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

[Thomas Holm]

I'd just like to point out that the iMac and MacBookPro(late 2006) weird pattern display issue, which seems related to certain ATI graphics cards, is not the same as the display freeze issue, which seems related to later Nvidia graphics.

The ATI issue makes your display unusable because you can't see your work, but it doesn't freeze the machine or the display - I'd rather call it hotten than freeze 😉 . It seems to be triggered by heavy OpenGL use, like using Archicad 12 and iTunes in Cover Flow mode simultaneously. I've for example had it triggered by using Archicad's "crawling ants" fat marquee for too long. It's not GS's fault. It requires a restart, and perhaps a cool down, to get out of it.

While the issues are different, I'm still hoping for 10.5.5 to fix it.

[David Collins]

Just reporting in with the same shattered display problem on a PC, so the Mac people may be consoled.

ArchiCAD 12 with an ATI Radeon HD 3850 graphic card.

Symptoms are a "shattered" view only in 3d OpenGl. The model will pull itself together while being manipulated in Orbit mode, but explodes into a buzillion fragments when left alone. In 2d, the nodes of selected elements become huge green neon squares. A reboot fixes it until the next time. No idea what sets it off.

I'll try disabling hardware acceleration, as Gergley Kmethy suggested, and report back.

Edit: Just checked: hardware acceleration was already disabled on the files that presented this problem.

Edit No 2: This is coming from my unfortunate habit of listening to BBC 2 radio station via their "iPlayer Radio Console." Not iTunes, but close enough, apparently. Shutting down the BBC fixes OpenGL.

[Erika Epstein]

David wrote:

Edit No 2: This is coming from my unfortunate habit of listening to BBC 2 radio station via their "iPlayer Radio Console." Not iTunes, but close enough, apparently. Shutting down the BBC fixes OpenGL.

I often listen to BBC stations while working. I have used Real Player for it without a problem.

[Eduardo Rolon]

Confirmation?

apple_says_some_macbook_pros_affected_by_faulty_nvidia_chips.html

[Thomas Holm]

it confirms the Nvidia issues, but alas, not the ATI issues on iMacs and MacBookPros of 2006 and 2007. I've still got this disease.

[Anonymous]

I am experiencing this graphics problem on an 8 core Mac Pro w/ ATI Card and several iMacs with ATI HD2600 cards. All machines running ArchiCAD 12 (build 2325) & OS10.5.5.

Any developments or ideas on how to avoid the flickering triangles of despair?

[Karl Ottenstein]

Daniel,

I forgot to mention in the message that got you into this thread that Apple actually had two downloads last spring for the ATI card in my MacPro - one was a software Graphics Update, and the other was a firmware update, which required special steps to install (not the usual 'install' click). Do you know if you have both installed?

This topic has gotten so quiet, that I did not realize that people were still suffering from it! 😞

Sorry,
Karl

[Anonymous]

I guess we have to wait for Apple only to pay some attention and not focus too hard on GS side.

Yesterday morning, no ArchiCAD(s) running, just browsing some online video tutorials for Artlantis Studio and yes, again, the same 'Broken Glass' issue...

[Anonymous]

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?

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I read on Apple forums that people were having problems unrelated to ArchiCAD. Some suggestions hinted that it might be somehow related to playing back music. Who knows. Let's hope Snow Leopard fixes it.