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New 4850 3.06ghz iMac freezing multiple times a day.

No freezes

Received my 4850 3.06ghz iMac yesterday, and have been playing around with it for a couple of nights now. No freezes so far, even with a lot of wifi use (transferring some files from my old laptop pc). Turned off Bluetooth right away though.

Btw - this is my first mac ever, have been a bit worried after the freezes was reported but I´m loving it! :D
 
Hi there,

My first ever mac arrived today and it's the top end spec iMac with the ATI 4850 card.

After just 1 hour of using it, it froze on me when watching a video on youtube.

I am using a wireless internet connection with a wired keyboard and mouse if that helps. I'm truely gutted :(

If this keeps happening with the full warranty do Apple come to your door to replace your existing one?
 
toffeejack said:
Hi there,

My first ever mac arrived today and it's the top end spec iMac with the ATI 4850 card.

After just 1 hour of using it, it froze on me when watching a video on youtube.

I am using a wireless internet connection with a wired keyboard and mouse if that helps. I'm truely gutted :(

If this keeps happening with the full warranty do Apple come to your door to replace your existing one?
Click to expand...

You should call Apple, and they should let you do an exchange. They won't come to your house though. But before you try that, why don't you try disabling the WiFi networking on it, and connect to the internet via ethernet? It may stop the freezing. There will likely be a firmware update that will remedy this disgraceful problem soon.
 
Switched wif-fi off and the Imac has been running smooth like babyskin (?) for 2 days now. yumm yumm
 
Mine just froze again and I was doing nothing on it - I am using Wi-Fi and can't use Ethernet as it is too complicated to run cables all over the house.

Plus switching off the Wi-Fi is basically not an acceptable option - Apple who helped Pioneer Wi-Fi with airport manage to bring out a Mac that crashes because of it. Does no one do Quality Control at Apple anymore?
 
IMAC 24"/3.06/1TB/512/SD

So far:

4 freezes.

Suggested Fixes:

PRAM & SMC Reset : Fail
Erase and Reinstall System: Fail
Download and Install Fan Control Software: Fail

Not using WIFI and/or Bluetooth is not an option for me.

I can make the mac freeze by doing the following:

Open iTunes
Select any Internet Radio Station.
Press Play
Switch on iTunes Visualiser
Switch to fullscreen
Wait 20 minutes

System Freeze.

Have done this 4 times. Freezes every time.

Will have to send it back.
 
I am still awaiting my order to change from "not yet shipped". However this forum and this thread in particular were stressing me out....So I called Apple...Both Customer Service and Applecare. I wanted to know what they knew about this potential issue and if there was any action plan in place. Also asked if I would be wise to delay or even cancel my order for the time being.

Both points of contact advised that this issues was not a known or significant issue. They searched their data base and internal messaging. Neither had heard of this being an issue or seen any bulletins. Naturally they said I would be looked after if it was an issues. I note that most if not all people who have had this issue on this forum have not had a problem getting a replacement. I just didn't want to go through the frustration if it was not necessary.

This info I pass on for what is worth. I still would like to go for the HD4850 so am going to continue. Should ship this week sometime I would expect.

Cheers....
 
Frequency said:
IMAC 24"/3.06/1TB/512/SD

So far:

4 freezes.

Suggested Fixes:

PRAM & SMC Reset : Fail
Erase and Reinstall System: Fail
Download and Install Fan Control Software: Fail

Not using WIFI and/or Bluetooth is not an option for me.

I can make the mac freeze by doing the following:

Open iTunes
Select any Internet Radio Station.
Press Play
Switch on iTunes Visualiser
Switch to fullscreen
Wait 20 minutes

System Freeze.

Have done this 4 times. Freezes every time.

Will have to send it back.
Click to expand...

If it's not too much trouble, would you be willing to play an mp3 on loop, turn the volume down real low (so the song doesn't annoy you), turn on the visualizer (in the itunes window so you can do the next steps), then turn off wireless and bluetooth, and let it sit like that for a while? If it still freezes about 20 minutes later, that should add some insight to the whole b.t./wireless debate.

I don't blame you if you don't get around to doing that... You're already dealing with a major pain in the ass!
 
