Weird graphics problem.

[Topher15]

This morning my Mac went completely mental (see pic). All these bright random shapes covered started appearing, sometimes covering the screen, sometimes only small parts. It changed whenever I moved windows around, used Expose, etc. A restart sorted the problem.

Any idea what caused this? Is it a sign of a video card failure of some kind? Or maybe it just overheated?

I'm on a 24" iMac (Alu), Leopard 10.5.4

 

[O. Frabjous-Dey]

Cool!

Seriously, that looks like a fried video card to me. Take it into the Bar.

 

[Topher15]

It's the only time it has happened. I have still the end of October until the standard warranty expires/to get Apple Care so I might leave it for a week or so to see if it happens again. (It's gonna be a pain to have to box it up and drag it down to the Apple store.)

I never turn my Mac off, I just leave it to sleep. Could that be a cause?

 

[toolbox]

Have you done a PRAM and SMC reset on it?

 

[Topher15]

Have you done a PRAM and SMC reset on it?

I don't know what that is or how to do it.

 

[Insulin Junkie]

I don't know what that is or how to do it.

PRAM reset
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379

SMC reset
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1411

 

[lince32]

PRAM reset
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379

SMC reset
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1411

I also had exactly the same problem. And i think i'm not alone as well:

http://www.macusersforum.com/index.php?showtopic=21444

http://discussions.apple.com/post!reply.jspa?messageID=8253290

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Apple/Operating_Systems/OS_X/Leopard_MAC_OS_10.5/Q_23770834.html

By the way I tried yesterday to reset the SNC and the PRAM because i though could be overheat and i also installed Imac fan control to keep it cooler.
After i did that it did not come back again...yet....
Will see.

 

[Topher15]

I also had exactly the same problem. And i think i'm not alone as well:

http://www.macusersforum.com/index.php?showtopic=21444

http://discussions.apple.com/post!reply.jspa?messageID=8253290

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Apple/Operating_Systems/OS_X/Leopard_MAC_OS_10.5/Q_23770834.html

By the way I tried yesterday to reset the SNC and the PRAM because i though could be overheat and i also installed Imac fan control to keep it cooler.
After i did that it did not come back again...yet....
Will see.

Yeah mine only happened once too.

I've not taken it into the bar (to much hassle for what is currently a non problem). I'm gonna buy AppleCare in a few days to make sure I'm covered in case it reoccurs.

 

[SelfMadeCelo]

I know this is old but was it ever solved? I'm having the same problem. Haven't tried resetting the PRAM yet...

 

[Topher15]

I know this is old but was it ever solved? I'm having the same problem. Haven't tried resetting the PRAM yet...

It hasn't reoccurred since I made this post. I only sleep my Mac so it could have been overheating. So far so good anyway.