Mac Pro 12-core and Radeon 5870 - Display goes all static at random times

Steve,

I am a new Mac Pro 12-Core owner, and while I am enjoying my Mac I am experiencing an issue similar to yours.

Every know and then my computer screen will go into a jumbled mesh of random colors boxes, and shapes. Except unlike your need to restart the computer when the problem arrises, mine only lasts for a fraction of a second, and then returns to a normal.

The problem is however that these little screen flashes are becoming more prominent. Which gives me the feeling that our video cards might be in their graves soon. 😟

John

Whose 30"?

I had this issue with my 6core all within minutes of setting up.
I returned the entire machine.
That's just too major an issue for me to accept for a spanking new machine.

It too was the ATI 5870 and I can only hope that this is not some poor designed card and driver combo
that will plague our new MacPros.

Yes, but knowing what type of display inputs DOES matter and problems with Dell monitors started showing up in Early 2009 models.

Seems like getting some displays to work is also harder right now with ATI 5000s.

http://www.barefeats.com/wst10g4.html
http://macperformanceguide.com/blog/2010/20100909_MacProVideo--macpro.html

Hi,

same problem here with 5770 and new Mac Pro. After one week and at power on this strange TV noise. Restart and everything ok. I hope this is a driver/firmware issue.

Barefeats Quick Take
http://www.barefeats.com/quick.html

September 8th, 2010 (Updated) -- The Radeon 5770 and 5870 support three displays on all models of Mac Pro from 2006-2010. Through experimentation and advice from "Pegasusrjf," I got three displays to work simultaneously with this setup:

1. 23" Cinema or 30" Cinema on the DVI port
2. 23" Cinema with MDP to dual-link DVI adapter* to first MDP port
3. 24" LED Cinema with direct MDP connection to second MDP port

On some occasions after powering up, only one display would light up. But when I would pull out one of the Mini DisplayPort cables, then two would light up. Plug it back in and now three were lit. So there is still some "ooga booga" with multi-display support.

(* The "plain" DVI to MDP adapter is adequate if only two displays are connected. For more on this issue, see Apple Tech Note HT4279.)

Support Display Configurations +(Updated Sept 7th)+:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4279

New facts about this problem.
This mornig is the second time I have got the video card corruption issue. Here is a video I took:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIo8IK1VRro

The monitor was plugged to the DVI port. I unplugged it and plug again to the Miniport and magically the image turned ok.

I'll go on with the research.

Experienced the exact same thing!!

to be honost i really didn't think much of it, just turning the monitor off and back on again took care of the problem, now you guys got me worried!!!

Seems as if these new mac pro's are extremely poorly build!!!

not only did i get nothing but static snow on my first MP, after getting it replaced with another one because of loud cracks and pops through the speakers, installed the new replacement computer and after 10 min. exact same thing with the screen...nothing but static, turned the monitor off, back on and again this took care of the problem...and oh yeah the replacement computer made the same loud pops and cracks as the first one.

Now i don't only have to worry about the cracks and pops but also about the video card, what a mistake it was getting a mac pro!!! I'm a first time mac user and "never" had these kind of trouble and issues with a PC, no mater what everybody might think about pc's!!

calling Apple "again" tomorrow

Hi Mikey,

I'm almost sure this is a driver issue and Apple, as usual, is going to fix it in an os or firmware update. Every new computer they launch comes with such things. I remember for example last year the yellow screens on iMacs, again a video card driver problem solved one month later.

Yep. Probably drivers. Win 7 does not exhibit this on same HW. I too have the snow every so often. Power up and down the display and it works again. Wait for 10.6.5. The first patch with the new models in the wild.

For a computer costing 1000's of pounds or dollars this is a complete joke. What is even more disturbing is that certain posters post ridiculous comments that it happens when Apple release a new computer. Im sorry but Apple should be releasing hardware that is in perfect full working order when out of the box, Most companies have an R&D dept. What with the iPhone4 debacle and now this Im beginning to wonder is they actually employ anybody in this dept or QC.

Its been noted that over the past few years Apples QC is pretty bad. Someones getting a bit big for their boots blinded by billions of dollars in sales, eh Steve?

LOL, I think you're asking the wrong person. Asking Steve is like asking the puppet what the puppet master is doing.