Why is Apple lying to us? ;(
I know they want to plead the 5th, but this is not the way to do it. So many of us have called and are given bullcrap answers, that hardly none of us knows what to do anymore.

The best thing we can do is if your iMac is freezing, to CALL apple and request a replacement. Don't keep it so you can run "tests" and do their work for them. You all need to call in for a replacement, because what if, just what if, there's actually something physically faulty with the hardware. Sure, if wifi is the issue, and you don't use wifi, but you decided to turn it on for the so-called "test", and it froze, you still need to call in for a replacement. Someday you will want to use wifi, but the batch that your computer was produced in has maybe rendered your computer utterly useless in a wifi environment, and the only fix will be a replacement/repair. Are you going to wait three years for that, or are you going to wait three hundred hours?

CALL IN, PLEASE.
 
Been on to Apple about this problem and they were very pleasant and pretty much immediately agreed to send me out a new iMac (OK, I'd already done all the possible tests etc.)

Been doing a little research and while:

(a) I'm not a hardware expert
(b) These figures are mostly very general

I thought it was interesting...

Googling around for safe temperatures for various components I got the following figures:

CPU Max 100˚C Safe 80˚C
HDD Max 60˚C Safe 55˚C
ODD Max 50˚C Safe 45˚C
GPU Max 105˚C Safe 90˚C
Northbridge Max 105˚C Safe 80˚C
PSU Max 70˚C Safe 65˚C

In my case it wasn't the GPU which was overheating according to these figures but the PSU and Northbridge. I wonder if this is also the case for others ?

Setanta

iMac Early 2009 3.06GHz ATI HD4850 Mac OS X (10.5.6)
 
Tymbo said:
Why is Apple lying to us? ;(
I know they want to plead the 5th, but this is not the way to do it. So many of us have called and are given bullcrap answers, that hardly none of us knows what to do anymore.

The best thing we can do is if your iMac is freezing, to CALL apple and request a replacement. Don't keep it so you can run "tests" and do their work for them. You all need to call in for a replacement, because what if, just what if, there's actually something physically faulty with the hardware. Sure, if wifi is the issue, and you don't use wifi, but you decided to turn it on for the so-called "test", and it froze, you still need to call in for a replacement. Someday you will want to use wifi, but the batch that your computer was produced in has maybe rendered your computer utterly useless in a wifi environment, and the only fix will be a replacement/repair. Are you going to wait three years for that, or are you going to wait three hundred hours?

CALL IN, PLEASE.
Click to expand...

After some thought. I agree with you. While I would still like everyone to do the WiFi and Bluetooth disabling tests outline here, those with broken iMacs should ultimately send it back to Apple because they got faulty hardware if WiFi doesn't work. The only way a company will really be aware of an issue is when it starts affecting their bottom line.
 
I am going through there "troubleshooting steps" now. Already did the power off and unplug thingy...did not work.

Going through the erase and reload now.

Why are they lying? The lady on the phone (though nice) was clueless. She was reading from a script. "You are my first call about this.".

Load won't be done before tech support closes so I will have to call back tomorrow night.

:mad: @ :apple:
 
Oh great, mine is supposed to arrive in 3-7 days.

I waited until it looked like the delay was gone to order the highest end proc and video card, paying $450 extra and now see these reports about the ATI. I hope it is just a bad batch of something not affecting many. I have been waiting for years to buy a great Mac and now I might be looking at this kind of stuff. Just great. My wife will not be happy if her first Mac experience is crashing at all, I will lose all credibility. I wonder if I should leave it in the box and wait before doing anything, it was a BTO. I hate the idea of having to take that kind of machine in to get it ripped open to replace a bad card (if that is the problem). I would rather send the whole thing back and not risk this. If there is a firmware/driver problem, sitting around waiting doesn't sound all that great either. I realize I am jumping the gun, but all of this smoke is starting to make me regret this purchase. I wonder what Apple's position would be if I call and ask to return without opening. I was thinking of waiting for Snow Leopard and/or Quad Core anyway. I will read more of the thread, just started looking. Any advice is welcome.
 
jmpage2 said:
Yes, call Apple and raise hell until they fix this or get you a new Mac!
Click to expand...
That would be nice if they do, but if this is a widespread problem with the hardware in it, what good does that do us? All of us who ordered this machine spent extra money to get the high end card for better performance and gaming, getting the same type of machine won't make me feel much better. Even if it works better than a bad one, I will be nervous about it. (Note that I do NOT yet have my 4850 iMac, it should be here in 3 days)

