ashlyn7371

Q: Macbook Pro screen glitches, 3 beeps, NOT THE RAM

My Macbook pro has been having screen glitches randomly with lines appearing on the screen and then it suddenly shuts down. Sometimes It beeps 3 times (what everyone claims is a ram issue) and sometimes it does not beep and will just start right back up again. I'm currently using it right now and it seems to be okay but this is always the case. It works fine and then all the sudden it glitches and shuts down. I                                                                                                                                       

 

I have had the Ram replaced TWICE and have had the ram readjusted in case it has fallen out of place. my computer has passed every hardware test imaginable. Sometimes when I scroll on safari, chrome or anywhere (when its working) the screen glitches and lags really bad. MY computer is literally unusable. I am in nursing school and my computer is vital PLEASE someone help me!!!!

 

Here is just some details and extra info about what I've tried and researched:

I am currently using it in "safe boot" mode and I turned the SMS (sudden motion sensor) off.

I have done so much research on this issue here is what I have found thus far, obviously the ram issue, A GPU issue, A logic board issue (lets pray its not), a battery issue or a issue with Mavericks. Could it be something I downloaded?

 

Mac details:

13 Inch MacBook Pro Mid 2012

Processor: 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5

Memory: 4GB 1600 MHz DDR3

Version: 10.9.1

Graphics  Intel HD Graphics 4000 1024 MB

 

This is what it says under SYSTEM INFORMATION Hardware>Memory.Memory Slots:

 

ECC: Disabled

BANK 0 / DIMM0

Size:2GB

Type:DDR3

Speed:1600MHz

Status:OK

Manufacturer: 0X02FE

Part Number:0x45424A3230554638424455302D474E2D4620

 

then it has BANK 1/DIMM0 and basically says the same thing

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1), SOMEONE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP

Posted on Aug 5, 2014 3:37 PM

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Q: Macbook Pro screen glitches, 3 beeps, NOT THE RAM

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  • by halfnyce07,

    halfnyce07 halfnyce07 Oct 1, 2015 8:37 AM in response to ashlyn7371
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 1, 2015 8:37 AM in response to ashlyn7371

    I too had to take out the bottom RAM stick and now my MBP seems to be working as if there is nothing wrong at all. What I found weird is that when I had 2 RAM sticks in the laptop would malfunction when I would pick it up, and now with only one RAM stick it doesn't do anything. Also when both RAM ports were being used I would occasionally get the freeze and restart. So based off of everyone else complaints and my experimenting with mine,  it is clear to me that there is an issue with the RAM connection to the logic board, something has come loose or undone. It's obvious that the issue is way bigger now and Apple should certainly offer a recall or a discounted repair.

  • by halfnyce07,

    halfnyce07 halfnyce07 Oct 1, 2015 8:40 AM in response to neilcol
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 1, 2015 8:40 AM in response to neilcol

    Same here.

  • by neilcol,

    neilcol neilcol Oct 1, 2015 9:45 AM in response to halfnyce07
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 1, 2015 9:45 AM in response to halfnyce07

    i plan to do a few tests soon.

    1: Swap in the other piece of ram that I am now not using. To see if it was working properly. (I reckon it was though)

    If it is o.k. then.

    2: I will place the ram in the bottom slot only and see how it goes.

    If that is o.k. then.

    3: I will put the 2 pieces of ram back in but i will get an piece of insulated plastic of some sort to go in-between them to make sure they don't touch.

     

    This will answer a few questions for me.

  • by halfnyce07,

    halfnyce07 halfnyce07 Oct 1, 2015 10:25 AM in response to neilcol
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 1, 2015 10:25 AM in response to neilcol

    Let me know how that goes. I would be interested in what the insulatd plastic will do

  • by neilcol,

    neilcol neilcol Oct 1, 2015 2:02 PM in response to halfnyce07
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 1, 2015 2:02 PM in response to halfnyce07

    It will let be sure if my theory of the 2 pieces of ram banging to together causing freeze  is correct.

  • by leslieleslieleslie,

    leslieleslieleslie leslieleslieleslie Oct 4, 2015 11:00 PM in response to ashlyn7371
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 4, 2015 11:00 PM in response to ashlyn7371

    I am having the same problems with my MacbookPro from Fall 2011, and it is so incredibly frustrating. My laptop suddenly and randomly shuts down--up to 15 times a day, with the lovely 3-beep sound. Sometimes the shutdowns dealt with pressure (e.g. lifting my laptop off from the bottom), other times, it would completely shutdown for no apparent reason.

     

    I brought it to the Genius Bar, and it passed all of the extensive testing that they can possibly perform. They told me that "it's functioning as if it's new", but yet the problem persists. It actually became worse when I brought it home that day--now my laptop won't even start up.

     

    I am relieved that I found relevant and recent users who share the same problem--because the workers at the Genius bar seem to not believe me when I say that my MBP isn't working (but I'm NOT relieved that this problem exists!!!). How should I solve this??? Maybe I will try taking our the RAM. Do you suggest I do the flat rate $310....would they even be able to fix it...if the folks at the Genius bar can't identify the problem in the first place?

