Mid 2011 iMac Graphics Problems with Yosemite

This probably isn't going to be a popular post, but the only permanent solution is getting your failing graphics card replaced. It's not a software issue. While I sympathize with people that think it's going to be a free software fix, that simply isn't the case, as having my card replaced completely fixed all issues, without any software configuration changes.

I've had the green/purple flashing blocks issue twice now on my Mid-2011 27" iMac 2.7GHz, and the first time it failed (after about 2.5 years without issue) they replaced the graphics card (Radeon 6770M in my case) under AppleCare. The replacement worked perfectly for about 16 months, then the problem started re-occurring again. Had to pay around $200 for the replacement this time (out of AppleCare).

Annoying. I still love Apple products, but in this case, tend to blame ATI for making a graphics card that fails.

Considering if I should cut my losses and just sell the machine and upgrade to a new 5k iMac before it dies again, or risk another replacement down the road (if parts are even still available then).

This may have been answered previously but, with Apple acknowledging an issue with the 2011 Macbook which has the same video card and extending a replacement program, why is the 2011 iMac not included?

http://9to5mac.com/2015/02/19/macbook-pro-repair/

It's a similar issue, Apple did announce a recall for the iMac issue here:

http://9to5mac.com/2013/08/16/apple-opens-graphics-card-replacement-program-for- some-mid-2011-imacs/

However it's only within 3 years of the original purchase date. That's how my first failed card was replaced (though I was under AppleCare at the time as well). The annoying thing is that the replacement card failed exactly the same way 16 months later, and this time I had to pay for it...

I don't mind paying for a replacement, but certainly that replacement shouldn't have the same issue as the first faulty card...

That was for the 6970 card. The Macbook Pro and our iMacs have the 6770. Also, the Macbook service offered this:

"The program covers affected MacBook Pro models until February 27, 2016 or three years from its original date of sale, whichever provides longer coverage for you."

How is your iMac now? did the problem come back?

I followed your instructions last night, and so far the problem has not come back.... fingers crossed.

It has been 24 hours since I did the same as you; followed Apple's instructions - deleting the files.

I had little faith that deleting a few files would work, believing my issue to be a true graphics card fault, but I've not had a glimmer of anything going wrong graphic wise since the reboot. Normally it is constantly bad, with the very occasional break - say 5 to 10 mins.

If the problem re-appears then I will update the post.

Bad news... the problem has returned....

Just want to add that I just called Apple Care Support and don't want to repair my imac with a AMD 6770 512m even if the card is supposedly under 4 years warranty.

Me too ;-(

10.10.2 and with reduce transparency checked

The whole screen goes into this purple/green pattern for 1-2 seconds then returns. Quit all open programs and it kept doing it. Meanwhile my second monitor was unaffected...

Does that point to something other than the graphics card if the thunderbolt signal to the second monitor wasn't doing it?

Apple needs to do something to solve this. I'm already losing patience . My machine was too expensive for this problem to be solved taking so long .

Remembering there are two types of problem, a faulty graphics card and the other in the Yosemite lock , the screen is frozen and only the mouse cursor moves ( that's my problem) .

I've done everything that could be done , reinstalled the system from scratch , I've done everything you can imagine and no one solves my problem.

Apple , where you at, solve our problem.

Does anyone know how I can send an email to Tim Cook?

Apple does not publish email addresses. You can see the various options of contacting them by clicking on 'contact us' at the bottom of the page.

Have you tried to actually address your problem with Apple tech support and/or at the Genius Bar?

Yes.

I do not know what to do, my machine freezes 10 times a day. Here in Brazil nobody could help me, I have done hardware tests, as did a clean install of OS X and nothing worked. Here in Brazil the support did not solve my problem, all they tried to do was basic things I had tried.

Ahh, that makes things more difficult. I just checked for Apple stores in Brazil - have you tried contacting them or going to their Genius Bar?

Take with you pictures of screenshots of your screen when the machine malfunctions/freezes. Make a list of when exactly it happens and how often. If it does it, get a system diagnose report and keep a copy of it on your desktop to show it to them - here is how to do that:

While the problem occurs - or as quickly right after that - hold down these keys all at the same time until you see a window open up with a sysdiagnose file showing (that is the file you want to drag to your desktop to keep): Shift - Control - Command - Option - Period. This may take 2 - 3 minutes - do not stop until you see the file.

If you want to contact Apple via the online support process, you can start here - have the above ready so you can tell them that you have it and how would they like for you to send it to them.

http://www.apple.com/support/

The problem is that the machine does not come back , I have to restart . I already have the error log that gave in an earlier version of Yosemite, which is the same thing that happens : When I use Safari , when I'm on a website abusing pictures it crashes . I'm having to use Chrome , but even so, although less frequently , still gives the error. If I send you this log you can not help me?

I am very londe of Rio de Janeiro , it is impossible to go there to solve it.

No, sorry, I can't help you with that report - I just know how to create it for real Apple technicians to look at it. We are just other users here (volunteers). If you have a problem with Safari, just use another browse; I don't use Safari because I do not like it - I have used Firefox for quite a few years.