10.10.3 on Mac Mini Late-2012 graphic issues

i have found turning transparency off in accesibilty in system preferences definetly helps a lot. I've had transparency switched on again the past week since upgrading to 10.10.4 hoping the problem would of been resolved but i must say i had forgot how frequently i was getting these graphical artefacts as they have been happening frequently every day since i have switched this setting back on. I have now switched transparency off again the past day and the graphical artefacts are practically non existent. Suggests to me a software issue but I'm no expert. Anyways give it a try

Update to my video glitching problem:

I installed Macs Fan Control since I thought the problem might be caused by overheating. This actually helped somewhat. I didn't get residual artifacts on the desktop after watching on-line videos, but sometimes I would get some flashing artifacts outside of the active window. I had been experiencing the problem while using Firefox and Reeder, so I checked to see if it would happen with Safari. Surprised to see that the problem did not occur with Safari or Quicktime Player! Unfortunately, I prefer Firefox to Safari. Will have to test with other apps.

Hi all!!!

I've just downloaded the "Apple Service Diagnostics v.3S151" (for Mac Mini Late 2012 and other Mac machines) and I've created a bootable USB Pendrive.

I run all the tests both if EFI and OS mode and all test have passed, so it's another confermation: my Mac Mini Late 2012 (and all your Mac machines having Intel HD Graphics 4000 as GPU) hasn't any hardware issues, but the problem is in the software!!!

i installed yesterday the mac mini 2012 new firmware update 1.8 which was released a couple of days ago which was supposedly released to fix a usb keyboard and sleep issue but as of the past day I've had no more graphical artefacts and thats with reduce transparency switched off. fingers crossed....

If you have suitable externally enclosed hard drive or SSD that can run the

computer (via Thunderbolt or USB3.0) with enclosure data speed also fast,

you could see if running an older OS X version is still possible. Sometimes

after a firmware update, a computer may balk at running an earlier OS X.

Other times, a system may prefers to be running from internal drive location.

You could test to see if the graphic issue changes to a more acceptable

former quality, or if this new change after software system Upgrade, may

have otherwise affected the graphic processing unit. These share RAM

with the main installed system, so there may also be a related problem if

the quality of that RAM upgrade may be suspect. Even a few sticks of a

good brand may go bad. However the OS X Upgrade and a firmware up-

grade may have been enough to push this graphic issue into a unique need

for another firmware update, if someone can determine that is necessary.

A download of original system from App Store, may be worth the trouble.

If the problem developed after fairly recent 10.10.x upgrade (+ firmware)

and the firmware may also be a large player in this guessing game.

Have you written to Apple Feedback to suggest there is a problem in this?

Given there are a few different sections where this feedback may not apply.

Hopefully there will be good news on that front... 😐

Yup..on all 6 of my offices Late 2012 Mini's w/16gb memory (1gb Intel 4000 Video) we're getting the exact same graphic glitches. Has nothing to do with heat. There are a couple other threads out there with similar issues btw.

It's annoying for sure but we probably won't see a fix until the next point update.

If it gets too annoying I've thought about pulling out the last good working Intel4000 kext from one of our pre-upgrade time machine backups.

It seems that many users have the same issue, in every Mac computer having the Intel Graphics HD 4000 as GPU.

I've a Mac Mini Late 2012, dual disk (SSD Crucial MX200 250 GB and WD 500 GB 7200 rpm) and 16 GB of RAM (Crucial 2x8 GB 1600 MHz) and I've the same problem!!!

I went to Genius Bar and an Apple genius checked the hardware and confirmed that my Mac Mini hasn't any hardware problems, so it's obviously a software issue, perhaps a graphic driver problem, introduced with Yosemite 10.10.3.

Apple has to fix it because there are thousand of Mac having this issue!!!

Please, open a ticket to Apple, explaining the problem, here:

https://bugreport.apple.com/

I didn't speak about "Apple Hardware Test", but "Apple Service Diagnostics v.3S151", which is a test lasting for several hours (2 hours and half in my case)!

This is a grab of "Apple Hardware Test":

And this is a grab of "Apple Service Diagnostics v.3S151":

As you can see, they're very very different!!!