Why did Apple go with the ATI in this? In recent years at work we have been much happier with Nvidia GPUs on all machines and Apple is using them in everything else. Doesn't it make sense to use the same thing across the line? I read the reviews of the Nvidia card that competes with this one and it seems to be better in most areas. Perhaps they got a big bargain for the 4850s? I hope they go with what they see as better performance and quality. Isn't that what we pay a little extra for? Perhaps they did and this is just a small problem that will disappear with a FW update or something. We will see.
 
You haven't even tested it and you are going on and on about this. Some of these do seem to work fine, so you should at least set it up and try it out. Mine has not had a single crash or lockup and I've been running the visualizer full screen in iTunes for hours.

The reason that Apple offered this part is that Nvidia currently doesn't have a mobile chipset option even remotely close to the horsepower of the new ATI mobility solutions like the 4850.

One of the biggest criticisms Apple has gotten with the iMac line is lack of a high powered video chipset, and they are now offering it.

50% of the 100+ people who've responded to the poll have indicated that their iMac is not freezing. Do you really think that Apple would have launched the product with it having these problems? For all we know there are just a bad batch of cards out there, which are showing up in a large number of the initial orders.
 
Crysis on an AIO?

d510r9 said:
My 2.93 4850 arrived yesterday. Not a single freeze yet - all running well. Also managed to install Windows 7 and Crysis without any problems too.
Click to expand...
Crysis on an iMac? I have never played it, but like the looks of it. I heard that one shouldn't bother unless you have an extreme machine. I bought the 3.06 with the apparently problematic 4850 card, but don't think that qualifies as extreme. Your comment makes me hopeful that the performance on these things is really good. I am kind of expecting a gaming laptop type experience which is fine.

It is worth playing Crysis on the iMac? I was thinking of doing W7 for BootCamp when the RC comes out. How is W7 with the Apple drivers? Also, x64 or x86 and would be curious about your experience.
 
Thank you.

jmpage2 said:
You haven't even tested it and you are going on and on about this. Some of these do seem to work fine, so you should at least set it up and try it out. Mine has not had a single crash or lockup and I've been running the visualizer full screen in iTunes for hours.

The reason that Apple offered this part is that Nvidia currently doesn't have a mobile chipset option even remotely close to the horsepower of the new ATI mobility solutions like the 4850.

One of the biggest criticisms Apple has gotten with the iMac line is lack of a high powered video chipset, and they are now offering it.

50% of the 100+ people who've responded to the poll have indicated that their iMac is not freezing. Do you really think that Apple would have launched the product with it having these problems? For all we know there are just a bad batch of cards out there, which are showing up in a large number of the initial orders.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that is the reply I was hoping to see. I will hook it up and report my findings here. No, I don't think they would launch it, but I can't help but worry. It's not easy to drop $2,400 and see these problems. I was watching the forums for issues when "early 2009" iMacs came out. I saw nothing of concern, pulled the trigger on the high end model, and now see these posts.

Your ATI over Nvidia explanation makes good sense. I thought Nvidia was kicking ATI everywhere, but I guess not in the mobile arena.

Thanks!
 
TheAshMan said:
Why did Apple go with the ATI in this? In recent years at work we have been much happier with Nvidia GPUs on all machines and Apple is using them in everything else.
Click to expand...

ATI is the only reason I finally pulled the trigger to buy an iMac. I always prefer ATI to Nvidia, it's a matter of personal preference though. Remember the Nvidia GPU failure fiasco last year? My Dell M1330 died because of it even though I only do programming and surf the net on it. I also notice people have been complaining about the graphics problem they have with their unibody MacBook and MacBook Pro. Didn't know Ati have problems of their own too. I just hope it's a software/firmware issue which can be fixed through a update rather than a hardware one like the one Nvidia had last year.
 
BadBiker said:
Been on to Apple about this problem and they were very pleasant and pretty much immediately agreed to send me out a new iMac (OK, I'd already done all the possible tests etc.)

