Powermac G5 randomly freezes

I am a first time buyer of Apple, but I have been working on them at work for sometime. I never had any problems at work so when I saved enough money I decided to go it my own and buy a powermac G5. I bought it back in Nov. 05
I have $5,000 invested in this computer and now it is causing me all kinds of problems.
It randomly freezes. I could be working it at its full capacity or hardly at all and it will lock up. When it freezes the mouse stops moving and the key board stop working. The computer doesn't make a sound. If I have music running the song will skip until I shut it down. A red light behind the grid in the front comes on, and if I wait a few minutes before shuting it down the fans kick into high gear.
After a month or so of batteling these random freezes my computer would not turn on at all. On startup the red light would turn on and no video would ever each the monitor. I finally took it into an Apple certified repair shop, they were able to reset the logic board and preform updates and they gave it back to me, but once again the computer is freezing.
I am taking it back to the repair guys today. Based on other issues I have read I believe it is a power supply issue, or at least I would hope so. The repair guys told me that they are going to replace the power supply and then see what happens.
Is anyone else having problems like this? How do I get things resovled? And how long is it going to be before Apple says 'we screwed up with your computer' and send me a new one?

Posted on May 23, 2006 8:16 AM

42 replies

Jun 5, 2006 8:21 AM in response to Md Terps

Thanks for the info MD.

Unfortunately for me there is no Apple Store in my area, so my work is contracted out to CompUSA. While I find their techs amicable, I suspect they are not as knowledgeable. They have yet to see the anamoly in their shop, and I suspect it's because they pretty much stick the to the repair protocol given to them by Apple. Which means they run the diagnostic software provided to them and that is about it even though I have given them very detailed write ups about the fail.

I do find it interesting that they replaced the temp. sensor in your unit. I had not seen that mentioned before.

It's great that it only took one week for you. I am on week three with C-USA.

Thanks again!

dora jar

Level 1

8 points

Jun 6, 2006 3:44 AM in response to TheRodman

I have ordered a Powermac G5 2.3 and am now wondering if I have made the right decision.

What with all the bits and pieces monitor,software etc it adds up to over £3000.

Do I go ahead and but or do I cancel before it is shipped?

G5 2.3 Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Jun 6, 2006 4:57 PM in response to dora jar

Hey dora..

That's a tough question!
I think you have to do the research and make that decision for yourself.

I probably could have spent a little more time on these boards before my purchase, but I doubt if it would have deterred me from ordering.

In my instance, I do believe that the delay in my repair has something to do with my location, and the repair facility I have available. Since I have no access to an Apple Store, my only option was to use an Apple authorized dealer. Another user in this thread was able to get his computer to a Apple store after working with Apple Care by phone. They got it back to him in a week and his problems seem to be solved.

It has been frustrating not being able to use a computer that I purchased over a month ago, but I am optimistic that it will get resolved and I will be able to enjoy the speed that the dual-core offers.

Good Luck!

Jun 6, 2006 5:20 PM in response to dora jar

Dora,

One thing to keep in mind is that this is a support forum, so nearly all of the posts here are people searching for solutions to problems. You don't usually hear from the majority who have no problems.

Now, it's not that Apple products never have problems; they do. They do tend to have the fewest number of problems in the PC industry, though.

I for one have had Macs dating back to 1984 or so, and have had tremendous reliability with all of them.

dora jar

Level 1

8 points

Jun 7, 2006 3:27 AM in response to TheRodman

Hey dora..

That's a tough question!
I think you have to do the research and make that
decision for yourself.

I probably could have spent a little more time on
these boards before my purchase, but I doubt if it
would have deterred me from ordering.

In my instance, I do believe that the delay in my
repair has something to do with my location, and the
repair facility I have available. Since I have no
access to an Apple Store, my only option was to use
an Apple authorized dealer. Another user in this
thread was able to get his computer to a Apple store
after working with Apple Care by phone. They got it
back to him in a week and his problems seem to be
solved.

