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hldan · May 31, 2005, 09:41 PM

I just bought my 2.3Ghz PowerMac and the 30" ACD. I get these shimmering pixels on the screen. It's a lot of them. I took back the screen to the Apple retail store and they exchanged it but the new one gets the same effect. I called Applecare this morning and after much troubleshooting they concluded that the graphics card is bad and are sending me a replacement. I have the ATI Radeon 9650/256.
Anyone else experiencing this?

Link · May 31, 2005, 09:43 PM

Yes, that is definitely the result of a bad graphics card.. I had that exact problem with my 22"ers for a while, ironically the video card was picky -- it ONLY happened at 1600x1024 on DVI's output, otherwise it would be perfectly fine.

Nevertheless, I'm running with a 9600XT now

No probs here, hope the new 9650 does you well

hldan · May 31, 2005, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by Link

Yes, that is definitely the result of a bad graphics card.. I had that exact problem with my 22"ers for a while, ironically the video card was picky -- it ONLY happened at 1600x1024 on DVI's output, otherwise it would be perfectly fine.

Nevertheless, I'm running with a 9600XT now

No probs here, hope the new 9650 does you well

Cool, thanks for the quick reply. It's frickin scary after buying a $3k screen and having exchanged it only to see the issues come up again. Yeah it doesn't seem like a faulty screen since the pixels are not actually stuck and they appear in different areas each time I put the computer to sleep and wake it back up.
I'll post back after installing my graphics card replacement with results. Hopefully you are correct. Sometimes Apple just doesn 't get it right no matter how much money you spend.

hldan · Jun 2, 2005, 02:59 AM

Well, I got to the bottom of the problem if anyone needs the info. Apple sent out a replacement for my ATI9650 graphics card. I installed it and all was fine for about 10 minutes and the shimmering pixels showed their face once again. I called Applecare but got frustrated with them since they wanted to go through several steps involving the engineering department so I decided to take the 30" screen back to the SF store where I bought it and they hooked it up to their demo 2.7Ghz with Nvidia 6800 Ultra card and the shimmering pixels showed up within minutes.

They exchanged the screen and hooked it up to test it and this one had shimmering pixels so they opened one more and this one (being the fouth one) had the same pixel issue.
Store also disovered their demo 30" had the dancing pixel problem. They concluded that there's a wide spread problem with the 30"ACD's so I just returned mine and got a refund.

nycdunz · Jun 2, 2005, 03:45 AM

whats this shimmering pixel problem that you're talking about? I bought a 30" cinema a few weeks ago, and it seems fine... can you explain what it is? Sorry you're havin so many problems...

hldan · Jun 2, 2005, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by nycdunz

whats this shimmering pixel problem that you're talking about? I bought a 30" cinema a few weeks ago, and it seems fine... can you explain what it is? Sorry you're havin so many problems...

What happens is something that's totally different from a dead or stuck pixel. In this case the pixels look like the stars in the hemisphere. They flash on and off repetatively givng a dancing or shimmering effect. There can be several hundered of them at the same time.
They show up mostly after the screen has warmed up for about 30 minutes and if you are using the default blue screen Tiger wallpaper. Putting the computer to sleep and immediately waking it back up or turning the screen off and on results in the shimmering pixels.
I am so disappointed that I had to return my screen as I have no screen to use my new 2.3Ghz G5 with now. I am going to wait until WWDC and see if Apple introduces new displays.

Here's a link to the Apple discussions where there are several people with this same issue. Hopefully yours will never have this.
http://discussions.info.apple.com/we...E2.3@.68abc790

Irradiance · Jun 15, 2005, 02:05 AM

Argh! I have the shimmering pixels too! is there really nothing that can be done??

as2 · Jun 15, 2005, 11:32 AM

I've had shimmering pixels a few times on my iMac 20", mainly when using the DVD player, and when there are large areas of dark/lack on the screen.

