iMac 27" - Screen Flickering

[peskaa]

Problems here:

*As a photographer and graphic artist, I cannot work with you. highly reflective glass monitors.


Wah wah wah wah etc

Sorry, but that is a load of bunk.
Matte and gloss both have their advantages and disadvantages. Matte is not the Holy Grail, particularly due to the diffusion that occurs when hit by a light source, which renders the colours inaccurate. Gloss doesn't actually have this problem of diffusion, as it has a sharp reflection - irritating to be sure.

Both screen types can be calibrated accurately, but the gloss will have a higher contrast ratio.

The simple solution is that for colour critical work a gloss screen needs to be orientated in such a way that there are no direct light sources. My 27" iMac is positioned so I get zero reflections, and it works perfectly for colour - in fact, better than my old matte ACDs.

 

[MH01]

Sorry, but that is a load of bunk.
Matte and gloss both have their advantages and disadvantages. Matte is not the Holy Grail, particularly due to the diffusion that occurs when hit by a light source, which renders the colours inaccurate. Gloss doesn't actually have this problem of diffusion, as it has a sharp reflection - irritating to be sure.

Both screen types can be calibrated accurately, but the gloss will have a higher contrast ratio.

The simple solution is that for colour critical work a gloss screen needs to be orientated in such a way that there are no direct light sources. My 27" iMac is positioned so I get zero reflections, and it works perfectly for colour - in fact, better than my old matte ACDs.

Well if you are happy rearrange your whole room to avoid reflections that is great. Some people do not have that option, or in worse cases use gloss screens in an office. I believe that Gloss is a marketing ploy, they just look better , though for anyone that uses these machines for actual work will choose mate. Imagine being a photographer in the field with a gloss MBP, aweful!

Anyway, back to the topic at hand, my first i7 had the flickering, a replacement is due this week so hopefully i will work this time. The Replacement is also 10 days earlier then stated by Apple ,that was a surprise.

 

[peskaa]

Well if you are happy rearrange your whole room to avoid reflections that is great. Some people do not have that option, or in worse cases use gloss screens in an office. I believe that Gloss is a marketing ploy, they just look better , though for anyone that uses these machines for actual work will choose mate. Imagine being a photographer in the field with a gloss MBP, aweful!

Anyway, back to the topic at hand, my first i7 had the flickering, a replacement is due this week so hopefully i will work this time. The Replacement is also 10 days earlier then stated by Apple ,that was a surprise.

I am a photographer, and I frequently work in the field on a MacBook Pro, glossy. If you have a *really* bad reflection you move!

Oh, and we have some glossy iMacs at work in the office. They're fine too, even with the high light levels.

 

[yourashero]

Did anyones screen flickering just happen when they started the computer and then never came on again? I pulled mine out of the box and it was flickering pretty bad. Now I come back and its working fine. 2 safari pages with 4 tabs each. Video in quicktime and transfering files to the computer are also going on and I've been fine.

Apple wants to send me a new computer anyways, even though I really dont want one, because I'd rather not have the wait. Its been working fine for the past 45 minutes. That sounds like they know there is a problem, but wont tell me.

Has anyone had their imac just flicker once and then stop. I did do an update on the computer, but I didnt see anything hardware wise that was updated.

 

[gritpype-thynne]

Well, I put my readers on and checked all my keyboards and they all have 'Option' printed on the boards, with a VERY small 'Alt' in the upper left quadrant of the key. So, I guess you are right! Still most real Mac users don't use the Alt key term as it's too MS orientated!

Who'd a-thunk it? Apple adopts Microsoft keyboard standards!

Wireless keyboard, UK market (even if Apple couldn't be bothered to use a proper UK keyboard format).... The other key's the same. I believe I'll stick with "alt". Scandalised emails, death threats and fatwas to my email box for bulk deletion, please

 

[MH01]

Did anyones screen flickering just happen when they started the computer and then never came on again? I pulled mine out of the box and it was flickering pretty bad. Now I come back and its working fine. 2 safari pages with 4 tabs each. Video in quicktime and transfering files to the computer are also going on and I've been fine.

Apple wants to send me a new computer anyways, even though I really dont want one, because I'd rather not have the wait. Its been working fine for the past 45 minutes. That sounds like they know there is a problem, but wont tell me.

