Problems with Video Display on a new Aluminum iMac

[drh64]

I have had this happen on two different IMacs and only when we run AC 11.

It seems to be triggered by Itunes running at the same time.

Has anyone else witnessed this before? Any suggestions?


http://www.connect-arch.com/graphics-problem/scatter.mov

[Karl Ottenstein]

Joeri wrote:

Karl wrote:
This topic has gotten so quiet, that I did not realize that people were still suffering from it

So Karl, you wouldn't mind me posting a daily update on the MacBookPro behaviour?

OK, I see it now, a post-a-day that says "Still happening..."

OK, how about if instead you or one of the suffering promises to post here if it is ever fixed?!

Thanks,
Karl

[Karl Ottenstein]

Really hard to believe that Apple has not made this graphics issue on iMacs and MacBook Pros a top priority... People should not have to wait for Snow Leopard, etc.

Anyway... for anyone on a MacPro...here's a screenshot of the System Profiler info on my ATI 2600 which has been working fine since the EFI update (and the software Graphics Update) in case anything about it looks different from anyone else's. The update is/was here:
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/firmware_hardware/atiradeonhd2600xtfirmwareupdate.html

Cheers,
Karl

[Anonymous]

While my iMac has the ATI Radeon HD2600 and the EFI Driver is only listed at version 01.00.219, none of the Apple Firmware updaters will run on my iMac. They all say "Your computer does not need this update" I tried to download the Firmware updater for iMac as well as the standalone ATI Firmware update.

[Greg Kmethy]

Apple has just released system update 10.5.6. The announcement states that it "Includes fixes for possible graphics distortion issues with certain ATI graphics cards"

I am sorry to say that this does not fix the color triangle problem, although our tests show that it is happening less frequently when this update is installed.

Anyone having similar experiences so far with 10.5.6?

[Karl Ottenstein]

gkmethy wrote:
Anyone having similar experiences so far with 10.5.6?

See Joeri's post here:
http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?p=136599

I was so hopeful...as I'm sure you were!

Regards,
Karl

[Anonymous]

Despite all growl, I appreciate GS to be on this topic closely!
If it's really an Apple issue only I'm sorry for GS because it will affect at the end.
Once I will have a stable computer configuration again, as others, I will decide to not upgrade any longer until I really need to.
Not the best way to go maybe, I agree, simply a manner to secure my work / time.

[Greg Kmethy]

I know this does not help at all, but here is some proof that it's not only ArchiCAD:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmZAi37RxSU

The guy is running iTunes, (with QuickTime, iPhoto, textEdit and something else in the back). He does not have ArchiCAD. Our suspicion is that the more applications / application windows you have that use OpenGL, the more likely the problem occurs. This is just a theory - the only feedback we get from Apple is that they passed this on to AMD.

[Anonymous]

gkmethy wrote:
Our suspicion is that the more applications / application windows you have that use OpenGL, the more likely the problem occurs. This is just a theory - the only feedback we get from Apple is that they passed this on to AMD.

The killer one is having your screensaver "ITunes Illustrations" on !!!

If not, just having ITunes in the background effects also.
I don't say the problem solves if both are inactive. I just add this information if you would like to search a way how to reproduce this bug. How about another Graphisoft T-shirt competition?

[Anonymous]

I'll add our experience: we get 3 Alu iMac's, 2 20" and a 24". So, two ATI Radeon 2400HD and one 2600HD. All present the issue, but after installed iMac fan control, and set fan to minimum 2000rpm, it happens really less times. Temperature showed never to high (nothing if I compare with my MacBook pro with 8600GT), but I guess that there are some components that are not monitored, that fail and make driver crazy.
And, obviously, we hoped too, that 10.5.6 patched the issue (now we are still with Tiger, but if Leopard patch the issue, we upgrade immediately)

[Brad Elliott]

I can get this to happen regularly by leaving iTunes open (it doesn't have to be actively doing anything) and then in the ArchiCAD 3D window clicking in the window with the mouse and either click dragging the view or using the scroll wheel. It usually doesn't happen the first time but will almost always happen by the third or fourth time.

I now quit iTunes immediately after updating my iPod and use the explore button exclusively in the 3D window. I can then go weeks without a problem.