-
‘Screen Flickering’ Dilemma in FCPX!
Hi, folks….I’m hoping someone can help diagnose what has become a very frustrating dilemma. I’ve been experiencing a monitor/graphics ‘screen-flickering’ problem. I use a 2015 iMac 27-inch, running the latest Mojave, with 32 gigs of RAM. About 6 weeks ago, while working on a project in FCPX, this ‘screen-flickering’ happened. Sometimes it goes from visual-to-black, repeatedly…and sometimes it stops for a bit..and then continues. But it almost always occurs in FCPX. Sometimes between ‘flickers’, I’m able to close out of FCPX and other programs, and other times I simply have to power off and then re-boot.
So, the first time, I took it to an Apple store, and the feeling from the tech was that the 32 gigs of Ram I added to the 8 gigs that came with the system weren’t ‘playing nice’. So they had me remove the 8 original gigs and just use the 32.
This lasted for a day or so, and then the ‘flickering’ happened again.
I took it to the Apple store again, and they suggested re-installing the OS. So Mojave was re-loaded. Both times, they ran extensive diagnostics and everything appeared ‘normal’.
Several days later, it started happening again. So I took it to a Mac repair shop. He did extensive diagnostics but reported nothing unusual.
When it happened again a couple days later, I thought that maybe something with FCPX wasn’t playing nicely. So, I bought DaVinci Resolve 15. I also changed out the cable from my external hard-drive to an e-SATA-to-Thunderbolt connection, thinking maybe it was the transfer cable. I then re-did a whole 7-minute project in Resolve, and about 95% of the way done, the ‘flickering’ started again.
I then took it to another Mac repair shop. His diagnostics showed nothing, but he’s convinced that I need a SSD. So, he put one in and re-installed the OS yet again. I returned with it on Monday. And today…same thing.
I’m at my wit’s end. I’m using 8- or 1-bit 4k files primarily (but not always) and letting FCPX convert them to ‘proxy’. There are large chunks of time where I can actually ‘work’ and get things done in FCPX. But, invariably, the ‘flickering’ hits, and then I’m done.
Any thoughts or insight?? Very frustrating. Thanks!
-
3 Replies
-
Matthew, I cam across this post. I know it’s old, but FWIW, flickering I experience on my 2015, 27″ iMac, 16 GBs, Mojave was/is directly related to a bug with Microsoft Outlook and this particular model iMac. I have to run Outlook in “low resolution” mode to avoid the issue. Has something to do with the program and the specific graphics cards for this model. My IT guy actually sent me an article on the issue, so it’s documented out there somewhere (sorry, don’t have the article to link to).
So, not sure if this is the same flickering you were experiencing or not, but I know that working in FCPX often triggered the issue. Like the system running out of resources or something. A reboot was the only thing that worked to reset (i.e., stop) the issue. And, again, running Outlook in low res mode.
You do that, BTW, by getting info on the app (Command + I) and there’s a checkbox for that option. Makes the font in the app a bit fuzzy, but otherwise still functional.
— Joby.
-
[Joby Anthony Jr] “My IT guy actually sent me an article on the issue, so it’s documented out there somewhere (sorry, don’t have the article to link to).”
The Outlook flickering problem is fixed in Catalina: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/imac-screen-flickers-when-using-outlook-for-mac-f0b5212f-9c1c-4af2-920b-b131911087bf
-
Thank you Joe! Good to know–appreciate it. Haven’t pulled the trigger on Catalina yet. And good thing, I guess. 15.4 would’ve really hurt.
Anyway, at least in low res mode I’m able to save a few system resources. Outlook is a real hog (comparatively speaking).
As always, appreciate your informative and detailed responses throughout this forum!
— Joby
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up