grey "fuzzy" screen on waking from sleep with Mac Pro 1.1 and HD 5770

I also have the exact same fuzzy issue. I am convinced it is a driver issue. I have experimented pretty extensively to try and solve the issue with hardware and software variations (I happen to have two fully loaded Mac Pros and multiple MDPs). I run three monitors on it - which is fabulous. I have spoken with Apple Tech Support online and also been to Mac Genius Bar(s) to work on it. Again, conclusion is a driver issue. Call Apple, bug them, otherwise they will not know...

I find the snowy fuzzy monitor effect occurs somewhat at random but appears related to mode or buffer switching. I also notice that when the screen is almost all black then one of my monitors which is on the Mini DisplayPort shows significant "sparkling".

To correct the problem, I unplug and replug one of the mini-dvis from the back of Mac Pro forcing a monitor reset. That corrects it 100% of the time. I was really frustrated and annoyed by this until I hit on that remedy. Now it is merely annoying. The reach down, unplug, replug reset takes about 3-5 seconds to do.

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: Mac Pro

Model Identifier: MacPro3,1

Processor Name: Quad-Core Intel Xeon

Processor Speed: 3.2 GHz

Number Of Processors: 2

Total Number Of Cores: 8

L2 Cache (per processor): 12 MB

Memory: 32 GB

Bus Speed: 1.6 GHz

Boot ROM Version: MP31.006C.B05

SMC Version (system): 1.25f4

ATI Radeon HD 5770:

Chipset Model: ATI Radeon HD 5770

Type: GPU

Bus: PCIe

Slot: Slot-1

PCIe Lane Width: x16

VRAM (Total): 1024 MB

Vendor: ATI (0x1002)

Device ID: 0x68b8

Revision ID: 0x0000

ROM Revision: 113-C0160C-155

EFI Driver Version: 01.00.436

Displays:

DELL3007WFPHC:

Resolution: 2560 x 1600

Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)

Main Display: Yes

Mirror: Off

Online: Yes

Rotation: Supported

Adapter Type: Mini DisplayPort To Dual-Link DVI Adapter

Adapter Firmware Version: 1.01

HP LP3065:

Resolution: 2560 x 1600

Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)

Mirror: Off

Online: Yes

Rotation: Supported

Adapter Type: Mini DisplayPort To Dual-Link DVI Adapter

Adapter Firmware Version: 1.03

DELL3007WFPHC:

Resolution: 2560 x 1600

Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)

Mirror: Off

Online: Yes

Rotation: Supported

I have this problem too!

Never used to occur on my old 2007 machine, but on my brand new 6-Core MacPro I get it every time I wake up from sleep or often after a cold boot.

I'm running a Samsung 305T 30" at 2560x1600 off of the DVI port, with a Gefen extender.

It usually goes away after I toggle the monitor on/off a few times. Or maybe that's just placebo and it goes away after some period of time anyway. Highly annoying.

Had the same problem with my mini. One of the software updates seems to have solved it. Moved the same monitors to my Pro and no issues with 10.6.7

Hi everybody,

same problem here, just replaced my Nvidia few months ago with an ATI Radeon HD 5770 and i'm getting this kind of TV static noise sometimes on boot. Most of the times its enough turning off and on again the monitor on wich is occurring, I've two samsung LCD and usually this happens on the primary one. My spec are:

Nome modello: Mac Pro - SnowLeopard 10.6.7

Identificatore modello: MacPro3,1

Nome processore: Quad-Core Intel Xeon

Velocità processore: 2,8 GHz

Numero di processori: 2

Numero totale di nuclei: 8

Cache L2 (per processore): 12 MB

Memoria: 12 GB

Velocità bus: 1,6 GHz

Versione Boot ROM: MP31.006C.B05

Version SMC (sistema): 1.25f4

Modello Chipset: ATI Radeon HD 5770

Tipo: GPU

Bus: PCIe

Slot: Slot-1

Larghezza Lane PCIe: x16

VRAM (totale): 1024 MB

Fornitore: ATI (0x1002)

ID dispositivo: 0x68b8

ID revisione: 0x0000

Revisione ROM: 113-C0160C-155

Versione driver EFI: 01.00.436

Monitor:

