Horizontal Lines in a fritz

How ironic. I had this happen about a year ago and then it was fine. Just started happening again today so I came in here to look for some ideas and found your post. I've got the same/model config as you, too. What's really weird with mine is that it only seems to be doing it when I play Unreal Tournament 2004 for a couple of minutes. This wasn't the case when I had the problem last year and I've been playing the game for the past week, pretty intensely and haven't had it wonk out until today. But, yeah, the screen starts getting these "static"* lines and then eventually locks up hard, have to hold the power button down. It does seem to get better/worse when moving the display and can go away entirely if I rap the right side of the laptop by the trackpad with my knuckle (still locks up, though eventually).

The machine sits flat on a desk but when I had the problem last year, I could almost always reproduce the problem in some situations where there was some flex to the case, like on a leg on my lap.

The ONLY change I made was installing an external Bluetooth dongle (which isn't in when the problem occurs) and installing iSync. I can't believe iSync causes what looks to be a hardware problem so, I dunno. Stupid me didn't extend my original Apple warranty and I'm beyond broke so repairs/diagnostics are out of the question right now.

I will be doing some more testing - running some other high end apps - not games - and seeing what happens.

* Picture how a TV gets when you run a vacumm cleaner on the same circuit.

Jon,
I know exactly where you are coming from with this one. My Ti book started to show horizontal lines (flickering) mid last year - after having the machine for only 6 months. Initially I thought it was a software problem, as I had lent the machine to a relative, and when I got it back it kept flickering after using for a while (I don't really trust him with it, as he is a Wintel fellow... anyway), so I reinstalled the OS from scratch. No luck it still continued. I had had enough at this point, and took it into my local Apple Centre (as they are called here in Australia) for a fix session. They couldn't replicate the lines after using the book for several days, so I went back in to pick it up.
The lines have continued ever since.
I have worked out what the problem is: When the machine heats up and metal components expand, pressure is applied on the connection from the logic board, resulting in problems on the display. The lines can be produced when the machine warms up, and the machine itself bends slightly. If I crank up the DVD, hard drive, have several things taxing the OS and processor, then do something like play Quake, the resulting heat brings on the lines. If the machine is flexed in my hands, the lines stop for a while... then come back. It p!sses me off when this happens, especially when I am using the machine at work and in presentations, etc.
I recently took the machine into the Apple Centre and gave them as much detail as possible, in anticipation of a repair, but again, they couldn't replicate it. It took me 5 minutes in the foyer of the shop to show them. "Oh it's obviously a logic board, or logic board connection problem", no **** Sherlock, just like I said. They can order one in, but I have to leave my book there until it arrives... huh? I don't think they like looking like idiots.
I (luckily) have extended warranty (an education purchase perk!), so the cost thing is not a concern for me.
All in all, the problems I (and many other Ti owners) have had are (as far as I believe) very similar to the iBook logic board problem. So, why is Apple not doing anything about it?
Good luck Jon with your problem.

My system (PB G4-500) has been having the same problem, but I almost immediately attributed it to heat problems. I am aware of similar problems happening on other systems with the GPU overheats, so figured that this was the problem. After cooling my system down (by not using it) it returns to normal.
I am wondering if there are better ways to induce airflow in the case to prevent this problem from occuring? I know the PB Tis don't have the best fans on them (****, mine is dead!) but they have pretty good circulation. Would a higher rpm on the fan help to fix the problem?
Actually, where is the GPU located on the logic board? isn't it just to the left of the fan?

Hi Guys,

Just to add to the discussion. I as well have been having this problem of intermitent horizontal lines on my PB.

Is replacing the logic board the only way around this issue? If anyone has had any luck with any other fixes it would be nice to hear from you.

ta
*reece

I am also getting the same problems , it will start up when I play a game for a few minutes and stop when I quit back to the desktop.
Should I remove the bottom and reseat the video connector as others have done, does this work?

Having the same problem of horizontal lines on my TiBook. Bending lightly the casing or the display make them dissapear for a while.

Wonder if I must change the logic board or the LCD to fix it?