  • by neilcol,

    neilcol neilcol Oct 5, 2015 1:12 AM in response to leslieleslieleslie
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 5, 2015 1:12 AM in response to leslieleslieleslie

    Open it up and take out the bottom ram and try it. Dont pay any $ to anyone yet.

  • by neilcol,

    neilcol neilcol Oct 5, 2015 2:18 AM in response to neilcol
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 5, 2015 2:18 AM in response to neilcol

    So after doing a few tests here is my conclusion.

    both pieces of ram are fine.

    3 beeps of death when either piece of ram was in the problem slot. This is the piece closest to the keyboard. So when back is opened it is the bottom slot.

    1 piece of ram in again in top slot. MBP going again.

    My Conclusion is that the connection between logic board and ram slot is faulty. So this is the reason that Apple replace a full logic board.

    Serious fault with them if so many have this problem.

    MY short term solution now is too upgrade ram to a bigger size and hope for the best.

    Hopefully the top ram slot doesn't fail anytime soon.

    Overall this is poor from Apple. Obviously a design fault that we pick up the bill for???

  • by superoperater,

    superoperater superoperater Oct 8, 2015 1:20 PM in response to neilcol
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 8, 2015 1:20 PM in response to neilcol

    Thanks neilcol. Will give it a try with bottom slot empty... (after trying nearly all possible solutions; replaced disk drive, replaced ram, did smc and pram reset, osx upgrade) Strangely, hardware diagnostic test and memtest reported no issues.. Just hope this one works.

     

    Apple should recognize this problem, include 13" mid-2012 MBP's to Apple Repair Extension Program and replace faulty logic boards.

  • by superoperater,

    superoperater superoperater Oct 12, 2015 5:18 AM in response to superoperater
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 12, 2015 5:18 AM in response to superoperater

    This seems to work. Four days without horizontal lines, fingers crossed.

  • by neilcol,

    neilcol neilcol Oct 12, 2015 11:54 AM in response to superoperater
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 12, 2015 11:54 AM in response to superoperater

    I Am running fine also. I have purchased a new 8gb of ram and am running off that now. No probs now at all.

    It's a bit of disgrace that so many are affected by the same problem.

    Hope my MBP doesnt develope the same issue with the top ram slot.

    main thing for now is we are back in action.

  • by rutheone,

    rutheone rutheone Oct 20, 2015 11:19 AM in response to neilcol
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Oct 20, 2015 11:19 AM in response to neilcol

    Did a search of this issue today after having this problem for the last 3 months. Same screen issue going crazy when picking up my laptop (works fine when sitting on a table) and then it freezes and then turns off. This morning was the first time it had not turned back on and got the 3 beeps with silence then 3 more beeps. Even though I'm bummed others are having the same issue I'm glad to know I can point the Genius Bar to this thread at my appointment later this week. Mid 2012 MBP 13'' with Qty 2 4GB sticks for a total of 8 GB. I had to replace the battery in the machine last year and replace the frayed power cable. Very odd experience so far with this machine. Of course it is out of warranty too.

  • by HormyAJP,

    HormyAJP HormyAJP Oct 22, 2015 10:03 PM in response to ashlyn7371
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 22, 2015 10:03 PM in response to ashlyn7371

    Just had the same thing happen to my MacBook Pro.  It's a 13" mid 2012 with 2.5 Ghz (the logic board is MLB, 2.5Ghz).  I was running fine this morning then the screen just corrupted (as per everyone else's screenshots).  I tried to reboot and got the 3 beeps issue.  Had to do a 10 second power button + cmd + ctr + shift.  It then restarted but since then it's barely usable.  It's only 16 months old!

     

    Took it straight to the Apple Store (as it's my work machine and I need it urgently).  They couldn't even run their test suite without it crashing.  They're going to replace the logic board as it looks like a GPU issue.  The quote is 4,486 HKD which is a 580 USD!!  That's over double what some of you guys have been reporting.  Whilst I'm obviously annoyed that this seems to be a general hardware issue with MacBooks and Apple should be recalling them, I'm even more annoyed that I'm getting charged > 2x for a repair.  The cost of living out here certainly isn't 2x that of the US (if anything many things are cheaper!).  Plus the components are likely all manufactured in China anyway!

     

    I'll be lodging a complain for sure about the price.  I wonder if there's anything we can do about the fact lots of people are facing the same problem.  Any ideas on a head count for this?  And what sort of head count actually embarrass  Apple enough to do a recall?!

  • by rutheone,

    rutheone rutheone Oct 23, 2015 10:52 AM in response to HormyAJP
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Oct 23, 2015 10:52 AM in response to HormyAJP

    I brought my machine into an Apple store yesterday and they were unable to find anything while running their tests. I'm going to try and change out the ram to see if this is an issue. Really it seems to me the ram is fine however there must be a loose connection somewhere as this issue with screen lines and shutting down only occurs when I move or pickup the laptop. Very strange, I'm using it now and typing on it just fine on a table.

     

    Confused and a little bummed.

  • by rutheone,

    rutheone rutheone Oct 23, 2015 1:51 PM in response to rutheone
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Oct 23, 2015 1:51 PM in response to rutheone

    Replaced the RAM in my machine and have not been able to replicate the screen freezing, grabbed 2x8gb PNY Sticks (replaced the Samsung memory I had in there). If the issue comes back I'll let you know!

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