Grainy Display on New iMac 20" and 17" Intel Core Duo's

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119 points

Grainy Display on New iMac 20" and 17" Intel Core Duo's

I own a two-year old iMac 20" G4 which has a gorgeous screen (I understand it was made with the same screen technology as the then 20" Apple Cinema display with "SWOP" technology).

Today, I received a new iMac 20" Intel Core Duo and noticed right away at startup a graininess in the display, not produced by the hardware graphics, but rather a prismatic distortion (similar to what you see when your TV screen is on and becomes wet, or like your cell phone screen from facial oil, etc.) created by the plastic screen cover. I have deduced this by opening a window with a white background, then slowly moving the window about to realize that the grains do not move with the window.

Turning the system off shows the screen cover to be pristine with no greasy film, marks, etc.

UPS delivered the computer via truck about 3 hrs. ago, and it is cold out today, but I would think after this time, all is warmed up.

Has Apple changed the screen cover technology, or something else about this screen vs. the older iMac G4?
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Just added...I went to the Apple Store tonight to compare what I see here on my machine with the MacIntel iMacs there...All had the same graniness! Plus, the G5 iMacs which are still in use at the checkout are also grainy in appearance. The clerks agreed with me, and so did the Genius. Looks like this newer screen cover has been out for a while. Side by side my old G4 iMac 20" has a much sharper screen, but the new MacIntel iMac has a brighter screen. I am bummed out about this grainy look. What happened to screen quality, Apple?

STEVE

iMac 20" Intel Core Duo Mac OS X (10.4.4) iMac 20" Intel Core Duo

Posted on Feb 2, 2006 9:41 PM

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Answer 1

Feb 2, 2006 9:47 PM in response to Steve Addy

Steve: Not sure on the display change, make sure your comparing the same source material. Also I would let the iMac warm up at room temp. before you power it on and then make the comparisons. To my understanding the new ATI boards are supposed to be even better than the last iMac G4s, I have one and just sold it to my sister and I am debating on what model to buy. Did you get the unit with the 256meg upgrade? First I heard of this issue, I guess it does't matter what model I buy now if they are both doing it.

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Answer 2

Steve Addy Author

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119 points

Feb 2, 2006 9:53 PM in response to Gandalf The Grey

Please understand, as verified tonight by two Apple Geniuses, this is not a hardware issue, but rather a result of the physical refraction of light through the actual screen cover (soft, spongy screen cover which you should never push on, right?). To prove it to your self, open on a new iMac Intel machine a Finder window with a lot of white space within it. Now move it slowly in a small circle and notice the pink-ish, gray-ish "distortion" or "noise" does not move with the window. The only logical deduction can be that the screen cover is different that the older G4's. Get a new one side by side with a G4 and you will see it right away...See my same post in the iMac Display main post section...a few have written back to say they see "Exactly" the same.

Thanks,

STEVE

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Answer 3

Steve Addy Author

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119 points

Feb 3, 2006 7:34 AM in response to Steve Addy

Bummer!

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Answer 4

Steve Addy Author

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119 points

Feb 3, 2006 7:37 AM in response to Steve Addy

From another user in the iMAC Display Thread:

Went to power-up my Intel Core Duo iMac 17" and the absolute first thing I noticed was this 'graininess' look, EXACTLY as you (Steve) described. It looks like a change in parts that amount to lessor quality overall. The screen will litterally give you a headache after using for over an hour (not the case with my previous G5 iMac model).

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Answer 5

Feb 3, 2006 5:23 PM in response to Steve Addy

I dont agree - First thing I thought when I switched mine on was that the screen was superior to my G5 iMac. Certainly the range of viewing angle is better and there is more contrast. I haven't noticed any graininess.

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Answer 6

Feb 3, 2006 6:01 PM in response to Steve Addy

I see it but do think of it as a huge problem.
The iMac screen is definately the clearest monitor I have ever worked with and i am happy with it but you are right the monitor does have a pinkish greyish tone that does not move as you move a white window around.

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Answer 7

kyrules

Level 1

10 points

Feb 3, 2006 6:25 PM in response to Carl Chamberlain

My 20" Intel Core Duo iMac also has the grainy display.
My 20" iMac G5 w/ iSight, which I returned to get the new iMac, definitely did not have the graininess. When I first powered up the new iMac, it was very clear that the displays on the new and G5 iMac were different.

My new iMac has 2GB of RAM, and 128MB of VRAM.

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Answer 8

Steve Addy Author

Level 1

119 points

Feb 3, 2006 7:03 PM in response to Carl Chamberlain

If you had a G4 iMac you would see the difference. G5 and Intel iMacs have the same screen covers, thus no change. This graininess on both was verified at the Apple Store by the Genius.

Please do not misunderstand...This is a great looking screen as long as you do not have experience with the ultra-sharp clarity of the G4 iMac 20". This new screen is noticeably brighter than my G4 iMac 20", but all who have seen the two side by side here on my desk, agree-- the new Mac looks fuzzier and its whites look grayer than the old one.

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Answer 9

Steve Addy Author

Level 1

119 points

Feb 5, 2006 11:11 PM in response to Steve Addy

The link below has reports dating back to 2004 of 20" iMac G5's appearing grainy as compared to the ultra sharp 20" iMac G4's...Scroll through to see several who had 20" G4 iMacs using the word "grainy" when describing appearance.

http://www.macintouch.com/imacg5part04.html

STEVE

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Answer 10

Tony Raza

Level 3

500 points

Feb 6, 2006 12:37 AM in response to Steve Addy

I just upgraded from the 17"FP G4 iMac, to the 20" CD iMac. It could be my eyes are not sharp enough to pick up the difference, but I just don't see it.

Maybe teh 17" G4 was not as good as the 20" G4? - or is this a problem with only some 20" CD iMacs?

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Answer 11

Steve Addy Author

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119 points

Feb 6, 2006 9:37 PM in response to Tony Raza

Correct. The G4 17" did not have as good a screen as the 20" G4. The 20" was a true Cinema Display with "SWOP" technology. My mother has a 17" G4 which is not as sharp as my 20" G4, nor does it have a good a vertical veiwing angle (color washes out to whitish when you tilt the screen too much top to bottom).

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Answer 12

Steve Addy Author

Level 1

119 points

Feb 6, 2006 9:43 PM in response to Carl Chamberlain

Carl:

I agree with your comments on range and brightness. Today's new MacIntel 20" screen has more of both as compared to the G4 20"...But look at what we are discussing here-- the distortion created by the screen cover itself. Move a white window around and you'll pick up the static grains of pink / gray. The G4 20" was crystal clear.

It looks like the administrator of this discussion thread zapped several comments left by former G4 20" users who agreed. I don't understand why he/she did that.

STEVE

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