Looks like this...
- Lines: http://homepage.mac.com/guylapointe/.Public/IMG_0760.JPG
- Weird background: http://homepage.mac.com/guylapointe/.Public/IMG_0755.JPG
- Washed display (new behavior with max brightness): http://homepage.mac.com/guylapointe/.Public/IMG_0759.JPG

Does it looks like this by your side guys? I'm always able to get the display back to a normal situation, but I would like to fix this once for all.

If so many people are having this issue, I would think that Apple should step up and do a little research trying to figure out why it keeps happening. I can understand if it's just here and there, but there are quite a few posts on the net about this problem. I have had the problem intermittently for a little while, but for the past couple of months, the problem has been a daily thing. At times, it will take 3 or 4 restarts to get the computer up and running. Tonight I am going to try the video connector fix and see how that works.
I called Apple on the subject, but I got stopped at Product Specialist. The gentleman I spoke with was very beligerant and told me that if I didn't want to pay $49 to have the telephone assistance that I wasn't able to speak to anyone else. I asked for this gentleman's supervisor and he flat out refused.
It comes down to the fact that Mac needs to do something about it. A friend of mine who owns an iBook had the same sort of problem, he called Mac and was told that certain iBooks were on a recall list and were getting logic board replacements for the issue. If the iBook has a similar problem, why can't Mac understand that there could be a problem with the PowerBooks??? I spent a lot of money on something that is supposed to be superior, but I come to find it is not...

My PB G4's (1ghz 1gb) first instance of horizontal line fritzing was activated by plugging in an S-video cable. That was about two months back. Since then the problem has been persistent if intermittent. It now happens with enough regularity that I will take it into an apple care center next week.
What I have noticed is that the problem doesn't seem to be specifically heat-related. I can get it to "fritz" when I run graphic-intensive programs, say DVD player or x-Plane, irregarless whether it's cold or hot. Even a iphoto's slideshow with dissolve transition can set it off. The problem sometimes goes away when i quit out of these programs. But sometimes it lingers even with just Finder running-- just by moving a window in Finder rapidly with a mouse or by using Expose.
None of the utility programs, including the applecare hardware test, turned up anything. This first started on 10.2.8 and persists in 10.3.4.
Anyone with similiar problem not particularly related to heat?

I've had the same problem, not heat related but if I close the lid or put it to sleep then immediately wake it the problem is fixed (sometimes).

http://homepage.mac.com/lodesys/.Public/IMG_0965.jpg

I do not have this exact problem but have a theory which may apply to your problem. My problems was when I moved (changed the angle on) my screen the PB would flicker and sometimes sleep and sometimes crash. I actually open the PB case twice: once to inspect the cables to the screen. I found one pinched between the mother board and the case. Over time it wore through and shorted to the case. This fixed things for about a week and then it started happening again ... getting worse over time. I went in again and moved things around, cleaning connectors and such and also tightened the screws to the case but loosen the screws to the mother board. Now everything works fine and its been 6 months since ...

My thinking is this ... that moving the screen twists the PB which flexes the mother board. Over time the mother board develops cracks which does funny things to a running PB (so stiffening the structure by tightening structure screws and relaxing the screws on the MB reduced stress on the MB).

the wire which was pinched was not the problem (although I'm glad I caught it).

Thank you all for telling me this. I have been battling (well, at this point I'm just defeated, but I was battling) my TiBook 400 for a year now. Sometimes the screen won't turn on at all, but if I flex the case I can sometimes get it to turn back on. If I balance the computer perfectly on a level desk then it usually works, but not all the time. Sometimes giving it a good hard smack will make the screen work again too. I have opened up the case and replaced the inverter board with one bought off of ebay but that didn't help. Really, I think it's the motherboard at this point.

Again, thank you all for letting me know I'm not crazy. Still, the powerbook will lie in my closet because I have moved on in life.

-Noah

I, too, have had this problem. My Ti Powerbook heats up and then the screen scrambles. Once it cools down the problem resolves itself...until the computer heats up again. I ran the hardware diagnostics disc which indicated a problem with the Video RAM. I took the computer into the shop where it is now being repaired for almost $1000! And it is just out of warranty. This seems to be a substantial problem.

What is your TiBook model? You ran the hardware diagnostic disc provided with the purchase of your TiBook?

For me it looks like something similar to the iBook logic board problem. apple should care about this problem soon, even our titaniums are somehow "old" machines.

Logic Board Repair Extension Program or something.