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Burn in on December 2012 iMac (27")

I have a December 2012 27" iMac with all of the upgrades to CPU and 3TB fusion drive. I swapped out the default 8GB ram with what was supposed to be compatible ram from Crucial. I am mentioning this in case it might make a difference in the problem below.


I have noticed a burn-in-like effect randomly on my screen. It seems to be most noticeable when I've been using the Mac for a little while, and I click the Applications folder in my dock, and the tile view appears with the dark grey background. On this background, when the problem is happening, you can see vertical stripes going across the grey area.


I haven't discovered the pattern of when it appears and goes away, but it seems like it appears after the computer is being used for a little while, and goes away if I stop using it for a while.


It doesn't behave like normal burn-in, so I'm thinking it could be: a software bug, or the video card, or the non-standard ram, or perhaps another issue related to the thin design? I can't tell if the striping is only happening in dark areas, or if it's just only visible in those areas, when it happens.


Anyone else seeing this?


I took a picture:


User uploaded file

Posted on Jan 10, 2013 11:05 AM

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Posted on Jan 10, 2013 12:05 PM

Contact Apple Service, iMac Service or Apple's Express Laneand let them sort it out for you. It's a new machine..

17 replies

Jan 10, 2013 1:49 PM in response to ThatsUnpossible

Do a search for MacBook Pro retina image retention on here. It is over 300 pages I think. If I were you, replace the unit or return it. If you read the threads on here about others, you will see apple is getting bad panels from Lg and that's who makes the iMac ones. It's seemingly heat related to some part, but apple is now calling that within spec. Sorry that's happening.

Jan 11, 2013 11:24 AM in response to ThatsUnpossible

I am completely convinced that ALL June-2012 (or newer) LG IPS LCD panels installed in Apple products will develop an image retention problem eventually. LG has produced a defective component and Apple is stuck with it because their only other reliable supplier is Samsung, and they're not getting along with eachother. It really is a disaster and the way Apple is treating it's customers (i.e. telling them it's normal for IPS displays to experience image retention) is absolutely shameful. I've been a loyal Apple customer up to this point, but that will likely change if they don't clean up their act soon.

Jan 11, 2013 11:38 AM in response to Canuck1970

Well, I'm not convinced because we have an identical iMac at work, and it doesn't exhibit the problem.


I would not cancel your order, and I don't regret buying it. The machine is otherwise awesome, and the problem is not that severe. I only notice it when I've got dark screens up, and then only when it's randomly doing it.


Presumably I will get it fixed or replaced for free by Apple, but I'm going to wait until Apple can keep up with the demand, so that I don't have to be without the computer for that long.

Jan 11, 2013 11:54 AM in response to ThatsUnpossible

Canuck1970 wrote:


"I am completely convinced that ALL June-2012 (or newer) LG IPS LCD panels installed in Apple products will develop an image retention problem eventually."


Some machines exhibit the image retention problem right out of the box, some take weeks, some take months. Eventually, all LG LCD panels will experience image retention and it will get progressively worse. I've experienced it myself and have read every one of the 424+ pages on the Retina Macbook Pro thread dedicated to this issue (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4034848?answerId=20878717022#20878717022&ac_cid=tw123456#20878717). I'm also a hardware engineer specializing in manufacturing engineering.


In any case, keep us posted on the severity of the issue on your iMac that is experiencing the problem and let us know when the problem starts on the other one. It's too bad that there doesn't seem to be a terminal command for the iMacs that can tell you definitively whether you have an LG display or not (there's no apparent way to do it on the 13-inch rMBPs either). I'm sure that the problem iMac has an LG display, but it's possible that your other machine might (although I really doubt it) have a Samsung LCD panel install in it.


Good luck and, again, please keep us posted.

Jan 11, 2013 12:17 PM in response to Canuck1970

Will do. I wasn't aware of the document here:


http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5455


At this point though it doesn't seem like the same thing as what you're talking about ("it" being the problem I am experiencing), because I am not aware of any static image on my screen that has these vertical stripes. So it doesn't make sense that there would be literal burn-in happening (or "retention").


I used the word "burn-in" because that is what it most closely resembles.

Feb 4, 2013 7:10 PM in response to baltwo

With all due respect to your contribution here.. the issue is far from moot. Just think about those of us who have photoshop up for hours, etc. Image Retention is not normal, and not acceptable and means you have a second rate or defective LCD. If your LCD has Image Retention, you need to contact Apple and have it replaced or repaired depending on when you bought your Mac. The late 2012 iMac uses the same LG LCD as the 2011, and Image Retention was not an issue. So the few who have it, will get service. My late 2012 iMac is only a few days old, and no Image Retenion under any circumstances. I will be watching it closely over the next month to see if it devlops. In the case of the MBP Retina, it's a wide spread issue with LG based models and they are getting repaired by Apple... interestingly enough, the repairs are getting Samsung LCDs that do not have the issue.

Mar 25, 2013 7:24 AM in response to ThatsUnpossible

Me too - exactly the same probelm!


I´ve had a discussion going with the store for 2 weeks now – they said it was "standart" - not the kind of standart-quality I know from mac!! They now admitting it as a problem and take it back.


The next problem is what now to buy???? I can only work on macs – så should I get a older iMac or ...


it's such a shame - otherwise it was really delicious😢

Burn in on December 2012 iMac (27")

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