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Please select GPU type and if you see the flickering glitch on the display:


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torifile

macrumors regular
Original poster
Aug 10, 2020
158
161
You're dealing with Apple here.

In spite of protests and petitions, Apple took 10 years to bring back an anti-glare screen in the form of its nano-texture screen.

In spite of protests, Apple took 5 years to go away from its Butterfly keyboard.

The characteristics of Apple knowing better, and not listening to its users -- because the proof is the tons of money they're making - is baked into its DNA from the Steve Jobs days.
Those are design decisions. Say what you will about Apple but I’m reasonably certain that they don’t intentionally design a graphics flaw.
 
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jasonefmonk

macrumors 6502
May 5, 2011
385
431
Those are design decisions. Say what you will about Apple but I’m reasonably certain that they don’t intentionally design a graphics flaw.
Are you not also reasonably certain that Apple didn’t intentionally design (and re-design, and re-design) a keyboard that had durability flaws? How are these two known-issues any different?
 

AZREOSpecialist

Suspended
Mar 15, 2009
2,354
1,280
Are you not also reasonably certain that Apple didn’t intentionally design (and re-design, and re-design) a keyboard that had durability flaws? How are these two known-issues any different?
They are different in that butterfly keyboards have no defects out of the box. They work as designed. Screen glitches are obviously not as designed. It's also not something that develops over time, as is the case with the butterfly keyboards going bad.
 
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torifile

macrumors regular
Original poster
Aug 10, 2020
158
161
Are you not also reasonably certain that Apple didn’t intentionally design (and re-design, and re-design) a keyboard that had durability flaws? How are these two known-issues any different?

Are you really asking if Apple intentionally designed a flaw in the iMac’s GPU? Really? I’ve been around the Apple criticism block a few times but that’s a new level of tin-foil-hattedness. Nice work.

To answer the question of the butterfly keyboards - yes, they were flawed designs and they were stuck with for far too long. They should have been kicked to the curb after the 2015 MacBook started to exhibit problems rather than going through 4 iterations before they finally got fixed (the 2019 keyboard is actually reliable. I have one that’s problem-free and I haven’t heard of a single complaint about that iteration) and ultimately dropped.

But we *all* know why they designed the mechanism. And it wasn’t because Apple wanted to design a flaw into their hardware. Agree or disagree with the rationale and reckless drive for thinness Ive exhibited but you can’t say they weren’t working towards some objective.

So, to answer your initial question “how are these two known-issues any different?” They are different because one has no purpose (iMac GPU issue) and one was very clearly a (mis)guided design principle. If you can’t see that, there’s nothing more for us to discuss.
 

jasonefmonk

macrumors 6502
May 5, 2011
385
431
They are different in that butterfly keyboards have no defects out of the box. They work as designed. Screen glitches are obviously not as designed. It's also not something that develops over time, as is the case with the butterfly keyboards going bad.
Haha, they do not “work as designed”. How absurd to think that it’s an acceptable design and working flawlessly, but when a speck of dust happens across it and it fails catastrophicly that it’s unrelated to the design that allows for such failures. Apple really intended to give out free four-year keyboard warranties with every laptop they sold…
Are you really asking if Apple intentionally designed a flaw in the iMac’s GPU? Really?
Of course not. I’m asking the rhetorical question designed to help you come to the understanding of “if Apple could knowingly ship a busted keyboard for five years they could knowlingly ship a busted line of GPUs for years and never truly make it right”. Just because something isn’t intentional doesn’t mean they didn’t knowingly sell it to you anyways.
They are different because one has no purpose (iMac GPU issue) and one was very clearly a (mis)guided design principle. If you can’t see that, there’s nothing more for us to discuss.
One is no more incidental than the other. You have no idea what the cause of the GPU glitch is. You can’t sit here and state the GPU and its compute units weren’t designed with a purpose. You can’t believe someone didn’t design Metal and design the drivers for the card. You can’t believe those design decisions couldn’t lead to the graphical corruption. I’m sure more design went in to the GPU than did the butterfly keyboard, well, maybe not after they re-engineered it three times.
 
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AZREOSpecialist

Suspended
Mar 15, 2009
2,354
1,280
Of course not. I’m asking the rhetorical question designed to...
As others have pointed out, you could could have picked better examples. Apple obviously didn't do this on purpose to anyone. Tim Cook isn't sitting around a conference room with his minions trying to figure out how to screw the American consumer. Apple will fix it.
 

jasonefmonk

macrumors 6502
May 5, 2011
385
431
As others have pointed out, you could could have picked better examples. Apple obviously didn't do this on purpose to anyone. Apple will fix it.
Just like they fixed they keyboards? Just like they released a repair extension for new laptops the day they were released? I’m genuinely stunned you think that’s a counter-point. Offering a repair program doesnt fix the issue, it puts it off until the program is over but the problem remains. It’s an excellent example of Apple knowingly shipping bad hardware, and proves that it is very possible whether it makes you feel good or not.
Tim Cook isn't sitting around a conference room with his minions trying to figure out how to screw the American consumer.
Come on now, don’t put words in my mouth.
 

