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

molinero....... could you please clarify something for us?

You refer to your HD as being manufactured by Nvidia.

Did you mean the graphics card? I was not aware that any Nvidia products were available in any of the 27" models.

So far, we have seen Western Digital, Seagate, and Hitachi Hard Drives in use.

The graphics card should be ATI.

Can you clarify this for us?

Thanks

{quote:title=Leisas4 wrote:}I just installed the update, as it was restarting I had 2 x blackscreens happen, which had not happen on this machine only the occasional flicker.
Not a good sign :({quote}

So the second, new firmware update does not fix the issue either? ****. Sitting here on this gift card waiting to get my replacement since November and still nothing!

Jeez Apple, I'm astounded that you haven't gotten this resolved and are still shipping machines with these defects 3 months later.

Perhaps some positive news. The Apple Store(US) has changed the "ship" time from three weeks to two weeks for the 27" iMacs.

Blackscreens during restart just after installing the update could be a normal part of the process.

My screen went black at least once during restart after update and all is OK for now.

Correction: the Serial-SATA is Nvidia, the HD is just listed as "Macintosh". I was looking at the Serial-Sata tree and saw Nvidia as the vendor and was puzzled as I had never heard of Nvidia making HD's. Here's the system info:

"NVidia MCP79 AHCI:

Vendor: NVidia
Product: MCP79 AHCI
Speed: 3 Gigabit
Description: AHCI Version 1.20 Supported

ST31000528ASQ:

Capacity: 1 TB (1,000,204,886,016 bytes)
Model: ST31000528ASQ
Revision: AP24
Serial Number: 6VP1XFQ5
Native Command Queuing: Yes
Queue Depth: 32
Removable Media: No
Detachable Drive: No
BSD Name: disk0
Rotational Rate: 7200
Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)
S.M.A.R.T. status: Verified
Volumes:
Macintosh HD:
Capacity: 999.86 GB (999,860,912,128 bytes)
Available: 937.86 GB (937,858,588,672 bytes)
Writable: Yes
File System: Journaled HFS+
BSD Name: disk0s2
Mount Point: /"

My 1st I7 week 50 had the screen tearing with fairly noticeable yellow on the right side of screen. Sent it back and just got my week 05 yesterday. The Seagate is virtually silent even in a very quiet room. No flickering. No yellow that I can see. After installing the firmware update the screen went black for about twenty seconds. I think this was anticipated by Apple.

My new I7 seems perfect. I do think Apple listens. While there will always be a few faulty ones getting through, I think Apple has demonstrated yet again why we have not lost faith. In the end it seems Apple has always come through. Maybe someday when Jobs is no longer there things may change somewhat, but lucky us who have seen Apple progress from the horse and buggy to the model T. Yes, the i7 is a model T compared to what will be available fifty years from now. This is our time on this planet. Our time with Apple. Enjoy your experience.

Here's the graphics card info:

"ATI Radeon HD 4850:

Chipset Model: ATI Radeon HD 4850
Type: GPU
Bus: PCIe
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 512 MB
Vendor: ATI (0x1002)
Device ID: 0x944a
Revision ID: 0x0000
ROM Revision: 113-B9110C-425
EFI Driver Version: 01.00.383
Displays:
iMac:
Resolution: 2560 x 1440
Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Built-In: Yes
Connection Type: DisplayPort
Display Connector:
Status: No Display Connected"

Hi,

I installed the 2nd firmware update this morning and so far no more flickering. I did lots of FinalCut video editing and had no problems all day. I always suspected Flash and QuickTime videos to trigger the problem but so far so good. I hope the problem is finally fixed because I love my iMac 27" i7.
Little yellowish tint in the lower half of the screen but I am not sure I want to exchange it since there are no dead pixels. Everything else is perfect, silent 2TB HD, fans and no other noise coming from my Mac. Bought my iMac in mid of December 09.

It's a Seagate Hard Drive. That's what my last one was.

I haven't posted in this thread since probably November sometime but have been fallowing it off and on since. I was one of the early adopters of the i5 and ended up returning 3 machines for various issues, flickering, dead pixels, screen anomalies etc... I have been holding my pennies waiting for a solution to purchase again. I understand many of you are still experiencing similar issues with newer production models and are probably just as frustrated as I was with this iMac. Since it seems many who are still having issues are owners of machines produced from the first production models to week 52 of '09.

What I would like to know is if these issues are affecting the newest production models weeks 01-04 and up? We all know there are issues with the original production models but does anyone actually know if the newest machines are bug free? This thread will keep going into eternity until it is proven that Apple has resolved all issues.

If you have experienced any of the issues you all should have all returned your machines for a refund or at least another unit, by holding onto your defective units or even settling for repairs you are letting Apple get away with a huge manufacturing blunder that should have been announced publicly. Anyone saying thing's like 'it's not too bad' or "I can live with it' should rethink that logic. If Apple can't figure out a fix why do we bother to list our own solutions, just return the machine. We are not getting paid by Apple to trouble shoot these issues. I know we all love Apple's products but for a $2000+ product this thing should be flawless. Wait for a fix and make Apple deal with it, buy a machine when they make it right. Just my opinion guys, thanks for listening. Any feedback on the new machines would be great thanks.

Yes, the flickering/flashing/blanking issue existED for my machine... it's a Week 03 machine.

The display firmware update completely fixed my problem... I've been beating the daylights out of my machine (X-Plane, Final Cut Pro, Aperture, QuickTime, etc.) and haven't had ONE flash since applying the update.

Thankfully, I don't suffer from the 'yellowing' issue, which we really need to treat as a completely separate problem.

I will let everyone know if the latest firmware update is successful on mine! I have yet to apply it...just found out about it now. The other thing is that my new iMac has arrived at the Apple store and I am to pick it up this weekend. I SO HOPE that it is going to be a good one. I will keep everyone posted on that too. I will actually be a little sad to part w my current mac as, other than the flickering - which has indeed been TERRIBLE at times and becoming more & more frequent - I have really loved this machine!

Keeping my fingers crossed for all of us!

The backlight is cut off twice at the restart after the update.
Nothing in common IMHO with the 'fickering-blackout' issue.
All is Ok up to now, for me too.

Yes, the flickering/flashing/blanking issue existED

I think, Apple finally found the fix. We should close this thread and transfer our discussions to the yellow tinge thread.

Dino, pazuita, Warren, sparkie from laaandaaan, Nexus600, Rick Lang, Brian_1338, skullcat, Jacques, tallturtle, p.hugo, Sierputowski, Christine, Dennis, Ettore, ... what are you thinking?

well i no longer have an imac to be fair so my point is no longer going to be particularly valid!

but i hope this works for you all.......... and enjoy your imacs guys