iMac Freezing Fix ETA?

[flopticalcube]

Actually, I don't recall seeing anything official from Apple pointing at the video card..

Considering that the folks at Blizzard have said that Apple and ATI are working closely together to figure this out implies that it is the video card.

Apple denied back in August or early September that had received any faulty cards. Were they ignorant, lying or telling the truth (the problem was something else)? Only they know.

 

[l33r0y]

Is this a typical example of the lockup?

 

[flopticalcube]

Is this a typical example of the lockup?

That could be. For me the screen typically just freezes at what ever it was doing or goes black (but not off).

 

[daneoni]

Surely the ultimate GPU stress test is Fullscreen CoverFlow in iTunes right?

 

[wakerider017]

Surely the ultimate GPU stress test is CoverFlow in iTunes right?

Not really....

For me Time Machine is almost a guaranteed crash.. The moving space background artifacts like crazy then the system gives out.

 

[daneoni]

I did a Fullscreen coverflow test and whilst there was no freeze/crash there was definitely some serious jerking.

I did the Dock test which didn't give any trouble. I can't do Time Machine/Arabsite screensaver cos i have no Leopard but i tried RSS visualizer but no dice which is all good for me

 

[snickelfritz]

This problem does not seem related to videocard stress, as it might apply to running a demanding game like Doom3.
Seems more like certain instructions are just causing the whole shootin' match to go south.

 

[flopticalcube]

Looks like Apple has missed its initial target of "most likely by the end of the month". I am beginning to wonder if that was just a stalling tactic to keep people appeased. Queue the "just give them a little more time" posts.

 

[Marble]

I am not personally in the danger zone anymore with Software Update 1.0, but I have a copy of Leopard on the way and I was really hoping to check it out. I guess I'll have to deal with my envy a little longer (hopefully "little") while the Apple churns.

It's been a long time, now!

 

[snickelfritz]

"AMD software let defective graphics cards slip into the channel
Monica Chen, Taipei; Joseph Tsai, DIGITIMES [Wednesday 1 August 2007]

AMD's official graphics card diagnostic and validation software was recently discovered to have a bug that failed to detect defective ATI Radeon HD 2400 and 2600 graphics cards, according to sources at graphics card makers.

Channel vendors pointed out the problem with the cards was due to an error in the BIOS application process.

The issue was not only encountered by small makers, Asustek Computer, Micro-Star International (MSI) and Gigabyte Technology all experienced the problem too, noted the sources.

Although the problem can be easily solved by reapplying the BIOS, because AMD's software did not detect the defect before shipping, the cards will now need to be returned to the makers to be restored. One first-tier maker has recalled over 20,000-30,000 units already, noted the sources.

It is believed that most of the defective cards are still in the channel or on their way back to the makers with only a small number of having already been purchased by consumers, noted the vendors.

AMD responded that Radeon HD 2400 and 2600 chips are throughly inspected before being shipped to graphics card makers. This was an isolated incident and measures were taken to solve the issue as soon as it was detected, the company said."

 

[ImperialX]

"AMD software let defective graphics cards slip into the channel
Monica Chen, Taipei; Joseph Tsai, DIGITIMES [Wednesday 1 August 2007]

AMD's official graphics card diagnostic and validation software was recently discovered to have a bug that failed to detect defective ATI Radeon HD 2400 and 2600 graphics cards, according to sources at graphics card makers.

Channel vendors pointed out the problem with the cards was due to an error in the BIOS application process.

The issue was not only encountered by small makers, Asustek Computer, Micro-Star International (MSI) and Gigabyte Technology all experienced the problem too, noted the sources.

Although the problem can be easily solved by reapplying the BIOS, because AMD's software did not detect the defect before shipping, the cards will now need to be returned to the makers to be restored. One first-tier maker has recalled over 20,000-30,000 units already, noted the sources.

It is believed that most of the defective cards are still in the channel or on their way back to the makers with only a small number of having already been purchased by consumers, noted the vendors.

AMD responded that Radeon HD 2400 and 2600 chips are throughly inspected before being shipped to graphics card makers. This was an isolated incident and measures were taken to solve the issue as soon as it was detected, the company said."

But only the 20" 2.0Ghz iMac (with the 2400xt) isn't effected by this issue (apparently).

 

[flopticalcube]

"AMD software let defective graphics cards slip into the channel
Monica Chen, Taipei; Joseph Tsai, DIGITIMES [Wednesday 1 August 2007]

...

Apple apparently denied receiving any of these. At any rate even recently manufactured iMacs are freezing, so I doubt that's the problem unless Apple has been buying the defective cards on the cheap and using them in its units, which is always possible.

 

[nando2323]

Apple apparently denied receiving any of these. At any rate even recently manufactured iMacs are freezing, so I doubt that's the problem unless Apple has been buying the defective cards on the cheap and using them in its units, which is always possible.

I would highly doubt that they would jeopardize their reputation to save a few bucks by installing defective cards on purpose.

 

[Mindflux]

arabesque is part of leopard. If u don't have leopard and want to reproduce the freeze, update to 1.1 software update in tiger and run ur mouse over the dock from left to right very very fast for about 10-15 times, makes mine freeze under leopard everytime.

I'm up to date on all my updates (did it the day I got the iMac). I can run my mouse over the dock over and over and over w/ no problems. The machine has not locked up a single time since I've had it (8 days).

 

[Bolteh]

http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=2647286085&pageNo=1&sid=1#4

In terms of bugs fixed in 10.5, we know the stuttery-frame-rate problem on the newest MacBookPro is fixed, and some of the ATI RadeonHD (new iMac) driver bugs are also fixed. We're asking Apple to make these bug fixes available in 10.4.10 on those systems rather than require an upgrade to Leopard to address these issues.

