Late 2008 MacBook Pro "blackout" screen flickering - Revised

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Level 4

3,144 points

Late 2008 MacBook Pro "blackout" screen flickering - Revised

--NOTE: I have written this thread as a continuation of the following thread, as the solution in it is slightly different from my issue. I apologize to the community for the confusion. http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2230532&tstart=0 --

Many of us Late 2008 MacBook Pro owners have been experiencing a moderate to significant screen flicker when using our MacBook Pros in Better Battery life mode, which uses the 9400 M chip. While I had thought that 10.6.2 had resolved this issue, I have since discovered that it has not. In fact, some believe, myself included, that it has made it worse, as, for me, it has been happening far more frequently.

My screen flicker is like a black frame popping in randomly. This frame does not even last a second, but it does create a "flicker" effect.

These YouTube videos show it best and are virtually identical to mine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNQofnQKrDA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EATI_kh6GOw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qODFFWbiGUI

*Does anyone think that this is indicative of a logic board problem?*

*Has anyone resolved this by going back to 10.5.8?*

I had never experienced this in Leopard.

Thanks.

"Stay hungry. Stay foolish." - Steve Jobs @ Stanford (YouTube) MB PRO 5,1, Mac OS X (10.6.2), Boot Camp, with a Windows XP Professional, with SP2, partition/ACD 23"/MB/MB Air

Posted on Nov 11, 2009 8:22 PM

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Answer 1

Trisha K

Level 1

19 points

Nov 11, 2009 8:51 PM in response to LukeD

I stay in higher performance setting but your post made me try better battery.

It happens to me too.

😟

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Answer 2

Travis A.

Level 6

14,985 points

Nov 12, 2009 8:21 AM in response to LukeD

Hi Luke,

It is an abnormal issue, to be sure. My MBP has never done this once, under Leopard or Snow Leopard. I do think it is a hardware issue though. Have you (or anyone else) called Apple about it and spoke with a product specialist? They may have you go through some basic troubleshooting tests (humor them) and then get a Case # and promise to call back if the issue recurs (which it probably will). At that point they may be more inclined to replace the logic board. I noticed in the comments of one of the Youtube videos that a logic board replacement solved the problem for one individual.

I'm sorry for not getting to your original thread yesterday when it was active! It has been a busy term for me; I'm here when I can sometimes to only read a few threads and not even post! 🙂

--Travis

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Answer 3

LukeD Author

Level 4

3,144 points

Nov 12, 2009 9:38 AM in response to Travis A.

Hey Travis,

Thank you so much for getting back to me.

Having the logic board replaced terrifies me, as that could lead to further issues. In fact, I would rather just get a new MacBook Pro in that case. Given that I had never experienced this issue in Leopard, I am going to hold off for now.

My Late 2008 MacBook Pro has exceeded my expectations in every way, and it has handled everything that I have thrown at it. By far, it has proved to be the best computer that I have ever owned.

While this issue is annoying, it is not that significant overall. I am really hoping further software updates lead to a resolution.

Repeated Apple Hardware Tests (Extended) have all passed.

Anyway, I thank you once again for your time and help. Good luck with your term!

All the best,
Luke

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Answer 4

Travis A.

Level 6

14,985 points

Nov 12, 2009 10:10 AM in response to LukeD

Hi Luke,

Having the logic board replaced terrifies me, as that could lead to further issues.

I think you've rationalized out the whole situation perfectly, and I do think you're right about the logic board replacement. If the issue were a lot more frequent (or becomes more frequent) and/or is overly annoying then I would have it replaced. The chance that you'd get a bad replacement logic board would be sufficiently small in comparison to the overall pain and frustration that you'd be going through. 😉

What I possibly can do is try to get the issue looked at by someone at Apple. If it is, indeed, a software issue, perhaps they can engineer a fix for you. At the very least we'll know that the issue was brought to someone's attention! They probably will never contact anyone with the outcome, but at least we can say we tried. You should continue to submit the Bug Reports and encourage others to.

