How many of you that replaced your 4850 iMacs are still freezing up?

[WizardHunt]

I would really like some feed back on those of you who had freezing on your 1st iMac ordered and you then called Apple and ordered a 2nd or 3rd replacement, then are the replacements that you are getting also freezing up?

The reason I want to know is if the replacements are freezing up too, then it is really doing no good to send them back to Apple and we should wait for the fix. Tell me your opinions please. Sorry for starting another freezing thread but those of you who has freezing iMacs really need a answer to this question. So here is the question again.

Are there any of you out there that the replacements are doing the job and not freezing or are they freezing as well?

 

[davemulheran]

YES replacement froze straight away

THEN both machines ( i have them side by side) didnt freeze at all

UNTIL


I migration assisted my original freezing imac contents over to the replacement and now both freeze as soon as I boot them up!!

I get about 30 seconds of use before BOTH freeze!!



call to apple to get my 3rd!!!!!! built / delivered

 

[davemulheran]

3rd replacement ordered!

 

[MrENGLISH]

I think it's pretty safe to say that all 4850s are affected by the "WiFi issue" and the ones saying they are having zero issues are just not using WiFi under the same circumstances as those who are experiencing continuous crashes daily.

All 4850s are effected until Apple releases an update to fix the "WiFi issue".

There is no "I got lucky" 4850 iMac. Those who experienced issues before will experience the exact same issues again under the same setup they used before. Only way around it is by taking the necessary steps to avoid it (aka disable WiFi) and patiently wait for the fix to come out.

But that said, I have no doubt Apple will address this issue ASAP (via software update) and those with the 4850 will finally be able to enjoy them the way were meant to be. If Apple already fixed the 4850, they would have already released the fix for every other 4850 in the wild. And if it was truly a faulty hardware issue, they wouldn't be telling everyone to hold onto their units.

 

[Topo-kun]

I received the replacement on Monday.
No freezes until yet using wifi(crossing fingers)

I did a little test when it arrived of streaming 4 HD(1080p) videos simultaneously from Apple trailers while on wifi for approx 40 min and no freezes.
(This always provoke a freeze in the old one)

It did get hot though (Power suplly at 75 C) but besides that no other issues.

I don't have any game that I could test with (like WOW or under windows) and i did not have time to do more and long stress test.

I can not assure it is complete free of freezes but I have a good feeling...

 

[davemulheran]

I received the replacement on Monday.
No freezes until yet using wifi(crossing fingers)

I did a little test when it arrived of streaming 4 HD(1080p) videos simultaneously from Apple trailers while on wifi for approx 40 min and no freezes.
(This always provoke a freeze in the old one)

It did get hot though (Power suplly at 75 C) but besides that no other issues.

I don't have any game that I could test with (like WOW or under windows) and i did not have time to do more and long stress test.

I can not assure it is complete free of freezes but I have a good feeling...

Just you wait mate.. I had exactly the same when my first replacement arrived.

it WILL freeze

 

[VulnoX]

Just you wait mate.. I had exactly the same when my first replacement arrived.

it WILL freeze

I am kind of noticing a pattern that I wonder about. It seems that there really are two different types of freezing going on.

For example, when I got my iMac yesterday, I did the things he did, I also transferred about 20-30GB or more over WiFi, I also did iTunes visualization, and a lot more. Didn't have a single stutter. It wasn't until a half hour or so of WoW at full settings that I got a lock-up.

Well even non-4850's have been having lock-ups in WoW. What if the initial issue is fixed, the one where people lock up when doing nothing, but there is still a cooling issue for these newer, faster, video cards like the GT 130 and 4850.

Two issues that popped up at the same time that look like the same issue.

 

[itommyboy]

I am kind of noticing a pattern that I wonder about. It seems that there really are two different types of freezing going on.

For example, when I got my iMac yesterday, I did the things he did, I also transferred about 20-30GB or more over WiFi, I also did iTunes visualization, and a lot more. Didn't have a single stutter. It wasn't until a half hour or so of WoW at full settings that I got a lock-up.

Well even non-4850's have been having lock-ups in WoW. What if the initial issue is fixed, the one where people lock up when doing nothing, but there is still a cooling issue for these newer, faster, video cards like the GT 130 and 4850.

Two issues that popped up at the same time that look like the same issue.

Could be you never know I suppose. I for one have had my 24" with GT 130 running pretty much non stop since release week. From Photoshop to Handbrake to many many long WoW, L4D, COD4 and iTunes sessions and she just keeps on ticking like a Timex.

Interesting to hear and see replacements freeze just as quickly or in the same manner. So is it pretty much looking like the atiMacs are only freezing with wifi enabled? I could live with that and want one as my home machine so bad (and this current unit would be my office computer extraordinaire) but just can't pull the trigger yet. If it's not a hardware issue I guess there is no reason to wait - but are we certain that it's not is the question?

