Image Retention on 27" iMac 2013

[TripleMoxy]

I've been convinced by some of the arguments here, and I've organised for the collection of the the old machine and the delivery of a new one. The retention was dreadful this morning when I switched over to iPhoto's grey background.

Apple have also said that they'll check the new iMac post-production to confirm that it doesn't suffer from excessive yellow tint or retention, and they've refunded £80 to my card. Very good of them, I thought.

I'll update this thread when the new iMac arrives.

Let's see if it's a case of third time lucky.

 

[Lava Lamp Freak]

In all the time I have been around or using LCD screens, I have not once seen image retention. I'm not denying the issue exists, but in perspective the issue is rare.

And the posts you read on the various forums about it, represent a small percentage, and you don't hear about the majority of the people who buy iMac's or other devices with LCD screens that have no issues with image retention, as people only tend to post on forums when they have issues rather than when they don't have issues.

I have only twice seen image retention and these were on two different plasma tvs.

I guess it depends on how you define rare. Even a small percentage could mean tens or hundreds of thousands of iMacs with the problem. It's a common enough problem that Apple posts a notice on their website saying it is normal.

I had around 7 displays in a row with retention -- not just iMacs -- which was a very frustrating experience, and I saw retention on iMacs at two different Apple Stores, so I balk when someone says it's rare. There were also others on this forum who went through multiple iMacs in a row that all had retention. I don't think rare is the right word to use in this case.

 

[TripleMoxy]

Finally! The second replacement has arrived, and on initial testing it appears not to have any of the issues of the previous two iMacs: no discernible yellowing or retention.

I will test it for a few days, but so far it seems promising.

Thank you to everyone who advised. I'm glad that I gave it one last try.

Third time lucky, I guess...

 

[JonnyAnderson]

I ran your stress test and it left a quite pronounced pattern on the screen, even at 60% brightness, that persisted for some time afterwards.

I am starting to think that this isn't normal. Although I've noticed lots of articles about persistence being a normal feature of IPS screens, there seems to be a lot of difference in how long the ghosting effect lasts.

Obviously, I'd rather not go through the rigmarole of organising a replacement, but I think that I might give it one last go. My machine's spec is as follows, by the way:

• 3.5GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7
• 8GB RAM
• 1TB Flash Storage
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M 4GB GDDR5

I seem to be in the exact same boat as you... I had to replace my first iMac because of image retention problems. I've been working on the replacement and am seeing the same problems.

My specs are the same as yours (only difference is 512GB Flash Storage, which should be irrelevant).

Do you have the contact info you used on hand? I don't want the IR to become any worse.

 

[jordanm86]

I am on my third Late 2013 iMac - first had yellow screen at the bottom, second had a mottled screen (uneven lighting - looked like clouds when putting a plain background up) and now the third after 6 months of use is starting to show image persistence/ghosting.

I read somewhere that it is temperature related and after installing iStat Pro, I have noticed it only occurs when the BLC proximity board hits 60 degrees.

Does anyone know what the BLC is and what it does (not alot of info about it online but is seems to be something to do with the display)?

 

[0879396]

I also have a 2012 27" iMac (maxed out) and I have some major screen ghosting. AppleCare does not seems to care.

 

[jordanm86]

I also have a 2012 27" iMac (maxed out) and I have some major screen ghosting. AppleCare does not seems to care.

Sucks on photoshop because of the new grey dashboard.

I have managed to minimise mine (though it still occurs) by doing the following:

- activate the screensaver after 1 min (it's a bit annoying but you will get used to it).

- Keep a check on the BLC proximity board sensor tempterature (i've found it doesn't happen when this sensor is under 60 degrees)

I am using iStat Menus to monitor the sensors (http://bjango.com/mac/istatmenus/) - there's a 30 day free trial available.

Turn your brightness down slightly.


Personally, I think it is disgusting that Apple do not seem to care about this issue. They push their products so hard as being the leaders for designers/photographers/creatives but the quality of the screens is terrible.

Next time I think I will go Mac Pro and get a third party screen.

 

[0879396]

Next time I think I will go Mac Pro and get a third party screen.

Next time? Why would you want to buy another Apple product after you got this screen and bad service?

 

[jordanm86]

Next time? Why would you want to buy another Apple product after you got this screen and bad service?

Well, annoying as it is, my issue is just the screen (and Apple's QC - they have replaced my iMac twice already and gave me £150 compensation for the hassle).

If the options are buy a mac pro and a reliable screen (that can easily be replaced if something does go wrong)

or

go back to using windows which made me feel like pulling my teeth and fingernails out every moment during use of it's awkward, buggy, clumsy and laggy OS, i'd say the mac is the lesser of two evils.

 

[milesc3]

Currently I still use Windows but have been strongly thinking about switching to either an Imac or a Mac Pro. The issues you have been discussing in this thread have been one of my biggest fears. I have been researching monitors for the last three months and I have come to the conclusion that it is the luck of the draw whether you get a good monitor or a bad one. This includes the higher dollar name brands like NEC and Eizo. It all boils down to the company's QC.

I bought my wife a loaded 27" IMac for Christmas and she got lucky and received one with a good monitor. With my luck it would take three or four replacements for me to receive equal her monitor. I'm not willing to go through that hassle given the price you pay for what should be a quality product.

 

[Lava Lamp Freak]

Well, annoying as it is, my issue is just the screen (and Apple's QC - they have replaced my iMac twice already and gave me £150 compensation for the hassle).

If the options are buy a mac pro and a reliable screen (that can easily be replaced if something does go wrong)

or

go back to using windows which made me feel like pulling my teeth and fingernails out every moment during use of it's awkward, buggy, clumsy and laggy OS, i'd say the mac is the lesser of two evils.

Currently I still use Windows but have been strongly thinking about switching to either an Imac or a Mac Pro. The issues you have been discussing in this thread have been one of my biggest fears. I have been researching monitors for the last three months and I have come to the conclusion that it is the luck of the draw whether you get a good monitor or a bad one. This includes the higher dollar name brands like NEC and Eizo. It all boils down to the company's QC.

I bought my wife a loaded 27" IMac for Christmas and she got lucky and received one with a good monitor. With my luck it would take three or four replacements for me to receive equal her monitor. I'm not willing to go through that hassle given the price you pay for what should be a quality product.

All of the problems I had with my 2012 iMac caused me to go to a Windows machine. I actually like Windows and need it for the development work I do, but I'd prefer to have a Mac and dual boot with Windows. I often think about getting another iMac, which is why I still browse this forum, but I don't want to go through multiple exchanges again to get a good display. It's much easier exchanging just the display than it is exchanging the whole computer. I'll probably get a Mac Mini when they're updated and use it alongside my PC with the same display.

 

[0879396]

Don't get an iMac.

 

[milesc3]

I would really like to purchase a MAC ... this issue is the only thing keeping me from doing so!