It only happens now and then though.

lionsland · Aug 2, 2005, 06:27 PM

Even though Apple is receiving many complaints about “dancing pixels” on its 30-inch display, there is no evidence they are doing anything about it or even acknowledging the problem. (See their discussion group) In my case they did replace my logic board, one of the processors, my video card and even provided me a new display, all to no avail. I have a G5 PowerMac with dual 2.5 gig processors delivered to me last Feb. This doesn’t come cheap so expecting it to work properly doesn’t seem unreasonable..
My last contact with tech support recommended either I send my display to their facility in Kentucky where they will “study it” for some unknown period of time – the problem doesn’t occur everyday and they need to witness it – leaving me computer-less OR live with it OR take it up with Apple HQ. I elected the latter and am using a small claims court action to implement that election. Trial is scheduled for Sept.16.

Link · Aug 2, 2005, 06:31 PM

The "shimmering" pixels you guys describe are artifacts.. I had that exact problem on my 22"er for ages, and finally found out it was being caused by the video card. Sounds like a widespread issue with the 9650 to me..

Is there anyone NOT using it on a 9650 that can say it still happens?

Busemann · Aug 2, 2005, 07:54 PM

Originally Posted by Link

The "shimmering" pixels you guys describe are artifacts.. I had that exact problem on my 22"er for ages, and finally found out it was being caused by the video card. Sounds like a widespread issue with the 9650 to me..

Is there anyone NOT using it on a 9650 that can say it still happens?

Err..

I decided to take the 30" screen back to the SF store where I bought it and they hooked it up to their demo 2.7Ghz with Nvidia 6800 Ultra card and the shimmering pixels showed up within minutes.

yongfook · Aug 2, 2005, 10:38 PM

Originally Posted by as2

I've had shimmering pixels a few times on my iMac 20", mainly when using the DVD player, and when there are large areas of dark/lack on the screen.

It only happens now and then though.

oh my god, I thought it was my eyes!

I had the same problem with my 20" iMac (which is currently in repair for a completely DIFFERENT display-related problem).

My wallpaper is very dark and I could see tiny flashing, sparkling pixels on it from time to time. I honestly thought it was just my eyes as I tend to only use my iMac when I get home from work which is usually about midnight, thus I am usually tired.

*sigh*

Thank goodness my powerbook hasn't failed on me yet...*touch wood*...

KraziKid · Aug 3, 2005, 07:45 PM

Do these dancing pixels still affect the 30's? I don't want to get one to have dancing pixels stare me in the face.

AstraeaDesign · Aug 28, 2005, 09:24 PM

While I am not happy that anyone is having this "shimmering pixels" problem, I am glad that it's not just me. I have the nVidia 6800 DDL Ultra card and have the same issues many of you are experiencing. I returned the monitor to the King of Prussia Apple Store 3 times and thought my current 30" Cinema Display was without problems until they showed up again. I replaced the video card twice to no avail. Finally I read on another forum site that this is a thermal problem. I felt the top and back of my monitor and it was indeed very warm. This will sound crazy but I placed a small desktop fan behind the monitor on my desk and turned it on low so it was pushing air directly at the back of the monitor and I haven't seen a shimmering pixel since and the monitor case is very cool. Could be a fluke, but I thought I would post it anyway in case it helps some of you. Take care.

highrez@mac.com · Sep 12, 2005, 07:55 PM

I purchased a G5 and a 30" Cinema Display last week at the Apple Store in Roosevelt Field.

First of all, they sold me the wrong model Mac - it didn't have the correct video card to run that monitor. When I brought it back, they said I could buy the 2.7 model, or pay $500 instore for the upgrade. I replied that online it is a $50 option, and so I returned it and ordered a G5 online.

ANYHOW, when my machine arrived, I plugged it in and discovered the pixel problem.

Another trip to the Apple Store to swap out the monitor (that's three trips so far, and I live 20 miles away, which translates to about 45 minutes in Long Island traffic.)

I (foolishly) did not test the replacement in the store and when I got it home it showed the same symptoms.

This time I called Applecare. They said it sounded like the video card, and I should (duh) bring the G5 back to the store to have it replaced.

I went to the store (trip #4) only to be told there that it was a known problem with the DISPLAY, and that I needed to bring it back for another swap.

I immediately ran home and brought the monitor back (trip #5). This time I let the replacement run in the store for a siginificant amount of time, and it looked alright. I'm now using it at home and it stills seems ok.

FIVE trips to the store. THREE $3000 displays. If there's a silver lining in this, it is that the staff at the store was uniformly friendly, courteous and professional. I give them points for trying.

And this display is absolutely GORGEOUS when it's working properly!