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Why are people ordering 2nd, 3rd, and so on replacement before it's fixed? Owners of the original freezing Alu iMac were held hostage until a fix eventually surfaced.

 

[davemulheran]

Why are people ordering 2nd, 3rd, and so on replacement before it's fixed? Owners of the original freezing Alu iMac were held hostage until a fix eventually surfaced.

Because we've paid £1700 + for a machine that should work straight out of the box, no questions asked!

There has been no official statement from apple owning up to this issue!

I will continue to request replacements until I get a machine that works. My pick ups / deliveries are now required on saturdays, costing apple more!

 

[WizardHunt]

Because we've paid £1700 + for a machine that should work straight out of the box, no questions asked!

There has been no official statement from apple owning up to this issue!

I will continue to request replacements until I get a machine that works. My pick ups / deliveries are now required on saturdays, costing apple more!

Well I ask you this, Isn't is a Hassle to always order another machine, transfer your files over again and pack up the freezing ones, and so on. Apple is aware of these lock ups. I am sure that they are trying to find a fix. I have a freezing iMac but I am leery of sending mine back as I am afraid of getting another freezing iMac and wasting my time.

I am not into trying to punish Apple. Sure they should have gave us a trouble free product but things don't always go 100% right. They will fix this in time. Hopefully sooner than later. So far I am seeing the ones that are sending those freezing machines back are getting freezing machines back. So what is the use in sending the machines back if you are most likely going to get another freezing machine in return? To punish Apple? I don't agree with that.

Sure it costs Apple to take these iMacs back but they do it for customer service. This is not in my opinion will make Apple come up with the fix faster. I just wish they would release 10.5.7 or maybe the delay of 10.5.7 is they want to issue the fix for the freezing iMacs with the 10.5.7 update.

 

[VulnoX]

Well I ask you this, Isn't is a Hassle to always order another machine, transfer your files over again and pack up the freezing ones, and so on. Apple is aware of these lock ups. I am sure that they are trying to find a fix. I have a freezing iMac but I am leery of sending mine back as I am afraid of getting another freezing iMac and wasting my time.

I am not into trying to punish Apple. Sure they should have gave us a trouble free product but things don't always go 100% right. They will fix this in time. Hopefully sooner than later. So far I am seeing the ones that are sending those freezing machines back are getting freezing machines back. So what is the use in sending the machines back if you are most likely going to get another freezing machine in return? To punish Apple? I don't agree with that.

Sure it costs Apple to take these iMacs back but they do it for customer service. This is not in my opinion will make Apple come up with the fix faster. I just wish they would release 10.5.7 or maybe the delay of 10.5.7 is they want to issue the fix for the freezing iMacs with the 10.5.7 update.

Ahhh... I love reading your posts.

This is exactly how I feel. I got mine yesterday, it froze on me in a game (but nowhere else yet), and it was damn near heartbreaking. I had been so worried about it while it was being built and delivered after reading everything here, that when I got it, tortured it for awhile, and it didn't freeze, I was excited.

But, its not worth sending back just to get the same thing as you said. It seems like a software problem, like the fans not doing their job on our much hotter-than-past components (So maybe an SMC update). Whatever the reason, hopefully Apple knows. Since installing SMCFanController and putting the fans on the higher end, I have not had another lockup.

I STILL wish someone could say for sure if getting a WiFi USB adapter would be a short-term fix, those things are cheap.

 

[davemulheran]

Well I ask you this, Isn't is a Hassle to always order another machine, transfer your files over again and pack up the freezing ones, and so on. Apple is aware of these lock ups. I am sure that they are trying to find a fix. I have a freezing iMac but I am leery of sending mine back as I am afraid of getting another freezing iMac and wasting my time.

I am not into trying to punish Apple. Sure they should have gave us a trouble free product but things don't always go 100% right. They will fix this in time. Hopefully sooner than later. So far I am seeing the ones that are sending those freezing machines back are getting freezing machines back. So what is the use in sending the machines back if you are most likely going to get another freezing machine in return? To punish Apple? I don't agree with that.

Sure it costs Apple to take these iMacs back but they do it for customer service. This is not in my opinion will make Apple come up with the fix faster. I just wish they would release 10.5.7 or maybe the delay of 10.5.7 is they want to issue the fix for the freezing iMacs with the 10.5.7 update.

The reason I am requesting a 3rd.. is because BOTH my imacs now freeze within 30 SECONDS of boot up.

whether I am in safari or mail, or itunes!

that is piss poor

so i'd rather get a new one that isnt SO prone to freezing.. untill they reveal the fix

 

[24usedtorock]

3rd replacement ordered!

That's just dumb. It's obvious you're going to encounter the same issue over and over again, why not wait for this "fix" as it could be at least a month. Would you really keep returning machines approaching 5,6,7,8 times before you realize there's a problem?