Sheza

macrumors 68020
Aug 14, 2010
2,091
1,807
You're dealing with Apple here.

In spite of protests and petitions, Apple took 10 years to bring back an anti-glare screen in the form of its nano-texture screen.

In spite of protests, Apple took 5 years to go away from its Butterfly keyboard.

The characteristics of Apple knowing better, and not listening to its users -- because the proof is the tons of money they're making - is baked into its DNA from the Steve Jobs days.
Whilst I agree on the whole about Apple’s attitude, this is a fault. Anti-glare screen is a feature.
 

Haplodepatrijn

macrumors newbie
Aug 25, 2020
24
12
Not even close. This is why I keep posting in this thread - people are giving the impression that this glitch is some sort of terrible experience that makes the computer unusable. It’s not that at all. It’s fleeting and so intermittent if you’re not looking at it, you wouldn’t even notice.

Don’t let the doomsayers and negative nancies overly influence you.
A summary of the posts I collected on the net :
white line glitch
black line glitch
corner issue
true tone refresh issues
intermittent lockups
beachball icon
unexpected reboots
vram issues
fan issues

you can hardly call this a stable machine, isn’t it ?
 

jobinhosyntax

macrumors regular
Aug 16, 2020
120
50
A summary of the posts I collected on the net :
white line glitch
black line glitch
corner issue
true tone refresh issues
intermittent lockups
beachball icon
unexpected reboots
vram issues
fan issues

you can hardly call this a stable machine, isn’t it ?

You can add freezing on load bar at start up - me and another forum member had this
 

The French Man

macrumors newbie
Sep 8, 2020
22
10
I buy Apple hardware for its build quality and for its design. When I buy a machine that costs $ 4,500 I have a right to expect a certain quality in both hardware and software.
It can happen exceptionally that there remain one or two bugs for which a quick information must be given by the manufacturer, I can understand that.
I note on the part of APPLE a breach of these simple obligations of respect for its buyers. It's a shame for us who love this brand and their products. If these facts were to last as long as we directly buy low-end products, cheaper, but we would be less surprised by this lack of quality and transparency ... But that's of course only my humble opinion

So sorry for my bad English...
 

torifile

macrumors regular
Original poster
Aug 10, 2020
158
161
A summary of the posts I collected on the net :
white line glitch
black line glitch
corner issue
true tone refresh issues
intermittent lockups
beachball icon
unexpected reboots
vram issues
fan issues

you can hardly call this a stable machine, isn’t it ?
Are those widespread or are you just picking the individual incidents?

Look, I’m not here to be an Apple apologist. You want to bitch and moan about Apple’s lost quality or how bad things are now. About how Steve would never have let that happen yada yada, have at it. It’s not new to Apple users. It’s been going on for *years*. People like @quagmire and @PBG4 Dude know me from years ago and we’ve all seen these complaints.

So, if you want to say that this iMac is the most awful release ever, you do you. (It’s not but there’s no point in arguing the issue.) I like my computer and it’s doing the job for me and countless untold people who don’t spend all day combing through forums looking for problems.

Have fun waiting for a fully problem-free hardware release. I’ll get some work done in macOS and play some games in Windows.
 
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shywizard

macrumors regular
Aug 23, 2020
149
115
I love the passion, I love the debates. But every argument boils down to the following unknown question:

IS THIS A HARDWARE GLITCH OR SOFTWARE GLITCH ?

If it's a hardware glitch, we all purchased lemons and many of us would have returned the computer to Apple had we known. If it's software, we'll continue to complain and deal with it until a patch comes out and then we'll all be very happy.

So our collective goal at this point should be to get an acknowledgment from Apple of what is causing the GLITCH, so current and new iMac purchasers can make an educated decision whether or not to purchase a new iMac with the 5700XT or return the ones we just purchased.

Is this a fair conclusion summary of this 53 page thread?
 

PBG4 Dude

macrumors 601
Jul 6, 2007
4,362
4,645
Considering people aren’t seeing the lines in bootcamp Windows, or when a second monitor is connected, or when the display’s resolution is changed from default, I’m going with software. That’s just my personal opinion on the internet, so we all know how much that’s worth.
 

stemoche

macrumors newbie
Apr 30, 2019
12
5
Out of curiosity anyone try disabling Extended Dynamic Range in Displays preferences (holding option and clicking on Displays in system preference pane).

Oddly I had to restart to have the option visible.
 
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AZREOSpecialist

Suspended
Mar 15, 2009
2,354
1,280
A summary of the posts I collected on the net :
white line glitch
black line glitch
corner issue
true tone refresh issues
intermittent lockups
beachball icon
unexpected reboots
vram issues
fan issues

you can hardly call this a stable machine, isn’t it ?
Anyone can search the internet for issues relating to any product and one will likely find a long list. Bravo for being good at searching, copying, and pasting. I have an iMac w/ 5700 XT and I don't have any white line glitch when I use it. You know why? Because I employed what people on the internet call a "work around" until a permanent solution is offered. My machine is a perfectly stable speed demon.
 
