27 iMac (2012) crashes and requires smc reset to turn on

D'oh....

if it works a little bit over internet surfing, it shut down too.....

iMAC = garbage!!!!

Hello all, here is my story and so far, my solution to the Imac shutdown saga.

I also have the iMac (27-inch, Late 2012)

Processor 2.9 Ghz Intel Core i5

Memory GB 1600 Mhz DDR3

Graphics NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M 512 MB

1TB Fusion Drive

Purchased computer 01/2013. As of 07/11/2016, out of the blue like so many others, my computer started shutting down randomly. I ran the AHT test and the error code stated that my hard drive was failing. I took my computer to the Genius bar and after they tested it, they came up with the same issue. They kept it for a few days and replaced my hard drive ($160 including tax and labor). For the next week, my computer was like new again. However, on 07/25, the issue returned. After reading these posts, I was reluctant to take it back to the apple store because it is a pain in the neck to lug this thing back and forth. I tried everything I could to avoid that trip. However, just for the heck of it, I decided to download the macs fan control from the previous post: http://www.crystalidea.com/macs-fan-control. The main fan RPM minimum is: 1200 - 2640 (max). I set it to 1500 and watched it. I also read in one of these post that if the CPU goes above 65, the the computer would shut down. What I have noticed is that ever since I installed the fan control, and started to notice which programs cause the temp to rise, my computer has not shut down and the back of my computer has been cooler.

Now I am not sure if this solution will work for everyone, but I must say, so far, it has worked for me. I noticed that chrome and safari used alot of memory, so i switched to firefox. Once again, so far as of today, I haven't any shutdowns in two days. Of course, time will tell because this issue seems to rear its ugly head whenever it wants to. I will keep you posted as to how long I go without a shutdown. I am keeping an eye on the fan control temps as well as the activity monitor that is built into the Imac.

Specs:

• Mac (27-inch, Late 2012)
• 3.4 GHz Intel Core i7
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX 1024 MB

Here i am adding myself to this forum as my out of warranty iMac is also experiencing intermittent shutdowns. Like most other folk on here, after the shutdown I can power my machine backup after disconnecting and reconnecting to mains outlet.

Having noticed that the intermittent shutdowns would happen when using Parallels or occasionally when browsing Internet, YouTube or listening to music.

I used Temperature Gauge and Cinebench to test and investigate. I noticed that my processor was running very hot! Cores running as hot as 103 oC . The temps for the power supply look good.

Since the iMac is out of warranty and I have a background in hardware repairs I decided to get my antistatic mat out and open the iMac for inspection.

Beware of the dirty mac :-)

So this is possibly why Temperature Gauge is showing high temp readings. The components are covered in heavy dust --> ( Fur jacket ) The heavy dust on the components won't help with cooling or airflow and possibly is related to the intermittent shutdowns.

Using an antistatic brush I cleaned the components free from dust and also applied thermal paste on the CPU and GPU.

It's as good as new looking after a good clean. I then fixed the LCD panel in place and ran more test using Temperature Gauge and noticed an improvement in cpu core temperatures whilst running CineBench.

I will run more tests later to see if the intermittent shutdown problem persists.

Maybe you can help me in disassembling my imac, i just wasnt brave enough yet...

Have the same problem, in my case its Safari. Whenever i do not use Safari I dont have these restarts. When I start using Safari and just go to Energy Saving Mode, the iMac wont come up again. Its just down. I have to unplug and wait...

It would be nice if you can give me directions of how to get off the display. Maybe via PM.

Thanks!

A Shop Vac and a can of air work for me without taking the case apart.

First, use the crevice tool and run around the entire case, especially the vent holes.

Now take a warm can of air and shoot air in, with the crevice tool next to where you are shooting.

Keeps dust from getting deeper in the machine, and getting in your house.

I read other posts where others used a can of air and vacuumed around external vents and the problem still persists.

Possibly you may not have had much dirt.

Having opened up my iMac as per pictures posted, I can say that vacuuming or using air around the vents on the exterior of the iMac will not do much to get rid of the deep dust that's buried within the fan and other places. That dust on the fan is hard and mud like in appearance. It took me some time to scrape and brush that dust out of the fan. Having excessive CPU temperatures, opening up the iMac also allows me to apply thermal paste.

So far my iMac has not experienced any shutdown, I'm still testing. I noticed that my iMac would shutdown within a period of two hours when running Parallels Virtual machine and using safari.

