"Everything Apple"? iMac issues

[wgscott]

Mine is 55 lbs (fully grown female).

 

BTW, it wasn't that power cord.

 

#PowerCablesDon'tMatter  #RedHerrings

[Ralf11]

that's a better size!

 

so... not the power cord; is the unit being sent in or will you replace it? or replace/upgrade the power supply?

[4est]

Hey Bill,

 

Have you tried cleaning out the dust in your iMac? There is a hidden intake behind where the mounting bracket attaches to the body. I lost mine from over heating due to this. Upon opening it up, I was amazed by how much dust was inside despite occasionally blowing canned air in reverse through the innards.

 

I am resisting the temptation to post a pic of my Belgian Sheepdogs or Sophie, the Golden I lost to my ex.

[wgscott]

This 37 page thread on the Apple Support forum has lead me to believe this might be a significant problem ...

 

I took it to a 3rd party Apple-approved repair place, and basically he asked me the year and make and so on, and then recoiled, saying it was a known issue and that it could be the power supply, the fusion drive, the logic board, etc. or none of the above (consistent with that 37 page thread).  He didn't want my money.  He just wanted that computer out of his shop.  I can't say I blame him.  This seems to be a widespread issue.

 

I made (another) appointment with Apple for Sunday.  If they will replace the power supply for some reasonably sane amount of money, then I will do it, but I am not going to pay for a new mother board on a computer almost 5 years old.  The glare from the screen alone makes me not want to put any more money in it.  

 

Oh, and if you want to DIY, you have to cut the glue that holds the glass display to the chasis with a little pizza cutter-like tool.  WTF is wrong with Apple?

[wgscott]

12 minutes ago, 4est said:

Hey Bill,

 

Have you tried cleaning out the dust in your iMac? There is a hidden intake behind where the mounting bracket attaches to the body. I lost mine from over heating due to this. Upon opening it up, I was amazed by how much dust was inside despite occasionally blowing canned air in reverse through the innards.

 

Funny you should mention that.  Every time I move the thing it rains a pile of dust, and I was thinking I should get in there and clean it out with some compressed air (which I squandered cleaning my bike, so I have to go get it).  I haven't seen any direct evidence of overheating, but as you say, it has all the hallmarks.  Thanks for posting that suggestion!

 

Quote

I am resisting the temptation to post a pic of my Belgian Sheepdogs or Sophie, the Golden I lost to my ex.

 

Post away.

[4est]

13 minutes ago, wgscott said:

 

Funny you should mention that.  Every time I move the thing it rains a pile of dust, and I was thinking I should get in there and clean it out with some compressed air (which I squandered cleaning my bike, so I have to go get it).  I haven't seen any direct evidence of overheating, but as you say, it has all the hallmarks.  Thanks for posting that suggestion!

 

Open it up if you can. There are multiple fans. My culprit was the air intake under the mount that I never even knew existed until I flipped it onto a table. The intake was completely filmed with a layer of dust. I doubt much air could get through, and the canned air didn't work from the exhaust slot - too many paths and not enough force to displace the film. At least take a look at that one. Cleaning that alone would have saved mine methinks. I think I lost my SATA controller, or at least it acted as such.

[wgscott]

9 minutes ago, 4est said:

 

Open it up if you can. There are multiple fans. My culprit was the air intake under the mount that I never even knew existed until I flipped it onto a table. The intake was completely filmed with a layer of dust. I doubt much air could get through, and the canned air didn't work from the exhaust slot - too many paths and not enough force to displace the film. At least take a look at that one. Cleaning that alone would have saved mine methinks. I think I lost my SATA controller, or at least it acted as such.

 

I just vacuumed the intake.  Where is the exhaust slot?  Was yours a 2012?  I have to cut a glue seal, so I am a bit nervous, and don't have the right tool.  If I open it up, I might as well DIY replace the power supply.

 

Edit:  I found it -- all along the bottom edge of the chassis.

[4est]

Just now, 4est said:

 

Open it up if you can. There are multiple fans. My culprit was the air intake under the mount that I never even knew existed until I flipped it onto a table. The intake was completely filmed with a layer of dust. I doubt much air could get through, and the canned air didn't work from the exhaust slot - too many paths and not enough force to displace the film. At least take a look at that one. Cleaning that alone would have saved mine methinks.

2011 as I recall. Mine had an exhaust slot along the upper rear/back, and intakes at the perforated bottom AND a 30-40mm round grate underneath where the stand mounts to the body. The latter is what screwed me.

[wgscott]

3 minutes ago, 4est said:

2011 as I recall. Mine had an exhaust slot along the upper rear/back, and intakes at the perforated bottom AND a 30-40mm round grate underneath where the stand mounts to the body. The latter is what screwed me.

 

I have the fan cranked all the way up now, and there is definitely air being blown OUT from the (square) grate underneath where the stand mounts to the body, so maybe  it sucks air in from the bottom slots on mine?  I must vacuumed the bajeezus out of both, fwiw.  But every computer I have ever cracked open has been caked with dust.

 

Current temps:

 

 

[elcorso]

7 minutes ago, wgscott said:

 

I just vacuumed the intake.  Where is the exhaust slot?  Was yours a 2012?  I have to cut a glue seal, so I am a bit nervous, and don't have the right tool.  If I open it up, I might as well DIY replace the power supply.

 

Edit:  I found it -- all along the bottom edge of the chassis.

 

Please follow iFixit instructions:

 

https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iMac+Intel+21.5-Inch+EMC+2544+Teardown/11936

 

Roch

[4est]

2 minutes ago, elcorso said:

 

Please follow iFixit instructions:

 

https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iMac+Intel+21.5-Inch+EMC+2544+Teardown/11936

 

Roch

 

That's a bummer. I miss the OS, but I do not miss their hardware upon moving to the Darkside for DSD512.

