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30" Display Flickering/Dancing Pixels

I picked up a 30" display and the issues started ... This is not a dead/stuck pixels issue.

Bought the display at my local Apple store, got it home set it up and did the usual dead pixel search, OK there's three of them (two red one green), round the edges and to honest the pixel size on this display is so small that unless you have a cluster of them in one spot then the odd one here or there isn't really noticeable.

But then, after the screen has been on for a while I see green flickering or dancing pixels on the display. They disappear if you move the mouse pointer over them but reappear when the pointer is moved away, in fact this can even make them multiply.

I search here on the forums and found this :

Again 30" display with lots of green pixels

That post also contains a link to another post of the issue (and even includes an image of the issue at :

Flickering green and blue pixel problem

OK, I'm not going mad and it's not my eyes.

So, I return to the store and we can reproduce it on their G5 with GeForce 6800 Ultra. Something I am very pleased about as it proves it's not my G5 of GeForce card, and the store replaces the screen.

Screen #2: Get it home set it up again do the dead/stuck pixel search, none this time, wow OK let's leave the screen on for a while with nothing happening and ... green flicker returns.

Now, it does go away if you turn the screen off then on again. But they do come back. Sometimes not straight away, but only takes a few minutes. So screen #2 will be going back ...

It definitely would seem to be a display issue as in the threads above it happens on ATI and GeForce cards, Laptops and Desktops (though I didn't see anyone having issues on Windows).

Thanks for reading

Spencer

[EDIT : Here's a link where you can see my test image and a photo of the flickering pixels on my screen - SEE THE AMAZING FLICKERING PIXELS END EDIT]

[EDIT - Update:

I took the second display back to the Apple Store and we proved it on a third G5 and GeForce 6800 Ultra. Let me make sure that's clear. We demonstrated this to the Genius on hand with two different displays that had the issue on my G5 Dual 2.5 with GeForce 6800 at home and with two G5 2.5's with 6800 's at the store.

The staff were great, they waited until it returned (about 30 minutes) and were very interested when it happened. I made the decision not to try a 3rd screen and took a refund which the store did not give me any hassle in doing so.

I just want to say, if this mail seems to be anti-Apple it is not meant to be. The 30" screen is a great screen, the color was great and it if it were not for this one issue I would be proud to own one. The staff at the store were all polite and helpful.

Hopefully, Apple will realise this issue and find a solution for it.

Spencer

END UPDATE]

Posted on Apr 10, 2005 7:16 AM

458 replies

May 8, 2005 11:44 PM in response to Larry Carasco

The latest is that they've replicated the problem using my 30" and my G5, and they reportedly replaced the logic board. (This would seem to indicate that they also tried my monitor on other G5s, as they told me that they'd try it on several other machines before replacing my logic board, which Apple is wont to do.)
From what I've heard, the problem has not returned since the logic board replacement. That was today, and I don't know how long it's been running, or if they've put the system to sleep yet (which always makes the problem worse), but so far, so good... I'm sure I'll know more in the next day or two.

A note to Larry, and anybody else who has experienced this problem: The techs may not be able to replicate the problem unless they have your G5 AND your monitor. No idea why that would be, but they never saw the problem on their own 30" displays when my G5 was connected. They immediately saw it on my setup, swapped the logic board, and at least temporarily have "fixed" it.

Again, my system is still being checked, and it's possible the problem will come back, and the source will turn out to be the display after all -- but as of now, it appears to be a logic board issue, and specifically, my logic board with my 30" ACD...

May 9, 2005 6:02 AM in response to Spencer Kirk-Jackson

After exchanging both my 30" display and the NVIdia card... same problem... Apple Support - for the first time after many calls - tells me that THEY ARE AWARE OF AN ISSUE, BUT DON'T HAVE ANY SOLUTION FOR IT...
What a waste of time... I wonder why they don't say there is an issue when someone is first confronted with the problem... instead of replacing screens and cards... bizarre...

The person at Apple support was very helpful but indicated they have no idea right now where the problem is coming from, it could be the video card, the logic board of the G5 or the display...

May 9, 2005 6:15 AM in response to Pierre Bairin

Well at least they acknowledged an issue. Now, hopefully, they'll work on it and find a solution!

I really want one of these screens but not with this issue... fingers crossed that they find it and fix it! My only worry is that they find it isn't an issue with the new G5's and leave the rest of us out in the cold.

S.

May 10, 2005 2:55 AM in response to John Mackey

Thanks for the update John. I guess I'm just delaying the inevitable but I'm dreading transporting all that kit back to the centre of London. I'm hoping that once a few people like your good self have had some proven success they'll figure out exactly what needs to be fixed and it can be done in one hit rather than this random swapping around of components that other people seem to have suffered.

