Q: MacBook Pro screen blinks

You're right, I reapplied the thermal paste using Arctic Silver 5 and the flickering still exist in 9400M.

On the side note, it was worth the try. Because the machine is running much much cooler now with the new paste. Even on 9600M GT, after cold boot it will just require the fan to spin in 2000-3000rpm (it was 5000rpm at least), and 3400rpm while I'm working.

The original paste from factory was sloppy and too much.

Would be great if Apple could listen and release firmware/solution for our problem

Yes, I still have a little faith on that hope. They could 'fix' my random shutdown syndrome –first generation MacBook by releasing a patch back in 2006, and I still think they could do it again now.

I am having the same issue. My late 2008 15" MBP has screen flickers. Apple replaced the logic board since I am still under Apple Care. I just noticed the screen flicker again on the repaired MBP.

I had the same issue at My late 2008 15" MBP. It has screen flicker or blink every few minutes.

Apple replaced the logic board 2 times and replaced LCD 1 times, but the screen still flicker or blink.

Okay, I feel slightly like an idiot here, but I don't know anything at all about hardware- what is the 9400/9600 stuff? If I understand correctly that it's graphics card settings, how can I see what my current settings are?

(Of course, my entire question might be moot, since I'm using a MacBook, not MBP, but I'm having the same screen flickering issue raised here.)

My late 2008 15" MBP has had the flickering problem for a long time now.  They have replaced the logic board twice now, but the prblem remains.  On the last day of my Apple Care I took it in again, for one last try, and the Genius said that it was a software problem and there was nothing they could do about it.

I filled in the survey saying the problem was not resolved and submitted another feedback report aith Apple and a few days later got a call from the Genius Admin at the store asking me to bring it in again so they could run some tests.  So, I made the 1 hour+ round trip back to the store to drop it off.

A couple of days later they called back to say they were going to replace the display (didn't make much sense to me, since it seems to only affect the 9400M, but what the heck) but that the part was on back order so I could come and pick up the machine while they waited for the part.  I picked up the machine, and the very next day they called to say that the part had arrived, so today I made the trip again.

The Genuis this time spent some time in the back room and then came back out and said that there wasn't any point in changing the display since it won't fix the problem and gave some BS about this being normal for this chipset, blah, blah.  Needless to day I wasn't very happy, so I left the store without picking up the iPhone 4S I had reserved - not like I'm going to give them more money if this is how they are going to jerk me around.

So, now my Apple Care has expired I'm not expecting them to be particularly helpful, but I suppose I'll be going back in tomorrow when things are hopefully quieter and a manager is around to discuss this latest round of "support".  It a shame, because generally they have been pretty helpful, even if they haven't been able to resolve the issue.

UPDATE:

Almost 2 months without my mac, still waiting for the parts (second logic board and second display)

I can't believe this nightmare

I must have been a squeaky enough wheel - Apple called me back and said they would replace my MacBook, so I now have a brand-new Late-2011 MacBook Pro.   So, if you are having this issue - keep showing up at the Genius Bar until they get sick of seeing you!

Excellent!  Unfortunately for those of us who can't part with their machines for the time it takes to have parts replaced, this underscores the belief that there isn't much to be done to fix this problem. 

charlie

replacing the logic board worked for me (until now at least, it's been a month without issues)

so I'd definitely recommend trying that.

regarding those who can't solve the issue even after changing it many times, it would seem to me that 80% (?) of the existing nvidia 9400m and 9600m chips are faulty crap anyway, so you have to be very lucky with the replacement…

I have a late 2008 15" MBP with 2.8Ghz.

I bought it when they came out.

The chipset was replaced by the local Genius Bar when it was out of warranty and I don't have Apple Care.

The original problem was a memory error.

The replacement chipset is showing the black blinking when running with the 9400 graphics.

Besides the battery being so weak, this is very annoying.

Has anyone got a replacement chipset that actually doesn't have this problem?

My late 2008 15" MBP 2.4Ghz has been doing this.  They replaced the logic board, the display and the thermal module and it's still flickering black every so often.  (still under apple care for a bit)

They've had it twice since then and they claim it's just switching between the video cards (even though it's not doing anything graphically intensive).

Basically, they said switch it to higher performance in the power preferences and that should solve it.

Apparently my choice is:

Horrible battery life, or

screen flickering.

hey, my late 2008 2,53 Ghz is doing the same flickering after my logic board has been replaced last week (on last day of apple care ) due to some other problems I had/have with my MBP. So I'm thinking about going to my Apple Store and annoy them again and again till they replace the logic board again (still 3 months of warranty for my "new" board) or just keep it as it is and accept that apple isnt the kind of company I loved anymore...

what would you guys do? I'm kinda tired of running into our local store and talk and discuss with the genius'. On the one hand I could annoy them just as OldSparky did and get a new MBP. on the other hand it's just an premium reseller so they wont be able to do me such a favor and give me a late 2011 MBP.

My actual question is: is there anyone having more or worse problems after one year, two years...? I mean, can I just live with it and it will just flicker again and again or is it going to screw up my MBP in the end? It would be pretty sad if that happens after half a year or so. I would definetly regret  that I didnt replace the logic board earlier...

(Sorry for my bad English, Im German ^^)

Message was edited by: mario181088

Late 2008 MBP here. I started getting the flickering after switching to the better graphics card and then back to the integrated one through the power settings. It's just a harmless flicker so far, about two years, so I doubt it will ever be a serious problem. My apple care ran out, so I'll just get a new MBP eventually (this one is getting dated anyway). It seems like a software issue that they could sort out, but apparently replacing tons of logic boards or giving out new MBPs is more cost effective than assigning a senior software engineer to this task for a day or two.

From following this thread for a couple months, it seems the best approach is to just go through their hoops (replacing the logic board a couple of times) until they give you a new MBP. I didn't opt for this because I use this machine for work and don't want to be without it for even a week.

It's possible that the screen doesn't flicker on the other graphics card.

An enterprising lawyer could start a class-action lawsuit that might spur them to fix the problem. Whatever.

Side note: if your single-button trackpad is sticking, the problem is the battery has warped -- you can get a free replacement. Mine had 600 cycles; free replacement, no questions asked. To test this, take the battery out, put it on a flat surface, and it should not wobble.

Did you have anything replaced. i just ahd my logic board replace and the screen started to flicker on the better battery perfomance mode. how many times did you bother apple to try and resolve your issue with you MBP.

I had the logic board replaced twice - maybe 3 times, since one of those times it was in for over a week while they waited for another part, but I'm not sure what that was exactly.  I also visit the genuis bar several other times to discuss the problem, the usual response being that they know about the issue and were working on a software fix for it, so replacing hardware wouldn't help.  On the last time, there was a mix up with telling me to bring it in for a display replacement, then arriving and being told there wasn't any point replacing the display since it wouldn't fix the issue.  It was after that visit that they offered a replacement, which I readily accepted, and which demonstrated the outstanding support we should expect from Apple on a premium product.