So, my 2013 iMac seems to be nearing its end.

[Shivetya]

780M variety, I have in the last few months experienced a few more lock ups, the kind where it either reboots on its own or it has to be power button forced. This all seems to be related to graphics, if watching a stream while also gaming. An example, twitch in the background while running around in WOW or even XCOM. Suddenly stopped, faint repeat of a ticking through the speakers.

temps only seem to bounce to 190F before it does this for GPU die reading. Short of taking it somewhere to be disassembled and cleaned of probable dust are there any suggestions. While I did enjoy the Nvidia video card for a long time it appears there will be no updates from either apple or nvidia so I am already on Apple defaults.

just looking for options, else I am into replacing with a newer model.

ty

 

[Juicy Box]

Do you have a Fusion Drive or HDD? Any chance it is about to fail?

 

[Shivetya]

Do you have a Fusion Drive or HDD? Any chance it is about to fail?

SSD

Also, forgot, I tend to see graphic fails in the form of brightly colored textures that are not correct. The SSD seems fine. Is there a way to prove that?

 

[UbuntuFu]

I have a 2013 iMac. I was getting random lockups. Ran the Apple Diagnostic test and it turned out one of my third party RAM module was bad.

 

[mikehalloran]

SSD

Also, forgot, I tend to see graphic fails in the form of brightly colored textures that are not correct. ...

A classic symptom of the NV RAM battery going bad. There are other possible causes but a CR2032 costs about $3.50 at the drug store.

If thee’s an HDD in there, get a BR2032 from Amazon. Electrically identical but has a wider temperature rating.

 

[rmm805]

A classic symptom of the NV RAM battery going bad. There are other possible causes but a CR2032 costs about $3.50 at the drug store.

If thee’s an HDD in there, get a BR2032 from Amazon. Electrically identical but has a wider temperature rating.

If I’m looking to upgrade the RAM and replace the HDD with an SSD in my 2012 iMac, would you advise just replacing the NVRAM battery too while I’m in there?

 

[velocityg4]

If I’m looking to upgrade the RAM and replace the HDD with an SSD in my 2012 iMac, would you advise just replacing the NVRAM battery too while I’m in there?

You may as well. They seem to start going out around the ten year mark.

 

[Shivetya]

Well this does open a can of worms for me. Never contemplated removing the glass but it may be worth while just to remove dust. Will have to consider my options which include finding a good local to do the work. I would not even want to know what Apple would charge

 

[Cruz3LT]

Well this does open a can of worms for me. Never contemplated removing the glass but it may be worth while just to remove dust. Will have to consider my options which include finding a good local to do the work. I would not even want to know what Apple would charge

Do it yourself. It is really easy to do. Just watch a couple videos. Purchase the right tool kit from iFixit and take things slowly.