15" Unibody Macbook Pro screen flicker or flash

[kingxadjez]

I'm speaking to Apple regarding this now. The Geniuses said the 9400 is not good enough to handle the graphics load and there is no fix (replacing the Logic Board will do nothing). Apple's "fix" is to constantly run it with the 9600 chip which means mine only has 1.5 hours battery and runs too hot to go on your lap. They've told me that running Chrome and Itunes on a 9400 is too much and that no MBP on the market could handle this without flickering...

[dodgyricky]

I got the similar problem. I bought it in late 2008. the first generation of uniboady. And it started to flickering about half year ago. The flickering is unpredictable. But I am still having the warranty till late 2011. Should I talk to Apple? Anything they can do for this?

[SETSUNA108]

Mine has started recently.... its annoying as hell!

[themainevent]

Mine just happened to do this recently (Late 2008 MBP). Still under warranty so let's see what they'll do.

[KazPinkerton]

If it's that huge of a deal, change over to discrete graphics instead of the integrated chip. (Look for Graphics: Better Performance under Energy Saver in System Preferences). The flaw is actually in the nVidia integrated graphics chip, which apple does not manufacture. That's really all you can do about it. That's the entire extent of the problem though.

[SETSUNA108]

@KazPinkerton I still hear that the screen flickers under that one though. And it makes your machine run hotter and it makes more noise. I don't know whats up, but if its a problem with the graphics card, don't you think apple should have them replaced? Or suggest when someone comes in complaining of this issue to replace the card?

[KazPinkerton]

@SETSUNA108

It does NOT flicker under that setting, despite whatever fallacious information with which you were supplied. It's slightly hotter and noisier yes, because it's an entirely different GPU performing at a higher level. Also, replacing the graphics unit would require replacing the entire motherboard as there is no 'card'. It's simply a heatsinked GPU soldered straight on.

[SETSUNA108]

@KazPinkerton I have a problem where the 9600M won't load a certain flash oriented area on a site (gaia online) on my google chrome. It loads the music and nothing else. Is that natural?

[KazPinkerton]

@SETSUNA108

It's almost certainly not the GPU. It's probably a flaw in Flash's new hardware acceleration features. Be sure you're running the latest version for one, and see if you get the same behavior in another browser. If it works elsewhere, it's a problem with Chrome not displaying the site properly. Chrome tends to be extremely standards-compliant and if Gaia's site is at all quirky with regards to its code, it might not display properly.

[SETSUNA108]

@KazPinkerton Problem is, it works on the 9400 which I don't want to work on because of the flicker. I'll check to see if I have the latest version of Chrome though.

[SirRippie]

I bought my "late 2008" macbook pro used about 8 months ago. I never had this problem ever until the last few days. Being that I'm the second owner does anyone know what my options are, since I'm guessing a few of you guys have gone through this already?

[lisduggan64]

This is happening to my summer 2009 MBP too. I'm halfway through my Applecare and on the way to the Apple Store to get it sorted or a new one. I

[bustermk2]

Mine seems to happens when it gets hot ... which it does quite frequently.

It is now out of warranty and probably not worth fixing. Annoying as hell, and not a great enticement for me to want to buy a newer model. I had my last laptop for 5 years. This one is nearly unusable after just 18 months.

[sidelionreport]

My 15.4 2.0 ghz core duo 2 does this as well... i'm on my second logic board after the first died and it does this, mostly when on the integrated graphics.

[vercygentix]

my screen still does it, but its so bad it looks like strobe lights.

[vivibaby69]

MIne is doing the same thing!! Very annoying! Thanks for posting this. LOL, I was watching and kept confusing whether it was mine or the video.

[boxerpowered]

The Apple representative said it would cost me $950 to replace the logic board here in Russia. I had to get the latest Mid 2010 model, and the old one is now a useless piece of crap.

[fhimas88888888]

I had my logic board replaced and like you guys it still happens. However, I recorded it on my iPod nano, and so it's pretty ridiculous for them to claim that it doesn't happen when I have video documentation. We'll see what happens.

[biko1000]

@fhimas88888888 I have the same problem w my MBP unibody 15", Unfortunately when I took it to Apple store a few months ago, it wasn't happening a lot so they couldn't see it. Now, it's getting worse and I'm out of warranty. Today I took it to one of Apple certified tek stores and they propose changing the logical board and screen shell for $400 flat fee. Now I don't know what to do, any advice?

