Muriac
20th April 2006, 06:03 PM
Ok, I've found a few threads on other forums where people were complaining about this:
When I'm running Windows on my iMac, the whole screen shows random noise on it. The noise is static, both in that it is not animated and in that it is not related to any UI element. Windows move under the static rather than with it. The effect is only in the output: screenshots and any other saved images are not affected.
The effect looks like a random noise saturation overlay with maybe four levels. It is most noticeable in medium grey areas, but can be seen anywhere there is solid colour that is not too bright. The most obvious example I have found is in the Steam client. I thought that Valve had textured it in the last update before I realized my whole screen was showing the static. I might make a mock-up in Photoshop if this description doesn't make sense.
The noise only appears when running Windows natively. It does not appear when using Parallels, even in full-screen mode. Moreover, the noise is exactly the same no matter what resolution I run Windows in. That is, it covers every actual pixel on the screen, even if multiple pixels are being used to display one downsampled "virtual" pixel.
Before you ask: Yes, I have checked and re-checked that I am running in 24-bit colour. I am. I'm sure. The bit depth is there in the control panel, and it is very apparent that all the colours are present on the screen. They are simply covered in light noise. Changing the bit depth to something lower than 24 gives the same effect, but with less colours (as one would expect). Changing it back to 24 does not get rid of the static. This is not a bit depth issue (at least not one that is controlled by the Displays control panel).
Is anyone seeing this? Has anyone found a fix for it? In the other threads I've seen, I haven't encountered anyone who doesn't have the issue. One guy checked five MacBooks, and they all showed the problem. I'd really like to know how to get rid of it.
Edit to add: Just thought I'd mention that I'm running a 17" iMac with (of course) a 128MB ATI X1600. I know this issue occurs on at least some MacBooks, so it would be interesting if it did not occur on 20" iMacs with their 256MB of VRAM.
When I'm running Windows on my iMac, the whole screen shows random noise on it. The noise is static, both in that it is not animated and in that it is not related to any UI element. Windows move under the static rather than with it. The effect is only in the output: screenshots and any other saved images are not affected.
The effect looks like a random noise saturation overlay with maybe four levels. It is most noticeable in medium grey areas, but can be seen anywhere there is solid colour that is not too bright. The most obvious example I have found is in the Steam client. I thought that Valve had textured it in the last update before I realized my whole screen was showing the static. I might make a mock-up in Photoshop if this description doesn't make sense.
The noise only appears when running Windows natively. It does not appear when using Parallels, even in full-screen mode. Moreover, the noise is exactly the same no matter what resolution I run Windows in. That is, it covers every actual pixel on the screen, even if multiple pixels are being used to display one downsampled "virtual" pixel.
Before you ask: Yes, I have checked and re-checked that I am running in 24-bit colour. I am. I'm sure. The bit depth is there in the control panel, and it is very apparent that all the colours are present on the screen. They are simply covered in light noise. Changing the bit depth to something lower than 24 gives the same effect, but with less colours (as one would expect). Changing it back to 24 does not get rid of the static. This is not a bit depth issue (at least not one that is controlled by the Displays control panel).
Is anyone seeing this? Has anyone found a fix for it? In the other threads I've seen, I haven't encountered anyone who doesn't have the issue. One guy checked five MacBooks, and they all showed the problem. I'd really like to know how to get rid of it.
Edit to add: Just thought I'd mention that I'm running a 17" iMac with (of course) a 128MB ATI X1600. I know this issue occurs on at least some MacBooks, so it would be interesting if it did not occur on 20" iMacs with their 256MB of VRAM.