[elcorso]

9 minutes ago, 4est said:

 

That's a bummer. I miss the OS, but I do not miss their hardware upon moving to the Darkside for DSD512.

 

I stayed at 256 and happy, I use a PC like NAA, but that's the closest thing to WIN PC I've come to.

 

A friend built a WIN PC for 512, but since he lives a long way from my house I can not compare the SQ. So i'm still happy 

 

Best,

 

Roch

 

PS/ Sorry Bill for the OOT.

[Bob Stern]

A spudger tool usually is recommended to pry open the case.

 

I've found that the spudgers sold by SpudgerToolCom are more durable than those sold by iFixIt.

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DRFD0GG

 

(Also useful for prying off dashboard trim of your car.)

[wgscott]

9 hours ago, Bob Stern said:

A spudger tool usually is recommended to pry open the case.

 

I've found that the spudgers sold by SpudgerToolCom are more durable than those sold by iFixIt.

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DRFD0GG

 

(Also useful for prying off dashboard trim of your car.)

 

I think it might be a little bit more involved than that:

 

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIYIMACGEN/

 

Quote

Note: For 2012 and later models, before attempting to perform this installation, please watch the OWC Install Videoin its entirety to determine your ability to perform this complex upgrade. OWC assumes no responsibility for damage that may occur during the install. Technical support for this DIY product consists only of the OWC Install Video.

 

[AudioDoctor]

You could always get a new non pro iMac...

[wgscott]

On 7/2/2017 at 1:39 AM, Bob Stern said:

 

That seems to rule out temperature issues, but if you want to investigate that anyway, try:

https://www.crystalidea.com/macs-fan-control

 

Is it just Safari?  I get kernel panics from time to time in Safari.

 

 

 

I downloaded the fan control app and set it to read the temperature from the GPU PECI and crank when it gets warm.  So far, I haven't had a power shut-off since I did this (and vacuumed the air intake and exhaust ports).  So maybe it does have something to do with over-heating.  

[elcorso]

10 minutes ago, wgscott said:

 

I downloaded the fan control app and set it to read the temperature from the GPU PECI and crank when it gets warm.  So far, I haven't had a power shut-off since I did this (and vacuumed the air intake and exhaust ports).  So maybe it does have something to do with over-heating.  

 

More reason to clean the inside of your iMac. Most of the time even the fan blades are dirty...

 

We want it opened. And inside pictures, of course  

 

Roch

[wgscott]

29 minutes ago, elcorso said:

 

More reason to clean the inside of your iMac. Most of the time even the fan blades are dirty...

 

We want it opened. And inside pictures, of course  

 

Roch

 

I've opened up Mac mini and Macbook air, and (trivially) power-macs.  But the idea of using a pizza cutter to slice the glue that holds the glass and LCD onto the chassis is not something I feel like doing.  I would rather pay someone competent not to fuck it up.  I do most of my own bike wrenching, including hubs and bottom-brackets.  But there are some things I won't do, like wheel building.  A man's got to know his limitations.

 

 

[elcorso]

1 hour ago, wgscott said:

 

I've opened up Mac mini and Macbook air, and (trivially) power-macs.  But the idea of using a pizza cutter to slice the glue that holds the glass and LCD onto the chassis is not something I feel like doing.  I would rather pay someone competent not to fuck it up.  I do most of my own bike wrenching, including hubs and bottom-brackets.  But there are some things I won't do, like wheel building.  A man's got to know his limitations.

 

 

 

You are right.  This side of the world sometimes we have to make crazy things, if we can't find a qualified and not too expensive technician.  We have two companies similar to Apple Store, but when you got a problem like this they want to sell you a new computer !

 

Roch

[AudioDoctor]

1 hour ago, wgscott said:

 

I've opened up Mac mini and Macbook air, and (trivially) power-macs.  But the idea of using a pizza cutter to slice the glue that holds the glass and LCD onto the chassis is not something I feel like doing.  I would rather pay someone competent not to fuck it up.  I do most of my own bike wrenching, including hubs and bottom-brackets.  But there are some things I won't do, like wheel building.  A man's got to know his limitations.

 

 

 

This may be why you didn't do to medical school if opening up a computer is too much...

 

If I were closer I would help.  Do you have a surgeon friend?

[elcorso]

5 minutes ago, AudioDoctor said:

 

This may be why you didn't do to medical school if opening up a computer is too much...

 

If I were closer I would help.  Do you have a surgeon friend?

 

For an iMac you need a brain surgeon 

 

Roch

[AudioDoctor]

I hope not, there are plenty of other specialties that need surgeons as well.  However, if you want it done well that may be your best option.

[wgscott]

23 minutes ago, AudioDoctor said:

I hope not, there are plenty of other specialties that need surgeons as well.  However, if you want it done well that may be your best option.

 

Funny, I don't think that would have bothered me.  I quite enjoyed gross anatomy.

 

Two places have turned me down for doing the power supply transplant -- I want to try a different brand, LiteOn, instead of what Apple has been using (Delta).  So I may yet have to do the surgery myself.  

 

At least if you are a pediatric neurosurgeon, no one holds you personally responsible if you accidently sever a nerve or two.

[AudioDoctor]

1 hour ago, wgscott said:

At least if you are a pediatric neurosurgeon, no one holds you personally responsible if you accidently sever a nerve or two.

 

I mean, how could they tell, right?

 

god that's an awful joke and I am going to hell for it.  lol

[Ralf11]

4 hours ago, elcorso said:

 

For an iMac you need a brain surgeon 

 

Roch

 

go in thru the USB port and debride until it starts working

 

stick a few nerve tubes in near the CPU too