Q: MacBook Pro screen blinks

No there is two different types of flickering one that is reproduced easily because it constantly does it and the other when you see the black bar or whatever at the top of the screen for a split second.

Then those should be different threads, no?

This thread is, or at least should be, about the black bar/fullscreen split second flash/blink, at least according to the Subject.

Again, it's just to avoid confusion: i.e., someone posts, "I have the exact same problem!!" Well, how do we know what they're referring to? It makes it hard to know just how many people have each problem, respectively, and to keep track of what's being done about it, if anything. See what I mean?

Hi All,
I haven't managed to take my laptop into the store to get it looked at again but I have found this link - I'm sure a lot of you have already looked at it but has anyone tried changing their screen settings.
I'm finding that when I change the resolution of the screen I can get the blink to happen - which might be a useful way of getting this fault to show up on demand - unless there is another reason why the screen would flash when it changes resolution?

http://www.macfixit.com/article.php?story=20081202225803851

Jamin,

I went to the store. There was a Macbook Pro (Late 2008) which had the same specs. It had internet connection so tried the following LCD-TEST: http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/inversion.php#invpattern

2b and 4b were the worst pictures. We tried it on every Mac in the store. Every other MAC, including IMAC and MACBook Pro, showed the same result. Pulsing at the pictures 4b and 2b. The only screen that didnt was the Cinema LCD 24". This LCD showed perfect results. However, it was connected to a MacBook Pro 15". So I dont think the NVidia Chip is the problem. I think the reaction time and refresh rate is worse than other Laptops.

I called Apple yesterday. They told to take a video and send it to them which I did. Now I am waiting for response.
This might be a problem with the complete series. I already thought of getting my money back and wait for a new revision.

I assume this problem still occurs on Snow Leopard? Will it (possibly) occur on a new 2009 13inch MBP?

nate123, yes I've seen the blinking problem while booted into Snow Leopard with the 9400M while using the 32-bit kernel. Maybe this is just coincidence, but I have yet to see a screen blink while booted into the 64-bit kernel. Perhaps the 64-bit drivers resolve this problem? Can anyone else boot into Snow Leopard using the 64-bit kernel (press the 6 and 4 keys while booting your MacBook Pro) and then verify if they see any screen blinks?

Grango,


I'm thinking to do the same thing just return it and wait till they fix this problem. Tis is really ridiculous. I really don't know what's going on with theses nvidia chipset but they need to address the problem. I hate when they tell you that it's within specs. I'm just really upset about this.

your right walker7366 but its too late to fix it now. Some people just probably didn't read the post entirely and then just assumed it was the other. What can we do.

We could start a new topic about the black flash/blink and then wait for the snotty "There's already a thread about this" replies linking back to this one...

So far only one person who's installed 10.6 here? I'd be interested to hear from others and see if this has resolved the flickering issue.

My story of this problem might be of help to some people...

I've been having the 'blinking' problem whereby the screen goes black for a split second, for no apparent reason and totally at random.

I reported this problem to Apple at a Genius Bar during a separate repair. Since then, they've had the machine in 3 times, each time not being able to replicate or notice the problem. To remedy it, they've fitted 2 replacement displays and even to replacement top-cases. None of the repairs have worked so far.

I thought I'd call AppleCare to ask if a replacement laptop was best. They passed me through to Customer Services who, as friendly as they were, took issue with my request. Despite telling them this appears to be a common problem, the whole 'investigation' took a very cynical tone as soon as I mentioned 'replacement'. She told me to get it checked out one last time at a Genius Bar. When I went this weekend we had a considerably longer chat, and the Genius consulted his 'Administrator', and they decided this was the last time they'd look at the issue. They couldn't prove it existed and so it was my word against theirs - without saying so, the Genius basically accused me of lying to get a replacement. My last ditch effort to get this fixed was to let them take the laptop for '7+ days' (ie. indefinitely) until they give up, but if they find nothing they're going to stop doing any diagnosis over this issue.

I'm VERY annoyed at Apple for their stance on this - making out I'm lying, having 4 repairs done (totally 6 separate Apple Store visits!) and a very condescending attitude throughout. Be warned. I'll update you all when I hear back from them.

Blinking is back even while using the 64 bit kernel on 10.6. This definitely appears to be a hardware bug. Don't hold your breath waiting for a software fix.

Curious: Anyone with one of the Early 2009 models have this blinking problem?

Problem is still around for me too. Both 9400M and 9400 on 10.6 in 32 or 64 bit kernel

Well I had heard of this fault, but had never seen it. However since I installed Snow Leopard, it has shown up. Flickering once every few minutes. It's still under warranty, but something tells me that's not going to help things.

Not sure where to turn with this one. Seems like a case of "they all do that mate".