New iMac 27inch screen flickering/tearing/shutoff

My flickering came back today. Called Apple Care in Australia again and described how screen shot showed it was OK and Support person immediately agreed it was a hardware problem and has called my iMac DOA and is arranging for a replacement as we speak.

If you have this problem, it seems like returning it for a replacement is the way to go.

This means I can also confirm that the PRAM reset did not resolve the problem.

Flickering has returned. Will be bringing in to authorized service provider to document as suggested by Apple. I don't know what they will be able to do?

I strongly suspect that the problem of screen flickering originate from a migration process. So I reinstall completely the system from beginning. After that I installed all the softwares like CS4, Firefox, VMWare and so on. For each installation I rebooted the machine, and check if the flickering came back by activating the Arabesque Screen saver. Everything seems to be normal for now (running for about 36 hours without glitchs). To make comparisons, I cloned the previous System (the one that is have the migration from another computer) on an external hard drive. I booted from this external hard drive and guess what ? The flickering problem came back, just by activating Arabesque screen saver. Back to my new installation everything is normal again. Hope this helps. I will take a close look, to see if the problem happens again.

I have the exact same problem. Got my new iMac shipped form Shanghai the very day they launched. Was really excited but now really dissapointed by this recurring problem. I've performed all the tricks published here and the issue disappears only to come back with no apparent reason or cause. Sometimes the screen completely blacks out for 2-3 seconds on intervals of 5-6 secs and the machine becomes useless.
Got an appointment on store to get a replacement machine. I'm hoping this is not endemic of all new machines.
Would love to hear an official recognition from APPLE THAT THERE IS INDEED A SERIOUS PROBLEM GOING ON WITH THIS NEW PRODUCT and that we as loyal customers (I own 3 ipods, 2 iphones, a Macbook, Macbook pro and time capsule) are really dissapointed.

Hi, I think I have a solution to solve the problem.
1. First check in System>Library>Extensions if you have the following dated on September 10, 2009
ATI1300Controller.kext
ATI1600Controller.kext
ATI1900Controller.kext
ATI2400Controller.kext
ATI2600Controller.kext
ATI3800Controller.kext
ATI4500Controller.kext
ATI4600Controller.kext
ATI4800Controller.kext
ATIFramebuffer.kext
ATIRadeonX1000.kext
ATIRadeonX1000GA.plugin
ATIRadeonX1000GLDriver.bundle
ATIRadeonX1000VADriver.bundle
ATIRadeonX2000.kext
ATIRadeonX2000GA.plugin
ATIRadeonX2000GLDriver.bundle
ATIRadeonX2000VADriver.bundle

2. Activate Root account, and login as Root
3. Go get them here: homepage.mac.com/mahers/ATI.zip
4. Decompress and replace with what you downloaded in System>Extensions
5. Restart and repair Permissions

You can test with Arabesque screen saver before and after to check if everything is okay

Let me know : mahers@mac.com and if you're not sure drop me a mail

Hey there,
I also am one of increasingly many people having to face this embarrassing (for apple) iMac 27 issue.
Though I haven't done any migration. I set it up as a completely new Mac.. Did all Updates and everything.. then after about 35min I got the first flickering. And it keeps returning irregularly.
Additionally I just bought my MacBook Pro 15" unibody a while ago and it had vaaarious manufacturing flaws.. What the * is going on there at apple? Dont care about quality management any longer? I'm sorry for the words but I am really really upset. Once I thought these are extraordinary products with incomparable high quality. That apparently changed.
I'm located in Germany. I think my iMac was sent from Prague.
Tomorrow I'll call Apple Care and return it. Now I m sure: I won't buy a Mac untill I am absolutely sure they manufacture great products again.

Thanks

The last time ive seen flickering like this was on my old Zenith Television back in 1975 when i was 10 watching HR Puff N Stuff

I have a new 21.5" iMac (ATI Radeon HD 4670) and am experiencing the exact same flickering issue as the one shown here:

http://gallery.me.com/larzy#100025

Looks like I'll need to be making a trip to the Apple store... 😟

Hello,

I would like to order new iMac 27" with i7, ATI 4850. However I am ordering this iMac from USA (I am from the Czech Republic, we don't have this configuration here), Should I be afraid about this particular problem? I have never had imac before. I have MacBook Air and iPhone and I am really satisfied, no problems at all. However I am afraid to import here this computer, and sent it to US again after several days for repairing.

Hello,
I would definitely suggest you to wait untill Apple releases an official statement concerning these issues. There seem to be many faulty iMacs out there. I read in European forums that you'd have to be really lucky to find a flawless iMac 27. Even with individual configurations!

Hi,
Add me to the list of those with flickering problems,mine started about a week after i got mine.
Same simptoms as everyone else.
Hoping there is an easy fix

Yes an easy fix would be good. I was wondering if its just the 27 inch version as the higher end 21 inch has the same graphics so would use the same drivers etc

If they are not getting the problem I assume it is a hardware issue which would concern me greatly. If this is the case I am going to downgrade to the 21 inch and get a bit of cash back!

I was thinking shall I write here as my post will not bring anything new to the wall. Friday afternoon, extremely happy finally I have decided to buy duo core instead of waiting for a quad core. I got my new 27' and problems started immediately - screen flickering. I have installed all updates and what helped I guess was restarting my computer. I was working on my new Imac for 9h. I decided to not turn it off and see what will happen in the morning. This morning after I woke up my new baby I was already sure I share your pain. I called apple support. They have told me that they do not receive that many complains about problems with 27'Imac advised me restarting - run diagnostic test and see what happen (no problems) then unplug the cable and so on. Fact is problem has despair but let to be honest that is not solution. I am more then sure problem will come back sooner or later. And this is only temporary solution. Hmm I have 13 more days to bring it back. Hard as I already got attached.

Message was edited by: StileselitS

UPDATE:
Today I took my originally shipped machine back to the Apple store in Miami. Without asking many questions they replaced it for a brand new one and said the engineers are asking to get the bad machines back so they can assess the issue and probably issue a firmware update.
My Time Capsule worked wonders with backup and my computer looks excatly the same as they one I retunre, including 150 GB of data (mosly music, movies and pics neatly organized in Iphoto and itunes)
Send yours back too!

UPDATE:
Today I took my flickering machine back to the Apple store in Miami. Without asking many questions they replaced it for a brand new one and said the engineers are asking to get the bad machines back so they can assess the issue and probably issue a firmware update.
My Time Capsule worked wonders with backup and my computer looks exactly the same as they one I returned, including 150 GB of data (mostly music, movies and pics neatly organized in Iphoto and itunes)
Send yours back too!