Completely unusable Late 2006 iMac

I've been scouring the discussion boards for some time due to an issue I've been having with my Late 2006 17" iMac Core 2 Duo. It seems as if I'm not the only one having this issue. I've been having random artifacts and distortions appearing on the screen. I've taken screenshots and they appear in them aswell as when using VNC. I was hoping that snow leopard would fix the issue because I thought it was software issue, although its even worse now. Not only are these random glitches showing up on the screen, the computer is barely usable. For example, last night I turned it on to stream some music to my living room airport express, yet it completely froze and I had to hold down the power button and shut it off. It happened again after the restart.
I took it to the apple store and the "genius" had the audacity to tell me to "buy a new machine." Why? I have an older macbook pro which is not nearly as fast as my iMac but it works fine. I've converted literally dozens of friends and family to macs and iphones and its embarrassing because I have an unusable brick on my desk. What is my next plan of action? I'm certainly not willing to spend $800+ to have this fixed when it is clearly not my fault. I understand it is out of warranty but this is not a rare issue as you can see by this discussion board.

Found this on "intel imac with bad logic board" discussion from Bodomann:
*"Following up on my previous posting regarding my son's late model 2006 iMac that required a $900 logic board replacement:*
*Turns out the problem is apparently related to a bad CPU temp sensor. I installed 'iMac Fan Control' (Google it) which reported the CPU temp always at 32 degrees Fahrenheit (obviously incorrect). The same software allowed me to adjust the CPU fan manually. After multiple trials I set the CPU speed to 2800RPM after which the system would run forever - never freezing with the dreaded grey box 'reboot me' screen. I tried several times reverting the software to default speeds and the system would always crash within 10 minutes. "*
I downloaded free Fan Control 1.2 for Imac from Derman Enterprises and cranked up all three fan speeds; 2000 rpm on CPU and 2500 rpm on hard drive, which was running warm. Horizontal lines gone from screen (so far), no color artifacts and no crashes yet. I may have a real computer back! Hope Apple checks this out- I will keep spreading the word if it keeps working!
Many thanks to Bodomann!!!

Similar Messages

TA23843 How much memory upgrade can I get on a late 2006 imac

Looking to purchase GB memory for late 2006 iMac. What do I get and how much will it support? I want to install OS Lion but need 2GB to do that apparently.

Here are the specs and maximum capacity for your Late 2006 iMac:
667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-5300), supports up to 3GB
I would recommend OWC or Crucial as excellent online vendors in the US.
Hope this helps

Can my Late 2006 Imac install windows 8.1?

So, i guess the title says it all, can my late 2006 iMac install windows 8.1 with bootcamp.
I'm a total mac noob, so i'm sorry if i sound like an idiot for asking this, it's just that i've found since i'm limited to Lion 1.7.5, i can't really do much, and since upgrading to Yosemite doesn't seem possible at all, maybe windows 8.1 is worth a try
So, could someone help me out and let me know if it's even possible to do this?
Thank you in advance
- Angus

You can test with Virtualization engines like VMware Fusion. Parallels or VirtualBox. These do not have native access to hardware, so may be slow and laggy.
You can also look for used/refurbished Macs or Windows PCs to see if they can help. If mobility is not a requirement, consider a desktop system as an option.

I would like to extend the screen from my circa 2013 27in iMAC with thunderbolt onto my circa late 2006 imac using the DVI port on that iMAC. Is this possible? If not is there another approach I can use?

I would like to extend the screen from my circa 2013 27in iMAC with thunderbolt onto my circa late 2006 imac using the DVI port on that iMAC. Is this possible? If not is there another approach I can use? My 2006 iMAC is showing it's age but I figure I can use it as just a monitor just fine. Assuming I can connect the two together.

That older iMac isn't designed to receive video input through the mini-DVI connection. Only certain newer iMacs are able to be used as displays.
Your only options are to use something like ScreenRecycler mentioned above.
~Lyssa

Late 2006 iMac won't recognize external monitor

My late 2006 iMac doesn't recognize an external VGA monitor connected via the mini-dvi port with adapter and cabling.
Doesn't show up in Displays System Preferences - at times the mouse does show up but not the full display.
Any suggestions - Am I missing something?
Thanks
Bob

Download the software or driver from the manufacturer's site.

I have a late 2006 iMac that has just started giving me a message to reboot after a black screen comes down slowly from the top top of the screen to the bottom. I reloaded software and restored from Time Machine, it now happens frequently. Any insight?

I have a late 2006 iMac that has just started giving me a message to reboot after a black screen comes down slowly from the top top of the screen to the bottom. I reloaded software and restored from Time Machine, but it keeps happening, now several tomes a day. Any insight as to the issue or a proposed solution?

