MacBook Pro screen blinks

Late 2008 MBP15, 2.4 here. I've followed this thread on occasion since I've owned my laptop...actually bought it October 15th, 2008. Noticed the screen flicker the first time within a month or two of owning it. Only on the 9400M card and only when the laptop is not connected to an external monitor. Flicker has gotten progressively worse (handful of times a month to multiple times a day) since then and it's kind of sad they won't own up to the faulty GPU design (basically the same problem as the 8600 series before it). Just so the newcomers are clear about the flicker...there is a fraction of a second black flash on the top half of the screen. Used to be the top 1/4 and now its more like 1/2-2/3...obviously hardware issues and my warranty expired last fall. Works like a boss tho while connected to my U2311H. If it didnt get ridiculously hot on the 9600GT i would rock that all the time off charger.

That said, it's pretty funny I'm considering buying a "first gen" next design whenever they release one since this one worked out so well.

I've had the very same problem for ages, and I'm a bit fed up of waiting for an apple solution. It seems they don't give a S for all of us.

About one year after buying it, it started flickering and so it continues ever since (about once or twice every 5 minutes).

If Apple does not address it seriously, I'm really considering not buying any other Apple item again (they are just too expensive to have such unaddressed problems!).

Message was edited by: Albaert

I would ask to talk with the store manager and demand that they give you a new computer if your warranty hasn't run out.

If that doesn't work, I would at least tell the better business bureau http://www.bbb.org/

Apple has released an EFI update to address this issue.

See: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1502 to download or run software update on your computer.

"This update is recommended for MacBook Pro (15-inch, late 2008) models. The update resolves a graphics issue that may cause the internal display to flicker."

I can't belive it ! 😮 🙂 😎 Just in time for 100th page! Let's try!

LMAO! Three years and thousands of ignored post.... I can't wait to try this and see if it fixes the most annoying and embarassing defect on the MBP.

Doesn't sound promising. According to Apple, this update is specific to 2008 15" models. I had the flickering problem on a 17" 2010 model.

Hm.. I have the Late 2008 15" MBP Unibody 2,53ghz and It wont let me run the update..

"

Alert

This software is not supported on your system

"

Baffled... I have the flickering screen problem!!!

Installed successfully!

Late 2008 MacBookPro5,1 15" 2,53 GHz Cache L2:6 MB Memory:8 GB bus: 1,07 GHz OSX10.6.8

Now I have Boot ROM: MBP51.007E.B06.

Just let us know after a few days if it seems to fix the problem. No need for hundreds of "I installed it too!" posts. Thanks.

We already know that some affected models aren't going to be fixed by this, because it won't install.

Great. Let us know if it blinks after you change your setting to better battery mode.

It seems that with my 5,1 15" it works... I don't know how but it seems to work... I installed it and switched on 9400go, and in this hour of use I have not seen any flickering. Before I was always on 9600 because my mbp used to flicker 2-3 times per second... so I think this patch is successfull. Yes... after 3 years they have done something working OMG. And a software fix seems to fix an hardware bug... Something is not clear.

I can confirm this update worked, no more screen blinks! Thanks Apple

I bet they disabled something in the video card that caused the flickering. It would make little sense otherwise. Glad I exchanged mine for a 2011 one in time, but at least they did something.. 2 months ago they treated me as an alien with a rare problem.. as if I were the only one..

ok quick update... You need to have 10.7.3 for this update to work.. I was on 10.7.2 when I couldnt get the installer to work...