Q: display anomalies

I'm using these settings
http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/2807/screenshot20100119at143.png

I'm getting these temps doing usual desktop stuff
http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/8240/tempsr.png


And it's still "so far so good". Well, good luck to all of you.

What do use to display all those temperatures? I've read many posts in this thread but not all of the 48 pages so I must have missed hat.
Thanks

iStat Menus. It's one da*n useful tool.

Add me to the list. I installed Fan Control, and using default settings with the increase base of 1500 has really lowered the temp of my machine dramatically, I'm sure I can tone it back a little, but no more glitches.... for now.

I found this post on another thread, and it has fixed my issue without spending a dime.

Posted by DeminJanu at http://torley.com/macbook-pro-with-ati-radeon-x1600-distorted-video-glitches

The permanent solution (for me) was using the free & Excellent "Fan Control" SysPref – simply increase the "Base Speed" (for me, from 1500rpm to 2000rpm) and I also reduce the "Upper Threshold" to 70°C – thus the fans will work harder to keep temps down should they rise.

I coupled that with "iStat Menus" (I think it's ShareWare) to monitor CPU & GPU temp (obviously GPU is more important here).
Dace appears to have the right numbers – as long as my GPU temps is around or below 48°, no line glitches, and no freezes!

I like this solution because, in theory, it will always makes sure the temp stays below the crash-point (with tweaking of the fan-rpm vs. CPU-Temp settings). I suppose One can assume that CPU temp and GPU temp are correlated – they are in the same aluminum box!
At 2000rpm, the fans are still barely audible (at least in my office with 3 PC's running their loud fans). If I ever see the temp rise too much, I'll simply increase the fan-speed/cpu-temp slope again. I'd rather a loud usable computer than a quiet dead one!

I have also stopped the hard crashes by using FanControl setting my base speed to 2500 and the Upper threshold to 70 degrees. This causes a reduction in op. temp. and also triggers the fan speed increase earlier during heavy CPU usage. It should be noted that I also use activity monitor to see what's loading the CPU when I hear the fans rev up and I try to reduce CPU load when possible. In effect I baby my computer. I just wrote a complaint to Apple not that they'll do anything but everyone should complain at http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbookpro.html

For what it's worth, I have sent the following to Apple:

Good Day,

Let me begin by estimating the amount of money I have spent since switching to Apple products over the past five years. If I had to come up with a quick dollar amount, I can honestly say it is approaching the $8,000 mark.

This issue revolving around lines in the screen, black screen, and lockups all revolve around an overheating issue that you have chosen to ignore.

I thought my problem was unique until I came across hundreds of posts with the same issue. Considering the money that Apple charges versus a PC, which we are willing to pay for a quality product, it saddens me that Apple has chosen to ignore this issue and will definitely impact future purchases.

If you want to hold on to the faithful Mac users that line your pockets with money to feed and provide shelter for your family, I suggest you take responsibility and rectify the situation.

I am unemployed, and this laptop is the only mobile resource I have when visiting a potential client, so please think hard before responding with a lame form letter.

Regards,
Bryan J Zimmerman

it's been 3 months since i posted my original message and by using a cooling pad and being extra cautious i managed to buy myself enough time to actually raise some funds for a new laptop.

i was in for a nasty surprise today as I took the machine off its cooling pad and pretty much allowed the GPU to overheat by placing it directly on a table surface and running it under high load for a bit. that lead to a halt (the usual graphics freeze). i restarted. then the picture i saw scared me and i thought i had finally lost my mac. it was all random pixels and distorted lines everywhere on the screen. i shut it down again, allowed it to cool off, then booted it up, disabled quartz extreme, and restarted.

this is a funny situation as my machine now runs cooler than it used to, and the hit on the cpu is lower than i previously reported. MBP on my laptop as I write, and CPU at 54C (GPU at 48). it certainly makes the computer useable for browsing and casual work. i am yet to try it under really high load (Logic). i've also switched youtube to html5 so flash video is less in my way. hopefully this will buy me another week of time (since i really wanted to wait for apple's upcoming announcement).

i know this is no remedy, but as far as failures go, this is pretty much organic (i.e. gradually degrades), and i am actually quite fascinated with my failing computer. it has earned back its money (many times) so outside of ATI's poor manufacturing, and Apple's aggressive thermal design, I have little to complain about.

I don't expect Apple to suddenly send us each a new laptop, and this thread is our little support group here, so yeah, exercise damage control, and if you're after a quick fix, and don't use the 3D features of the card (like for games or graphics-intensive apps), try disabling quartz extreme. you'll recognise it's disabled by the look of the apple logo in the menu bar. it's ever so slightly different with QX disabled.