SyncMaster:

Risoluzione: 1440 x 900 @ 60 Hz

Profondità pixel: Colore 32 bit (ARGB8888)

Monitor principale: Sì

Mirror: Spento

Online: Sì

Rotazione: Supportata

SyncMaster:

Risoluzione: 1440 x 900 @ 60 Hz

Profondità pixel: Colore 32 bit (ARGB8888)

Mirror: Spento

Online: Sì

Rotazione: Supportata

Exteriorly its just a bit annoying but i wonder if it could be just a visible part of a bigger problem. I'm not really a gamer but I own a few, and many of them (the more demanding ones maybe) have stopped working since i switched to ATI.

Similar issues with new Mac Pro 1,1 ATI HD 5770 upgrade. Running two ViewSonic W2330 LCD (2006). Waking from sleep mode the monitor 1 has the crazy pixel dance in rainbow colors. I can resolve after changing display rez then back to 1680 x 1050. Love the GPU performance but concerned the card is bad or going bad. I see a few think its a driver issue, I hope thats all it is and Apple will have the fix in an update. I'm still using 10.6.8.

I just want to tell that I have a similar problem:

MacPro (Dual 4-Core Xeon, 2,8GHz), Lion 10.7.2, Radeon HD5770, Monitor Samsung SMS27A850

When I (or some software) changes the resolution I get a screenfull of noise. Switching off the monitor and switching it on again brings back the picture.

Happens also with Snow Leopard.

Doesn't happen with Windows XP on the same machine.

Martin

Same problem on my Mac Pro 3.1. Began as soon as I installed the Apple-branded 5770. Anyone find a solution? If not, what is the best way to "tweak" Apple in to fixing their driver? My Mac Pro is off AppleCare now, but my new 5770 is still under it's one year warranty.

Doesn't seem to be worth getting a new card under the warranty, if the problem is likely to be the driver.

Someone somewhere in a thread about 5770s and issues, one person went through a couple replacements and the newest revision chipset was fine.

As much as it is easy to fault drivers, and I don't know enough to say yea/nay, it is also true that a card design and chipset and even firmware doesn't stay locked and are changed.

Just never know when or what they are cooking.

Seeing the card is under its own warranty, stay with getting it the attention and "take it to the doctor for checkup."

For some of you, a possible fix might be found in the following Apple Technical Article which might entitle you to a free part exchange.

See article TS3232

Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter: About Firmware Version 1.03

Symptoms

Learn what to do if you encounter continuous flickering on your monitor or if you have issues when waking your Mac from sleep while using a Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter.

Well, I intend to follow the above advice and try to replace my 5770 before the 1 year warranty on the card runs out.

Here's a question:

I kept the original graphics card in my system, so I have two graphics cards - the 5770 and the 2600. I occasionally get the fuzzy screen, right after I wake the computer from sleep. I "fix" it by sleeping and reawakening the box.

Recently, I installed another expansion card, a Highpoint USB 3.0 card.

And the fuzzy screens seemed to occur more often, including times when I had not just woken the computer up from sleep. I removed the USB 3.0 card.

My question: the fuzzy screen, which is described under various threads multiple times on this forum, so it is a common problem, may be related to voltage fluctuations on the PCIe bus. Now, I remember reading a few years ago that some HDCP compliant graphics hardware had a "tilt" bit that was designed to detect the insertion of "rogue" hardware in a computer that might be used to pirate video signals. When such hardware was purportedly detected by the graphics card, it would either reset or cause the OS to reset the graphics system to prevent the "alleged" signal piracy. My question: does the Apple ATI 5770 card have such functionality - could the fuzzy screen be a manifestation of an antipiracy function gone awry? Sounds a bit paranoid, I know.

Note; this is not a graphics card issue, it's a cheap, non-compliant cable issue. I had the same problem for a couple months until I replaced some less expensive video cables with higher end cables. Problem hasn't occured in a year after upgrading cables.

In one case I had an Apple Dual Link DVI cable going bad, while not cheap, replacing that cable solved the problem. Apple REALLY needs to have more than a 90 warranty on $100 parts.