Q: MacBook Pro screen blinks

Hey..

I think you should go for an macbook repair store in order to get it fixed.

Hey..

Take it any macbook repair service center. they will fix it for u./

Update: after multiple failed attempts to diagnose the problem and many, many repairs, Apple replaced my computer.

Today I've have notice the flickering more then ever after having my MBP for 2 years, and I have researched the problem and found that it's due to hardware failure dude to the Nvidia 9400M chipset. This is my 1st MBP and I have been really happy with it, since I bought it. I have friends that have PowerBooks which are still running to this day so I was hoping that it will last me for a long time, but it seems it won't.

For anyone who runs into this, this is what fixed for me for my 2008 Macbook Pro:

Open System Preferences, click Energy Saver, and select “Higher performance." This will restart your computer and use a different graphics chip.

Unfortunately, this isn't a fix; it's a workaround.  Sure, the flickering stops, but now your battery life is considerably less and the laptop runs hotter.

There is a reason for the shared graphics and a reason for the dedicated graphics.  But switching to one doesn't solve the problem with the other.

This is still a really nice laptop, BoricuaFez, so don't let this one instance sour you on MacBook Pros.  It's also not likely a "failure" of the Nvidia chips.  If anything, it's a problem with drivers or some other design issue but not a 'failure' per se as the shared graphics still works (see my last para for why I don't think it's a failure of the graphics card).

Just an update for everyone on my issue with this.  In addition to this flickering issue, my ethernet port stopped working at some point.  When I took the MBP in to the local Apple Store the Genius said he really didn't know if they could do anything to repair the flickering but since it might be a logic board, they'd attack the ethernet port first and hopefully replacing the logic board would take care of both.  After a week in shop, they have replaced the logic board twice.  Each time there are separate problems with the logic board (not able to serialize it and other issues).  However, I had to have the laptop for a business trip this week and the Apple Store folks have been really good and got it to me in a semi-working state (it does what I need to do though I am limited in some things (i.e. can't do a software update and a few other things that I'm finding but I'll be able to make my presentations)).

I will return it when I come back next weekend and they'll do some more work on it.  However, I did notice this morning, the flickering is still there.  So, 2 new logic boards with brand new graphics chips and no resolution on the flickering.  Hopefully, when I return it next weekend, I'll get some final resolution to both the existing logic board issues and the flickering, either with a 100% repaired MBP or a new MBP to replace this one.  Seldom have I bought Apple Care but I'll have to say, it's been a worthwhile investment this time.

@ denrk

I also did the same thing but the problem continues to persist only occurs with less frequency.

@ Jay Hill

Yeah, my battery is consumed faster, and just as quickly in a short time increased the number of charges, now my battery is being replaced.

Same issue mbp is a month old (24" ACD),  many apl care calls later,  after senior advisor,  said update (just flickered for almost a full second i hate it) to 10.6.8 he said it is a known issue (again it flickered)  and to wait for an update since they never really make good and replace anything, so the thunderbolt firmware came out...  now its worse than ever.  asked him (senior advisor nice guy) he said keep checking software updates...?  Was told to not being it into a service center?  also have heard it could be the iphone interference  but nope.  I hope they fix it.

  C'mon Apple  stop blaming the vid card manufacture and help everyone who bought a mac for the right reason, this is my 7th i love them   but not sure anymore...:(

I like Marthas plan...but it is mr jobs  er uh i mean apple.  but my MBP took a two months to get with the Matte screen. 

nothing like spending over $2500 on a laptop and another 1000 on a screen to do design and edit videos  when you cant see what you are doing for a few seconds at random times.  especially good for showing clients

OK  check it out...  just got off the phone with the coolest senior tech ever.

  He said that it is a software issue not a hardware issue and engineering is working non stop to fix the problem!!!

  so keep checking for updates...

it is not thunderbolt either so don't worry. 

mmm 27" dual displays

When did they start working on the problem?

The problem started in 2008!

I hope they find a way to fix it, but I seriously doubt it... and will they fix it on the OSX Lion then?

My late 2008 15' MBP (5,1) had the same issue which then turned more severe.

It always ran on the 9400 chip, had the flickering screen issue for some time but one day (one year ago) my screen turn totally black. Pluging an external display, I got access to the OS and, after many trials, realized that the only way to use the MBP display was to run on the 9600 chip.

I showed it to the Genius Bar twice, my computer not being under warranty anymore, their only proposition was to change the logic board at my expense...

It has been a year now, I can only use my mbp display running the 9600 and therefore have a battery life of maximum 2 hours...

The problem has been the same from early versions of Leopard to the latest version of Snow Leopard. It is clearly a hardware issue, this chip is faulty and Apple should take care of it, like it did with the previous MBP version and the nVidia 8600 chip.

For such a pricy computer, it is unacceptable to have such a poor hardware quality and no technical answer from Apple.

Many people have this flickering screen problem, but for how many of them did it go until totally losing display using the 9400?  

Hi! I have the same problem, mine also a MacBook Pro 15' late 2008. I just upgraded to Lion and it seems to get worst, on Snow Leopard happened once or two times a day (4-6 hours working on the Mac), and now it seems to be happening 1 or 2 times every 2 hours...

I think it must be a deffective chip as the nVidia 8600. Let's hope Apple give us a solution soon, before we lost 9400 chip...

I haven't noticed any real change since moving to Lion.

charlie

Well, an update.  The MacBook Pro was in the Apple Store and had one main logic board replaced.  During their testing, it wasn't working correctly so another logic board was ordered and installed.  It, too, had some issues but I needed the laptop for a business trip and the Apple store staff was great in getting it in a semi-working state such that I could take it with me on my trip.  There were a few things that weren't right (couldn't upgrade software, couldn't access the iTunes store - didn't recognize the computer but it was working enough for what I needed.

When I returned the laptop on Saturday, they had one more logic board ready.  They told me that the first 2 were Rev 1 logic boards and the new one is a Rev 2.  They got it installed quickly and got my laptop back to me on Monday morning.  Things seemed to be okay on Monday with no recurrences but then Tuesday morning, it happened a couple of times.  The screen flashed black (only about the top 1/3 to top 1/2 in these 2 instances).  I started recording with a video camera to catch it but couldn't any more for the rest of Tuesday.  I called them and let them know and they were quite disappointed; they thought this would take care of it.  I never noticed it on Wednesday but wasn't at the computer a lot.  It happened once again on Thursday.  So, I can say that the Rev 2 board improved the situation but didn't completely fix it.

I'm traveling again for 3 weeks and told them I'd return once I got back and we could see what the options are.  I've got Apple Care through November so I'm still within plenty of time.  I can say the folks at the Knoxville, TN Apple Store have been fantastic, especially Dan and Chris.

Hi, I had a similar issue: Macbook Air 11" early 2011, external display is an Acer H233H.  With macbook shut,  only the external display would blank at random, but then I noticed that it only happened when the system was under load.  For example, start software update and plug in my iPhone to sync it would cause it to start blanking. 

Off a lark I switched from a VGA cable to DVI ... and this has solved the problem here.  Hasn't happened a single time since going from VGA -> DVI on the external display.  I've driven the load way up to over 5.00 without a single blank. 

Hopefully this will help someone else out there too.