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ninecows

macrumors 6502a
Apr 9, 2012
760
1,249
This person just can’t resist the snark. Common sense alone tells us that this is not some one-off issue. Not sure why some people don’t get that if it were only happening on a few machines that it would indicate a HW issue which would be very bad news for us all and for Apple.
[sarcasm]
That's why we stay in denial and insist that anybody that does not see the white line is either blind, stupid, uses non-standard resolution or a secondary monitor. Hence it must be a software issue.

I don't know which category I'm in ;-)
[/sarcasm]

Anyway... I'm yet to see the white line and would like some info on how frequent it appears?


Future post from ninecows said:
Having stared at the screen for >48 h I'm starting to see weird creatures and funny blobs of colors all around me. Is that also related to the graphical glitch?
 
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quagmire

macrumors 604
Apr 19, 2004
6,985
2,492
Are those widespread or are you just picking the individual incidents?

Look, I’m not here to be an Apple apologist. You want to bitch and moan about Apple’s lost quality or how bad things are now. About how Steve would never have let that happen yada yada, have at it. It’s not new to Apple users. It’s been going on for *years*. People like @quagmire and @PBG4 Dude know me from years ago and we’ve all seen these complaints.

So, if you want to say that this iMac is the most awful release ever, you do you. (It’s not but there’s no point in arguing the issue.) I like my computer and it’s doing the job for me and countless untold people who don’t spend all day combing through forums looking for problems.

Have fun waiting for a fully problem-free hardware release. I’ll get some work done in macOS and play some games in Windows.

Yep.

I will take an occasional white line glitch that is likely software related over past issues I have experienced with Apple.

Such as you know the iPhone 5 discoloration issues( want to talk about poor QC), the iPhone 6 bending issues, the iPad Pro bending issues, the iPhone 4 antenna issues( though I think this one was a bit overblown and easily adjusted for), the GeForce 8600M issues in my 17" MBP( that was hardware and not software), etc. Hardware design defects is far more serious to me than software. Software will be fixed and I am sorry it wasn't 3 days after the issue was reported, the fix will take time.

Either I have ignored these parts of the forums for too long and forgot the incredible overblowing issues effect people tend to create which is hard to dissuade people from or these forums are quickly going downhill in pushing out any moderate people and only the extreme mindsets are allowed. I am sick of seeing people going, " XXX-Gate!?!?!" whenever they experience an issue because they want to be hip or start the trend ever since antennagate. Calm down, wait to see what others post, and if you have issues report it to Apple. Mass produced products will have common failures. Doesn't mean it is a new "antennagate".....

I am still taken a bit a back from being accused of spreading misinformation yesterday regarding the RAM configuration change we see in the 2020 iMac. I can accept that I can be wrong, but don't run away the moment I reply with proof that my comments are accurate without being able to apologize yourself.
 
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kkh

macrumors regular
Aug 22, 2020
206
141
I’m not sure who, in this thread, is making anything overblown. If you are 100% satisfied with your iMac20,2 purchase, why read this thread at all or why accuse people of making the issue overblown? Clearly, to some of us, it is a bigger issue than it is to others.
 

torifile

macrumors regular
Original poster
Aug 10, 2020
158
161
I’m not sure who, in this thread, is making anything overblown. If you are 100% satisfied with your iMac20,2 purchase, why read this thread at all or why accuse people of making the issue overblown? Clearly, to some of us, it is a bigger issue than it is to others.
As I said the last time someone asked "why read this thread, then?", it's to provide balance. Just think what this thread would be like if the only posts were @auralux's incessant "DAY XX WITHOUT A FIX" and people asking "is the worst thing since that time Tim Cook ate an aborted fetus or what?!?"

We wouldn't have the perfectly reasonable workaround for people who need to get their work done while this, almost assuredly, software issue is worked out. If people only complain and gripe on forums that's all anyone will see.
 

quagmire

macrumors 604
Apr 19, 2004
6,985
2,492
I’m not sure who, in this thread, is making anything overblown. If you are 100% satisfied with your iMac20,2 purchase, why read this thread at all or why accuse people of making the issue overblown? Clearly, to some of us, it is a bigger issue than it is to others.

Have people accusing those who say no they don't have it as lying, only posting DAY 35 without a fix, etc. Or demand that Apple publicly acknowledges the issue? Apple has very rarely acknowledges an issue until it is in the software update release notes. Or how act surprised how a third party company who is contracted to Apple for customer support doesn't know of the issue? Does it make you feel better to get that scripted response that "Apple is looking into it"? Especially since you know they are by reading this thread so you calling them again to see is just freaking pointless and borderline harassment.

What I want to see in this thread is the little bit of useful info that has come from it vs the white noise the majority of this thread has turned into. The useful info being those who have been in contact with Apple engineering, how changing the display modes seems to mitigate the issue or having an external monitor does as well. Or the fact doesn't really happen in Windows. That is useful info I want to come into this thread to find.
 

AZREOSpecialist

Suspended
Mar 15, 2009
2,354
1,280
THIS IS THE FIX for now... implement this and the world can turn again... Switch to any scaled resolution other than default! Pick any one of the red boxes and get back to living again. How hard is this?
Screen Shot 2020-09-16 at 10.10.32 AM.png
 
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