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

51 week.

Mine was also, Week 51.

Didn't get to enter that in the "Squeaked" database, but oh well...

Pazuita,
That is a very good idea!! Getting the positive updates as well as the negative will definitely be very helpful to everyone here! I will make sure to report back on my replacement iMac!

After buying my week 51 27" I5 on January 3rd, I noticed the flickering on day 1. Didn't think much of it at first until searching on the internet and finding this thread.

I talked to a senior Apple technician on Friday. Here are somethings he said verbatim :

"They are working on a new firmware update for this problem but still can't guarantee that it will fix all units"

"The GPU's are running hotter than we thought they would"

"You should take your imac into a service center and get the vertical sync cable replaced. It's a thinner cable that allows more air flow."

By far the most helpful thing he said was to "Download SMCFANCONTROL and turn up the fans rpms a bit."

He says most flickering happens around 150-175 degrees F. After adjusting the fan settings to about a quarter of the way up, the screen flickering has stopped.

So according to this senior tech, the issue lies in overheating GPU chips.

... according to this senior tech, all new iMacs are defective!!!

Apple has to inform us, if they don't, they lose me and a lot of other customers.

I agree this thread is all but useless. I have been reading since day one. Although I have had a good machine, as an engineer I have been most curious as to the outcome. There have be hundreds of posting asking the same thing over and over (i.e. where do you find your manufacture date, how do you do a reset, etc.) And of course the ones that KILL me are the posts that say I have been running my iMac now for over 3 hours with no problems. Give me a break. We need a stickie that list all this data in an organized manner. Listings of everything that has not worked, etc. It has become a very non technical thread with people arguing (typical) and more about exchange policies that anything.

Anyone have any thoughts on how to organize this thing better; a fresh thread perhaps?

I'm one of the early posters, now on my third iMac (week 53 build). I've not had any flickering/tearing issues with this machine (received last Thursday), but there is significant yellowing on the screen and I'm going to return it for a refund today. I do want an i7 again, but I've grown tired of this whole process and I'm disheartened at the fact that Apple isn't providing any signal as to what the issue(s) may be. For the moment I'm going to sit it out on the sidelines.

This thread is not useless. This thread is a superinternational discussion with a lot of different opinions. We should stay together and show us nothing else than respect.

I have been buying macs since 1986. This is the first time I am disappointed, I am experiencing the same problems described in all these messages, I called apple and talked to a tech, we tried the control DPR or whatever it did nothing to resolve the problem and he was telling me to take it to be fixed, Why should I take a brand new computer to be fixed, I want a new one. The tech didn't tell me about the 14 day policy, that was a week ago. I am blind and I told the guy that, I can't drive anywhere. I also asked him why I should be having problems with a NEW COMPUTER that cost me over $1600 not be working PERFECTLY? I guess I'm just screwed.

"So according to this senior tech, the issue lies in overheating GPU chips."

I think that this tech knows nothing. Most of the affected units exhibit the flickering immediately after long sleep (when the unit is still cold) and no after heavy graphics usage. Also, temperatures 150-175 degrees F are totally normal for a GPU. You should see and feel how hot gets my macbook pro late 2008 when I use the nvidia 9600 instead of the 9400M doing heavy rendering.

Maude32252 wrote:
I have been buying macs since 1986. This is the first time I am disappointed, I am experiencing the same problems described in all these messages, I called apple and talked to a tech, we tried the control DPR or whatever it did nothing to resolve the problem and he was telling me to take it to be fixed, Why should I take a brand new computer to be fixed, I want a new one. The tech didn't tell me about the 14 day policy, that was a week ago. I am blind and I told the guy that, I can't drive anywhere. I also asked him why I should be having problems with a NEW COMPUTER that cost me over $1600 not be working PERFECTLY? I guess I'm just screwed.

Apple Support told me the same thing - "take it into the Apple Store to get it repaired." When I brought it to the Apple Store however, they decided to replace it. I've been told different things from each person at Apple that I've spoken to, so there does not appear to be much consistency or common understanding of this problem.

As for the thread usefulness, I think it is helpful to hear the experiences everyone else is having. Not just with flickering but the whole process of repairing or exchanging it. That way we all have a broader understanding of how Apple is handling the issue, as well as whether or not the repairs or replacement units are solving the problem.

-citrus101
Perhaps you are right. BUT it would be good to have something posted that is organized to minimize all the extraneous questions, that's all I meant. It could save a lot of reading time, and quite possibly increase the validity to Apple, but what do I know. And I did say "ALL" but useless.

I was actually thinking of creating an email with all the web and forum links concerning this issue to Apple. Keep in mind I have had all but no problems (very slight flicker first few days), my iMac is well over a month old now. This is my first Mac and I hope to see this issue resolved, I am sympathetic to those having any problems.

Hi edenorchestra,

you're right when you say, we have to contact Apple. I don't have an iMac 27, but I was one second away to order one. It was this thread stopping me. I mean 2000 Euro is so much money for me and I worked hard to have this money for such a fantastic machine. The reason why I'm in this thread is my anger against this silence: HALLLLLLOOOOOO APPLE!!!!!!!! Ciao edenorchestra, let's hope we're not talking to walls.

After writing this I decided to talk to Apple again, this time they were very nice...maybe it depends on who you talk to but the people I spoke with were not only very kind but expedited the process so I could return my iMac and get a replacement via Fed Ex so I didn't have to find a way to a store. I was premature in my judgement I'm afraid and I am happy to say they are trying to help me with every kindness. I'll let ya know how it goes when I get my new one, I love the iMac so much for a blind person like me with limited vision it keeps me in the human race. Thank you Apple for restoring my faith in mankind.

Maude:

Call Apple customer service. Tell other end about situation and your personal situation and tell him want to return computer immediately and I suggest get your money back till this is resolved. Most likely, he will ask you to take it to a store and you ask for your money back. You'll be shafted only if you let them but I don't think Apple works that way.