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It's more than 10 years old. The graphics card has been replaced (with a used(?) one, so still more than 10 years old.
You continue to have similar issues with the replacement card.
You could try re-pasting the GPU heatsink (CPU heatsink, too, because you would be there, so why not?
If that does not help, then you might try replacing the power supply (it's more than 10 years old, so may have some failing components, maybe.) And, the logic board is more than 10 years old, too.
This all will be WAY easier to eBay a used, somewhat newer iMac, or get another mini, with a display that you like, or etc.
(It's not a simple plan to try to resurrect an old computer that is usually already retired by this time, and decide if it is worth doing)
 
There's one way to find out.
How confident am I that will fix your problem? Not much... but might result in a little more stability, so you can continue to use the iMac for a little longer :cool:
But, repasting is definitely something that you can try, and doesn't cost as much as any other option. A different graphics card, replacing the logic board, power supply, etc. is just not (IMHO) worth it on a 12 year-old Mac...
 
Yes i understand that it might not be worth it, its just that i have no other option at the moment. The new iMacs are not announced yet... what can i do? I am cornered at the moment, i guess i can only get away with it by buying a reliable grfx.card, work with it until summer that the new iMacs would be for sale.
 
zoran said:
Im desperate because i've already given €280 for a card that seems it will not last long. Now the extra pressure is to make a right decision and buy one that will not go to waste.
I want to buy the new iMacPro but it isn't out yet.
Click to expand...

What's gone is gone, you can't do anything about it.
Refresh your mind toward the new situation: You need to get your iMac working again by replacing another GPU.
What options do you have?
<1> Apple original GPU
- Average price, less prone to failure, easy to install: HD 5670m, HD 6770m (ranging about 80~120$ depending on vendors)
<2> Windows laptop GPU
- Average price, less prone to failure, easy to install, but need some software modification
Quadro K1100m, K2100m, K3100m: Need to buy the ones that have been preflashed with iMac vBIOS. They are now available and medium to cheap price. I found K3100m to be of best performance vs price.
 
Guys what do u think about the Nvidia quadro k1000m 2gb? Might it be an option for my mid2010 27" iMac?

#Nguyen i see that you mention only the 6770... wont the 6750 do?
 
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No im not, and im terribly sorry if i give u this indication.
 
Plz dont take it that im trolling you, but what does the 2009 iMac have to do with my issue? I have a mid 2010 iMac.
 
zoran said:
Yes i understand that it might not be worth it, its just that i have no other option at the moment. The new iMacs are not announced yet... what can i do? I am cornered at the moment, i guess i can only get away with it by buying a reliable grfx.card, work with it until summer that the new iMacs would be for sale.
Click to expand...
ive said this before ;)
 
Hello to all... ive found out something pretty interesting. Yes the grfx card issues are still there... BUT... ive noticed something by pure chance. When making a restart after it will first boot, the issues (freeze and the shutdown) will never occur again. So when i start the iMac and i make a reboot (right after it starts) i do not experience the issues!
Strange? I wonder how can this happen... what might be the mechanism that will make those vulnerabilities disappear?
 
My first thought is - you have a power supply issue.

You said your issue "never occurs again" with the "restart after first boot".
Does it continue to work if you -- well, leave your iMac on?
(Does the issue repeat if you just leave your iMac sleeping when you are not using it?)
 
I will investigate further but why do you think it would be the power supply? How can I check if that’s a possible issue?
Also another thing I noticed was that if I would open Photos and browse through the pics -one by one- fast using the cursor buttons, the fault in the system would appear, I’d get the display freeze bla bla bla ! ?
 
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The HD4850m on my iMac 2009 was dead. (Typical symptom: boot to 50% on the boot screen and stop there)
I replaced it with a Quadro M4000m. It took me half a day to grind the heatsink, but the result was satisfactory.

What is it to do with your iMac 2010 issue?
Well, it has 99% similar specs as the iMac 2009.

iMac 2009 M4000m.jpg
 
What does this experience have to do with my issue? :)
Any photos of your grinding work?
 
zoran said:
What does this experience have to do with my issue? :)
Any photos of your grinding work?
Click to expand...

1. If you still insist that your GPU is perfect and working fine, then it has nothing to do with your experience.

2. Photo for the grinding work: No, I have already installed the M4000m and another M6100 to the heatsink.
And I don't want to bother to take it out again just for a photo.

Something like this:

mod-heatsink-k5100m.jpg
 
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Nguyen Duc Hieu said:
1. If you still insist that your GPU is perfect and working fine, then it has nothing to do with your experience.

2. Photo for the grinding work: No, I have already installed the M4000m and another M6100 to the heatsink.
And I don't want to bother to take it out again just for a photo.
Click to expand...
1. no i dont think its working perfect but other than placing a native GPU i dont know how to do the software hacks in order to place a diff GPU, otherwise i would certainly try one
2. when creating masterpieces like the photo, the creator takes a pic before installing it ;-), I admire the job u did
 
zoran said:
I will investigate further but why do you think it would be the power supply? How can I check if that’s a possible issue?
Also another thing I noticed was that if I would open Photos and browse through the pics -one by one- fast using the cursor buttons, the fault in the system would appear, I’d get the display freeze bla bla bla ! ?
Click to expand...
Your issue can be graphics card, sure...
But, in my experience (I've replaced a few power supplies for friend's Macs of various ages) -- the power supply is easier and cheaper to try, and sometimes takes care of similar issues completely.
So, how to check for power supply problems? Replace the power supply, test.
Mac is more than 10 years old, so can have lots of parts affected by heat and age...
 
I see, but what made u come up with power supply as the cause of this latest thing i noticed?
 
The power supply is a relatively common failure on iMacs from that period.
They don't always fail completely, where the system won't even boot.
It is a power supply, which means that if you have partial fail of the power supply, that can mean that "certain parts" might not work as you expect. One major area that the power supply affects can be video (not quite enough power available to turn on video, or you get unusual issues related to low current. Lots of issues can involve the power supply because - well, ultimately, it supplies power to everything.
And, it's usually cheaper/easier to find replacement parts.

And, I did not say the power supply is the cause, only that it's a good repair to try out, being related, and might even fix your issue.
 
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DeltaMac said:
You said your issue "never occurs again" with the "restart after first boot".
Does it continue to work if you -- well, leave your iMac on?
(Does the issue repeat if you just leave your iMac sleeping when you are not using it?)
Click to expand...
After leaving it in sleep mode for a couple of hours, the issue came back right after i opened it from sleep mode.
The issue also happened when i went through 8-9 Chrome Tabs in a rapid way (Command+Option+ScrolButton fast).
 
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