Anyway, some days ago I went to an Apple Store, and at Genius Bar they tested my Mac Mini: after one day I came back and they said me that my Mac hadn't any issues, it was perfect!

Furthermore, if it could be an hardware issue, it means that ALL Mac machines having Intel HD Graphics 4000 as GPU (here the list: About integrated video on Intel-based Macs - Apple Support ) have to be replaced by Apple!!!

If you press cmd alt and eject all at once, it will switch the display off, then wait a few seconds and then press any key when the screen wakes put in your login password. Hopefully the glitches will be gone. Repeat as necessary sometimes it doesn't do it first time.

This method seems to reset the graphics card, Its not a full fix as it will happen again, but it saves you restarting.

yeah I've been having this issue a few months now on a late 2012 mac mini 2.3 i7, 16gb of RAM with the 4000 graphics chip. Also had a few random shutdown/restarts as well over the past few months.I reduced transparency and it made a bit of difference, certainly better than before. Was worried it was a hardware issue as my applecare runs out in january 2016 but judging by this thread and a few others it seems it maybe more a software issue. Updated to 10.10.4 and put transparency back on now so will see if the issue is still there. Will keep you posted

Is there a way you could revert to an older OS X version, such as the one the unit shipped with

(and may still be available for download from the App Store, as a result) by using a new install

of that in a partition or perhaps on external drive that could use the Thunderbolt port with an

enclosure that could support faster data speeds than USB3.0; maybe with 7200-RPM HDD or

an SSD? -- I ask this, because my Late 2012 Mac Mini is equipped with a second internal HDD

however both stock with 5400-RPM rotational drives, but this gives me upgrade opportunity to

put a later OS X on the second identical 1-TB internal hard disk drive, and not disturb 10.9.5.

Part of the reason I bought the server model i7 2.3GHz quad core was the second internal HDD

and the ability to upgrade RAM to 16GB; and that it did not ship with Yosemite. Apple was unable

to tell me which OS X was actually installed in the clearance-section new-old-stock Mini, and so

I almost did not open the box. I did search online via serial number lookup and that told me the

unit I bought direct from Apple contained Mavericks 10.9.0; I'd hoped for Mountain Lion 10.8.0

because the base RAM included was only 4GB & older OS X run OK with less initial memory...

So since I have this unit, I am slowly using it instead of the much older Macs with older OS X that

I have; but still use Leopard 10.5.8 in both Intel & PPC Macs. And older 10.4.11 clones for some.

To have a retro installation of the older as-shipped OS X version may be helpful to use the Mini

you have, if you have supported hardware to practically make use of a second system; with either

another internal hard drive or an external set-up that won't bottleneck useful data transfer speed.

In any event, I feel your pain. Sometimes hardware configurations can exhibit odd issues when

using different makers installed parts; and the graphics is supported by a percentage of the main

RAM. Not sure if weak memory chips could affect graphic performance in this kind of situation

where system RAM is shared by GPU. Under a load, strange things have been known to happen.

And some upgrade paths may or may not affect the situation; a fully upgraded Mini should never

have the issue where basic graphic visuals appear incorrectly as evidenced by some users; nor

should the original configuration (if reverted to older OSX) make a difference, without a load.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

just wondering if anyones still got this problem with El capitan 10.11? i upgraded to this a few days ago and have not had any more graphical artefacts as of yet. How is it for everyone else?

Nope' I have not seen that with 10.10.3 on my 2012 i5 Mini with 10GB of RAM and dual 21.5" Samsung monitors.

1. You have quite a few folders and other stuff on your desktop.

(it shouldn't matter, but I move those folders and other stuff to Finder and keep my desktop clean)

2.. Are you a gamer or heavy graphic's user?

(I see a folder for Minecraft on your desktop)

I'm not a heavy gamer, but I do see the temperature of my "Intel HD Graphic's 4000" go way up when I run light games, video's and do video editing. To keep the my graphic's and cpu heat in check, I use a fan control diddy called Mac Fan Control.

check out > http://www.crystalidea.com/macs-fan-control

I'm on 10.10.4 with my Intel 4000 Late 2012 MacMini and have just installed the latest EFI Update... had no graphics glitches until now...

but... now I have the same flickering as all of you describe :-(

So it seems the problem still exists.