Late 2006 iMac graphics problem, system freezes

The Late 2006 iMac with ATI X1600 graphics has a defect that causes it to display graphic anomalies (horizontal lines, distorted shapes, scattered pixels) and "freezes" the GUI where the system becomes unresponsive to any mouse click or keyboard input.

This defect usually becomes apparent after the 1 year warranty ends. It starts off as a horizontal line or distorted shape here and there, but over time the graphics glitches become more prevalent, and the system freezes occur more often. Eventually, the symptoms worsen to the point where the iMac becomes completely unusable, as seen in my video.

Apple has continued to deny this as a widespread problem and refuses to accept responsibility by offering a free out-of-warranty repair. Instead, they want me to pay them $1000 to replace the logic board with the faulty graphics chip on it.

To counter their denial, I offer these links:
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/imacrecall
http://getsatisfaction.com/apple/topics/2006_imac_graphics_card_crash_freeze
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2442166
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1467276
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2136365
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1926046
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1896356
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1516765
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2389074
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2291457
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=653082
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=453564
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=764137
http://applequalitycomplaints.blogspot.com/2008/09/intel-imac-17-logic-board-...


BTW, if you have a Late 2006 MacBook Pro with the ATI X1600, you might see the same graphics issues and system freezes:
http://superuser.com/questions/73518/ati-x1600-driver-problem-on-mac/
http://torley.com/macbook-pro-with-ati-radeon-x1600-distorted-video-glitches
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-10330060-263.html
http://www.johnvlang.com/MacBookPro-ATI-issue.html
http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/apple-notebooks/139259-distorted-graphics-da...
http://www.sfmslaw.com/class-action-lawsuits/cases.php?id=779

If you are the owner of a Late 2006 iMac (Model ID: iMac5,1. Order#: MA589LL) with ATI X1600 and are having the same issues, leave a comment. Or better yet, post a video of your own and link to me. United we stand, divided we fall.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• apple
• imac
• late
• 2006
• ati
• x1600
• gpu
• defect
• macbook
• pro
• graphics
• problem
• issues
• horizontal
• lines
• freezing

[getitrealguy]

I, too, had workable results installing SMC Fan Control and increasing the fan speed to keep things running cooler. Ultimately, that too failed and I bit the bullet and upgraded to a new unibody MacBook Pro (I guess folks like me are the reason Apple hasn't done anything to remedy this problem - we keep coming back for more).

[late2006imac]

@getitrealguy I too still buy Apple products (like iPhone), but only their cheapest Mac model, e.g. Mac mini. They have permanently lost me as a high end customer. My friends and colleagues still buy iMacs (against my personal recommendation) and I'd say half of them have had to take their iMac in to the Apple Store for a hardware fix (bad LCD, bad HDD, bad graphics card) within the first 2 years of ownership.

[getitrealguy]

I have the same issues with my 2006 iMac 2.16/Duo Core Intel 27" iMac. They started when I upgraded to Snow Leopard from Tiger about a year ago in order to sync my iPad to my iMac. It may be GPU-related, but I have the NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT, not the ATI 1600, Which leads me to believe it is more of a Logic Board issue.

[late2006imac]

@getitrealguy If it were a logic board issue, you would still see the lines and freezing after replacing the Nvidia card. I'm of the opinion that both the ATI X1600 GPU and Nvidia card that was recalled by Apple/Nvidia are simply defective.

[emmecosta]

guys i had the same problems since after one year i bought the computer. But one month ago i discovered that this problem is repairable with simply increasing the internal fans speed! my computer now is better than when i bought it! :)

[late2006imac]

@emmecosta That's not technically a "repair". It's a workaround, and I did that too for a few months. But eventually the GPU breaks down to the point where no amount of cooling will help as seen in the video.

[valentijnpetiet]

i JUST bought a Late 2006 iMac (ebay)... and i have the same problem.. and not enough money to buy a new one =(

[phishtnk]

@late2006imac I also had this problem with my Macbook Pro. I was an evangelist of Apple products for over a decade but I just can't bring myself to buy another one of their products aside from maybe the Mac Mini and even them I'm very reluctant??

[crisco80s]

@getitrealguy

i have had the same problems since upgrading from tiger - can the problem be the operating system? think i will reinstall tiger and see

[stevenfudd]

same exact problem 1.5 years after i bought it imac 24" core 2 duo 2.16

[Bananas138]

That's why macs in general suck

[76BeeKay]

Had same problem - resolved by deleting the ATI drivers(/system/library/extens­ions & deleted all ATI related files - I kept them in a folder on the computer in case I've got to replace them), effectively disabling the graphics card - no good if you want to watch HD movies or play games etc, but at least you can use it for work etc

[Snubby54]

i bought this same imac about4months ago..for 20bucks from a neighbor , ive owned mac products before this buy , i HAD a MBP 06 model ended up doing same thing..gpu issue! its ashame! so with this imac just like the MBP gpu issue i took it apart and reflowed the gpu "temp" fix and its ok for now i use it in my garage. i built a beast of a pc and will enjoy that for years to come! because they make things affordable that actually last!!! SMH apple need to get it together

[ollieraison]

Yep same problem. Although ihave the nvidia. The fan thing wokrs for maybe five six months, then it is just fucked. Really unfair by apple.They know there is a problem and they just dont care.

[dkvizion]

Late Imac 2006, same problem here! Can any one group law sue?