Today I'm running two Parallel virtual machines, one of these virtual machines have 2hr YouTube video playing, the other is installing Windows 8 updates. I also have YouTube Video on Safari and iTunes playing.

I'm stressing the machine more than I normally would during normal use and so far no system shutdown and temps are in a good range. I ran CineBench a few times parallel with these applications and no shutdown.

I find it interesting that so many people have this problem and logic board or power supply replacements have not solved the problem. Or in some cases users report that after having a Power Supply or Logic board replacement the iMac operates for a length of time only for the problem to resurface.

Do Apple service technicians clean the thick dirt from the machine before testing ? The dirt in the fan area will restrict the cooling, if the cooling is not sufficient then components are going to overheat and fail or become tempermental.

I initially though that this was a problem with the Power Supply or CPU. So far so good after cleaning components and applying thermal paste to CPU and GPU.

I'm assuming your iMac is out of warranty.

Have a look at IFXIT YouTube for Teardown guides. Don't skip the antistatic mat if you decide to proceed. Be calm and careful ( Power Supply will hold a lethal charge when DISCONNECTED from mains ) and pay attention to how the cables disconnect from the logic board, i.e. pull or lift. 🙂

mmmh interesting....I will follow your post clean tests!

if this is the problem i will bring my iMac to apple assistance

for cleaning.

I'm not sure that full cleaning solve the problem. I wrote few days ago about that my suggestions for the problem would be overheating but after some days and more tests I can't confirm that. Also I've tried to unable the turboboost of the processor to reduce the temperature and it works but as I said I'm pretty sure that heat is not the main problem.

By the moment the only way to stop shutdowns has been disconnect the iMac from the charge cable during the night, since I'm doing this every day I'm not having any shutdown even if the temperature of the computer is high.

I've start thinking that could be some electrostatic charge in some of the components. That would explain that after disconnect the cable for long periods (some hours) the shutdowns disappears. Could you try this method and post the results?

I hope it helps 😉

Just to confirm now that after cleaning the system and applying thermal paste the iMac shut down after 7.5 hours.

So the problem still persists. Next action is to try a new power supply. On inspection of the old power supply, it does not look great as it has white ingress on parts of it. Possibly dirt and humidity may have effected the power supply.

At the moment I'm unsure about electrostatic discharge causing the shutdowns, I think there is possibly a relation between the dust insutlating and damaging components in the iMac. My power supply does not look that great on inspection. I will replace power supply and test and post back my findings.

Those temperatures look a little funky to me.

Looks like they say Celsius, but are actually Fahrenheit...

100 Cº is 212 Fº, the temp where water boils....

I still say this is a power problem with the 95 watt processors, and overheating...

Jack up your CPU fan speed and see what you get.

My 21 inch I5 running at 2.5 is at 90 Fº, and I have noticed it gets to 110 - 120º, unless I override the fans, which I have done...

Also look for stray processes eating CPU cycles up....

before the shutdown my imac's fan don't go up with rpm

when the problem didn't exist i could play with heavy games and when cpu temp grow up, also the fan speed up the rpm...

now the shutdown sudden came without previous speedup of the temp....

probably temp is not the problem...

That is a new theory, and quite interesting, especially if this is the cause. Why make you believe that the problem is related to the 77 watt TDP? What CPU models are 77 watt TDP?

My CPU is Core i5 (3470), but the problem is that a CPU change is quite difficult and relatively costly.

Would certainly be helpful if we could get any statements from Apple soon.

Look at the processors offered for Late 2012 iMac,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMac_(Intel-based)#Unibody_iMac

Intel i5

2.7, i5-3335S (low power, 65 watt)

2.9, i5-3470S (low power, 65 watt)

3.2, i5-3470 (77 watt)

i7

3.1 3770S (low power, 65 watt)

3.4 3770 (77 watt)

The vast majority of people having problems are using either the 3.2 i5 or the 3.4 i7, both 77 watt, and have a 27 inch screen.

Looks like retail for a used i7 3770S or 3770T (45 watt) is $200,

http://www.reusetek.com/intel-core-i7-3770s-sr0pn-3-1ghz-5gt-s-lga-1155-processo r/

Knock, Knock, Apple...

Knock Knock...

Major problem found here.....

You need to adjust the temp sensors responsiveness....

CPU's need to be cooler....