Unplug any peripherals you have except your keyboard, reboot, and check activity monitor for apps. Keep running apps to a minimum to find the App causing the issue.

Unable to Install Leopard in my late 2006 Imac.

Hi, Please help me in installing Leopard on my late 2006 Imac. After starting the installing dvd my system is not displaying Macintosh HD in start up disk and after reading in Mac forum. I have partition my HD in GUID partition format but still its not showing HD in start up disk.
Mac forum says that i can install leopard even if i have 667 Mhz speed with the help of Leopard assist software. but when i am installing its saying YOUR SYSTEM IS INTEL BASED. IT DOES NOT REQUIRE LEOPARD ASSIST.
Please help

Information courtesy of TexasMacMan;
Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard installation system requirements
http://support.apple.com/kb/TA24950
Leopard is no longer available at the Apple Store but may be available by calling Apple Phone Sales @ 1-800-MY-APPLE (1-800-692-7753).
If you can't obtain a retail install DVD from Apple, look on eBay or Google the installer part numbers to possibly find at an on-line store. Here's what to look for:
MB427Z/A Leopard 10.5.1 install DVD
MB576Z/A Leopard 10.5.4 install DVD
MB021Z/A Leopard 10.5.6 install DVD (single user)
MB022Z/A Leopard 10.5.6 install DVD (5-user family pack)
Installing Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1544
Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard Installation and Setup Guide
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/leopard_install-setup.pdf
After you install the base 10.5, download & install the 10.5.8 combo update at http://support.apple.com/downloads/Mac_OS_X_10_5_8_Combo_Update
if your disc is not a black one with a big X on it, and one of the above serial nos. it won't work.
No grey disc or any with "upgrade" or "drop in" on the label will work.

Why is my Late 2006 iMac arbitrarily excluded from the Macs allowed to run Mavericks?

To install Mavericks, you need one of these Macs:
iMac (Mid-2007 or later)
MacBook (13-inch Aluminum, Late 2008), (13-inch, Early 2009 or later)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid-2009 or later),
MacBook Pro (15-inch or 17-inch, Mid/Late 2007 or later)
MacBook Air (Late 2008 or later)
Mac mini (Early 2009 or later)
Mac Pro (Early 2008 or later)
Xserve (Early 2009)
Your Mac also needs:
OS X Mountain Lion, Lion, or Snow Leopard v10.6.8 already installed
2 GB or more of memory
8 GB or more of available space
My Mac:
has a 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
Is currently running OS X Lion
has 3 GB memory
has a 250 GB hard drive (most of which is empty)
was built in Late 2006
Why is my Late 2006 iMac arbitrarily excluded from the list of Macs allowed to run Mavericks?
I called 1-800-MY-APPLE to find out what change was made in 2007 that was not present the year before. No one had an answer for me, they just shuffled me around to different departments while I listened to the same lame songs repeat over and over again.
On hold 1:01:55
Don't need to walk around in circles
Walk around in circles, walk around in circles
Walk around in
Doom da doom da doom
What I'm doing, I'm doing
Doom da doom da doom
What I'm doing, I'm doing
(The phone hold system at Apple should really get an iPod.)
I eventually spoke with CPU Senior Advisor, J.T. Thornton, and I asked him to explain which mandatory feature was added to the 2007 iMacs that wasn’t present in the 2006 models. He pulled up the technical specifications of the 2006 iMac next to the 2007 iMac, and even he was unable to identify what changed in 2007 that would cause the incompatibility. He went on to explain that it was probably an algorithm that caused my Mac to be incompatible.
I asked (somewhat facetiously) if the algorithm was if build year<2007 then FAIL, and then to my surprise, he agreed with me.
Why isn't there a smarter algorithm to determine compatibility? I can clearly see that my system exceeds the minimum system requirements, with the exception being, of course, the year it was built.
Planned obsolescence, anyone?

all-in-one-obsolescence wrote:
My machine works every bit as well as it did when it was new, and my computing needs have not changed enough to justify buying a whole new computer.
Then you do not need to upgrade.
But if you do remember that your needs may not have changed, but technology has. 32 bit machines are vintage now, they will not run moderns operating systems. So unless Mavericks has something that you must have don't upgrade. And if you do, a new Mac will be needed.
$1199 divided by 8 years is a cost of about $3 a week, a pretty good rate for a machine that works as well as it did 8 years ago.

I have a late 2006 iMac upgraded to lion, Quicktime doesn't work anymore. Preview won't show images, any ideas anyone?

