It takes a few restarts to get my display to work properly with my G5..why?

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It takes a few restarts to get my display to work properly with my G5..why?

Sometimes when I start my G5 the cinema display doesn't start up with it (the picture that is, you can hear the display working but no picture!) and I have to keep restarting the G5 until it does! It usually always does start up after 2 or 3 restarts (sometimes even more) but I was wondering if anyone has some advice as to why this is? Is it likely to be a fault with the G5 or my cinema display? I don't understand why it always works eventually. Can anyone explain what is going on? It is starting to get really ridiculous having to keep on restarting!

Thanks, Adam

G5 1.6 GHz (PowerPC), Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Jan 19, 2011 5:19 AM

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Answer 1

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BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Jan 23, 2011 7:09 AM in response to Adam Simpson5

It's winter now. Is the room where the G5 sits cold, like much below normal room temperature? The start up problem could be related to the season.

... can hear the display working...

Your display makes noise? It's not supposed to. That could be another clue. What's it sound like?

Also, those time when the screen doesn't come on, try shining a bright light directly into the screen and see if you can faintly make out that there is an image on the screen. That will inform whether it is the backlight not coming on or the whole monitor not coming on.

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Answer 2

Jan 28, 2011 10:26 AM in response to BSteely

Hello and thanks for your reply. Sorry I have left it so long before returning.

Errmm, my room can get cold with the radiator off but I wouldn't call it freezing as there is usually something on in the rest of the house. What evidence is there that temperature would affect the start up of the display? Just wondering that's all.

Regarding the sound of the display. I'll have to restart it again and have a good listen. Maybe it is the actual G5 I am hearing and it is somehow sounding odd when the display doesn't come on. The times when the display comes on normally, everything seems to sound right if you know what I mean. Maybe I can record this on my camera or something and post that for you to watch (don't know if you can upload things to a post).

Regarding the torch or bright light into the screen. I'll give that a go and post back.

Thanks for your help

Adam

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Answer 3

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Jan 29, 2011 5:51 AM in response to Adam Simpson5

Many power supplies have a surge suppression device called an MOV. An MOV should be designed to work at low temperature, but if they get cold enough they can prevent the power supply from turning on because they present too much resistance to the incoming voltage.

The flourescent lamps in the backlight can also be affected by being too cold. If they don't light during the brief period that a strike voltage is applied, they will remain off.

I don't know that the issue is related to cold. It's just something to consider. You can see if keeping the room warmer has an effect.

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Answer 4

Jan 30, 2011 7:00 AM in response to BSteely

Hello. Thanks for the info. Regarding the display making noise, you're right, it's the G5 (which I have placed right next to it) which is making all the noise at start up. The display is silent.

I suppose it could have something to do with the temperature. In your opinion do you think the fact that it always comes on eventually is an indication that the problem is not too serious? Have you heard of this happening to other G5 users?

I am awaiting someone to give me a torch to shine into the screen.

Thanks very much

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Answer 5

BSteely

Level 5

7,643 points

Jan 30, 2011 7:41 AM in response to Adam Simpson5

In your opinion do you think the fact that it always comes on eventually is an indication that the problem is not too serious?

I wouldn't necessarily draw that conclusion. If something was working correctly and over time has been drifting towards not working right, you might conclude it will continue to drift that way to the point of no return.

Let's hope not.

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Answer 6

Feb 1, 2011 8:16 AM in response to BSteely

Thanks. I tried shining a torch into the screen at start up. I saw no faint images so it would seem that the whole display is not turning on rather than it being a backlight issue.

I wonder if it is something to do with it being a more modern display being used on an old G5? My G5 is a 1.6 GHz (one of the early models). Perhaps if I was running a more recent G5 model the display wouldn't play up? Anyway, who knows? Thanks for your advice.

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Answer 7

Aug 25, 2012 2:21 AM in response to Adam Simpson5

This summer there has been a few hot days and I noticed that the display always came on at first power up. So I do think this issue has something to do with the temperature.

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