Any users with a new 20" imac?

vapour · May 12th, 2005, 10:25 PM

I am interested in getting a new 20" imac but I am a bit wary having read some of the stories of endless midplane swaps, exploding capacitors and noisy fans trying to cope with heat. Has anyone bought a new 20" imac yet? If so what is your experience in terms of fan noise? Any problems to report?

Thanks

adam1185 · May 12th, 2005, 10:46 PM

I just got the brand new 17" today and so far its extremely quiet, no problems at all.

depmode101 · May 12th, 2005, 10:49 PM

ive had a 20" imac for several months now, and love the thing - the fan noise is much quieter than my old emac, and powermacs - and i have had no problems (knock on wood) with the monitor, or anything else for that matter.

im very happy with the iMac and would definitely recommend one if you are looking for a new mac

bkh · May 12th, 2005, 11:39 PM

I've been using my 20 " iMac since February. Out of the box, one of the speakers was defective, requiring a midplane replacement. Fine since then. Curiously, the only fan noise happens when one of the fans ramps up when my iMac has been resting for a while, lasts 15 seconds, during which time I cannot wake it, and then all is OK again. The noise is audible but not LOUD and, since it is for such a short period, not annoying. This fan has never come on while the computer is awake and when I am working on it. Photoshop is my only "heavy "app but I'm on it for hours at a time. Under ordinary usage, any noise emanating from the box is barely within hearing range and is way quieter than my Bondi iMac.

vapour · May 13th, 2005, 12:13 AM

Sounds like a good track record. I guess it's hard to tell from listening to the problem discussions just how wide spread the problems really are. I know with my last emac I had some of the screen problems but then a replacement was fine. I will probably buy a new 20" when I can work up the nerve to put it on my credit card and sell the emac.

Mac-A-Rui · May 13th, 2005, 12:41 AM

I have a 20" imac g4 and I didn't realize it has a fan! It's a quite computer and I love the size and colour and so far no problems thank god!

Gordon V. · May 13th, 2005, 07:34 AM

I purchased a stock 20" this spring and have not had any problems since that time. I too read the posts regarding the fans but must say that I have not had a problem. The only change I made was to add ram. I have 6 users on that machine and performance was an issue if a bunch of them left programs running at the same time. I added a 256 chip and it is running fine.

mactrombone · May 13th, 2005, 08:57 AM

I've had my 20" iMac G5 since early December. A couple of problems: the HD failed in the first two weeks. Apple dealt with it beautifully and within 24 hrs of notifying them I had a new HD, installed it myself and was up and running.

The other problem I have had is a minor screen defect. It looks sort of like a burn in mark along the bottom of the display. It is lighter colour than the rest of the screen and is most noticeable with a light coloured desktop image or when I am editing photos or whatnot. I have contacted apple about and they thought it was a mid-plane problem so I replaced that but it didn't solve the problem. The next step is to take it to a service centre to have it assessed and fixed by them.

As far as fan noise goes, no problems here. If I am gaming or using a lot of apps it will gradually ramp up but nothing major. I remember the first time I ran AHT off the disc from startup and the fans went into extreme overdrive. I discovered then what fan sound is and I definitely do NOT experience that day in and day out.

All that said, I wouldn't let that deter you from buying one. For no other reason than you could wait or buy something else and run into exactly the same problems. I think it is a great computer and I really enjoy working on it I would feel totally confident in buying one again. I don't think you can go wrong with the new specs and pricing either. Looks great to me!

Rob Dekker · May 13th, 2005, 08:57 AM

No problems here with my 20" G5 iMac. Don't let the problems of a few ruin the brand. There's always a lemon here & there in every product line.

Bighead · May 13th, 2005, 10:24 AM

FYI, just send my beloved 20" iMac to the shop for repair. I think either the power supply or the mid-plane has gone south on me...

I am going to be Mac-less for the next few days.

The extended Apple Care is looking more and more enticing (but $260????!!!!)