[fhimas88888888]

@biko1000 My MBP was still under AppleCare, so I sent it in for free. They replaced the logic board and when the computer returned, the flickering was even more frequent! [Note that this was after I was without a computer for more than a week!]. This was the third repair on the computer so Apple replaced my MBP with a new one. I *strongly* recommend against spending the $400 to replace the logic board, as I don't think Apple's engineers actually know what the bug is in our MBPs. Save your $.

[biko1000]

@fhimas88888888 Thanks for the quick response. I was thinking the same way too. It's really a shame from Apple, they should acknowledge the problem and replace these laptops for their users. Now I'm hesitating if I should even think buying a new one. This is my first bad experience with Apple, my 4 yrs old 13" MB is still running like a charm. Perhaps, I should start using it again and sell the unibody as is for half of its price.

[fhimas88888888]

@biko1000 No problem. My experience with Apple was really bad. When I sent it in for the second time, they claimed they couldn't replicate the problem, but within 30 minutes of using it when I got it back, the screen flickered, so I took video of it on my iPod and sent them the YouTube video. It was quite the fiasco.

I found the problem to be really annoying, especially when it started occurring more frequently. Good luck!

[Riky1986]

It's possible that Apple could recognize it like a factory issue?

[girlinterrupt]

Mine started doing this recently and it's only a year old but I tried the changing the energy saver preference to better performance and the flicker has gone as someone mentioned below. So I gather it's an issue with the power?

[MissYouMtl]

i had mine for a year and it continues to flicker after several visits to the apple store. i had my screen replaced twice, and recently, the logic board, which only decreased the frequency of the flicker. i'm really sick of visiting to the genius bar!

[Myria83]

Mine, too... :-P

[osse0005]

Has any one found a solution. Mine is getting more frequent.

[anon540]

I have this problem with the GeForce 9400M, but not the 9600M GT. It wouldn't be a problem as I always use the 9600 anyway, but there is clearly an issue, and it's rather frustrating when using it to save batteries.

[treznor89]

The problem, i guess, can depend from many factors.

My "15 Unibody Macbook Pro for example, sometimes does it, but only after a VERY few hours of use. It does only once or twice, and then it stops.

So to me, the problem mainly resides in the NVIDIA Chipset or the LCD light. I don't have Applecare and i don't think of buying it (costs too much), but Apple should REALLY test their machines before giving them out.

[jtbussiere]

alright guys bad news. I bought applecare just for this and had it "fixed" they replaced the logic board and as soon as I got it back i saw it flicker again. it doesn't do it nearly as often, but sure enough it's still there.

[lloydgm64]

Bad news, but thanks for taking the bullet for us all. Please keep us up to date, as I'm out of my warranty and I would love to hear that Apple finally recalls the unibodies just for this issue.

[kingmikeofthenorth]

@jtbussiere mine used to do this too, keep bitching and show them this video. they replaced mine after replacing the logic board

[jtbussiere]

@kingmikeofthenorth really? When they replaced my logic board it stopped doing it as often. so now it's harder to reproduce. I feel like they did that on purpose lol. cause no one I know who has gotten the logic board replaced has actually had the problem solved lol

[rellama1]

@jtbussiere to buy applecare for 370 dollars to get support for such an expensive product is outrageous,

rip off

[livinglegend1187]

Apple = quality

[thekorksta]

It seems to me these days that Apple customer pay a huge premium to more or less test out new equipment and software for Apple as they rush to produce hot new products. What makes it worse is Apples silence whenever there is a clearly problem or issue. The current imac flicker issue has just created a huge wall of silence from apple rather then sorry we messed up heres a new machine, kinda solution. The customer has to mess around trying to figure out a solution, how irritating.

[Nanotech11]

Hey do what other people do, don't go for first gen, and for me I only went into leopard at 10.5.3. Snow leopard is still kind of buggy now at 10.6.2, so.

[thekorksta]

Yes I agree with not going for revision A products, but I just dont think one should have to. Cant Apple do the Beta testing instead of customers. Perhaps they should offer discounts for first generation machines!

[ReluctantAardvark]

I have this problem in 10.5.8 (MBP Uni 2008, best battery life) I tried booting from a SL install disk and it still happens which suggests it is not a software issue.

[iherebob]

My macbook pro 15" also have the exact same problem.

one of the solution is to change the graphic card to 9600 or you could take it to smart bar and let them have a look.

I took it and they said the problem lies with the 9400M graphic card so if you can show that it flickers in front of a technician then they will replace the 9400M for you.

Hope this helps

[jakemondo]

This happened to me. Very annoying. Then I reset the PRAM, and I have run on both the 9400 and 9600 for hours on end with no more black flashes.