Well after reading apples profits are up by 50%, and the new iPad which im sure will sell in droves and make more money for apple boosting there shares, maybe theyd now like to deal with this ever growing back catalogue of failing devices, but i doubt they will somehow, pity.

Not sure myself about his iPad thing though, especially if the main focus is on books, like ive not handled an iPad, but ive tried these other tablets and for reading there just not as tactile as a book, anyway, ive gone off subject sorry.

Be nice if apple stepped up to the mark, but like alot of people here i doubt it will happen. Ive filled out the feedback form, funny how you get no reply to your feedback, which leads me to believe the traffic is all one way, especially after my low experience when i went to an apple store to rty and sort this out. Now im in Germany with not a great deal of Apple support nearby.

So, I just brought my Ati X1600 MBP to an appointment with an Apple Genius at their newly opened Apple store in Frankfurt / Germany.

After my talk with a higher rank apple tech rep in Ireland in late summer 09 went with only a big "sorry can't do", I hadn't had much hope left.

I prepared myself with plenty of printouts and copies of websites, forum entries, even the SFMlaw website. all in all a stack of 40+ pages.

I approached the Genius guy and after explaining what was wrong with my MBP instantly got a "well, we don't have any record on that" along with "Well, you know, there's a lot of stuff written in the forums, we always take that with a grain of salt" I flipped through the printed pages and showed him that there's hundreds of other users having the exact same problem ... to no avail, he simply went straight by the book, told me that the only solution would be a costy logic board swap as it is long out of waranty.
... Boy I expect you to be a genius, as it says right on that blue belly badge of yours, what you told me is standard 'best-buy' jibber jabber at best, yes you were kind and polite, but you didn't help me as expected. I would expect apple staff to go through their forums, pick out significant topics and at least brief their genius bar personell on issues (not talking about acknowledgments here, just briefings)

So I went home even more frustraded as when I went in. Guy next to me brought a perfectly running G4 Powerbook to the genius bar with only a minor mail software issue, and walking the aisles of that brand new store with brand new unibody MBPs on either side was somewaht awkward as well.

<Edited by Host>

Well my MacBook Pro has finally died. I can't even start it up without giant triangles across the screen resulting in a frozen system. It's now sits on a shelf. I can't believe I paid nearly $2500 for this machine in 2006 and now it's totally useless and Apple has nothing to say about it.

yup - join the club buddy.
:((

This thread describes the severe problems that I have with my original MacBook Pro (and its ATI X1600) perfectly. It started slow and subtle - tiny pixel artifacts, lines, gradients, but has progressed to be ever more severe and more frequently - to the point that my external monitor won't even accept input from my MBP anymore.

Overall this model has been a complete disaster. I knew there would probably be more problems than usual since it was a "first generation", but I had no idea that it would be a total lemon. I pray that Apple will at least do something about it to fix the problems so I can continue to use my computer.

I don't usually take the time to post to forums, but I felt compelled to register solely so that I could report these exact same problems as everyone else.

Thanks,

John

Well this post is for Apple and will probably be deleted, should these computers just stop working after 2,3 or even 4 years, if they are not abused in any way.

I took this from an earlier post of mine.

Why has not anyone acknowledge this problem from within Apple. Will it just cost too much money to cover a design flaw or is ATI to blame, which I find amusing since Nvidia already acknowledged the issue. Which shows there was a issue with design right from the beginning.

I know the answer to this of course which is no one wants to accept blame and it will cost money to resolve the issue, unless you purchased the Nvidia version of this Macbook Pro, which now provides assistance to their owners. Congrats Nvidia....

As the problem keeps getting more and more prevalent will Apple accept this problem and make good. WOW is all I can say considering the awesome release I just saw on the internet regarding the IPAD.

Once again I state that I love Apple for pushing the industry technologically, but please acknowledge when their is a problem.

Also just ending my thought I find it funny that in each county I read a post from, the answers sound the same. This makes me think that apple is really aware of the problem but has formulated a verbal solution to accommodate us. This particularly goes to the people who work in customer relations or the Geniuses at the Genius bars.

The IPAD is a first generation product and although it looks awesome, I really have to hesitate just a moment to purchase, due to the fact it is a first generation product.

Same problem here. My MB is dying every 2 hours at least.

issues:
- horizontal lines on screen
- screen begins get brighter and brighter
- total system freeze (reboot required)