Theory: Fan Controller "Fixes" Freezing

[Mudman1948]

I think I've got it figured out. I believe that it's an overheating issue. I have installed SMC fan controller. When I turn off the fan controller and play WoW for about 15 mins going in and out of full screen, I can cause mine to freeze. When I ramp up the fans to about 2000 RPMs each, It will stay solid and not freeze with WoW, Google Earth and several other video intensive applications running.

If you're having a problem with freezing. Try installing a free fan controller like SMC... It keeps mine solid. I hope that Apple will realize this soon. I want them to recall these machines. Don't get me wrong, I love this thing, but I don't think that I should have to install a 3rd party application to keep it from being unusable.

I don't know how to create a poll, but I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts on this theory.

 

[Mindflux]

There are members who have used SMC F.C and still had freezing.

Sorry.

 

[Mudman1948]

Eh.... It was worth a shot. Nonetheless, heat does seem to be the root cause of mine freezing.

 

[LessThanNickel]

FWIW: I installed the smcFancontol app, and it has solved my freezing issues.

 

[Bolteh]

FWIW: I installed the smcFancontol app, and it has solved my freezing issues.

Didn't for me

 

[XelleX90]

works for me. I runed a game, all my programs that came though with leopard, used itunes with visualsation and photo booth and allot of others
still no freeze

 

[nakile]

I would guess that there is most likely a fail safe point.

What I mean by that is that the few iMac out there that do have this problem are having some sort of heat issue. Maybe too much paste on the GPU. The more paste, the worst the problem is.

Those who have the problem and catch it early are able to fix it with a fan controller (maybe not fix it, but remedy the problem). If you wanted, you could call this stage one. However, some might catch it too late. By then the GPU has basically been damaged and could never be fixed. This could be called stage two.

Maybe this was the deal with Apple's update. Not only did it provide new drivers so that the video card wouldn't have to work as hard, but did a slight boost on the fan speed. While this does fix stage one units, stage two units are permanently damaged and would need to be repaired.

However, there might be some stage one units that no update could ever fix because there is just waaay to much paste on the GPU.

 

[vwDavid]

has anyone determined which fan has the most significant effect on cooling the GPU?

 

[Mindflux]

has anyone determined which fan has the most significant effect on cooling the GPU?

I'd imagine the CPU fan would have the biggest impact since it apparently shares a heat pipe with the GPU.