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flashing pink and blue squares on display

I have an Apple Cinema Display 30" DVI (2560 x 1600) with a stock ATI Radeon HD 5870 1024 MB graphics card that I am using with my Mac Pro (Mid 2010) that has 2 x 2.93 GHz 6-Core Intel Xeon Processor & 32 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 ECC RAM. I am running OS X 10.8.5 (12F45). A couple of weeks ago it started flashing pink and blue squares on the display. It keeps getting worse, although I am still able to use it. Restarting does nothing to help. Is this display ready to fail?

Mac Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5), 32 GB RAM, 5.23 TB HD

Posted on Oct 16, 2013 10:30 PM

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6 replies

Feb 3, 2014 3:38 PM in response to basemansix8

Hello Basemansix8,


Sadly/happily I went with the only solution that made sense to me. I was able to document the issue through video and images. Problem still occurred for me after having the store test my iMac . The problem was not noted by them but since I was able to show documentation that the problem started before the end of coverage I was in luck (somewhat).


I was offered a discount of $600 on any new iMac and got to keep my old one. I have not yet had time to open the new box yet but will be able to use the other machine as a second monitor (many have suggested the squares do not show up in display mode). I think it will probably be overkill and if it is I will be selling the 2010 machine online. Even with the issue it is possible to get hundreds out of it w/o paying shipping. If I do sell it I will have paid ~40% of the price for a new one. I am forking out more money but it's a significantly better machine and covered for another 3 years. Seems like a win for everyone but not without time spent troubleshooting.


I would recommend that you take it in especially if your coverage is about up. Just show that the problem keeps coming back and tell them that they need to cover you somehow because it does not operate as expected. If your coverage is up then I would recommend either waiting it out to see if Apple does a recall on the machines or selling to go with something else (or newer).


So far I have seen a lot of people document temporary fixes by replacing the harddrive, graphics card, gpu, ram and cleaning dust inside. Seems like the only thing that might have helped is replacing the gpu/logic board. Problem is very difficult to pinpoint and I am not convinced that anyone knows how to fix this yet.

Jul 7, 2014 7:21 PM in response to yosappy

We wanna a recall!!!

Some time ago, they call recall for the i7 models from 2011, mine is a i5 from mid 2011.

After 3 years of normal use, My machine start to get worst every day. But isn't only the squares pipocating on screen, it lock and freezes, and the only way to use again, is with physical restart.

I call for phone support on Brasil, and the operator checked my serial and told me that mine isn't on recall.

Sad, because this is a malfunction, and need to be replaced.

Apple before Steve jobs, was more serious then now.

I wanna my money back. Or a new machine without bug.

3 years is a young machine. In the past, mac works for life. I see a lot of power pc still on function.

This is not a user caused problem. A lot of people complain about the same defect.

This is not a cheap machine!

We need to be heard! Where is that Apple from Steve?

Where is my recall, APPLE????

Shame on you!

Jul 23, 2014 9:10 PM in response to yosappy

I was fighting with my iMac until last week, when the only thing i could try was installing Yosemite Developer update (now on number 4)

The Yosemite could manage better the machine, but the squares and locks on machine wouldn't stop, but minimize.

Observing the machine, i could see that it freeze more when cool then when in heavy use. Everyday i start to use it, it lock some times, even moving a window on screen, then, after some warm up, it turn into usable.


So, today i try something different and unusual.

I put a mp4 video (720p one, with around 150mb) into loop playback. so, the GPU never goes unused 100%. (never could down enough)

And it works. No more square dots, no more lock on, until now.


The thing i think is the problem, is a bad manufacture and a soldering problem, so, when it is cold, the parts retracts and this soldering get with contacts problem. But when it is hot, the things expand because, and then this bad soldering keep connected.


Until i have a new machine, and then i can put this one to recall/change to another new video board, this will solve my problem.

I hope that could help you all.


Cheers

flashing pink and blue squares on display

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