30' Cinema HD : developing internal edge 'stains'

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30' Cinema HD : developing internal edge 'stains'

I have two identical MacPro 2,1 Quad-Core Intel Xeon 3 GHz setups, each with identical 30' Cinema HD displays, identical desktop image, identical screensaver set-up and so on, both bought in September '07.

One of the displays is now developing creeping internal 'stains' in the upper left corner. The stains are quite subtle, not especially distracting on such a huge screen area and easily avoided when working in image editing. They do seem to be growing, however, like some kind of digital damp!

Has anyone else had the same problem and does anyone have any idea of what may be causing them and of how to resolve them? And no, before anyone says anything about burn-in, that's definitely not it! The stains are located around the Apple menu and along the left and top edges, menu bar etc, thus impossible to be obscured by burn-in causing images and windows.

MacPro 2,1 Quad-Core Intel Xeon 3 GHz, Mac OS X (10.5.5), 30' Cinema HD

Posted on Nov 25, 2008 11:23 AM

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Answer 1

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BSteely

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Nov 28, 2008 12:43 AM in response to Bernie Poohs

I've seen that in other displays. If it's the same thing, it's some kind of contamination in the liquid crystal material. If the monitor is under warranty, have Apple repair it. If there is no warranty, you may have to live with it because the only way to fix it is to swap out the panel, and that's really expensive.

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Answer 2

Bernie Poohs Author

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Nov 28, 2008 1:39 AM in response to BSteely

Thanks, BSteely. That sounds plausible enough. I do have extended warranty but as I say, the staining is still subtle. If it continues to grow, I may well get Apple to deal with it.

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Answer 3

Jan 2, 2009 11:39 AM in response to Bernie Poohs

Do you have a picture of what it looks like? Is it more of a gray less bright area in the upper right corner of the display? Like uneven back lighting or are you talking about something completely different?

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Answer 4

Hoyzing

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4 points

Jan 28, 2009 4:35 PM in response to Bernie Poohs

I'm getting the same thing on my 24" Cinema purchased in July 2006. A creeping "stain" along the top edge. I would describe it as a faint discoloration approx 6" wide by 1" deep with a ragged edge, most noticeable upon startup when the whole screen is goes blue. Definitely not burn in. Of course it's not under warranty, so there's probably not much I can do about it.

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Answer 5

Apr 15, 2009 11:51 PM in response to Hoyzing

I have a 23" Cinema HD with the exact same problem. The stain is along the whole width of the screen at the top, extending down nearly an inch in the middle. It is ragged and a slightly darker colour than the rest of the display. It gets worse the longer the monitor is on.

First noticed it about a year ago and it has got worse over time. Thought it was damp related at first. Luckily I bought it from John Lewis (UK) and got the extended warranty for £45, so I think I will return it. I am thinking of upgrading to a Mac Pro, so it would be nice to get a 24" LED display to go with it.

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Answer 6

Maybl8r

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Apr 16, 2009 4:15 AM in response to Ralfy Papacino

I took my 23" Apple HD CInema Display into my local Apple store with the same issue, it was discolored along the entire width of the monitor. They told me that it was an issue with the LCD bulbs, and now I sit with no monitor... 😟
Having purchased Applecare with my MacPro, the repair will be covered although I find it hard to accept the fact that I have to live without a monitor instead of exchanging it for either a 24" LED or a 30" ACD to keep me happy. I checked in yesterday with the Apple Store and they hadn't even received the box they needed to send it back in, ugghh!!!
I'm seriously thinking about calling into Applecare and inquiring if I can just get a replacement....

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