Q: MacBook Pro screen blinks

basilmir wrote:
Now my macbook works perfectly, if not better …

With all due respect, that's not correct. Having to switch graphics card to maintain functionality is not a valid solution to the issue.

@basilmir, having to switch to the battery draining 9600 card is not a solution at all. On top of that, when using the 9600 card, my system freezes completely every now and then.

I also use gfxcardstatus and switching card doesn't solve the problem. Right now my 9400 hasn't flickered in about 15 minutes, but that's rare. I can tell you that most probably the flickering will start again on your machine as well.

The problem has NOT been resolved.

I agree, that's not a solution but I also agree that it seems like something to do with Snow Leopard. My macbook pro was fine under Leopard, then as soon as I upgraded to Snow Leopard problems arose- much hotter, fans on much of the time and then this blinking. My replacement machine I got a couple of weeks back records similar cpu temps as the old one but is massively cooler to touch and quiet as a mouse.

Has anyone who didn't do any kind of upgrade/re-install had the blinking in Leopard (or Snow Leopard if it’s a newer machine)?

Do you guys have the 10.6 OS or under ? Because I have the 10.5.8 and I have the flickering, but not that often. Just that when it starts it flickers a lot!

If the graphic card is the problem, it is clear that the problem we have doesn't come from us using our machines is a wrong way. And it is cleary not normal degradation of the material.
So clearly it is not a discount on a new machine that we should get, but a new computer!
I mean the problem comes from Apple or Nvidia, I don't care but they have to be responsible of their mistakes!
It will cost them, and thats too bad, but it happens to every company to make mistakes and it is ok. What makes the difference is how the company deals with it and takes care of the problem.

In this situation it is not really a responsible answer to the problem from Apple.

The problem is not the "card" per se but a long standing problem with overheating of the graphics processor (GPU) (http://bit.ly/GoogleNvidiaOverHeating).

It might be a very telling and interesting experiment if someone has the capability of putting an air conditioning vent directly into the back of the laptop while it is running, keeping it undertemp and using the NVidia GForce 9400N setting (efficient slower setting).

has anyone out of warranty attempted to modify the chipset cooling at all? or would be willing to to see if it corrects the issue?

also, i agree that this issue did not ship with the product and only became observable after a significant time of ownership.. I very much believe it is a software issue, or related to long term damage from overheating..

Message was edited by: spyd4r

Okay went back to the apple store, Said they'd replace the logic board again the display. He came back and said we'll replace the unit. I said I needed expresscard. So now I'm getting a new 17" i5. Kinda big but worth it.

Happy ending

OK but you've got applecare or not?

oliv. wrote:
OK but you've got applecare or not?

Yes, they do. (I wondered the same so looked back at the thread).

Still, there must've been some acknowledgement of an inherent fault with the machine for them to replace it. Was there any engineers report or the like, mbpflickermadness?

If you go under Preferences you can set it to switch automatically to 9400m while on battery and 9600gt while on AC.

This way, my "perception" of the problem has decreased. It does not happen that often any more, and i still get good battery life AND a few blinks while on battery.

On AC it's rock solid.

I agree there is an issue with it, and we'll probably have to wait 2 years like the 8600gt to get any kind of attention.

As for modifying the cooling system, i think a good service shop and a solution similar to the XBOX graphics chip failure.
I think heating the mainboard, and using a special "glue" to hold the chip in place will do the trick. I plan to find such a shop and post the results.

Message was edited by: basilmir

basilmir wrote:
If you go under Preferences you can set it to switch automatically to 9400m while on battery and 9600gt while on AC.

I don't think it works that way.

Yes apple care. Uh… well the first time I went in for the logic board they didn't even wanna look at the videos they just grabbed it and repaired it. This time though I had to show videos and he said. "we can't get it to do the same thing again". So he said we'll replace the logic board and display. Then they didn't have any displays so they would replace the logic board then see if that fixed it, if not display. He was gone for about 20mins and he said he talked to the head and he said it's not worth it to keep fixing over and over again. I said that was fine.

So really they did not admit there was something wrong, Just that they did not want to fix it anymore. I didn't hear anything about engineers report or anything. It did not even flicker in the store. So i'm not sure what to tell you. They just seemed to wanna make this the last time I came in.
However the fist time a guy did seem to know about it.
I really don't think that theres a policy to replace them or whatever.
Sorry.

My late 2008 macbook pro has been suffering screen problems recently,looks like static lines flashing up randomly all over the screen. It's 1 line at at time,the whole width of the screen,but they happen every few seconds and it puts a real strain on your eyes.

Switch to the 9600 card and the problem goes away.

I reset the the pram and the problem went away for a few hours,but then reappeared.

Have now installed gfx card status and the problem has gone away,been flicker free for the past 24 hours!

So I take it this means it must be a software issue rather than a hardware issue?

sabatier1 wrote:

So I take it this means it must be a software issue rather than a hardware issue?

Maybe, maybe not. Until Apple respond, all we can do is speculate.

Well considering this thread started back in 2008 I unfortunately don't hold out too much hope,which is a problem for all of us.