I have a late 2006 iMac upgraded to lion, Quicktime doesn't work anymore. Preview won't show images, any ideas anyone?

You are correct....it will not work. Please carefully read Apple's Target Display Mode: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

A few questions about my late 2006 iMac

Hello,
I own a late 2006 iMac specs here: http://support.apple.com/kb/SP28
Our house basement got flooded by our neighbours 50,000 litre pool splitting open.
My iMac was on a desk along with the cords and did not touch water. It was however in a room that was flooding for maybe 6 hours. It was exposed to the humidity from the water on the floor and also big fans were going during that time (dehumidifier and fans). I grabbed it maybe 5 or 6 hours this happened and brought it upstairs in our living room. The keyboard doesn't sit flat and my comptuer in general seemed slow and apps weren't working right.
Could it be damaged because of all of this? I'd like to open the back panel and pop off the keys on the keyboard. How can I find information about how to pull the back off and pop off the keys?
Our insurance provides full coverage so may just tell them to check out my iMac but then I'll be without it for awhile.

I ended up getting a new Mac.

How can I make my late 2006 iMac faster?

I have a late 2006 iMac and it has been running really slow. I have already cleaned it with CleanMyMac 2 and I clean it everyday. Is there anything I can do to speed it up? Thanks!

Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard requires:
A Mac computer with an Intel, PowerPC G5, or Power PC G4 (867 MHz or faster) processor
512 MB memory or more
A DVD drive for installation
9 GB of available disk space or more
Some features require a compatible Internet service provider, fees may apply.
Some features require Apple's MobileMe service; fees apply.
And .... 10.5.8 is a must for the iPad to be recognized in iTunes. It will not work with Tiger at all.

HT4759 If I have a late 2006 iMac is there any way to sync my contacts and calendar with my iphone

If I have a late 2006 iMac is there any way to sync my contacts and calendar with my iphone

Upgrade to 10.7.5. See:
Upgrading to Lion
If your computer does not meet the requirements to install Mountain Lion, it may still meet the requirements to install Lion.
You can purchase Lion by contacting Customer Service: Contacting Apple for support and service - this includes international calling numbers. The cost is $19.99 (as it was before) plus tax. It's a download. You will get an email containing a redemption code that you then use at the Mac App Store to download Lion. Save a copy of that installer to your Downloads folder because the installer deletes itself at the end of the installation.
     Lion System Requirements
       1. Mac computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7,
           or Xeon processor
       2. 2GB of memory
       3. OS X v10.6.6 or later (v10.6.8 recommended)
       4. 7GB of available space
       5. Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.

Anyone now why my late 2006 iMac isn't supported for Mountain Lion installation?

My late 2006 iMac was one of the first Intel ones (Core 2 Duo), so does anyone know what about the hardware itself means that Apple don't support it in Mountain Lion?
On the Mountain Lion Tech Spec page it states that Mountain Lion is compatible with the 2007 models onwards. I know they have to stop supporting old devices eventually to be able to progress smoothly but why aren't all Intel iMacs supported?
Just curious really.

Mainly the graphics card, which must be only about 1.5 years old max to support many utilities built into ML.
That and the fact that OSX built to be the bestand fastest at some point cannot use very old hardware and CPUs.

Have a late 2006 iMac with new Ram installed in late 2011 . I am currently running Mountain lion. Did/ hit something while half asleep and was asked for my recovery password didn't know it.Not sure what i did after that but wont boot just searches,

I have a late 2006 iMac with new Ram installed in late 2011or early2012 . I am currently running lion. Did/ hit something while half asleep and was asked for my recovery password, I didn't know it & not sure what I did after that but it wont boot up just searches with a light grey whit -ish screen. Cant get it to clear. Any advice?
Charlies Secret Angel-

Try to boot in Safe mode, see if you are able: Hold down shift and then power on. For wireless keyboards, hold down shift after the chime.
Safe Boot
Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk

Is there going to be a late 2006 iMac?

Don't know if it has been raised already but the forum name suggests that there might be a late 2006 iMac (and i don't mean a Mhz jump)?! Ofcource, knowbody knows...

463/2909
Hi triangle,
Welcome to the Discussions!
"the forum name suggests that there might be a late 2006 iMac "
Not necessarily.
This is just a common Apple way to sometimes name the computers from their dates of release, like for example some G3 iMacs:
"iMac DV SE (Summer 2000)"
"iMac (Early 2001)"
"iMac (Summer 2001)"
Of course we don't know, and it is very likely anyway, that there will be soon a new revision or model...
Axl

Completely unusable Late 2006 iMac

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