Q: New iMac 27inch screen flickering/tearing/shutoff

I was curious regarding exactly what the firmware update does, so I took a peek inside the installer.

It appears that it includes an "ATIFacelessFlash" app which appears to update AMD's flash utility to ATI flash utility version 4.0.2, which is copyrighted 2007, 2008.

I don't want to say exactly what resources are included in this patch, as I don't want to get into any legal trouble with Apple.

It also includes an ATI ROM flasher kernel extension file -- kext -- version 1.2.20.

Now, unless I am mistaken, weren't some of you here saying that earlier this year, Apple released a flash update?

Did that flash update help anyone?

If not, perhaps that offers a clue regarding why this one doesn't seem to be working either.

But I am no techie, so who knows...other than Apple.

I know I'm clutching at straws here but after I applied the firmware update the flickering returned, although less than before. Since then I decided to reinstall the combo 10.6.2 updater and I have also turned Airport back on and I haven't had any flickers since (about 2 hours) where I was getting them very regularly before. Probably not a permanent fix but it cost nothing to do and so far so good. Just thought I'd pass it on.

The firmware update did not work for mine (serial 945XXX). The replacement should arrive today after three weeks of wait, we'll see.

My replacement i7 arrived yesterday (it's definitely a week 51 based on Serial) and flickered and blacked out out of the box. The firmware seems to have improved it a bit but unfortunately it still flickers..

Given this is the REPLACEMENT machine already I have little faith that pursuing yet another replacement is a good idea

I'm on my second iMac 27 i5 and have been waiting with crossed fingers for this firmware update, unfortunately it hasn't work for me, if anything it's worse. Called Apple support who put me straight through to sales for replacement number 3. This is my worst experience in 20 years as an Apple user. I have no confidence in receiving a fail free replacement.

Hello Paul,

I hope that works for you, but I wouldn't hold my breath on it.

As someone stated earlier, it is lamentable that Macintosh users even have to be trying these various things in the hope of resolving these issues for ourselves.

Sadly, I seriously doubt that these personal endeavors by some such as yourself will amount to much.

My reasoning is that if Apple, who designs and manufactures these machines, and who writes the software for them, has been unable to resolve these issues with all of the technical know-how that their people possess, it is futile to expect that we end users will be able to do so. And considering how much money we pay for these machines, we shouldn't have to do so anyway.

In short, the solution is going to have to come from Apple -- and this firmware update apparently was not it.

It seems more and more like they too are just grabbing at straws.

Hi Warren
Got to agree with you, shame that the firmware update doesn't seem to be a reliable fix.
My next step is to have a new screen and LCD cable fitted which AppleCare (two weeks ago) reckoned should fix the flickers. I live in the middle of nowhere and am awaiting a phone call for the Apple Repair Centre to let me know they've got the parts. I'll report back, good or bad, in due course - looking like it'll be after Christmas now.
P.S. still no flickers!

Warren Beasley wrote:

Now, unless I am mistaken, weren't some of you here saying that earlier this year, Apple released a flash update?

I am not sure what you are thinking about "flash", but just to clarify for the others, this is not related to Adobe Flash, this is a ROM flasher to update the firmware of the Graphic card.

After the firmware update I launched System Profiler: ROM Revision went from 113-B9110C-394 to 113-B9110C-425 and EFI driver version from 01.00.367 to 01.00.383

Too bad it doesn't fix the problem for my i7.

I called Applecare yesterday and they did not acknowledge the issue, but did offer a pull the plug, push the power button in, zap the pRam fix...that worked for 5 hours. Flickering and blackouts are back. I'll hope the firmware update works.

Paul_31 wrote:
Hi Warren
Got to agree with you, shame that the firmware update doesn't seem to be a reliable fix.

Well, I might take some slack for saying this, but the one word that comes to my mind regarding the firmware update is "placebo".

Pascal_28 wrote:
I am not sure what you are thinking about "flash", but just to clarify for the others, this is not related to Adobe Flash, this is a ROM flasher to update the firmware of the Graphic card.

Pascal, I think you may have misunderstood my comment. My comment had nothing to do with Adobe flash. I seem to recall reading a comment somewhere regarding an earlier attempt to flash the ROM. That is what I was referring to.

Carlo B. wrote:
After the firmware update I launched System Profiler: ROM Revision went from 113-B9110C-394 to 113-B9110C-425 and EFI driver version from 01.00.367 to 01.00.383

Too bad it doesn't fix the problem for my i7.

Hello Carlo,

Thanks for the information.

Considering how random and intermittent these problems are for some people, I honestly don't see how anyone can claim that the firmware update has actually worked until at least a few weeks have gone by.

I don't wish to dampen anyone's expectations, but considering everything that has occurred over the past two months, I think we all need to be realists about this situation. Hoping and wishing, crossing one's fingers, and knocking on wood is not going to fix any of these problems. Quite frankly, we might not know at least until the end of January -- or later -- if the problems have really been resolved.

We are on week 51 units, Apple has released their firmware update, and yet, we have seen little real progress. The only issue that seems to have been resolved is that fewer folks are reporting receiving cracked screens.

Do any of you flicker-sufferers also have the "yellow tinge" problem? - My second machine had both the yellowing and the flicker.

I opted for a refund after receiving the second faulty unit, and I will absolutely not buy another machine until both the flicker and yellowing issues are resolved (I actually found the yellowing to be the more significant problem). If that means I never buy a new iMac, then so be it.

I never thought I'd be so disappointed with Apple hardware. It's really knocked my confidence in the whole company, and my affection for their products.

This might be a lame post, but...

DOES ANYONE CONSIDERED IT MIGHT BE AN ELECTRIC POWER ISSUE?

Mine i7 (W8947) was slightly and very occasionally flickering ONLY on day 3 after delivery. Since then - nothing at all (I have this machine 22 days now). Only thing I did was just firm pressing the power cord in, but I don't think it might be related anyway.
But seeing how many people still have the issue even with replaced machines and with fw update, and considering how many people DOESN'T have any issues at all (fortunately now including me), makes me think, if ATI cards might be somehow sensitive to some specific electric power paremeter as frequency, voltage, some kind of bad grounding or whatever related to specific country, power provider and such?

Does anyone tried his flickering machine in a different power network (house, state, country,...) or through some kind of power conditioner?

Don't beat me, guys, I'm just trying to help.