MacBook Pro screen blinks

Appple has had my computer for almost two weeks with this problem. I haven't gotten any updates and they're not sure when it will be done.

So far, I haven't read anybody saying that the problem got solved by Apple. The only way people got it solved was by getting a new mac book pro...

But for that you need to have apple care. I don't have apple care, so I am not going to pay 700€ to get my mother board or graphic card change if I am not even sure that it is going to fix the problem...

My 2008 MBP was shipped to Apple Engineering as a test machine to develop a fix in May of this year. As of that date, to my knowledge, Apple was aware of the problem but did not have a fix. I was told this was a hardware problem (the soldering of the Nvidia graphics chip) and my computer would be used to study the issue so future products didn't have the same problems.

From what I've heard of the late 2008 and later models, I believe there are two issues, one that affects only the 2008 models and another that affects 2008 - 2010 models. The one only affecting the 2008 model, like mine, is a hardware issue. The one that spans the other generations may be a software issue but I don't believe they know what's causing it, as 10.7.0 or 10.6.8 would have solved them.

From my experience, I believe the Apple Store Geniuses and even Store Managers have not been breifed on the issue. The store I went to had never heard of the problem. However, the Apple Care rep had. If you have the 2008 model with the screen flickering problem, I would phone Apple Care, ask to talk to a technician or someone who knows about the issue.

Hope this helps.

I have the same issue. I out of warranty, and the only offer apple has made is to charge me some amount to replace the mother board. Seeing as how this option has not solved the problem for other people, I declined. I recently tried a clean install of Lion, but had no success.

Checked in my MacBook Pro (Late 2008) on August 1st. It's been two weeks and my repair status online still say "on hold". Gave AppleCare yet another call today, said it'll be ready in two days. Really doubt it, since they left a voicemail last Thursday indicating it'll be ready today, Monday. It's really frustrating since I just got a new iPad 2 and couldn't activate it; had to use someone else's Mac.

Finally received my MacBook Pro. It seems like they've fixed my flickering issue. Then again, I've only had it for a couple of days. If anyone else have the flickering issue, check it in with Apple - just be prepared for a long wait.

When I called Apple about this issue before, I got a really nice guy that seemed determined on MAKING ME HAPPY. I told him I absolutely love Apple and their Macs, considering all my PC experiences have been aweful, and that I am in love with my Macbook Pro and hate seeing it go through this whole flickering problem. He told me to chill out on hold while he got someone from the Technical Department on the line for me, so he could help me. I waited for a total of 3-5 minutes before I was transferred to someone. This guy was very nice, and he listened to everything I said. I had gotten TERRIBLE service before, from the store I went to take my computer to get repaired (its also the same store I bought this computer at) and the horrible customer service I recieved over the phone. He told me to take it to an actual Apple Store, and they can run a correct test to see what is causing my flickering.

He then told me if they couldn't fix the problem there, that they'd send it out to the Apple Depot to get repaired, then get it sent back to me. He also said that if these repairs didn't fix the problem at all and it came back, that I'd get a brand new macbook pro for free, considering this problem is ON FILE at Apple. He actually pulled out the file while on the phone with me! He told me until I could get my computer in for repairs, to set it to the 9600GT graphics card as a temporary fix. He told me it would make my computer run hotter (now i'm having issues with THAT), but it should stop the flickering for now. I'm hoping to take this in for repairs once I can back up all my files onto my portable Hard Drive.

I predict they cannot fix your machine. Oh, they mean well. They will try replacing some stuff. And the blinking, which seems to take some months to develop and is intermittent in any case, might be gone for a while. But it will come back, I think. So, hold out for the new machine!

charlie

Well, my computer seems to run fine on the 9600 card for now (besides the overheating to the point where it makes my computer rage on me and shut down on its own, which RARELY happens) but the "repair" that the store did on it... pfff. All they did was replace my optics drive because it wasn't functioning. The guy there told me he sat in front of my computer and played something on the screen for 5 hours and the screen did not flicker once. When I told the technician at Apple he could not believe what he just heard. He told me that it was deffinitly NOT the way to solve this issue and set out to find a solution to keep me happy. His answer and honesty certainly left me satisfied, considering the fact that my Macbook Pro was a graduation present from my parents to help me with school. I still love Apple, but this machine could do with a little more improvment.

If the gears were already in motion at that post, how come my late 2008 MacBook Pro has developed an intermittent screen flash with no known association to anything like time being used, software open, etc.! I've switched the chip in energy saving preferences (nothing on that screen itself says anything about a chip! not that I'm an ignoramus or anything, of course!). My question was whether this was a sign that my screen would, one fine day, just quit! I'll try this out and hope it's the answer.

Thanks to all of you for the information.

I had my 2008 mbp screen fixed for a known problem as detailed in this thread: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3129785

The folks at the Vancouver (Canada) Apple Store ran its serial number, and then replaced my screen at no charge, even though it was out of Apple Care. Nice.

Unfortunately, after I got it back I noticed the flicker you all are talking about. I fear they may have damaged the graphics card while replacing the screen.

When I turn on "higher performance" in Energy Saver, it seems to eliminate the flicker.

If the issue for the 2008 mbp is a faulty solder on the card, could the screen replacement have made that worse?

I'll have to take it back to the Store and hope for the best.

That's nice they replaced the screen. But it's funny/odd because not long before I started having the screen blink issue, Apple had replaced my screen (I forget the details.) Anyway, it was still under warranty after the blink issue started. I persisted taking it back to the Apple Store/dealer and eventually they replaced my laptop.

As suggested by Apple I started using the 9600M GT with the result that the problem remains, even if it occurs less frequently, but now the MacBook Pro a lot warmer to the point that it becomes difficult to use on the leg.

I've always seen these high temperatures with fear was my fear that something might be affected, and this morning it happened, the screen is now dissected O_O

Like every morning I opened the laptop to check emails, and then made to close the screen when ... crack! ... The screen is low-cut and now I'm afraid to close the screen of the MacBookPro!!!

I have the same problem, where the top part of my screen blinks every once in a while. I hope Apple recognizes this problem and will eventually repair this issue at no charge.

Apple replaced my Logic board for the third time and I thought it was a good point to cut and run.

The third logic board was instaled along with a new screen and battery, after which the machine worked and I sold it to buy a 17" i7... and guess what - a whole other can of worms because it seems the 24" Cinema display doesn't like the new thunderbolt port. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2765598?answerId=16024210022#16024210022

So I jumped from the pot into the fire. The £2000 I spent on the new machine has exactly the same problem when connected to my less-than-two-year-old-only-works-with-apple-products-monitor. Exept it's worse.