Has anyone had their imac just flicker once and then stop. I did do an update on the computer, but I didnt see anything hardware wise that was updated.

Mine would usually flicker after about 30 min of gaming, and when i was not gaming it was random. I would recommend that you send it back, some people are saying that it is a driver/software issue, I find that hard to believe cause apple uses the same software/drivers for all machines so there is not reason the one should work fine and another flicker. I know that apple does use components from differenent manafactures in the same machines so it might be those that are causeing the issue. Without a guarantee that a fix is on the way, you should send it back. If you are in doubt play some graphic intensive game, for me that causes the flickering all the time.

 

[gritpype-thynne]

Reached agreement with Apple about a replacement iMac. Oblique reference made to the power supply unit and graphics, so maybe they've got a handle on the problem.

 

[gb1631]

Who'd a-thunk it? Apple adopts Microsoft keyboard standards!

Wireless keyboard, UK market (even if Apple couldn't be bothered to use a proper UK keyboard format).... The other key's the same. I believe I'll stick with "alt". Scandalised emails, death threats and fatwas to my email box for bulk deletion, please

I have both the new wireless and the extended numeric KB and neither have the little doo-dad that yours appears to have in the picture. (Just option and 'alt' in small letters in the upper left quadrant.)

 

[Dino1956]

I'm not a Gamer & when I am just Surfing the web with iTunes Open my Screen Flickers on my 21.5" NVidia Week 45 iMac.

 

[HDH]

Did anyones screen flickering just happen when they started the computer and then never came on again? I pulled mine out of the box and it was flickering pretty bad. Now I come back and its working fine. 2 safari pages with 4 tabs each. Video in quicktime and transfering files to the computer are also going on and I've been fine.

Apple wants to send me a new computer anyways, even though I really dont want one, because I'd rather not have the wait. Its been working fine for the past 45 minutes. That sounds like they know there is a problem, but wont tell me.

Has anyone had their imac just flicker once and then stop. I did do an update on the computer, but I didnt see anything hardware wise that was updated.

Same concern here. Bought one, damaged screen, went back in and exchanged it. Came home, put it on, after about half an hour screen started going crazy, flickering, black outs, downloaded the so called update that fixes it, but my computer gave me a notice that my computer had already been updated. Restarted and no problems for two days so far. I don't get it. Is it gonna happen again???

 

[53x12]

So had several issues with previous iMacs ranging from random power downs, to loose bolt on a fan, to the yellow screen. Now my week 51's screen is going crazy with the flickering.

 

[HDH]

Same concern here. Bought one, damaged screen, went back in and exchanged it. Came home, put it on, after about half an hour screen started going crazy, flickering, black outs, downloaded the so called update that fixes it, but my computer gave me a notice that my computer had already been updated. Restarted and no problems for two days so far. I don't get it. Is it gonna happen again???

Problem is back!!! So they expect me to go exchange for another one, and there is no guarantee that I'll get one that works without this problem. So why would I bother exchanging it? I'd rather return it and go back to PC.

 

[53x12]

Problem is back!!! So they expect me to go exchange for another one, and there is no guarantee that I'll get one that works without this problem. So why would I bother exchanging it? I'd rather return it and go back to PC.

B/C even with with hassle of the issues, once you get one that is problem free it beats anything a PC can put in the same price range/design. To have an all in one system with an amazing 27'' screen and a quad core, I think it is worth the hassle. But maybe I am delusional?

 

[HDH]

B/C even with with hassle of the issues, once you get one that is problem free it beats anything a PC can put in the same price range/design. To have an all in one system with an amazing 27'' screen and a quad core, I think it is worth the hassle. But maybe I am delusional?

Ya well that much I know, but it's ridiculous waiting around not installing any software just in case it happens again. I have tonnes of programs I need to install to start working on this machine.

 

[tucker3434]

Problem is back!!! So they expect me to go exchange for another one, and there is no guarantee that I'll get one that works without this problem. So why would I bother exchanging it? I'd rather return it and go back to PC.

I'm still doing the same. I've had two flickering imac's so far. Apple care's phone support seemed to be very familiar with this issue. When I informed them of my issue, they gave me a very flat, "Oh." I could tell they were tired of hearing about it. It isn't their(tech support) fault, and I think they are growing very weary of the issue as well. It's probably why they were so quick to offer a replacement. Anywho, they're shipping me one from china now, and they're letting me keep mine until it arrives. I'll just keep doing this til I get a working one. This may cost apple a lot of money from just me alone.

