September 14, 2005 7:32 AM PDT
Special Report: Troubleshooting the iMac G5
We've updated our iMac G5 special report, incorporating several new sections and revising previoiusly existing areas of coverage. Topics covered now include:
Index:
- Power Supply Burnout/Component failure due to overheating
- Significant Speed Increase for changing processor setting
- SuperDrives not burning at advertised speed
- Getting an extended desktop on the iMac G5
- Display flaws
- FireWire problems
- Difficulty ejecting media (CDs/DVDs); solutions
- Unexpected noises: Humming, buzzing, clicking
- Benefits of having matched RAM pairs; concerns over non-Apple-supplied memory
- Mac OS X CD included with iMac G5 not compatible with other Macs
- iMac G5 developer note
- iMac G5 Knowledge Base articles
There appears to be a very serious issue with 512MB Crucial RAM and the
iMacG5.
More specifically, when 2 DIMMs of 512MB by Crucial are installed in an
iMacG5 (in our case a 20" model), the machine crashes in a way that is
unmistakably caused by RAM: Finder relaunches often, font problems, kernel
panics galore. Sometimes the machine will work flawlessly for up to 3 days,
and then starts to fail.
There are many posts regarding this issue on Apple's own support site (see
below).
The odd thing is that we have a PowerMac G5 (dual 2GHz with 2x256MB), I
swapped the 2x512MB I had installed in the iMacG5 with the memory in the
PowerMacG5; so far, the 2x512MB works fine in the PowerMacG5, and the
2x256MB also works fine in the iMacG5.
http://discussions.info.apple.com/webx?
14@117.8VOTaDmyzTF.0@.689bd735
The posts on the support site seem to pin it on Crucial, is there a way to
gather more information on this? Personally, I think this sounds very similar
to the issue with uniprocessor PowerMacG5, so may not be limited to Crucial,
but rather to any 2x512MB setup in an iMacG5.
PS. Apple phone support is not aware of any such issue, and would blame the
RAM vendors anyway, unless we could find that this happens across multiple
manufacturers.
My iMac G5 quickly started having trouble after installing two 1GM DIMMs
from transintl.com. Apple Hardware Test reported a problem with one, which
I removed and reinstalled the original 256MB DIMM. The system's been
running fine ever since so that combination is okay. Hopefully the
replacement 1G DIMM will work okay with the current one.
It would seem that older software running in Classic--specifically Filemaker
Pro v. 4 and Office 98--can also create loud fan noise by ramping processor
use to 100 percent, heating the CPU and revving up the fan.
Specifically, my client can simply open a Filemaker 4 document over her
network from an OS 9 G3 filemaker server to make this happen. Similarly,
with Word 98 or Excel 98 open, going to File/Save As and leaving that dialog
window open will also rev it right up. Menu Meters is installed, and you can
see CPU usage climb rapidly. While looking at the screen, reaching around
the left to the back of the computer just above halfway up will reveal a
hotspot and the warm fan breeze just above that.
Quit the programs, and CPU usage drops, and shortly thereafter, so does the
fan noise.
Any clues on how to fix this will be appreciated.
--Mark
ran beautifully for two days then this morning the display instantly changed
to a pinkish cast. Restarting, zapping PRAM, changing color depth and
resolutions did not fix it. Ran Apple Hardware Extended test and found
nothing wrong. Apple's online chat-based tech support said this was the first
report of this problem and I should take it in for repair. The problem looks
like what would happen in the "old days" when a video cable was loose or
damaged or when the CRT "guns" went bad. Openingthe iMac's case reveals
no obvious video cables to check. Any suggestions? I can copy the text of the
chat session, though it's summarized accurately here.
the pointer often and unpredictably jump to one of the sides (usually left
hand or top edge of screen). This is highly annoying, and was wondering if
this is a common complaint, or what to do about it?
Any help appreciated.
year. First time was power supply that also burned out boards inside. This time
it was a fatally zapped disk drive from which nothing could be recovered.
- by bstbthwlds October 28, 2006 9:06 AM PDT
- In the beginning I was able to prepare and send photos using Mail. Somewhere that changed to AOL and now I can't get it back. Under iPhoto Preferences, Mail Using pulldown, AOL is highlighted, but Mail is grayed. Has anyone had this problem and can anyone help me get back to Mail?
- Like this Reply to this comment
-
(7 Comments)