27-Inch iMac Firmware Updates Address High Processor Usage, Display Backlight, and Target Display Mode Issues

[Darkroom]

Somewhere along the line, people have lost perspective. A tiny percentage of iMacs suffered from display issues, it was not a generic, nor a common problem. I don't know a single real world user who experienced any issues, and I know a LOT of people with a LOT of 27" iMacs - not one of the nine in the studio, delivered on release date have experienced a single issue.

thru apple care, i'm in the process of exchanging my 2008 24" iMac for a current 27" iMac as 3 screen replacements (that's 4 screens) unsuccessfully solved the problems. while color casts were present on all those screens, they and other mura effects are often considered within specification and not enough to warrant a screen replacement. the problems i've experiences were much more obvious. i'm hoping my days of screen issues are behind me.

 

[troop231]

Can anyone claim yet who have installed this update if it has resolved your screen problems?

 

[willmtaylor]

Driver Rollback for banding issue

Which one, the headphone or banding? I've looked extensively on the net for fixes for both with no luck. Do you have a link?

I have read that you can go to an older ATI driver to get rid of the banding but it introduces a host of other problems like tearing. ATI removed one bug (tearing) and replaced it with another (banding). I'd rather live with banding then tearing. I'm not in Windows all that often anyways.

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2332383&tstart=60

cheers,
wmt

 

[ImpostorOak]

This totally fixed my Windows problems. The only reason I installed Windows was to play games and I couldn't do that with an entire core being taken up constantly.

I had no idea it had anything to do with the audio, though. I always use external speakers (because the ones in the iMac really suck), so I constantly have something plugged into the audio jack. I wish I had known before now that all I had to do was unplug the stupid speakers. I'd be a lot farther in Mass Effect

 

[kiljoy616]

Ask ATI about that one

I use ATI card they have no problems at all, interesting that its on Windows 7 but on the Mac side. Is the issue only on Windows side and does this actually happen if your not running Windows at all?

Very strange, wonder who really is a fault.

 

[kiljoy616]

This totally fixed my Windows problems. The only reason I installed Windows was to play games and I couldn't do that with an entire core being taken up constantly.

I had no idea it had anything to do with the audio, though. I always use external speakers (because the ones in the iMac really suck), so I constantly have something plugged into the audio jack. I wish I had known before now that all I had to do was unplug the stupid speakers. I'd be a lot farther in Mass Effect

This is nothing new, on Intel Motherboard the front mike connection causes problems and the only way to stop it is not to plug it in. The built in rear one has no problems though I should say Windows 7 does not pick it up, you still have to get a driver for the intel motherboard. Seems that there is more to Mic issues than just Apple, who makes the motherboard for the products, is it Intel?

 

[rasjunk]

-

 

[justinfreid]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7D11 Safari/528.16)

I have a request for the editors at MacRumors: can you simply write "is" instead of "weighs in at" when referring to file size?
Thanks.

 

[Zortrium]

MY YELLOW SCREEN IS FIXED!

.

No, not really. Haven't noticed anything different.

 

[slapppy]

Late MBP Blinking Screen Problem

Awesome, nice of Apple to care about these newer Macs. No wonder Apple has done zero, nada, zilch on fixing the screen blinking issue on late 08 and 09 when using better battery performance mode.

 

[MythicFrost]

I wonder if this firmware update lets you input 1080p video into the iMac.

We are currently limited to 720p because 2560x1440 is exactly a double image of 1280x720....

What do you mean input 1080p video (record with iSight?)? I hope you don't mean it can't watch 1080p? I'm sure it can.

 

[endi78]

Interesting, that the update requires 10.6.3. What happens when people have to reinstall their OS, they obviously shipped with 10.6.1 or 10.6.2

I know I have issues with an old G5 at work, that I have to reinstall the original GeForce FX 5200 when I want to installa fresh copy of Leopard, otherwise the installer doesn't even boot with the Radeon 9600 Mac Edition.

10.6.3 it's just an update for every machine with 10.6.x
no need to reinstall anything

 

[boz0]

What do you mean input 1080p video (record with iSight?)? I hope you don't mean it can't watch 1080p? I'm sure it can.

When using an external display source on the DisplayPort input (eg, an HDMI source that went through a converter), the iMac is currently limited to 720p. In other words, if you send in a 1080p or 1080i signal, the iMac won't display anything.

It is generally assumed that this was a design decision to simplify the upscaling process, since the iMac's native resolution is just twice that of 720p.

 

[boz0]

Which one, the headphone or banding? I've looked extensively on the net for fixes for both with no luck. Do you have a link?

You can fix the headphones problem by easing back the jack a tiny bit - but obviously, not enough to remove contact altogether. I know this may sound weird, but it did the trick for many people (the solution was posted somewhere on these forums, then republished on the Apple support forums).

One easy way to achieve this is to wrap a small bit of cloth around the base of your jack before inserting it, which will prevent it from going all the way in.

Of course, if today's update fixes that even when running Windows (as I believe someone confirmed in this very thread), there's no more need for that!

 

[Winni]

I just installed this firmware update and had some interesting things happen. Just before the iMac shutdown there was this loud tone that came out of the speakers for a few seconds. Then it rebooted to the usual gray firmware update screen/status bar. Restarted and checked Software Update. The firmware update was still listed. So I reinstalled and my fans kicked into overdrive for about 15 seconds, blowing dust everywhere. I thought I stayed on top of the dust but I guess there is only so much you can do when it gets sucked inside. Ten seconds of turbo-fan and it was as if my iMac sneezed it all out.