It has been frustrating not being able to use a
computer that I purchased over a month ago, but I am
optimistic that it will get resolved and I will be
able to enjoy the speed that the dual-core offers.

Good Luck!

Thanx Rod and Steve,I will stick with it.

G5 2.3 Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Jun 8, 2006 5:32 PM in response to TheRodman

Thanks for all your informative responses since I posted on may 25.

As a fix, I am going to try Memtest routine. Is that a software test? Does anyone know where I can download it?

And does anyone know how to replace a processor on a 1.6 Gig G5? Since Apple has not made a 1.6 mac in over a year, is it possible to replace with a 2.0 or faster processor?

And finally, any guesses on what a new processor swap costs?

On the positive side, I've been using Macs since 1984 and have had no problem like this ever. I find the quality to be incredibly high. And here in NY, the new Mac store is a unique place to visit. Don't make a special trip, but check it out if you're in the hood.

Jun 8, 2006 10:28 PM in response to writer-prodder

Here it is AdGuy:

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/17156

Good luck....

AkleyMac

Level 1

30 points

Jul 19, 2006 5:31 AM in response to Jack_Burton

Is it possible that this is something to do with temperature. I am also experiencing exactly the same problems as you, but it stopped during the winter, and I didn't think anything of it. Now that its summer again, and it is getting really hot, its started freezing again. I'm gonna take my PM to the Cancom service centre this weekend, but the crashes are definitely getting more frequent for me in hot weather. I've started monitoring the temperatures using Temperature monitor and writing down the internal temperatures at the time of the freeze.

Is it possible that there is a problem with the fan controllers?

Tom

Jul 19, 2006 1:59 PM in response to AkleyMac

I have had the same freeze problem, but only recently. Usually when using Compressor from Final Cut Pro, or working with DVd Studio Pro. Seems to be a heat issue. I have and extra 4 (2 pairs) of 512meg ram chips as an upgrade. Everything else is the way Apple installed it. I thought at one time that it might be bad ram but have run all the tests, and it all checks ok. One time when removing the ram while trouble shooting I noticed that the ram was quite hot (has a heat sink, makes sense). thinking it may be a heat issue I placed a small desk fan directly in front of the front grill, fan on high. It worked through a project from FCP to Compressor that had frozen in past without a freeze this time. It's not the best solution, but it works until I can find a better solution.

My system is a Dual 2.0gig G5 with 2 gig of ram one of the first dual G5's out, in the YM338 serial series purchased Oct 2003. I run OSX panther.

AkleyMac

Level 1

30 points

Jul 19, 2006 2:45 PM in response to Jack_Burton

Ok - I have recorded temperatures from one of these freezes, and from a kernel panic. When compared to temperatures from normal operation, ie without experiencing a freeze, it appears that the ambient processor temperature is about 7º higher, and the the temperature of the SMART disk is about 5º higher.

However, the RAM is about 4º hotter under NORMAL operation (this may be a coincidence - I don't know as, sod's law, when I am recording temperatures, the crashes suddenly become less frequent, so I have so far been unable to repeat any readings).

It is interesting that blowing air through the case with a desk fan should improve reliability. It's almost certainly a cooling issue - I'll have to speak to a tech about it when I make the long drive to the nearest service centre.

Thanks for all the posts - I've been struggling with this problem for a year now, replacing RAM etc. - I never thought of cooling problems.

Jul 25, 2006 3:33 PM in response to AkleyMac

HI, Please let me know your results. Thanks.

AkleyMac

Level 1

30 points

Aug 9, 2006 3:01 PM in response to Gary Mcdougall

Hi,

Heard back from the engineer today. He told me that they had been unable to recreate the problem, but also that it is not unusual for some of the earlier PowerMac G5s to exhibit cooling problems in high temperatures (like the heat wave that was affecting the UK when the freezes started again).

Apparently, Apple has began using more powerful cooling fans in later models. Guess I'm just gonna have to hope that we don't get too many heat waves until I upgrade my computer in a few years...

Regards,
Tom

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Powermac G5 randomly freezes