May 12th, 2005, 10:25 PM	#1
vapour Full Citizen Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 295	Any users with a new 20" imac? I am interested in getting a new 20" imac but I am a bit wary having read some of the stories of endless midplane swaps, exploding capacitors and noisy fans trying to cope with heat. Has anyone bought a new 20" imac yet? If so what is your experience in terms of fan noise? Any problems to report? Thanks

May 12th, 2005, 10:49 PM	#3
depmode101 Full Citizen Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: toronto, ontario Posts: 467	ive had a 20" imac for several months now, and love the thing - the fan noise is much quieter than my old emac, and powermacs - and i have had no problems (knock on wood) with the monitor, or anything else for that matter. im very happy with the iMac and would definitely recommend one if you are looking for a new mac __________________ G5 iMac 1.8GHZ, 1GB ram, 160GB HD &<br />& 5th Gen 60GB iPod video

May 12th, 2005, 11:39 PM	#4
bkh New Neighbour Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Surrey BC Posts: 18	I've been using my 20 " iMac since February. Out of the box, one of the speakers was defective, requiring a midplane replacement. Fine since then. Curiously, the only fan noise happens when one of the fans ramps up when my iMac has been resting for a while, lasts 15 seconds, during which time I cannot wake it, and then all is OK again. The noise is audible but not LOUD and, since it is for such a short period, not annoying. This fan has never come on while the computer is awake and when I am working on it. Photoshop is my only "heavy "app but I'm on it for hours at a time. Under ordinary usage, any noise emanating from the box is barely within hearing range and is way quieter than my Bondi iMac. __________________ You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.

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May 12th, 2005, 10:46 PM	#2
adam1185 Full Citizen Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 268	I just got the brand new 17" today and so far its extremely quiet, no problems at all.

May 13th, 2005, 12:13 AM	#5
vapour Full Citizen Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 295	Sounds like a good track record. I guess it's hard to tell from listening to the problem discussions just how wide spread the problems really are. I know with my last emac I had some of the screen problems but then a replacement was fine. I will probably buy a new 20" when I can work up the nerve to put it on my credit card and sell the emac.

May 13th, 2005, 12:41 AM	#6
Mac-A-Rui Full Citizen Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 78	I have a 20" imac g4 and I didn't realize it has a fan! It's a quite computer and I love the size and colour and so far no problems thank god!

May 13th, 2005, 07:34 AM	#7
Gordon V. New Neighbour Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Calgary Posts: 17	I purchased a stock 20" this spring and have not had any problems since that time. I too read the posts regarding the fans but must say that I have not had a problem. The only change I made was to add ram. I have 6 users on that machine and performance was an issue if a bunch of them left programs running at the same time. I added a 256 chip and it is running fine.

May 13th, 2005, 08:57 AM	#8
mactrombone Full Citizen Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Cambridge Posts: 359	I've had my 20" iMac G5 since early December. A couple of problems: the HD failed in the first two weeks. Apple dealt with it beautifully and within 24 hrs of notifying them I had a new HD, installed it myself and was up and running. The other problem I have had is a minor screen defect. It looks sort of like a burn in mark along the bottom of the display. It is lighter colour than the rest of the screen and is most noticeable with a light coloured desktop image or when I am editing photos or whatnot. I have contacted apple about and they thought it was a mid-plane problem so I replaced that but it didn't solve the problem. The next step is to take it to a service centre to have it assessed and fixed by them. As far as fan noise goes, no problems here. If I am gaming or using a lot of apps it will gradually ramp up but nothing major. I remember the first time I ran AHT off the disc from startup and the fans went into extreme overdrive. I discovered then what fan sound is and I definitely do NOT experience that day in and day out. All that said, I wouldn't let that deter you from buying one. For no other reason than you could wait or buy something else and run into exactly the same problems. I think it is a great computer and I really enjoy working on it I would feel totally confident in buying one again. I don't think you can go wrong with the new specs and pricing either. Looks great to me!

May 13th, 2005, 08:57 AM	#9
Rob Dekker Full Citizen Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 39	No problems here with my 20" G5 iMac. Don't let the problems of a few ruin the brand. There's always a lemon here & there in every product line.

May 13th, 2005, 10:24 AM	#10
Bighead Full Citizen Join Date: May 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 264	FYI, just send my beloved 20" iMac to the shop for repair. I think either the power supply or the mid-plane has gone south on me... I am going to be Mac-less for the next few days. The extended Apple Care is looking more and more enticing (but $260????!!!!)