Chosen Solution
Help ! My Mac has been a machine and helped me out so much, but yesterday after unplugging a HDMI cable the screen has started to glitch, sections zoom in and out the perspective changes. bits of windows move about, after trying an SMC reset, a PRAM reset, re-formatting the HD and re installing the OS it still doesn’t work. Heres the catch on start up it all runs fine UNTILL I open adobe illustrator, potoshop, Lightroom etc. all Mac software seems to be ok….
Let’s first explain why only some software encounters the issue Your system has two graphics services the Intergraded (IG) Intel HD Graphics 4000 and Dedicated (DG) NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M GPU. your system only uses the IG when you start up your system and mostly for low graphics needs. Only when higher graphics is needed will the DG switch in! You can control this by altering the Automatic graphics switching setting in your Energy Saver system preferences. You can also force this via this great tool gfxCardStatus So what happened? Your DG logic or Mux logic got messed up! Apple has a very complex setup to move the video signals from the two inputs around the different outputs. Here’s the 13” block diagram the 15” adds the HDMI port output.
Your logic board will need to be fixed or replaced. You may need to review your AC power setup as a mis-ground line can wipe out your MUX logic. I recommend you have a UPS and having all of your systems peripherals plugged into it. You should also check your outlets ground connection as well as the breakers ground connection to the metal water pipe leaving your house or one or more ground rods.
