27;t figure out what part number the temperature sensor was, so I just ordered a new GPU heat sink off e-bay for $12.  The heat sink assembly contains the temperature sensor.  I installed the heat sink (including removing/applying thermal paste), and voila!  The kernel panics are gone.  The faulty heat sink temp sensor was causing the temp. to read hotter than it actually was, so when it read too hot (GPU diode ~120 Celsius), I got a kernel panic.  After I installed the new heat sink (with new GPU heatsink temp. sensor), the GPU temperatures read normal, and the Apple Hardware Test showed no problems (before it was giving an error code of 4SNS/1/40000000:TG0H).Ahh, the sweet satisfaction of fixing this problem myself for $12 without ever having to deal with Apple.

mori-muc · Answer

For me it worked excluding the internal os x discs from spotlight.I have a partition with os x &amp; one with data, it worked to exclude these drives within the prefs of spotlight (privacy tab).

mori-muc · Answer

For me it worked excluding the internal os x discs from spotlight.I have a partition with os x &amp; one with data, it worked to exclude these drives within the prefs of spotlight (privacy tab).