Been doing a little research and while:

(a) I'm not a hardware expert
(b) These figures are mostly very general

I thought it was interesting...

Googling around for safe temperatures for various components I got the following figures:

CPU Max 100˚C Safe 80˚C
HDD Max 60˚C Safe 55˚C
ODD Max 50˚C Safe 45˚C
GPU Max 105˚C Safe 90˚C
Northbridge Max 105˚C Safe 80˚C
PSU Max 70˚C Safe 65˚C

In my case it wasn't the GPU which was overheating according to these figures but the PSU and Northbridge. I wonder if this is also the case for others ?

Setanta

iMac Early 2009 3.06GHz ATI HD4850 Mac OS X (10.5.6)
Click to expand...
My PSU is constantly at around 67C. I can't imagine this is good for the hardware?
 
Curiouser and curiouser

Hmmm, a little more testing and I may have found the problem (or I've found a very strange bug).

My PSU would get up to about 85˚C fairly rapidly when I loaded up the graphics card (running X-Plane was my favoured method). None of the fans seemed to kick in to assist. Playing around with various pieces of software which control fan speed I've noticed something a little weird. With, for example, smcFanControl, boosting up the CPU fan to maximum has no effect on my particular freezing iMac. However, boosting up the optical drive fan setting makes both the CPU and the ODD fan run faster! The same thing seems to apply with iMacFanControl.-f

Now, since all the software I've been able to find seems to be based on the same open source code it may be a bug that is within said code. However, if it is a hardware problem where the controller for the CPU fan has somehow been misconnected...

Anyone else finding the same symptoms ?

Setanta
 
Is anyone here with the freezes who are using BT keyboard experiencing super quick drainage of the keyboard battery, mine have completely drained and stopped working in the first week. I have replaced new ones which I have tested with a meter first and within the first hour are down to 94%. The mouse is still on 100%. I use Istatpro widget to get a more precise reading. Why would they drain so quick? I have not used the keyboard excessively as I am at work all day and use the computer for a couple of hours in the evening.
 
I've also received the new imac two days ago with the hd radeon card and it froze half way through just downloading the updates. I bought it to do my design work on and have a rather expensive CS4 adobe creative suite package that I'm hesitant to install if it will need replacing. I need to use wifi so the disabling option isn't really a viable solution. If I install the package and it turns out the imac needs replacing would I have lost the design programmes? Any suggestions/advice would be great, thanks :eek:
 
My iMac w/the ATI was scheduled to be shipped 8 May

After reading about the probs with the ATI iMac,
I cancelled my order... and soon started thinking a PowerfulPC Tower..

Flat 25.5" screen w/i7 CPU
and More: RAM and HD
and Blu Ray Writer, Expandability, Desktop ATI card
<--> than the iMac has..

Then it looked like the iMac might be fixed..
and in consideration of iLife.. I started re-thinking..
For me.. iLife goes a long way.. a nice package of SoftWare.

Now I'm back to the Drawing Board
And I won't wait forever for Apple to say something..

The Big Elephant in the room is the ATI card..

The ATI IS the common denominator of this current batch of crapola iMacs..

Maybe Shanghai Shanghai'd a large batch of ATI cards,
by cutting costs, or else, Bill Gates pays the Saboteur..
and now -> :apple: & :D are currently battlin' over that brou-ha-ha :mad:

When mentioning "MacRumors" to Apple -
to 2 different people (from 2 different continents: Indians and Texans),
I received this same stock response about "Apple don't go on rumors"

Upon challenging it..
from one person, that same scripted response was repeated.

All I know is.. the MacPro is too $much, and I don't wanna go backwards..

If I don't hear something solid pretty soon like, "The iMac Prob is Fixed!",
I'm - going PC - :mad:

AND -> I'll go PC Freeware or Warez or Pirate :cool:
on any SoftWare that I need and want..

This msg has been brought to you, free of tacks, by Mr. Paranoid.. :eek:

+++
 
WATCHDOG said:
AND -> I'll go PC Freeware or Warez or Pirate :cool:
on any SoftWare that I need and want..

This msg has been brought to you, free of tacks, by Mr. Paranoid.. :eek:

+++
Click to expand...

Go get a PC then, but we really don't need the long drama post followed by the obligatory "I'm a pirate" slogan at the end.
 
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