Everyone is complaing that Leopard made the freezes more frequently, so I guess Blizzard doesn't know what's actually going at Apple/AMD


I'm receiving my up-to-date disk this monday, I wonder if I should install it (mine freezes once, maybe twice a day, or sometimes even once per 3 days)..

 

[flopticalcube]

I would highly doubt that they would jeopardize their reputation to save a few bucks by installing defective cards on purpose.

Companies are capable of anything when pressured to maintain margins although at the moment I am in a most cynical mood.

http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=2647286085&pageNo=1&sid=1#4


Everyone is complaing that Leopard made the freezes more frequently, so I guess Blizzard doesn't know what's actually going at Apple/AMD

I'm receiving my up-to-date disk this monday, I wonder if I should install it (mine freezes once, maybe twice a day, or sometimes even once per 3 days)..

It may have been that Apple was going to release the fix for Leopard first, hence Blizzard's comment.

I would advise against it until there is a fix. Rolling back to update 1.0 and resetting the PRAM seems to keep freezes to a minimum. I am down to maybe 1 every 2 or three days unless I purposely do it by fast mousing over a magnified dock. I also set the res and graphics down a notch on some games.

 

[wakerider017]

On the phone with Apple now... Going on 1 hour 30 minutes...

They had me go into safe-mode. I opened photobooth an it said something about my video card not being able to run photobooth.

You can get into safe-mode by holding down the shift key during boot.

You guys should try it and see if it gives you the same message.



I am going to try and get this iMac replaced if I can.

 

[wakerider017]

They said they want to come out and replace the video card...

I really just want a new computer... They are saying no since I have owned it for 60 days...

 

[flopticalcube]

They said they want to come out and replace the video card...

I really just want a new computer... They are saying no since I have owned it for 60 days...

Looks like that is going to be the solution. Bitch and complain for 2 hours on the phone until they give in and come out and replace your video card. I guess they avoid a full recall that way. Anyway, I hope it fixes your problem.

 

[wakerider017]

Looks like that is going to be the solution. Bitch and complain for 2 hours on the phone until they give in and come out and replace your video card. I guess they avoid a full recall that way. Anyway, I hope it fixes your problem.

Setting it up now.

A tech is coming out to replace my video card..

 

[nando2323]

You know guys this whole thing is just crazy now. I am so sick of refreshing Engadget, TUAW, and Macrumors forums to see if an update for the iMac is out. I am now switching stances on the whole thing and I am going to give Apple the benefit of the doubt and wait and see if they actually come out with a fix. I have posted here, on the Blizzard forums and on Apple's own forums to no avail. So I am going with what Blizzard has said and I am going to wait it out and see if Apple really does come out with an update.

My iMac freezes also but only when I play WoW on full screen and it was perfect before 1.1 not even one freeze for 3 months then 1.1 came and it just went downhill from there. So maybe just maybe Apple is QCing the crap out of these drivers to make sure that this is no longer an issue and they can put the nail in the coffin once and for all.

 

[snickelfritz]

I seriously doubt any manufacturer would knowingly use defective parts.
However, the fact that a serious defect in the BIOS ever occurred in distibuted chipsets, gives me pause.
There is definitely something different about the affected iMacs, and it's not the software. (despite vague reports from Apple to the contrary)

I wonder if the EFI architecture of the new iMac is throwing AMD/ATi developers a curve-ball in terms of driver and firmware architecture.
ie: the video chipset is not being intitialized correctly, which is leading to random problems with the driver software.
The affected chipsets are essentially "braindead" in terms of providing accurate startup parameters to the system board.
This could even theoretically cause the core and memory frequencies and voltages to be incorrect, which could eventually lead to thermal failure.
(if it were possible to keep the GPU running for an extended period of time)

BTW, I noticed alarmingly high case temperatures at idle in one of the affected iMacs. I haven't seen much comment on temps in the messageboards, but this particular unit was way too hot to the touch on the back panel.
Don't know what the actual system temp was, but since it was hot enough to cause serious discomfort after a few seconds of contact, the actual temperature value is probably irrelevant.
The iMac in my office gets moderately warm near the vent at the top/back of the display. Elsewhere it is essentially stone-cold.

 

[Spankey]

Also from the Blizzard post...

In terms of bugs fixed in 10.5, we know the stuttery-frame-rate problem on the newest MacBookPro is fixed, and some of the ATI RadeonHD (new iMac) driver bugs are also fixed. We're asking Apple to make these bug fixes available in 10.4.10 on those systems rather than require an upgrade to Leopard to address these issues.

The stuttering frame rate problem in my iMac has been resolved by Leopard. I still freeze occasionally. Leopard did fix some things which is a plus. I don't want to replace my video card as I am not 100% sure that is the issue and why go through the trouble of opening the iMac on a new computer. If the card swap does in fact work, I will be calling apple.

 

[flopticalcube]

BTW, I noticed alarmingly high case temperatures at idle in one of the affected iMacs. I haven't seen much comment on temps in the messageboards, but this particular unit was way too hot to the touch on the back panel.
Don't know what the actual system temp was, but since it was hot enough to cause serious discomfort after a few seconds of contact, the actual temperature value is probably irrelevant.
The iMac in my office gets moderately warm near the vent at the top/back of the display. Elsewhere it is essentially stone-cold.

Since the iMac's case is good a transferring heat, I think it would be OK to have a hot case as long as the internal temps are good. I haven't noticed any abnormal heating on mine.

As the maestro would say, it is a conundrum.

 

[Mindflux]

Setting it up now.

A tech is coming out to replace my video card..

GL. I'm dreading the day I need the iMac opened for repair. They don't look easy to get into and I've read that some people have problems with getting them closed up properly too.. things like mangled DVD drive curtains preventing dvd/cd's from going in the drive to a wide range of issues.