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]

Hi Peter,

That's great that you got the exchange/upgrade. Please post after getting your new iMac if it is free of display problems.

Cheers,
Karl

[drh64]

Peter,
I should have had your wife negotiate with Apple for me! I tried several times to get a replacement Imac 24 with the new NVIDIA card while offering to pay the difference.
I was not successful at convincing them.
Dan

[matjashka]

Gentlemen, (and Ladies, oops)

with two Alu iMacs 24" in our office, the fastest solution (takes about 15-30 seconds) to Zaha's Broken Glass (ZHB) that *always* works for us is:

1) locate the power button on the back of your computer using your left hand index finger (any finger will do)
2) press once, don't hold
3) iMac goes to sleep (screen goes black)
4) press it again (same finger involved)
5) iMac wakes from sleep without ZHB effect.

last tested: today morning video iChat session with my boss

I used to think I need to restart the machine every time, but this is definitely something along the lines of AC OpenGL + Apple graphic engine + video card. An explosive mix on an iMac. The only thing the card needs is to be powered down (?) for a few seconds. Apparently.

HTH

[Anonymous]

et al,
I could not have accomplished this without the 1 year of this documented forum! Thank you Daniel for starting the conversation, and you Karl, for keeping it balanced while I, for one, rant on and on.

When ArchiCAD Sean, ArchiCAD Technical, sent me the report on his testing, I printed it out and kept it on top of my growing stack. I also copied and pasted it into the Apple Crash Report. I had the facts, but this incredible community of you folks became the voice. While I did my part, I feel this single forum made the difference.

If I am the first to break thru, great, but actually as a group, we may be able to humble the giant so the upgrade is free to another iMAC, or fully credited toward any MAC! We did not get paid for the time we spent researching, restarting, discussing, and how many MACs in use by ArchiCAD users? In essence we are a large Corporation of users. I guess I am not a pacifist after all!

More after I have results.
Today is football.
I want to see the 3D TV! I got my glasses!

[Anonymous]

Et al,
My new still looking aluminum frame iMAC seems to have the hiccups! Or is it blinking at me?

Gone is the annoying screen fracturing, but arriving is even a better problem: the bigger the problem, the better the solution? When I am rendering my infamous nursery, the one causing the problems, this new iMAC just makes it disappear! Three times now ArchiCAD vanishes from the screen! Gone! No trace! Evaporated! No crash, no report, no question!

I called the client to tell him I would have to hand draw, and he said, "Oh, we have put that project on hold." Fate stepped in! I want to solve a new problem and I have to do it on my own time!

This has not happened with my smaller projects, but I know it's looming there just waiting to snatch away my latest nursery updates! I have learned to SAVE BEFORE RENDERING, or even printing.

I any case, I am looking to save the iMAC for presentations, photoshop and now I can play music!

If you want to upgrade like I did, you'll need about $380US and Apple might throw in a gift certificate for another $100 off a $300 purchase. I took it knowing I never seem to get out of the place without dropping $200 on something. However, the solution is still in question. Obviously the iMAC is not MAC enough for ArchiCAD!

Thanks for all the input and suggestions. The Mac Pro is $5000 to start, and unfortunately all the hardware I have already, is useless. In this economy, my dreams are still floating around. Onward to trying to figure out how to save files for the engineer who uses Rivet, which is another forum!

AGAIN, thank you!

[Thomas Holm]

Peter wrote:
I called the client to tell him I would have to hand draw, and he said, "Oh, we have put that project on hold."

Lucky you! (Your avatar says it all)

Anyway, I feel reassured because your engineer is using real hardware

[Anonymous]

Oooooh,
Thanks Thomas. That's one of those innocent oversights which brings big nations to their knees, or lower! Just two little vowels in the wrong place! Look out! The whole structure warps.

Actually, Rivet seems a better term. I like the part of the headless end being beaten down, like I feel sometimes when the computer is running out of control thru my office, and not me!

I sneak into the coat closet (another relic). From the very top shelf, behind the collection of obsolete music CDs, I take down my mechanical pencils. I clear off a small space next to the unused fax, and swirl them around in the pointer just the hear that soft sound and smell that fresh lead. My sanding board is still alive, but in my art box instead of my tool kit. I imagine the computer cringing with fear.

On the evening news, FOX, across the bottom of the screen, "ARCHITECTURAL FIRM MAKES GIANT COST SAVINGS STEP"
The story spills like crude from Alaska:
"Local firm issues paper and pencils instead of laptops and work stations, and cuts cost by 999%! This sparks a resurgence in DRAFTING SCHOOLS fighting for funding, taking a bite out of the tennis budgets and causing tremors to run thru the web of electronic trade schools. DeVry is planning a new wing dedicated to . . . . "
Al Collins rolls over in his grave while FLW finally smiles.

I am going to bring my pencils out into the open and celebrate! Today I have nothing to do except DRAFT! YES! TODAY IS A GREAT DAY!

[Thomas Holm]

Peter wrote:
... I like the part of the headless end being beaten down...

Thanks to you, Peter, I got my low spirits (from this morning's meeting with the local planning office) turned up again.

I find you've named your firm adequately. Thanks again!

soar |sôr|
verb [ intrans. ]
• fly or rise high in the air : the bird spread its wings and soared into the air | figurative when she heard his voice, her spirits soared.

[Stephen Dolbee]

I noticed the newest imac gives buyers the choice of nvidia geforce gt130 or for $50 dollars more, the faster ati radeon hd 4850. Is it still wise to stay away from ati at this point?

[Anonymous]

MacBook Pro : recently I've had a replacement logic board, new memory modules, a new hard disk and a complete (?) check up of my system by Apple. After a short testing period the graphic glitches continue! Apple insisted this display issue is not their problem > no upgrade with NVidea graphics card / you should contact GS.....
Seems we have to stick with the X1600 card...

So I did : fresh installation of OS 10.4 : no more issues to report...