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Mid 2011 iMac Graphics Problems with Yosemite

I have a 21.5-inch, Mid 2011 iMac with an AMD Radeon HD 6770M 512 MB that is locking up on me constantly since installing Yosemite. Every time I reboot (which I have to do by pressing the power button on the back) it says that it has detected a graphics problem and do I want to report it. I have done that multiple times, but want to find out if anyone else here is having a similar problem. What appears on the screen are pixelated blocks in random areas and often the machine will work for maybe three or four minutes and then just lock up completely. It worked like a champ with 10.9.5 and previous, but 10.10 is wreaking havoc on my computer.


I have seen discussion threads about 27-inch iMacs that were recalled due to an AMD graphics chip problem, but haven't seen anything about the 21.5-inch machines. At the time, this was the highest-end card I could get in the 21.5-inch display.


The machine has 8GB of 1333 MHz DDR3 RAM.

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10)

Posted on Oct 21, 2014 5:58 AM

Reply
229 replies

Dec 26, 2014 1:26 PM in response to deltone

I have a mid 2010 iMac 27 ..


2.8 GHz Intel Core i5

4 GB 1333 MHz DDR3

1TB

ATI Radeon HD 5750 1024 MB

YOSEMITE 10.10.1 (14B25)


. For about a year i have had this problem of blinking green and purple squares all over the screen. Sometimes a stain next to the cursor, and sometimes a crash. I have had 3 crashes in the last month and this issue is much worse with the Yosemite, but it has been present since Mavericks


. What i can say about MY experience, is that this issue only happens when the iMac is cold, yes as crazy as this sounds, once the iMac's temperature rises, the issue stops. And i can use it as always.

Thats why i came to the conclusion it cannot be software related. It has to be hardware. Yes transparency disabling may help, but thats just a temporary solution, and btw, you are suposed to be able to use and experience this features.


Then why is it worse with YOSEMITE?? well, Yosemite simply squeezes the Video card power even further, and of course, as it is damaged, it can't handle it.


I thinks the only solution, REAL SOLUTION, will be changing the Video card.


Sory for my English =S

Jan 8, 2015 12:25 PM in response to K_Rek

Just started following this


I have a mid or early 2011 21.5" imac, upgraded to yosemite a couple weeks ago


I have the same problems that appear prevalent on these posts. Could not run hardware test, kept restarting holding down D, nothing. Used recovery, just erased the disk and reloaded lion, now nothing


just a solid light gray screen


utterly lost

Jan 8, 2015 1:14 PM in response to downwindnc

I have at least 2 kernel panics a week, and other issues sometimes error other day that involve rebooting the computer.


The latest thing--


I cannot access websites other than Google or Facebook (maybe others) until after I reboot the computer. I have top of the line virus protection with real-time protection enabled so it can't be that. It isn't limited to browsers it is literally at the network level. pings fail.


I am just really fed up with the issues. So many issues with iOS 8 as well that make the iPhone almost unusable, and this is the 6 Plus.

Jan 8, 2015 1:26 PM in response to hillie

first shut off your anti virus they cause more trouble and issues then they are worth. if you are running a program like mac cleaner get rid of it as that program is maleware very bad for your computer. It appears i find a pattern here no one shuts there computer off. I have no issues same computer but mine is from Dec 2011 no issues at all with 10.10 but i do not run any of the junk adware like mac cleaner or any anti virus programs last anti virus program i ran it trashed my macbook pro to the point i had to do a clean install. I shut my mac down every night and rarely leave it on more then 24 hours unless i am doing a video project. Issue is the iMac is getting to hot and is not let time to cool down when not in use causing the graphics card to over heat then fail. From what i gather apple is away of the issue and there will be a graphics card update in the next OS update to fix some of the issue. There might even be a firmware update to fix this as well. Only issue with viruses i am aware is male and add ware that is user installed.

Jan 8, 2015 1:28 PM in response to hillie

"I have top of the line virus protection with real-time protection enabled so it can't be that. It isn't limited to browsers it is literally at the network level. pings fail." uninstall the anti virus program most of your problem with kernel panics will go away anti virus software are sales gimmick utterly useless for macs.

Jan 23, 2015 1:29 PM in response to K_Rek

For those of you with 27" 2011-2012 iMacs with AMD Radeon HD 6970M video cards that are having trouble, here's some good news for you


There's a major problem with them so Apple will replace it for FREE. Even better, I spoke to an Apple tech who said they probably that model isn't being manufactured any more so you'll more than likely get a free upgrade to a more advanced, modern video card with more memory.


You have 4 years from the first retail sale date of your iMac. (I have until next year.)


Here's the official link:


iMac (27-inch): AMD Radeon 6970M Video Card Replacement Program - Apple Support

Mid 2011 iMac Graphics Problems with Yosemite

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