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

Quick Update:

I posted ago about problems with my 27'' i7 iMac. Last Monday, I brought it to Apple Store to be fixed. So, Apple Store called me on Saturday and said that they replaced the logic board and the video card, but it did not fix the issue (duh!), so now they are going to order and replace another part (he didn't say which part in his voicemail), and that it hopefully should be done by Tuesday.

I will keep you guys posted.

Has somebody seen refurbished i5 or i7 iMacs in the Apple Store? In Italy we had only refurbished Intel Core 2.

Maybe it's true ... we are only five cats here ... and nobody believes us, when we're saying, that it is not the Video Card.

I's a lot cheaper for them to replace the Video Card, so that's what they want to replace & hope you'll go away. It's going to cost them a lot of money to replace Screens. So their in denial. I am really surprised at Apple. You think their head Engineers have not figured out the fix yet. If 10 of us figured it out, why can't they? Admit, it! Apple You Bought Defective Screens!

Unfortunately citrus, that is what it has turned into.

More numbers.

Totals taken from ten pages, 199-208

150 total posts
43 total posters
19 one time posters (in those pages)
29 posted less than twice in those pages (that includes the 19 single posters)

Three posters accounted for more than 30% of all posts......

"Five Cats"....accounted for 50% of all posts in those pages.

Many, probably most who post here less than three or four times are not reading past posts, and are not aware of the cable/display fix.

We should repeat it often. The cable/display replacement has worked for all but two posters in this forum, and their replacements were done early in the process, and may have involved defective components in the replacement.

It does appear to be a cure, and any tech you speak to, or any rep that arranges repairs should have this pointed out to them.

I do not post a lot on this thread but I have been following and reading it since early December when I found out that my machine was flickering.

I think that many like me are just reading and waiting for a definitive fix to the problem.

I post only when I have a question or some info to pass along.
But it does not mean that I am not there.
So "five cats" posting but many more with the same problems hoping for a solution!

Agreed Nexus600,.. many peps here keeping track, other curious ( because they may or may not have the issue ) for thosw that do not ,..more power to you, for those that are struggling , I am sorry ,...

Looks like bad screens but who knows since they vary in batches, maybe its one or more particular assembler f'ing up ,.. does apple have records of who installed what ? Simple defending or Attacking Apple ( ) is really not the point of discussion but to inform of any progress besides it keep information flowing.

Message was edited by: ellsmako

I too have followed this post from the very beginning and find it very helpful and informative. I would encourage everyone not to get discouraged from a few bad apples. Like me, I'm sure there are many "silent" supporters.

If there were only a "couple" of us with problems then why when I took my imac in did the fella cut me short and say that he knows all about the problem? I hadn't called the store at all before that time! I didn't even get my imac from that particular store! Look, no one is bad mouthing the comp. It's a great machine. But it does certainly have an issue.

As far as any new people that stumble here - cranking the fans up all the way seems to help me. When I turn them down, my display gets screwy. It cannot be that heat related though as the temperature doesn't get that hot. Maybe it doesn't need to be that hot for it to tear and flicker?

And why does this forum have people "hanging out?" Simple! It's one of the few places that actually might have the fix or any new information available. Thank you and always remember, your sins are forgiven because Jesus died for the sin of the world!

Even if you don't continually post here (like me:-) , having a record of your Week Number iMac & Screen Flicker/Yellow Tinge is most helpful. We are happy to have people watching the post with some positive input instead of criticizing those of us who are consistently posting. If there was a lack of communication in this thread, we would not have found the solution. Now if only we can get this information to Apple when we call, that would be a plus. If enough of us speak up they will HAVE to listen. Thanks to you guys who are watching but just at least post your problem & Week Number. Btw, One of the 2 people that the screen replacement fix did not work for, installed the screen on his own. Not saying he did a bad job. Just there might be some specific method that Apple use, that he did not know about.

I've been lurking for awhile and reading daily to see what the latest is on this fiasco.

My computer is week 47. It was fine at first and I'm guessing about a week after enjoying it without any problems the screen started flickering and turning off for a second. I don't remember the exact date when it all started.

I called Apple and was run the process of resetting the SMC and unplugging it for a minute. It helped for a few days.

I live in Alaska and we don't have an Apple Store just a couple of local resellers and their customer service is suspect at best so I chose not to take the computer in and get frustrated with them. I just kept reading the discussion here and finally downloaded the fan control and bumped up the fan speed slightly. I honestly haven't had any trouble now for the past 6 days. Its used to be about every day to every other day. I have even left the computer on for several days and haven't had any problems since.

SO you got me as to what the problem is......

Your not the first to come on here & claim bumping up the fan speed helped the Flicker. Keep us posted on how that is working for you. I saw an unboxing Video on YouTube. And this kid had 2 Small Fans blowing behind his iMac & I kind of snickered when I saw it, thinking he may be just a bit paranoid. Truthfully though, if all I had to do was bump up the fans or place a fan directly behind my iMac, and that would completely stop the Flicker, I would definitely do it at this point in time.

pazuita wrote:
Unfortunately citrus, that is what it has turned into.

More numbers.

Totals taken from ten pages, 199-208

150 total posts
43 total posters
19 one time posters (in those pages)
29 posted less than twice in those pages (that includes the 19 single posters)

Three posters accounted for more than 30% of all posts......

"Five Cats"....accounted for 50% of all posts in those pages.

Many, probably most who post here less than three or four times are not reading past posts, and are not aware of the cable/display fix.

We should repeat it often. The cable/display replacement has worked for all but two posters in this forum, and their replacements were done early in the process, and may have involved defective components in the replacement.

It does appear to be a cure, and any tech you speak to, or any rep that arranges repairs should have this pointed out to them.

I think you should stop doing your numerical analysis just from the posts shown in this forum. You are wasting your time and getting nowhere closer to the reality. Unfortunately, the truth is there are many people behind the "five cats".

It's too bad that Apple still cannot find a sure fix after more than two months. By trying to change logic board, graphic card, display, cables, firmware..., they are telling us that they are as frustrated as us and really don't know where is the right place to begin with.

The numbers are reality.

A handful of posters have kept this thread alive, like it or not. That's reality.

The information you get from this thread, for better, or for worse, is because those "five cats" took the time to express an opinion rather than just lurking.

This forum is open to everyone. Apple provides the service, and seems to do so without restriction, or censor. It's ok to express opinion, but what most of us want to see is information, real information, not another opinion from another blog.

This issue only affects a very small percentage of the new models that Apple has produced and sold. By the end of this quarter, the number of those machines will be in the multiple millions, and just 1 or 2 percent of that will amount to 40,000 machines or more with these defects. Personally, I believe the percentages are much lower, some think higher. Currently, all of the numbers available indicate much smaller percentages, but that could change.

Even with those small percentages, there are a lot of people, with machine issues, and they deserve resolution, and support.

Everyone here is searching for answers, and resolutions which Apple has so far been unable to provide. If we can help them, we also help ourselves in the process.

I think the "Five Cats" know who they are, but just for you newbies.

Out of those 150 posts......

Dino of course leads the way with 24
Sparkie 16
Citrus 15
Pazuita 11
dxgriffiths 8

paul_31, & agent88 fell short of the top five with only 7 posts each in those pages.

Yes, I am one of the Five Cats.

BTW Dino.......I guess I missed this comment of yours earlier....

"Well I'm glad your a member of the Long Haired Rock & Roll Club, as well as being a Geek"

I have to confess to being a closet Geek, but that's not the worst of my problems. Take a look at the love of my life, you'll understand what I mean.

http://www.takamine.com/?fa=detail&mid=2052&sid=621