MacBook Pro screen blinks

I don't have an external monitor that I can connect unfortunately (my G4's monitor has an ADC connector and I don't have a conversion cable).

how about a lcd tv? I tested mine on a Sony LCD TV...

That's a good idea, but we don't have any LCD TVs... yet (I'm working on it).

I just realised that I forgot to post an update after my last visit to the repair place; they had it a week and didn't notice the blinking once. They asked me to keep a log of it and then bring it back once it'd happened a dozen or more times, and then they could force the logic board back to Apple and get a new one for my MBP.

Repair time was estimated at a week.

I'm going to try an Apple Store tonight instead; I'm hoping that they might have the logic boards there and not have to wait for them to be shipped from Holland. I don't expect to get it fixed tonight, but I am hoping it'll be quicker than elsewhere!

be really honest, i don't think this is a hw issue at this stage (And I don't want so). I will wait until Apple have another update on the OS or GPU first before carry in for service.

Just my 2 cents

I've had the problem with or without AC power and before and after 10.5.6. I usually use the integrated chipset so I can't confirm if it's a 9400 realted problem.. It happens every 10 min or so...

I've also experienced complete system lock-ups while running graphic intensive apps with either graphic card. After a few hours of use video freezes with no glitches and audio goes on loop. Only a restart will fix it....

HELP!

I'm just adding my name to the list. I never really used the integrated chipset so it took me a while to notice this. I always had the external display issue though.

Mine also has the artifacting problem. Random dark lines that appear (mostly on the left side) on the screen for a split second.

Backlighting is also sub-par...

Really disappointing coming from Apple. When I bought my computer it was the best laptop in Apple's mobile line, and for it to be deffective like this and have such poor backlighting is incredibly frustrating.

It's a beautiful machine, but if it doesn't function properly, it's useless.

Same problem here. ONLY when using the 9400. Question is, do we take them into the Genius Bar, let them hack up my new machine by replacing a screen or logic board to no avail, or report it to apple and wait for an update that might fix the problem. Just how many people have had the problem completely fixed by getting a different machine? Seems like only a few...

How many are being offered a new machine though? And has anyone who has had a new machine had the same problem happen on that one too?

Mine is getting another new LED panel and a new logic board this time; repair estimated at a couple of days, from an Apple Store. I'll post back once I have it back...

Melissa Holmes wrote:
Mine has behaved like this under both 10.5.5 and 10.5.6, so how do you figure it's a software issue?

I think its software issue because when i formated my mbp and installed osx 10.5.5 everything was fine for a few days until i installed the update (10.5.6)and the blinking came back! I think i`ll wait for the next update and if the problem remains i `ll take it back for repair.

I am quite sure that flickering appear when computer's CPU and GPU load is high for a long time.
It might be some kind of overheating issue, so it doesn't depend on what OS version you're running.

It might just be that it got worse under 10.5.6 and you didn't notice it in the short time you had 10.5.5?

I've kept a log of when mine has blinked for the past week or so:

Friday 30 Jan 2009 -- 2x
Saturday 31 Jan 2009 -- none
Sunday 1 Feb 2009 -- 1x
Monday 2 Feb 2009 -- 8x
Tuesday 3 Feb 2009 -- 16x
Wednesday 4 Feb 2009 -- 22x
Thursday 5 Feb 2009 -- 5x
Friday 6 Feb 2009 -- 6x
Saturday 7 Feb 2009 -- 2x
Sunday 8 Feb 2009 -- 6x
Monday 9 Feb 2009 -- 3x
Tuesday 10 Feb 2009 -- 14x
Wednesday 11 Feb 2009 -- 27x (up until 17:30)

I don't use my laptop much at weekends, but otherwise generally use it all day long plus the evenings too... but had I been looking away from the screen there's quite a few days where I might not have noticed the blinking issue. I have no idea if there's any significance to the blinking jumping up so much on both of the Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and had I not taken it to the Apple Store last night, I'm sure it would have been much higher yesterday.

Mine isn't related to the load or heat; it has blinked twice on mine within 30 seconds of it being switched on (after being off for several hours).

Has anybody noticed the flickering if having a flash.animation on the website?

OK so my other MBP pro finally fell over two days ago ...It was an old one.. but that forced me into buying another new one ( I have to have two...don't ask)

So i picked it up first thing on Wednesday morning from Regent street and asked the guy what the deal was with returning it... "14 days".. "what if the screen starts blinking ?"... "Bring it back"..... "What if i am not in the country?"... "you can only return it to a UK store"!!!!!...

Anyhow i am now in Bangkok... and the bloody screen just winked at me....
It is 10.5.6....BUT my other one was blinking on 10.5.5 OOB.....

Anyway..this is all pointless.. just having a whinge... what say everyone who is in London with a blinking screen converges on Regent street at the same time and demands action!!!!! STAND UP FOR YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY !!!!

NOT GOOD ENOUGH

Ehmm...

I'am a little bit confused.....

Is this thread about the backlit-flickering or the "black-bar-appearing" of many mbp users??