There were two firmware updates last night, not just one. So the firmware update was not -still- listed, the -second- one was listed. Other than that, your update behaved exactly as Apple documented it, except for the dust part.

Can anyone claim yet who have installed this update if it has resolved your screen problems?

I never had a screen problem in the first place - no yellow stint, perfect display.

The only thing that I would like to hear is if this update makes the target display mode compatible with the Xbox 360 -without- having to buy an expensive third party adapter. I have a HDMI to DVI cable and a mini display port to DVI adapter - it did not work with the Xbox, but I can use my 24" HP monitor as a secondary display with it.

What do you mean input 1080p video (record with iSight?)? I hope you don't mean it can't watch 1080p? I'm sure it can.

What he means is connecting a BluRay player, PS3 or Xbox 360 or any other playback device to the 27" iMac's mini display port. That only works in 720p mode and only with special third party connector cables.

It has nothing to do with the iSight or playing back 1080p videos in general.

 

[willbaker]

hdmi to mini display port

Do you believe the next iMac refresh will allow for input of hdmi devices to the iMac, either directly or via an adapter at full HD quality? For the unitiated why is this not possible? I have been following these forums closely for clues as to the direction the next refresh will take, any opinions?

 

[ValSalva]

MY YELLOW SCREEN IS FIXED!

.

No, not really. Haven't noticed anything different.

I'd be very surprised if any firmware update is capable of fixing the yellow screen debacle.

I hope by the time Apple releases the rumored 27" LED display they've either changed suppliers or figured out what's really wrong.

Apple has a real lemon on their hands with this yellow tinted display.

 

[klopgeest]

Background imac

Hi guys,

Can anyone tell me where i can get or download the background image on the imac that is displayed on the picture on top of this item. (Star Trek)

Thanks in advance,

 

[0111587]

Software update - problem.

Hi guys, this is my first post here

I have a problem with this update, when I select "Install 1 item" I get prompted to restart.
When the iMac restarts and I go again to "Software update..." the EFI Firmware is still there. I have tried this five times an no luck. It will not install.
4 weeks ago I got new LCD panel on this iMac, the other LCD had 7 dead pixels and yellow bottom.
Can anyone help me?
Thanks.

 

[Kehaan]

HOLLY MOTHER OF GOD!!!!!!!

This update scared the hell out of me!!

When rebooting after the update it made the BIP sound (i suppose like everyone else) and the only experience i had with this kind of sound was in a iMac G3 when installing incompatible memory. Jeeeezzzzz.

BTW, is it me or the monitor looks a little bit more bright / better looking / uniform white???

Hello.

WOW! Yes... I was sitting at the iMac and the first thing i did when the BEEP sound was there, i went on the internet... Thought something was messed up...

The update with the screen (extern screen) made the fans in the machine go on FULL speed. I have never thought the iMac could noise that much, hehe.

I cant see any difference on the screen.


From Kehaan.

Hello.

Does the update with the external screen thingie means i can use my PS3 on the imac with a normal hdmi to minidisplayport, without the need of DoctorBot?

Thanks.

From Kehaan

 

[guzhogi]

Hi guys, this is my first post here

I have a problem with this update, when I select "Install 1 item" I get prompted to restart.
When the iMac restarts and I go again to "Software update..." the EFI Firmware is still there. I have tried this five times an no luck. It will not install.
4 weeks ago I got new LCD panel on this iMac, the other LCD had 7 dead pixels and yellow bottom.
Can anyone help me?
Thanks.

First, welcome to MacRumors.

To answer your question, Software Update actually installs a program into /Applications/Utilities called something along the lines of "iMac EFI Updater." Something like that. Double click it and it'll tell you how to install the updated firmware. Software Update does NOT upgrade the firmware itself. I know it's confusing, but what can you do?

There were two firmware updates last night, not just one. So the firmware update was not -still- listed, the -second- one was listed. Other than that, your update behaved exactly as Apple documented it, except for the dust part.

Yup. The first one (the one with the long tone) updates the firmware. It pretty much always makes the loud tone. The second time, with the fans, was the SMC update. The fans always run full blast for a few seconds with SMC updates. SMC usually deals with power management while EFI does a bunch of stuff like the boot up process, among other things.

 

[mitch969]

Fans running at maximum speed

Hello.

WOW! Yes... I was sitting at the iMac and the first thing i did when the BEEP sound was there, i went on the internet... Thought something was messed up...

The update with the screen (extern screen) made the fans in the machine go on FULL speed. I have never thought the iMac could noise that much, hehe.

I cant see any difference on the screen.


From Kehaan.

Hi,

After the SMC update, my fans are running at maximum speed from startup to shutdown. I tried to restart the SMC but without success.

How have you solve the issue ?

Thank you for your help.

Mitch

 

[splatt]

Now if they could just stop my mouse pointer from skipping randomly around the screen I'd be happy.

 

[NATO]

I'm not quite sure, do the drivers for Apple products on windows have ATi Catalyst and ATi Overdrive? (Overdrive is inside catalyst)

Just PM me tho.

Accidental Post

 

[matej555]

Hi,

After the SMC update, my fans are running at maximum speed from startup to shutdown. I tried to restart the SMC but without success.

How have you solve the issue ?

Thank you for your help.

Mitch

Hello.

I have the same problem.
After the SMC update, my fans are at maximum speed and my SMC version says 0.000
Take a look at yours, please.

Any ideas how to solve this. SMC or PRAM reset does not solve the issue.

Thanks.
m.