White Intel iMac (Late 2006) Freezing, Horizontal Lines

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:

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

[estratigo]

I feel lucky, my 2006 20" imac worked well for 4 years, and about 10 months ago began having crazy graphics and intermittent freezing. I have found that increasing the fan speed using an app, has helped, but I still have some horizontal lines and intermittent freezing. It always boots and works most of the time, but I agree that apple has done wrong and as a result is making me reconsider a PC.

[late2006imac]

@estratigo Increasing fan speed is simply a temporary "workaround". If you are seeing the lines and freezing problem, the GPU has already started to breakdown and eventually no amount of cooling will prevent the lines and freezing as seen in my video.

[jebug29]

My friend has vertical lines on his. It doesnt freeze but Apple should have done a recall on that line of iMac.

[late2006imac]

@jebug29 I think there was a recall on iMacs with vertical lines. I think that was a LCD/display issue, not a GPU problem.

[kwp1977]

I have th same problems with my 2006 Imac. I am using now SMC fan control, and it seems to work ok, although when i reall push the computers capacity (several progrms working at the same time) it freezes

[late2006imac]

@kwp1977 Increasing fan speed is simply a temporary "workaround". The GPU has already started to breakdown and eventually no amount of cooling will prevent the lines and freezing as seen in my video.

[mbagnall]

The problem I have here isn't as severe, but it is persistent. In addition to increasing the fan speed to full throttle on my Mac, I have also positioned an exterior fan on the side of it, blowing at about a 45% angle and this helps keep the machine cool and the problem to a minimum. It's been doing this about a year or two but I replaced it with a 27 inch iMac in 2009. Aside from this occasional glitch, my mac runs really well as a second computer at work.

[adamb1600]

Hey. Try running the program smc fan control to cool the gpu which I have read might be over heating and causing this LCD graphics issue. Google for it, it's freeware and worth a try.

[electrotech555]

Wow, I have seen this happen to many owners of the 06 iMac, but nothing like it has ever happened to me. I am glad my 17" iMac still runs like new.

[electrotech555]

Mine still works fine, hopefully it never happens.

[TheFarris562]

@TheFarris562 WELL TIME TO GO GET A NEW ONE BECAUSE I DAMN SURE AIN'T GONNA PAY THAT MUCH FOR A REPAIR LIKE THAT... LOL.... SCREW THAT!!! HEY THANKS ANY WAY....

[TheFarris562]

@jebug29 WELL TIME TO GO GET A NEW ONE BECAUSE I WON'T PAYING THAT MUCH FOR A COMPUTER REPAIR..... SCREW THAT!!! LOL....

[jebug29]

@TheFarris562 I have absolutely no idea but I think it was around 600-800 dollars.

[TheFarris562]

@jebug29 hey that's what mines is doing how much would it cost to get it fixed or is it worth getting fixed?

[HenryVenegasDroguett]

TENGO EL MISMO PUTO PROBLEMA. FUCK APPLE!!!!