May 10, 2005 12:09 PM in response to Pierre Bairin

I wrote yesterday that they had replaced the logic board and seemed to fix it. I spoke too soon. Here's what they've done:
software: ruled out. booted from known good OS. issue persists.
RAM: ruled out. issue persists with my RAM or theirs.
processors a: took a processor out. issue persists.
processors b: swapped processors. place upper in lower slot and vice versa. issue persists.
processors c: removed processors. put in known good processor. issue persists.
logic board: ruled out. replacing logic board did not resolve the issue.

It's now being "escalated to Engineering." No idea what that means -- are they shipping it back to Cupertino?!

More as soon as I know it...

Brandon

Level 1

140 points

May 13, 2005 1:37 AM in response to John Mackey

My 2.7 is showing the same problems with the 30" display. I'll call them tomorrow and see if they can replace my 30" display because it has FOUR stuck pixels.

Brandon

Level 1

140 points

May 13, 2005 3:15 AM in response to Spencer Kirk-Jackson

This flickering seems to be an issue with the display itself. After the display is on for a while, it overheats and cause transistors to switch the subpixels on and off. Time for a recall.

May 13, 2005 1:28 PM in response to Brandon

Does this occur if the backlight is set to a lower level? That should result in a much lower temperature of the transistors.

Not suggesting this is a good-enough work-around, but it would verify that this is really the case (seems odd). Maybe I'll try running my unit at high brightness this weekend and see if it exhibits similar behavior.

Brandon

Level 1

140 points

May 13, 2005 2:51 PM in response to Daniel Hartman1

No, it does not occur at low brightness which indicates it is heat realated. Apple replaced my display with a new one that works perfectly and has no dead/stuck pixels. Thank You Apple!!!

May 14, 2005 7:19 AM in response to Daniel Hartman1

I didn't mention this in my original post, but I was running the 30" at 2/3rd's brightness and it still happened.

When we tested it at the store, we ran it at full brighness and it just happened sooner.

Good thought though, I still think that we have explored so many avenues and proved this time over that it's an issue....

Hopefully, the one that Apple Engineering is looking at (see an earlier post) will prove something useful and they will fix this.

S.

May 14, 2005 7:38 AM in response to Spencer Kirk-Jackson

I have the flicking pixel problem on my 20" ACD, but only on the desktop picture. I'll notice random blue and green pixels on the desktop pic, and when I move icons around the desktop the pixels disappear and reapper randomlylike I'm "erasing" them when I pass over them with an icon, and they keep magically reappearing nearby.

This happens with ACD at various resolutions but NOT when
a) the desktop is set to a solid color
or
b) my PB is open and the display is set to mirror.

Is my problem the same type as those who get pixels appearing all over the screen? Will mine perhaps get worse? (My display is 2 months old). Anyone w/ this problem only on the desktop pic?

May 14, 2005 1:28 PM in response to disconnekt

I just bought a 30' this week. My symptoms are the same as described elsewhere in this thread. I've noticed that they show up in two general situations:

1. On the desktop picture
2. On graphics in windows that show up on a solid background

No escape. One way or the other, they're going to show up.

They don't show up initially when I turn the computer on, but as soon as the screen heats up, they're there again.

Since Apple now reccognizes this as a problem, anyone know what they plan to do about it? Keep it quiet?

May 17, 2005 4:59 AM in response to Spencer Kirk-Jackson

Looks like the issue is a driver problem.
I actually own a 30" and the green pixels were showing on a certain contrast area.
Well, if you put to stop the computer and then you wake it up, the pixel, in my case, they ALWAYS disappear.
I just installed the 10.4.1 update, and as far as now they do not appear no more.

Ciao
Ale

May 17, 2005 2:33 PM in response to Alessandro Gaieni

Keep an eye on that Ale, you're not the first person to think that. However, I will be very pleased to hear if it indeed is a driver issue and it's fixed.

I REALLY want one of these screens.

S.

May 17, 2005 2:35 PM in response to Alessandro Gaieni

Alessandro,

Are you sure you didn't have the problem I like to term "green shadows?" Its slightly different from whats described above:

o shows up as 'shadows' around certain color transitions. Very stable patterns rather than being more random.

o Occurs when the display resyncs, and continues until the next resync event (resolution change, power cycle, or sleep event)

o Independant of how hot the display is

The workaround is just to force a resncy by powercyling the display (double-tap the power button does it) -- pretty minor issue in comparison to what Spencer was seeing.

30" Display Flickering/Dancing Pixels