Q: MacBook Pro screen blinks

Okay I'm getting this flicker issue now. I had upgraded my HD to a 500GB 7200 RPM Seagate Momentous (which improved the speed of my CS5:)) I did notice that when I'm running on the low power video (on board) it would flicker just as everyone described. If I ran it with the high performance video there was absolutely no flicker. I them swapped out my hd and put in the OEM. It's no longer flickering but I think its a fluke. If I boot from the seagate hd using usb I still get the flicker so I don't think its related to the drive (e.g. power consumption turning up the heat). It seems when it gets to a certain temp is when it start flickering. Right now I have the NB on my lap and it is only lukewarm. No issues. I'm going to harass Apple as I need this along with the big internal disk for my Photshop CS5.

Recieved my MPB back from repair yesterday.

They changed the Logic board. And I've had no flickering as of yet.

Will see how it goes over the next week

I had my MacBook Pro repaired at the Apple Depot for this very issue in late May. The motherboard was replaced, and for a while, the flickering was gone. But about two weeks ago, it started again. It's going to have to be repaired one more time, but I'm beginning to despair that this problem will ever be resolved

48+ Hours since MBP has arrived at the store (tracking confirmations), however, after store employees have said it needed to be tested, then it had not been delivered, and we'll call you>>> Going to get it in the morning and see how it goes.

How many repairs to your original MBP did you have to endure before you received an i5 replacement MBP?

By the way, has it been noted that with an external display attached with MBP in closed clamshell mode, there's no flickering, even with the 9400M video processor?

Sorry to hear the problem returned; I know that feeling of crushing disappointment at seeing the first "blink" happen again…

Since you ask, I went through waiting for four repairs…

1/ Logic board replacement
2/ RAM replacement
3/ Another logic board replacement
4/ Yet another logic board replacement

Although the fourth repair was because the new logic board from the third repair had a faulty headphone socket (it may have had the blinking issue too, but I didn't use it for long enough to find out). Check out my other posts in this thread for all the details

Time wise, each repair took about a week, then the replacement took nearly three weeks to arrive because the new range had only just been launched and had a small waiting time - and also because of the volcanic ash cloud. The first repair started 4th March, and the replacement arrived on 28th April, one day short of eight weeks later…

It sounds like what is needed is a motherboard revision. What is the point of all these repeated repairs if their just replacing faulty/unreliable parts with the same faulty/unreliable parts?

Is there any evidence that the late 2009 MBP motherboard underwent or has undergone a revision?

I get the same problem.
Apple reseller told me they can't re-produce the problem.
The change my RAM : still have flash flashes.
Get back to Apple Reseller this afternoon.

Very hangry

Have to call Apple!
The reseller don't have any idea...

Hi all,

I recently also received a new i5 2.4ghz replacement to my oct 08 C2D 2.4ghz MBP 15''.

Throughout my trips to the service centre, i always had this issue of the engineers not being able to reproduce the screen flickers. So what i did was to attempt to record videos of the screen blinks from home and take it to the service centre to show it to them instead. That worked for me eventually after having the screen and logic board each replaced twice, each being replaced on separate occasions...

It's worth a try.

I found this on a CNET post of all places. Give it a shot. I'll post my results. If it fails, I'll be back. If it works, I'll post back at the end of the work day.

"Force the display to restart Press these keys to force the display to reset:

control-shift-eject

(you may have to press some keys to restart the display after it shuts off)"

Interesting. So far no blinking. Safari crashed, but otherwise, no blinking yet. I still have it set to better battery, pretty much all day. So far so good, for today at least.

It's back. As soon as you shut down the MBP and start up again, the blinking comes back. I turn off my MBP to head home. Turned it on, logged in, a few seconds later Mr. Blinky is back. Several times for last few min. Hit the reset display. Mr. Blinky is now gone. That is till the next shut down and re-start.

I've also found this problem on my MBP while I visiting an website. check out the video I record, it's amazing~

http://v.youku.com/vshow/idXMTk3MjU5MjA4.html