Forum Moderators: travelin cat
Let me preface this by saying that I've been an avid Mac user since the 80s and will never switch to PC as my main computer.
But I have to admit I'm a little frustrated. I have an imac G4 (ya know, the half melon that sits on your desk with the adjustable arm for the screen). Anyway, a little over a year ago I started having problems with the screen "losing pixels" (for lack of a better term) which would then lead to a kernel error.
My Apple tech identified that the problem had to do with the video card on the logic board, so I had the board replaced. Luckily it was still covered by Apple Care.
Within a month I started having the same problem. After a bit of a fuss, Apple installed another logic board for free.
So here I am a year later, and I am having the same issue again! :(
Does anybody have any idea what could be causing this repeated death of my logic board? Is there something in my environment that could be affecting things (ie. too hot, too cold, too dry)? Or am I just working the darn thing to death?
Even though I am still under Apple Care, I doubt that they will agree to install another logic board at no charge, so I am considering an upgrade (which I really can't afford).
I was told by my Apple dealer that it will be about a month wait for a mini--and I don't think that I can wait that long.
How are people finding the G5 imac? Does anybody have anything negative to say about it? (I already know the positives!;) )
What about the G5 tower? The upside to this expensive option is that everything is separate, so if I have an issue I can just replace the component rather than the entire logic board. My husband also pointed out that we could cannibalize my imac and put the harddrive into the tower. Has anybody done this before? Does the tower tend to be more reliable than the imacs?
What are the rest of you using?
Sari
We have a rather serious problem in my house with Electrical Surges and Spikes and before I started plugging things into DECENT Surge Protectors electronics would just fail after 6 months.
or you just have a cursed iMac.
as for fixing it again, they will "fix" it as long as you have Applecare.
As for Applecare covering the "fix"--I had to fight with them to get the second one covered last year. They figured that I must have tampered with something in order to blow a brand new board.
If they don't cover it for the $900 to replace the logic board I might as well upgrade. Any feedback on which system (new imac G5 or G5 tower) is the most reliable?
Sari
How are people finding the G5 imac? Does anybody have anything negative to say about it? (I already know the positives!;) )
Sorry, no negatives yet -- we've got two running smoothly. We've also run four lamp iMacs with no issues like you've described.
What about the G5 tower?
The G5 tower is a sweet machine, but I'd suggest that if you are having consistent electrical failures with the lamp iMac that you solve those before increasing your liability with a more expensive machine.
It's always a good idea to plug the computer into at least a power strip with a surge protector as mentioned already. Even though mac power supplies are high quality and tend to not have the same elecctrical problems as other PC's, it's still good practice. You might prefer to invest in a decent UPS (uninterruptible power supply).
Most problems with computers are dust and humidity. It's important to run air conditioning in the rooms which have the computer NOT so much because the computer can't handle the heat but more importantly to filter the air. If the iMac isn't cursed, then I bet you've got some kind of air quality issues.
cannibalize my imac
The lamp uses an ATA hard drive and the G5 towers use a serial hard drive so this is not feasible. I'd recommend leaving the iMac intact to maximize resale value. Even a troubled mac has a decent resale value on ebay.
The imac has always been plugged into a surge protector. But maybe that isn't working properly. But, like I said my other computer equipment hasn't been affected.
It could be dust build up--although I think the tech who looked at is last time said that that rarely causes kernel errors.
Right now, things are definately dry around here--I live near Toronto Canada and we are in the midst of a cold snap. Could the lack of humidity be the problem?
If the latter, it is no wonder they are reluctant to repair it again, they have to get approval from Apple for the repair and if Apple denys it they eat it.
It is an unfortunate set of circumstances, there is an "apple authorized" service place very close to me that only sells Macs and services them, but I would never use them again. I never had a repair or service that did not involve a great deal of guilt-inducing questioning.
The last straw was when my "new" refurb iBook would randomly freeze and would not reboot. I took it to the "authorized service center" where they kept it over the weekend to try to duplicate the problem so it could be repaired. Of course the problem did not occur while they had it and they gave it back to me and charged me a $75 fee for service! And this was a NEW unit covered under Applecare!
I sent it off to Apple instead (they send a box pre-paid) and they had it for a week before replacing the HD and Combo Drive no questions asked. And I got Apple to get the "authorized Service Center" to reverse the $75 "diagnostic" charge.
If you were looking to upgrade to the G5 tower, I'd say give it no more second thoughts. Not even the "Hard Drive" issue as explained above. I bought 16 G5's within the last year and every one except for 2 has a secondary "older ATA" hard drive in it. That only reguires a small card made by Sonnet to plug into the back of the hard drive, and voila, your done. $50 and Literally 5 minutes later ... And you get to keep all your old data. Just thought you'd like to know. $50 isn't much when your considering spending $1,500+ on a new machine.
Go here to see the Sonnet Tempo Bridge [sonnettech.com].
PS... I LOVE MY G5! ..... LOVE IT!
-- Zak
Sari, sounds like you did everything right with the iMac. Cold, dry, dust free, and surge protected is the ideal conditions for a computer.
Could just be bad hardware. It's extremely rare but it happens. I can tell you the 6 G5 towers in regular operation around me have been very reliable. I have a dual 2 ghz G5 and it's a workhorse. We also run 2 of them as servers and their only down time has been for software updates and extended power outages. Darn hurricanes! :)
microcars is right. The last place was an Apple Authorized dealer for the first replacement logic board. They wouldn't replace it again without the okay from Apple first, so I called the number for Apple Canada. I had to go through a manager at Apple and "plead my case" to get it fixed. I waited about a week for their decision.
lZakl--thanks for the link! That's great to have handy :)
whoisgregg--thanks for the reassurance! I was really beginning to think that I have something harmful in my office!
I guess I'll be calling Apple tomorrow and see what they say. A G5 is looking better and better....
Sari
I'm still keeping the idea of a G5 in the back of my mind. If they can't repair the problem--or if I get a windfall in the next little while. I'll be ordering a G5.
Thanks again everyone!
One firewire connection and about 30 min. later and my entire profile, settings, programs, files, etc. were all transfered to my new machine with no problems.
(Actually there was one problem, Norton Utilities needed to be reinstalled, but that was the only thing)
My G4 iMac has dog hair coming out the top like little streamers right now. We used "Air-in-a-Can" and had to vacate the room until the dust clouds settled.
Voltage surges that blew every light bulb in the house didn't even require a re-boot.
But still, you ABSOLUTE MUST GET THE G5! Nothing else will ever satisfy you ever again. I'm sorry, spending the $15K is the only solution for you. Forget the mini, you definately need the twin 10 GHz G5 with the 85" flat panel display loaded with terabytes of RAM. How do you spell "exoflops"?
I'm guessing you've a hairline fracture in one of the wires causing some weird impedance problems due to you're proximity to the north magnetic pole. Every once in a great while even the best manufacturers send out a lemon.
Get the G5 and turn the iMac into an aquarium or something.
iMac into an aquarium
Sari doesn't have the right iMac to do this with, sadly. :(
Someone noted above that surge suppressors are good and that UPS units are better. I agree. But perhaps the power supply has aleady been damaged, and that in turn is causing the visible problem.
If this were my machine, I'd box it up and send it to Apple, emphasizing that this is the third time you've had a problem and that something else is probably causing this. Tell them you're also *thinking about* buying one of those G5's, but can't justify based on the problems you've had with your iMac... :)
If there are any special relationships between hardware components that would make the video susceptible to repeated failure, Apple is most likely to know about them.
Jim