 

[sparkie1984]

well i replaced mine last night at the apple store, this morning starts flickering........ week 49!

this is bs apple!!!!!

not acceptable and your damaging yourself for years to come with these troubles....

 

[lindafus]

Only flickered in Windows 7 64 with recent ATI Drivers

I have had my new iMac i7 for a week now. I have no yellowing on the screen that I can see and the only flickering and distortion has been in Windows 7 64 when installing recent ATI drivers that clearly told me failed. When it flickered it exhibited all the symtoms that others have reported. Apon finding a driver that was stable this behavior stopped including black outs. ATI 4850 dated Aug 2009 driver that windows default installed, appears to be the most stable. Also note, I was never alarmed at the flickering or blackouts as I have seen this happen many times during PC builds and video drivers that just plain failed. Nvidia card drivers exhibit the same behavior with drivers that do not work properly.

The screen has yet to flicker or distort on the OSX side. So far, the OSX side is stable.

Since, this behavior in windows actually told me that is was driver failure, I now wonder if the OSX video flickering is related to just poor drivers.

I have read this forum as well as the apple forum extensively over the past month and I am still not convinced flickering and distortion is a hardware fault. I monitor temps on both sides of the imac and they stay very stable within 48-55c on both sides. Something tells me that the flickering issues will go away with a new OSX update. As with any device running a windows 7 OS it is hit or miss as to which driver for your hardware will work.

I have been building PC's for over 20 years and I am pretty sure what I am experiencing on the Windows side of the imac is driver related and NOT hardware related.

Time will tell. Anyone having Windows 7 flickering and distortion should try rolling back the driver to the Aug 2009 driver. It appears to be very stable.

My machine is a week 53 and had the OSX firmware update was already installed.

Regards,

-Linda

 

[HDH]

I have had my new iMac i7 for a week now. I have no yellowing on the screen that I can see and the only flickering and distortion has been in Windows 7 64 when installing recent ATI drivers that clearly told me failed. When it flickered it exhibited all the symtoms that others have reported. Apon finding a driver that was stable this behavior stopped including black outs. ATI 4850 dated Aug 2009 driver that windows default installed, appears to be the most stable. Also note, I was never alarmed at the flickering or blackouts as I have seen this happen many times during PC builds and video drivers that just plain failed. Nvidia card drivers exhibit the same behavior with drivers that do not work properly.

The screen has yet to flicker or distort on the OSX side. So far, the OSX side is stable.

Since, this behavior in windows actually told me that is was driver failure, I now wonder if the OSX video flickering is related to just poor drivers.

I have read this forum as well as the apple forum extensively over the past month and I am still not convinced flickering and distortion is a hardware fault. I monitor temps on both sides of the imac and they stay very stable within 48-55c on both sides. Something tells me that the flickering issues will go away with a new OSX update. As with any device running a windows 7 OS it is hit or miss as to which driver for your hardware will work.

I have been building PC's for over 20 years and I am pretty sure what I am experiencing on the Windows side of the imac is driver related and NOT hardware related.

Time will tell. Anyone having Windows 7 flickering and distortion should try rolling back the driver to the Aug 2009 driver. It appears to be very stable.

My machine is a week 53 and had the OSX firmware update was already installed.

Regards,

-Linda

It's confusing when I read messages like this, yet AppleCare tells me it's a hardware issue. Was always a mac addict, till I moved over to PC about 5 years ago. In the meantime I still praised and praised Apple, and when I finally save up to go back to Apple this comes up. Very disappointing.

It flickered for a minute yesterday, and no problems after that.

Just an ignorant question, how do you guys know what week Macs you have?

 

[farorex]

iMac 27 screen flicker

I've been reading all posts on the flickering subject. Yes, I've got one as well, but the problem has not presently been as bad as some reported. Got it the day after Xmas. It was pretty bad for the first week, then has diminished over time, and I've not had a single flicker for about a week now despite constant use (2-6 hours / day). Back when it was flickering, I'd shut down and reboot and almost every time the flickering stopped. Even when it did flicker, it was very sporadic. Sometimes a second of black, and sometimes the grey bar. Timing was very sporadic.