--Travis

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Answer 5

LukeD Author

Level 4

3,144 points

Nov 12, 2009 10:35 AM in response to Travis A.

I cannot thank you enough Travis.

I will be sure to have any updates posted here.

Thank you!

All the best,
Luke

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Answer 6

Nov 12, 2009 1:31 PM in response to LukeD

Hi there,
bought a MBP late 2008 last year and it did the same screen flickering as shown in the youtube vids. The apple technician did some hardware checks but couldn't locate any errors. so they decided to change the logic board. got it back a few days ago . Seems to be defect. Screen doesn't flicker anymore but within the last few days it had about 15 kernel panics. At first the kernel panics were displayed with the usual "You must restart your computer" screen as now the mac randomly freezes. Gonna give it back to have another change of the logic board. Very annoying situation cause i need the MBP every day
Have a nice one
Jonas

Message was edited by: JonasTelesch

BTW: In my case the screen was sometimes flickering before Mac OSX booted
So probably it wasn't a software error

Message was edited by: JonasTelesch

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Answer 7

LukeD Author

Level 4

3,144 points

Nov 12, 2009 1:35 PM in response to JonasTelesch

Thank you, Jonas.

That is why I fear having my logic board replaced.

My MacBook Pro screen does not flicker before Mac OS X starts up.

Thank you for sharing your story. I wish you the best of luck with your repairs!

Message was edited by: LukeD

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Answer 8

LukeD Author

Level 4

3,144 points

Nov 12, 2009 1:30 PM in response to LukeD

*_FOLLOW UP_*

When my MacBook Pro is connected to my 23-inch Apple Cinema Display via mirror mode, the flicker will only occur on the screen of my MacBook Pro, not the Apple Cinema Display.

Could this then still be logic board related?

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Answer 9

Nov 12, 2009 1:34 PM in response to LukeD

In my case the screen was sometimes flickering before Mac OSX booted
So probably it wasn't a software error
The apple technician said it might have been the graphic card
Jonas

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Answer 10

Travis A.

Level 6

14,985 points

Nov 12, 2009 4:40 PM in response to LukeD

I wonder if it isn't the connection between the screen and the graphics card. Could also be the screen itself. Or the graphics...

It is a tough case!

--Travis

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Answer 11

LukeD Author

Level 4

3,144 points

Nov 12, 2009 4:56 PM in response to Travis A.

Thank you, Travis!

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Answer 12

LukeD Author

Level 4

3,144 points

Nov 12, 2009 8:26 PM in response to LukeD

UPDATE

I have noted a link to another user who has experienced this issue.

http://eddorre.com/posts/macbook-pro-screen-flickering

I think that he is right in that this is a Snow Leopard issue.

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Answer 13

LukeD Author

Level 4

3,144 points

Nov 13, 2009 3:34 PM in response to LukeD

UPDATE

I have spoken to a very knowledgeable product specialist who is of the view that Snow Leopard has been causing my screen flicker. He feels that if it were a logic board problem, I would be experiencing other symptoms. He has said to "wait for 10.6.3".

Interesting...

I have decided to keep troubleshooting, so any further thoughts or advice is greatly welcomed.

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Answer 14

Nov 13, 2009 4:34 PM in response to LukeD

could be the inverter?

Cheers,
Bob.

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Answer 15

CT

Level 7

23,987 points

Nov 13, 2009 4:42 PM in response to LukeD

You know, I recall reading the various pre-10.6.2 rumors where they would list the things that were changed/adjusted/fixed in that upcoming release. I swear I saw something like "fixing an issue with flickering displays" or something like that. I always wondered if it was "our" flickering display thingy. (As opposed to a few other impostors that seem to be lurking around in the discussions.) I saw no such item in the list of items describing the final release, though. Right? Maybe it IS software.

charlie

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