 

[WizardHunt]

The reason I am requesting a 3rd.. is because BOTH my imacs now freeze within 30 SECONDS of boot up.

whether I am in safari or mail, or itunes!

that is piss poor

so i'd rather get a new one that isnt SO prone to freezing.. untill they reveal the fix

Well yours does seem to be a bit more extreme than the others. Perhaps in your case I would do what you are doing. But in most cases I don't see that happening. For the first time ever since i had my iMac when writing an e-mail mine locked up in the middle of composing the email. There was no real stress on the Video 4850 that I could see so I am baffled at what is actually causing these lockups. I just hope that it is software or firmware updatable where we don't have to return our iMacs whether or not in the store or online.

By the way in your case you might try resetting your parameters , ie..... hold down keys P + R and Option + Command keys and then turn on your imac. You can let go after the 2nd beep. This will reset your parameters and could help some. Maybe not but worth a try.

 

[WizardHunt]

Don't forget to fill out the poll at the top of this thread if you ordered a replacement. So far it is 75% of the replacements are still freezing when they get them. That is not good odds in the customers favor. I would like more feedback. Keep filling in the polls if you ordered a replacement. Thanks for your cooperation. It will help others... to decide whether it is worth sending your iMac back or not.

 

[davemulheran]

That's just dumb. It's obvious you're going to encounter the same issue over and over again, why not wait for this "fix" as it could be at least a month. Would you really keep returning machines approaching 5,6,7,8 times before you realize there's a problem?

Read my situation with my current two... bright spark!

 

[davemulheran]

Well yours does seem to be a bit more extreme than the others. Perhaps in your case I would do what you are doing. But in most cases I don't see that happening. For the first time ever since i had my iMac when writing an e-mail mine locked up in the middle of composing the email. There was no real stress on the Video 4850 that I could see so I am baffled at what is actually causing these lockups. I just hope that it is software or firmware updatable where we don't have to return our iMacs whether or not in the store or online.

By the way in your case you might try resetting your parameters , ie..... hold down keys P + R and Option + Command keys and then turn on your imac. You can let go after the 2nd beep. This will reset your parameters and could help some. Maybe not but worth a try.

I agree. And I also did the PRAM reset to no avail. I just think mine are both seriously screwed!

 

[Scotty Dangles]

The reason I am requesting a 3rd.. is because BOTH my imacs now freeze within 30 SECONDS of boot up.

whether I am in safari or mail, or itunes!

that is piss poor

so i'd rather get a new one that isnt SO prone to freezing.. untill they reveal the fix

Just curious - how hot is the room the iMac is in?

 

[davemulheran]

Just curious - how hot is the room the iMac is in?

Perfectly normal mate.

Infact both machines were powered down overnight, I tried both this morning before work, so perfectly stone cold.

both still froze within seconds of opening safari / mail / itunes

the only possible catalyst to this issue was that I did a migration assistant session from the 1st imac to the 2nd. It would appear doing this has triggered something that has greatly accelerated my freezing issues...

 

[WizardHunt]

Because we've paid £1700 + for a machine that should work straight out of the box, no questions asked!

There has been no official statement from apple owning up to this issue!

Just to comment on why there is no official statement from Apple owning up to the issue of the freezing macs... I think it would be embarrassing for them since they just released a new Mac vs PC commercial that talks about freezing PC's and making people think that Macs don't freeze. Talk about egg on their face! Actually because of this issue and I were Apple, I would pull that Ad now and not run it until this issue got taken care of. Apple really jumped the gun on this one that is for sure!

 

[WizardHunt]

Perfectly normal mate.

Infact both machines were powered down overnight, I tried both this morning before work, so perfectly stone cold.

both still froze within seconds of opening safari / mail / itunes

the only possible catalyst to this issue was that I did a migration assistant session from the 1st imac to the 2nd. It would appear doing this has triggered something that has greatly accelerated my freezing issues...

Refresh my memory Dave, are you using WiFi?

 

[davemulheran]

Yes. I am also pretty sure last night I switched airport off as soon as the machines booted up and still had the issues with itunes and mail, offline.

 

[davemulheran]

Just to comment on why there is no official statement from Apple owning up to the issue of the freezing macs... I think it would be embarrassing for them since they just released a new Mac vs PC commercial that talks about freezing PC's and making people think that Macs don't freeze. Talk about egg on their face! Actually because of this issue and I were Apple, I would pull that Ad now and not run it until this issue got taken care of. Apple really jumped the gun on this one that is for sure!

Haha! really? I didnt know that about the advert on PC's freezing. How extremely ironic for apple! Indeed I can see why they would keep quiet!

 

[WizardHunt]

Haha! really? I didnt know that about the advert on PC's freezing. How extremely ironic for apple! Indeed I can see why they would keep quiet!

Yeah, they have been running the commercial ad in the USA for the last couple of days and it is so ironic with all the iMacs freezing. Talk about egg on their face. This is why maybe they want to quietly fix this. And hopefully fix it fast, as I do not see them pulling the ad yet, as I just seen it last night on prime time tv.