Apple Care was called and they want to exchange anyway - but I think I'm going to wait a bit as I can live with for now. Apparently changing the card is not an option (as noted by others and apple).

Couple of thoughts - it's been really cold here for the last week and while we keep the house toasty, I wonder if it is a heat issue with the graphics card / LED. Supposed to warm up so we'll see; and it gets pretty warm here in the summer..... which is concerning. If it's a basic design flaw, it's going to be hard to fix but eventually they will one way or the other.

We've had about 15 macs and this is the first one that's had a serious problem. I work with PC's at work, but mac's are clearly better than PC's on so many levels that it would take allot to cause us to change back.

 

[seveej]

Well, I put my readers on and checked all my keyboards and they all have 'Option' printed on the boards, with a VERY small 'Alt' in the upper left quadrant of the key. So, I guess you are right! Still most real Mac users don't use the Alt key term as it's too MS orientated!

Unbelievable. It seems that someone has a hard time understanding that not all keyboards are made with the same key layout.

P.S. Finnish layout says ALT. (sadly)

 

[HDH]

I've been reading all posts on the flickering subject. Yes, I've got one as well, but the problem has not presently been as bad as some reported. Got it the day after Xmas. It was pretty bad for the first week, then has diminished over time, and I've not had a single flicker for about a week now despite constant use (2-6 hours / day). Back when it was flickering, I'd shut down and reboot and almost every time the flickering stopped. Even when it did flicker, it was very sporadic. Sometimes a second of black, and sometimes the grey bar. Timing was very sporadic.

Apple Care was called and they want to exchange anyway - but I think I'm going to wait a bit as I can live with for now. Apparently changing the card is not an option (as noted by others and apple).

Couple of thoughts - it's been really cold here for the last week and while we keep the house toasty, I wonder if it is a heat issue with the graphics card / LED. Supposed to warm up so we'll see; and it gets pretty warm here in the summer..... which is concerning. If it's a basic design flaw, it's going to be hard to fix but eventually they will one way or the other.

We've had about 15 macs and this is the first one that's had a serious problem. I work with PC's at work, but mac's are clearly better than PC's on so many levels that it would take allot to cause us to change back.

And here I keep thinking the opposite. Mine flickers like yours when I first boot it, and the place it's in is actually kind of cool, not warm at all. So how does it become a heat issue if I use it 15+ hours a day and it doesn't flicker at all after I reboot a minute into the initial startup?

Tomorrow my 2 weeks to return/exchange is up. What do I do? Hold on to this? Frig, I hate this situation.

 

[gb1631]

And here I keep thinking the opposite. Mine flickers like yours when I first boot it, and the place it's in is actually kind of cool, not warm at all. So how does it become a heat issue if I use it 15+ hours a day and it doesn't flicker at all after I reboot a minute into the initial startup?

Tomorrow my 2 weeks to return/exchange is up. What do I do? Hold on to this? Frig, I hate this situation.

If you have installed the firmware or it has been installed and you still have flickering and blackouts talk to Apple and have the screen and cable replaced or send it back for a new one. (Of course if you send it back you may get another one with a problem.)


The screen & Cable replacements cured my i7's flickering/blackouts.

 

[HDH]

If you have installed the firmware or it has been installed and you still have flickering and blackouts talk to Apple and have the screen and cable replaced or send it back for a new one. (Of course if you send it back you may get another one with a problem.)


The screen & Cable replacements cured my i7's flickering/blackouts.

By saying cable you mean the actual power cable? I can get my screen replaced later if I want since I'm on the 3 year warranty, but if I'm going to be exchanging it today's my last day. I'm just scared I'm going to end up with something that's worse than mine. It's NOT as bad as it could be, but it's still annoying to bootup, then restart 1 minute later for it to not flicker.

 

[tucker3434]

By saying cable you mean the actual power cable? I can get my screen replaced later if I want since I'm on the 3 year warranty, but if I'm going to be exchanging it today's my last day. I'm just scared I'm going to end up with something that's worse than mine. It's NOT as bad as it could be, but it's still annoying to bootup, then restart 1 minute later for it to not flicker.

As they explained it to me, it is the cable that connects the screen to the cpu.

 

[HDH]

As they explained it to me, it is the cable that connects the screen to the cpu.

Just picked up a new one today, got my fingers crossed.