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Weird Mac Pro screen issue....help

If the PRAM reset fails, try reseating the video card to make sure that the PCI connections are not the issue (make sure to do a static discharge before handling the board).

Not a huge probability of success, but it's a 2 minute check that possibly could save the huge hassle of getting this fixed by Apple.
 
I also have this problem on new 2008 PM. Happends randomly and freezes the whole computer. It happends rarely and sometimes i just see some "glitches" in the graphics.. but sometimes it freezes totally and i need to do shutdown the computer using the front start button. Ill wait for my ordered 8800gt and see if that fixes it (if the standard graphic card is broken). I just hope it doesnt get any worse then it is atm as apple changed the approx sending dates from 21 of Jan to late March =(
 
Sepharial said:
I also have this problem on new 2008 PM. Happends randomly and freezes the whole computer. It happends rarely and sometimes i just see some "glitches" in the graphics.. but sometimes it freezes totally and i need to do shutdown the computer using the front start button. Ill wait for my ordered 8800gt and see if that fixes it (if the standard graphic card is broken). I just hope it doesnt get any worse then it is atm as apple changed the approx sending dates from 21 of Jan to late March =(
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Thats exactly the issues I have too, and sometimes I get a full crash, like the pictures I included.

I think ill speak to applecare and see about a replacement GC.
 
I have exactly the same problem... with same config... :(

Any chance to be a software problem corrected in 10.5.2 or something like that?

Jules
 
JulesVD said:
I have exactly the same problem... with same config... :(

Any chance to be a software problem corrected in 10.5.2 or something like that?

Jules
Click to expand...


Hmm it's strange, either it is a software issue or there is bunch of bad card been shipped.
 
same problem

I'm having the exact same problem. Occurring at random times. I have an apple cinema display. Brand new Mac Pro, all stock apple hardware and RAM. I'd be curious to see if you've found a solution. I've noticed similar posts on other forums, we are not alone! Thanks
 
Hope the following helps...

I have an "older mac pro" Sept '06 with the 7300GT and started getting weird and intermittent display issues like yours.

I called AppleCare and the tech told me that sometime this happens when the video card overheats. He sent me out a new video card which arrived less than 24 hours later and within 2 days the same issue returned.

I got all the same suggestions that you've gotten from other people on this forum. However, someone else also suggested that I try moving the card to a different PICe slot. After I did that, I didn't have any issue for 10 days. Nevertheless, I took the MP in and dropped it off at my local Apple store where after putting it through a bunch of bench tests determined that I had a bad slot on my logic board. I wasn't too happy about being out of a computer for 10 days while they fixed it, but I'm supposed to get a call this afternoon that it's ready to be picked up. On the flip side, this is one of those times where buying the extended warranty really paid off.

Anyway, this is my experiences...
 
This makes me think it might be a software issue then.:confused:

With regards to the gc overheating all the temps seems pretty good:

temp.jpg
 
The screen looks like some sort of corruption problem (usually hardware (video card)) related. Seriously doubt it's software related.
 
noi375 said:
The screen looks like some sort of corruption problem (usually hardware (video card)) related. Seriously doubt it's software related.
Click to expand...

But then again its like this for alot of new PM owners out there.. whats the chance of Apple getting tons of bad cards? I got mine from Irland.. and others from Usa etc. Friend got some graphic problems in a game that were similar to this one.. and that was a software issue. I really hope the patch will sorten it out.
 
Sepharial said:
But then again its like this for alot of new PM owners out there.. whats the chance of Apple getting tons of bad cards? I got mine from Irland.. and others from Usa etc. Friend got some graphic problems in a game that were similar to this one.. and that was a software issue. I really hope the patch will sorten it out.
Click to expand...

A lot actually - if it is a bug that they DIDN'T catch before shipping out, the whole shipment of them can be bad (or a batch of it, because that batch can be send to different places). All of these are for Apple, so it could be when they produce this batch of boards, they change something (probably for lower cost), and that caused a potential problems. I doubt they are willing to grab just random 2600xt or 1900xt or what not, flash the BIOS, and then have them ship to Apple, as typically speaking, Apple video card have a separate SKU (they have special requirements that typical OEM don't have), so it could be just this SKU has problem. If it's just software based, all people using a particular setup will have this problem, as we have not seen report that everyone is seeing it.

I haven't seen the problem because I don't use the ATI card much - swapped that out over the weekend.
 
