Trackpad Scrolling - Distorted Text

It seems to be high CPU/GPU usage on battery, as I don't get any problems when the processor isn't under load on battery or on mains power. However, under high load on battery, I get distorted text. Maybe a power inverter isn't supplying the right voltage or enough amps to the GPU...?

as far as i understand it, when you go onto battery power the MBP limites the top processor speed to lower to save battery. that may be what is causing it
-matt

I have the same issue. I called Apple and hey didn't seem to know what I was talking about. It took it to the Genius Bar and they took it and replaced the logic board but it was still happening. Then the guy said he checked all the new MBPs in the store and they were all doing it too. Now I got my computer back and it is having trouble waking from sleep. My old computers don't have any of these problems.
At least they fixed the sub menu issue in iDVD, I spent 4 hours on the phone to Apple Care on that one with no fix. Then the update took care of it. Let hope the next update fixes this.

I may be speaking too soon, but I think the Safari 3.1.1. update Apple pushed out today might have fixed this.

I've got Hardware Monitor, which tells me the processor speed and temperatures etc. The processor doesn't get slowed down when you are on battery power it seems, unless the battery is low or the system gets very hot. Mine then slows to anything as low as 1.8Ghz. I'll try to check if artifacts appear as it gets slowed down.

i guess it was only on the older MBPs but i know they at least used to have some system built in to slow down
-matt

I have not tried the new safari release, but since the problem seems to be more than just safari, I am not to enthusiastic.

I can report my own experience and opinion. It is definitely software, probably on opengl somewhere. It is definitely related to battery-mode v AC-mode. It seems to be worse when the processor is over worked, heating up, fans accelerating. The most effective workaround I have found is to quit a bunch of graphics-heavy apps, iTunes, screensharing, VMware, dashboard. The fans calmed down almost immediately and the scrolling worked again.

Seems I was wrong, after opening up my MacBook today, and opening Hardware Monitor, the processor is running at 1.6Ghz, plugged into the mains. Upon unplugging it, it reduced to just 1.2Ghz. The processor isn't under load, and there is no artifacting.

Ok, wrong again :P
Upon unplugging my MacBook, the CPU reduced to just 1.2Ghz. When I scroll and the processor is at this speed, I get artifacts. However, at 1.4Ghz and above, I don't get problems. The system doesn't seem to drop back to 1.2Ghz when it's on mains power, only battery which would explain why there are no problems on mains power.

Message was edited by: Elijahg

How many are running with Spaces enabled?

Try turning it off.

With it off, my problems are gone. Even if I toggle it off and back on, the problem is gone for a while, almost as if it has to do with a bug in Spaces' buffering algorithms.

Never mind. Spaces has nothing to do with it.

I've just applied the new MacBook Pro firmware update 1.5.1, and so far things are looking good 😀

I am also having this same problem with the scrolling. For me it seems to only happen when I am running on battery.

I was encouraged to see someone that found that EFI update 1.5.1 may have fixed the problem. However, when I run my automatic software update I do not get the EFI update (it just says that there are no updates available for my computer). Then I went to Apple's support downloads to get the EFI manually. I download it, it mounts and runs and then tells me that "this computer does not need this update."

Can anyone help me with getting the new EFI? It will not run the update. I check in system profiler and my boot rom is MBP41.00C1.B03.

Thanks for any help with this.

Your computer doesn't need the update, it only applies to MacBook Pro 3,1 and 2,1.

Nope. Doesn't fix it.