[jmama7366]

Resetting PRAM sure didn't do anything for me. Tried it about an hour ago, and just had another flash. Arg arg arg.

[v5dan]

Ok quick update, although the flicker is still here, i have substantially reduced it, so its no way as annoying! Try resetting the PRAM, to do this shut down computer, restart it, before grey screen hold down at same time Command-option-P-R keys, wait for it to restart and you hear startup sound for second time. Hope this works on your machines!

[v5dan]

Sorry guys to get your hopes up, bloody flicker is still here! started my machine up this morning and its started again! Come on Apple sort this out!

[v5dan]

My machine has this also (15 unibody pro) seemed to get worse since i upgraded to snow leopard, but i have just updated to 10.6.1 no flicker! i will keep you posted if it stays away. Me thinks its a software issue not hardware.

[jtbussiere]

yes, please keep me posted. if it is the case, I will definitely upgrade

[snuggles03]

mines does the same thing...updated to 10.6.1 and it still flickers... 10.6.2 is meant to fix this )hopefully)

[Beatalian]

Update: I switched to 9600M, and haven't seen one flicker at all since I logged back in. Later on I'm gonna try switching back to 9400 and see if the flickering returns or not. One thing I should mention though, is that I have Bootcamp with Windows XP on my Macbook Pro, and the flickering does NOT happen when I'm logged in at Windows, so does this mean it is in fact not a hardware but software problem? I'll report back once I got more information about this... Stupid flashes.

[MONSTERisak]

Beatalian: using bootcamp makes the computer use the 9600M card and not the 9400M. you can manually adjust this while in MacOSX (using System settings -> Power management -> Better Performance)

Its likely to be a Hardware problem afterall, just like the others have commented.

[jtbussiere]

Yea I think it's a hardware problem. I've tried everything to make it stop and nothing happens. I've gotten quite used to it and don't eve notice it anymore, but whenever someone else uses it it drive them nuts. I bought applecare and so once college is over I'll get it fixed. It's just hard because it needs to happen in front of an apple care genius bar for them to fix it....

[OttawaZoiks]

Try again. Applecare should listen to you. I had a problem with my Mac Mini which would be impossible for them to see (dropping external USB drives every few days to weeks) and they listened to me and in the end replaced the logic board on the mini (an expensive repair). I'm sure if you went in there with a positive attitude, and this youtube video as documented proof, they'd be happy to take care of you.

[omarAbduljawad]

I have the same problem but when i change the graphic card in system pref it seems to stop (energy saver) so mabe its a graphic card problem tell me if it works

[Beatalian]

I too have this problem and pisses me off a lot. I don't have it that many times though, but I'm a bit concerned. I'm currently using 9400, and it flickers. I have yet to discover if it flickers too when I use 9600. I haven't read anywhere about the cause or even solution (except returning it to the store). My only hope left us when I will upgrade too Snow Leopard (unless it's a hardware problem) If anybody has more information about this, let us know off course. (Macbook Pro late 2008 user)

[db0ni]

Indeed, I've got the same problem on my late 2008 unibody MBP, and yes, it's only when I use the 9400M. Going to try and get a replacement.

[hijacker54]

i have this shit also! not as much but the screen does spazz out on the top and even if apple replaces ur unit i have seen it happen too brand new ones which is sad, i read on some forums it is a driver issue hopefully resolved with an nVidia update that apple might release

[kaos33633]

also try going into disk util and repairing the permisions

[kaos33633]

on this vid that is the ambient light sensor adjusting for idiot moving around there is nothing wrong. i have yet to record it but my 13" macbook unibody has a minute flicker but of coarse its only when i'm trying to concentrate on something lol guy dont worr its supose to do that to the left of the isight there s a lght sensor you can recreate it by putting you hand over that.

[jtbussiere]

dude, you have no idea what your talking about. it isn't the light sensor, it's the screen flickering. Wanna know how I know? I have the light sensor disabled....so before you call me an idiot, check yourself

[MrStereo]

i have same issue....damn!

[wassahilden]

Mine does it too.

[gebruikersnaam999999]

I have also this problem sometimes. Does someone now if this is a hardware or software poblem?

[engiyong]

I have same problem. and it's only done when I used 9400M.

[IamAmunRe]

Faulty backlight. Return it for a new one.

[saint00]

take it to apple store and see what they say.

It's still under the warranty even if you didn't get Apple care it has a 1 year default warranty.

[jtbussiere]

the screen is flashing black like every 10 seconds

[krnboy32]

Wait.. whats the problem??