You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Graphical issues with 2011 iMac and Lion

I have a 2011 27" iMac (core i7 and AMD Radeon HD 6970M 2GB) with 2 external displays, most of the graphical issues are present in the external displays but the menu bar, dock and volume popup all appeared distorted on the main display.

On the external display most apps look like this http://i.imgur.com/FQ0AJ.png

there are a few exceptions like steam, safari and itunes, these apps don't show any distortion apart from when being switched the the other displays though, almost all other apps apear disdorted (as shown in the image) on the external displays.

I never had these issues with Snow Leopard but as far as I can tell its some kind of graphics driver problem, don't know how this wasn't spotted in the beta..



More images:

http://imgur.com/bK3jBl&RSaix

http://imgur.com/bK3jB&RSaixl

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Jul 22, 2011 9:06 PM

Reply
194 replies

Sep 23, 2011 12:27 PM in response to JoshS182

Specs:


27-in, Mid 2011 iMac

Processor 3.4 GHz Intel Core i7

Memory 12 GB 1333 MHz DDR3

Graphics AMD Radeon HD 6970M 2048 MB

Software Mac OS X Lion 10.7.1 (11B26)

Flash: version 10.3.183.10 installed

Java: java version "1.6.0_26"

Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment

Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM



Main problems:


1. Hangs on grey screen on reboot for 30s-5m. (...with these specs it should be around 20 seconds?)

2. Graphics artifacting on the usually mentioned places

3. Vertical lines through the iMac screen. (not other monitors, disappear on reboot)

4. None of the mid 2011 iMac Firmware updates are for my machine? ....

5. Some of the pink and green youtube flickering previously described. (log out/in works!)

6. Thunderbolt monitors lose desktop picture. (resetting image and logging out/in don't work, must reboot)



Logging out and back in does not work for me.


Also, I have 2 monitors connected over thunderbolt. Occasionally the background images for the other monitors disappears, changing the image doesn't reset it.


Windows still look fine on the other monitors, just have to restart to fix the vertical lines, youtube flicker, artifacting, desktop pictures temporarily.


Note: "JUST HAVE TO REBOOT"

It takes 5 minutes for my computer to reboot sometimes, there is no "just reboot and it goes away"

Sep 23, 2011 9:16 PM in response to JoshS182

Iv got the same problem:


Specs:


27-in, Mid 2011 iMac

Processor 3.4 GHz Intel Core i7

Memory 16GB

Graphics AMD Radeon HD 6970M 2048 MB

Software Mac OS X Lion 10.7.1 (11B26)


Same as the guy above:


Main problems:


1. Hangs on grey screen on reboot for 30s-5m. (...with these specs it should be around 20 seconds?)

2. Graphics artifacting on the usually mentioned places

3. Vertical lines through the iMac screen. (not other monitors, disappear on reboot)

4. None of the mid 2011 iMac Firmware updates are for my machine? ....

5. Some of the pink and green youtube flickering previously described. (log out/in works!)

6. Thunderbolt monitors lose desktop picture. (resetting image and logging out/in don't work, must reboot)



Logging out and back in does not work for me.


Also, I have 2 monitors connected over thunderbolt. Occasionally the background images for the other monitors disappears, changing the image doesn't reset it.


Windows still look fine on the other monitors, just have to restart to fix the vertical lines, youtube flicker, artifacting, desktop pictures temporarily.


Note: "JUST HAVE TO REBOOT"

It takes 5 minutes for my computer to reboot sometimes, there is no "just reboot and it goes away"

Sep 25, 2011 12:44 PM in response to AndrewFromTRF

Identical problem here!


Two differences in my specs:

- Graphics AMD Radeon HD 6970M 1024 MB

- Use only iMac's display


Just to add one more problem (yes, I have the others below too): sometimes happen intense flicker in all display (not just window).


I suspect heat is cause of this annoying and worst if play game… If you use iStat Menus 3 can notice that. I hope a new driver fix it!


Sorry my grammar… English not is my natural language, but I'm sure you'll understand me. ;)


Thanks,


-


Specs:


27-in, Mid 2011 iMac

Processor 3.4 GHz Intel Core i7

Memory 12 GB 1333 MHz DDR3

Graphics AMD Radeon HD 6970M 2048 MB

Software Mac OS X Lion 10.7.1 (11B26)

Flash: version 10.3.183.10 installed

Java: java version "1.6.0_26"

Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment

Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM



Main problems:


1. Hangs on grey screen on reboot for 30s-5m. (...with these specs it should be around 20 seconds?)

2. Graphics artifacting on the usually mentioned places

3. Vertical lines through the iMac screen. (not other monitors, disappear on reboot)

4. None of the mid 2011 iMac Firmware updates are for my machine? ....

5. Some of the pink and green youtube flickering previously described. (log out/in works!)

6. Thunderbolt monitors lose desktop picture. (resetting image and logging out/in don't work, must reboot)



Logging out and back in does not work for me.


Also, I have 2 monitors connected over thunderbolt. Occasionally the background images for the other monitors disappears, changing the image doesn't reset it.


Windows still look fine on the other monitors, just have to restart to fix the vertical lines, youtube flicker, artifacting, desktop pictures temporarily.


Note: "JUST HAVE TO REBOOT"

It takes 5 minutes for my computer to reboot sometimes, there is no "just reboot and it goes away"

Sep 26, 2011 8:14 AM in response to JoshS182

Yeah, that would be an option, but I got my iMac with Lion preinstalled, and would need to purchase an install disk for SL. I've already spent 3k+ on this computer and I would just like it to work.


To the people who have already UPGRADED to the previous version of OSX, does your computer still hang on reboot at the grey screen for an extended period of time?

Graphical issues with 2011 iMac and Lion

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.