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

Yea, as I already wrote to you: Onyx allows you to delete caches. Maybe it is a full cache. I'm sure it is a software problem. Thanks for the information Dino!
BTW When did you see the yellow tinge? Before or after the flicker problem? Is it another problem?

no problem. I just wish more people had an open mind & would just try it, instead of thinking I'm crazy. . Then we could see if it's just my iMac that it helps. BTW, I narrowed it down to the "Rebuilding" Section of Automation in Onyx. That alone has stopped the Flicker, however you can check everything.

I think Apple-Techs should try that out and inform us. You found the key to the problem. But it's a shame, nobody hears us. Maybe they think we're just stupid boys. Ciao Dino!

Honestly Dino......most of us didn't think you were crazy until after we tried it.

Just kidding.

You have to consider the possibility that the problems you are having may have a different source than the problems in the 27"ers, and quad cores with the ATI cards. It is difficult to tell because so few of the 21.5ers show the same defect, and yours does seem to respond differently than most.

Most have found that simply putting the display to sleep briefly resolves the issue for hours, even days at a time, while yours does not.

The ONYX may very well work for you, but not anyone else, and yes, I have tried it myself with no affect on the problem.

If someone suggested standing on your head in the corner while holding a yellow umbrella between your feet, and singing Stairway to Heaven......I'd probably try that too, but I sure wouldn't tell anybody about it. Compared to that, running a simple application, particularly a utility isn't that crazy an idea. I imagine that a lot of users have tried it, but it hasn't worked on their systems.

If your problem is the same as that in the 27"ers, then the problem would be limited to a few common connectors, or the display, provided it is by the same manufacturer. The logic board, graphics card, and probably the power supply are different in the larger models.

If it was software related, then everyone would have the problem, and system logs would indicate a kernel panic, or something related to the issue.

Very funny. We must have very different screens & very different problems, which scare me even more. Putting the Display to Sleep has never helped in my case. But sad to say it seems I am one of the only 21.5 NVidia with Screen Flicker (as well as Yellow Tinge). I see your point. That's why when I was asked, I had to put that in my reply. So Onyx just works for MY problem. Well, I'm glad I found a temp fix. If I hadn't, I wouldn't had been able to put up with it for this long. Btw, I was going to suggest the "Stairway To Heaven" Ritual in my next Post. But I guess you beat me to it.

Since your machine is soon to be swapped out, why not try and make the best of it.

There is always a bright side.

I am not a gamer, but do fire up a game occasionally just to kill a little time, or when the grandkids drop by. My choices are limited to those games that originally shipped with previous Macs.

Try running an old version of Cro Mag Rally, or Nanosaur, while the machine is flickering, blacking out, or splitting.

It really adds a new level of excitement, and vocabulary, to the game.

It's a blast.

mine won't Flicker. I just ran Onyx! L.O.L.

pazuita wrote:
The truth of the matter is, there is not any information, on the web, or elsewhere that even begins to indicate that the problem even begins to approach the 1% failure rate.

What are the odds to get a flickering imac 3-4 times in a row, when the chances to get one is less than 1%? 0,000001% or something. Either the number is way higher or some people in these forums are really unlucky. Hopefully time will tell...

i really dont know what to do.....i need to buy 2 27" imacs. I went to the new Manhasset NY apple store today and asked about if anyone has returned any machines because of the flickering problem.
they looked at me like i had 3 heads....even the guys at the genius bar all said that they have not had any returns and that they have sold hundreds and hundreds of machines the last few weeks. I will probably go back and buy them this week with the stipulation that they open them up and test them in the store and if i bring it home and it starts i can return it by throwing it through the big glass windows! (just kidding)

Dino:

I should think Apple will pay for it but I do not think you should return it to be fixed. A new anything should work out of the box. What you will be doing is sending back to be repaired something that was sent to you from the factory already defective. But if you get it from B & H won't they fix it or send it out or do you then have to deal with Apple? I think you should get an external drive and transfer your stuff from the computer to it to be used to transfer when you get the computer that works. Some of the people have posted that Apple has allowed them to keep the defective computer and use it till the replacement comes. Try to work out a deal like that. But, if the replacement has problems, don't send it back to be repaired-return the second, third ones back and wait for one that works. That's what I would do. If you talk to someone at Apple or B & H tell them that. That's what I would do. I know it is a pain in the rear.

Edward,
Thanks for the advice. My deal is this. I will exchange for another new one from B&H. Hopefully that one will be fine. If it's not, I still can exchange with B&H a second time. If that doesn't work, I'll go to Apple. But I'm afraid since I did not buy it directly from Apple, they will only repair it & not Exchange for a new one. I have no choice at that point. I just need to hope Apple does a good job in the repair. I would like a new one also but that is how Apple get you to buy from them. I saved money on Tax by buying it from B&H. That's what happens when you try & save money, I guess.
Dino

Oh btw, I save nothing on ANY of my computers Hard Drives. My entire 500GB Internal Hard Drive will be wasted. I have all my Media on a Time Capsule for my Apple TV & iTunes. And another MyBook with my iPhoto & iMovie files. And then they are all backed up on 2 other Hard drives in my Closet. So I never use my Internal HD for storage. Only 10GB are used on my new iMac. And that's just Snow Leopard & Apps. It's kind of a waste having a big internal HD & not using most of it, but I never trust anything, not to die at some point. Only the paranoid survive!

So I finally decided to call apple up about this. Basically I kind lady told me to run the hardware checker that comes on the mac os install dvd. I did the quick check, and no problems were reported. She then told me to do an extended check which would take an hour or so. That check took about 25 minutes and again, no problems were found. Now I have to call again and see what they have to say.

Oh Oh! Sounds like their still Fishing?

It seems to me that mine only does this when streaming movies/shows etc. I cranked up the fan movement and it went away for a long time. It just flickered again but I quit the show and no more brief blank screen of death. ..."I thought I left the troubles of Windows?"