OK,

Here is an update, it happened to me again today.

Had none of the screen weirdness but it caught a dock icon in mid jump and the whole system just froze, again I needed to reboot to fix the issue :( does that change things or is it still likely to be the GC?

If it makes any difference the last 2 times I have had a major crash I have been burning a DVD with toast and have been downloading on safari, but a few other times i was just web browsing, and one time I had Ableton live open.

Looks like I should speak to applecare then??

What do you guys think?
 
peejack said:
OK,

Here is an update, it happened to me again today.

Had none of the screen weirdness but it caught a dock icon in mid jump and the whole system just froze, again I needed to reboot to fix the issue :( does that change things or is it still likely to be the GC?

If it makes any difference the last 2 times I have had a major crash I have been burning a DVD with toast and have been downloading on safari, but a few other times i was just web browsing, and one time I had Ableton live open.

Looks like I should speak to applecare then??

What do you guys think?
Click to expand...

I would, as long as you don't mind spending the time to call. This is hard freeze, so typically, it's hardware related (if it's software, must be some really messed up code to be able to freeze the whole system). If it's not hardware, then the next suspect would be the video driver. Guess it's all ATI/AMD's fault :)
 
noi375 said:
I would, as long as you don't mind spending the time to call. This is hard freeze, so typically, it's hardware related (if it's software, must be some really messed up code to be able to freeze the whole system). If it's not hardware, then the next suspect would be the video driver. Guess it's all ATI/AMD's fault :)
Click to expand...

So this could still prove to be a faulty graphic card issue?
 
peejack said:
So this could still prove to be a faulty graphic card issue?
Click to expand...

Worked in IT for a while, and whenever I see those, it's usually something wrong in hardware - in your case, it sure sounds like a video card problem.
 
noi375 said:
Worked in IT for a while, and whenever I see those, it's usually something wrong in hardware - in your case, it sure sounds like a video card problem.
Click to expand...

I see, guess im gonna have to explain all this to the applecare guy :( Maybe I should get him to read this thread?:D
 
peejack said:
I see, guess im gonna have to explain all this to the applecare guy :( Maybe I should get him to read this thread?:D
Click to expand...

It would be fun to explain it, since it's hard to reproduce the problem. All I can say is good luck :)
 
This happened to my mom's 20" white-plastic iMac. The problem progressively became worse until it always happened (and wouldn't boot). The screen looked similarly plaid. Took it in to an Apple store, and the Genius wrote up the repair order with steps to reproduce: "Turn machine on." :rolleyes:

It was a faulty video card. They replaced the video card (more specifically, the main logic board, since it's built-on in an iMac) under warranty and it has been fine since.
 
I spoke to tech support at apple today about my similar problem. I asked if apple is aware that a lot of people are having this problem and she had no response. She had me unplug everything and leave it off for two minutes then reattach everything except my LaCie external drive. It hasn't done it again since then so I'll just wait and see. She did advise to take good notes about what programs were running and what action I was taking when the crash happens and to call immediately before rebooting next time it happens.
 
Just out of interest when i have this problem on my 06 mac pro I can still SSH into it. Just the screen in frozen. We should see if its the same thing. So next time it happens try sshing into the machine(enable it before it freezes) of coarse only for those with another machine to use.
 
peejack said:
I see, guess im gonna have to explain all this to the applecare guy :( Maybe I should get him to read this thread?:D
Click to expand...

i had the exact same problem when i purchased my macbook, i taped when the screen was acting up and i went to the apple store showed the video to the manager and they replaced my macbook on the spot. You should take your MP to an apple store and take the pictures with you
 
Michael73 said:
I got all the same suggestions that you've gotten from other people on this forum. However, someone else also suggested that I try moving the card to a different PICe slot. After I did that, I didn't have any issue for 10 days. Nevertheless, I took the MP in and dropped it off at my local Apple store where after putting it through a bunch of bench tests determined that I had a bad slot on my logic board. I wasn't too happy about being out of a computer for 10 days while they fixed it, but I'm supposed to get a call this afternoon that it's ready to be picked up. On the flip side, this is one of those times where buying the extended warranty really paid off.
Click to expand...

Just tested on an other PCIe slot... same problem... it has freeze after +/- 15min.

Jules
 
looks like a video card issue (perhaps badly attached cooling system to the card or a defective memory chip) hands down

try to note down after which time after boot up it happens or something like that ... if it's close that might point to a heat issue in the card
 
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