My macbookpro mid 2012 has started randomly freezing then this screen comes up. It jitters rapidly until I force shut it down. After restarting, its fine again. What's going on and how do I fix it?
Thanks!
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
The location of the power button says this is a 2012 Unibody model rather than a 2012 Retina model. Still does not explain the silver bezel. That means display repairs, if needed, should be cheaper than for a Retina, although you will be shopping for used/pulled parts.
The random nature and the fact that it goes away with a restart suggest a heat issue. Heat issue can due to useless software (anti-virus; so-called "cleaning" apps), or to blocked cooling paths. The pre-Retina models appear to draw in some cooling air through the keyboard so it should not be used in "clamshell" (display closed) mode when an external monitor is attached. Hot air exhausts through the hinge area which is easily occluded by using the computer on a blanket or pillow instead of a hard flat surface.
Do you have an external monitor, or can you borrow one? That offers some level of diagnosis. If the image on the external is normal, that points to a defect in the display itself or the cabling. If it show up on the external, that strongly suggest failed graphics hardware.
In spite of another poster's mention of a graphics card, no Macbook Pro ever a "card." The video hardware is soldered to and integral with the logic board. Any issue with the gfx hardware means a new logic board.
That model had dual gfx. The discrete, or hi-power, graphics run when on wall power and the "on-processor" integrated gfx run when on battery. Usually it it the discrete side that fails.
The solution was to disable discrete graphics. This Apple article addresses the dual system:
Set graphics performance on MacBook Pro - Apple Support
and this archived discussion:
Disable discrete graphics card on Macbook… - Apple Community
is about a similar issue to yours and how to run on the more reliable integrated gfx alone.
The location of the power button says this is a 2012 Unibody model rather than a 2012 Retina model. Still does not explain the silver bezel. That means display repairs, if needed, should be cheaper than for a Retina, although you will be shopping for used/pulled parts.
The random nature and the fact that it goes away with a restart suggest a heat issue. Heat issue can due to useless software (anti-virus; so-called "cleaning" apps), or to blocked cooling paths. The pre-Retina models appear to draw in some cooling air through the keyboard so it should not be used in "clamshell" (display closed) mode when an external monitor is attached. Hot air exhausts through the hinge area which is easily occluded by using the computer on a blanket or pillow instead of a hard flat surface.
Do you have an external monitor, or can you borrow one? That offers some level of diagnosis. If the image on the external is normal, that points to a defect in the display itself or the cabling. If it show up on the external, that strongly suggest failed graphics hardware.
In spite of another poster's mention of a graphics card, no Macbook Pro ever a "card." The video hardware is soldered to and integral with the logic board. Any issue with the gfx hardware means a new logic board.
That model had dual gfx. The discrete, or hi-power, graphics run when on wall power and the "on-processor" integrated gfx run when on battery. Usually it it the discrete side that fails.
The solution was to disable discrete graphics. This Apple article addresses the dual system:
Set graphics performance on MacBook Pro - Apple Support
and this archived discussion:
Disable discrete graphics card on Macbook… - Apple Community
is about a similar issue to yours and how to run on the more reliable integrated gfx alone.
Seen something similar on an iPad that was dropped. It's most likely a hardware problem - could be a board connection or damage to the display. At this point Apple isn't likely to provide a fix since it's already well past the service period (5-7 years).
Also - what's up with the silver bezel? I haven't seen anything like that on a MacBook Pro. The bezel is always black in every one I've ever seen. My mid 2012 Unibody has a black bezel.
Sounds and looks like a failing graphics card.
Thanks, do you know of a way to estinate how much longer it'll live? I'm worried the next time it does this it won't come back. Its had a good run, its just the more time I have before having to buy a new laptop the better.
Thanks for the info!
Yes its a 15" unibody, I purchased directly from Apple with its silver bezel, I'm guessing they sold more than this one. Cool of its just very special.
Yes, its been prone to overheating for years, but it's not due to cleaning apps or a blocked hinge area. I have a manual fan controller app for this that I dont use, I'll try it again.
No, I don't have access to an external monitor. This is the 3rd time it's happened in about 6 months. The last I guessed the "graphics card" and read that that's not a possible fix for me.
I wonder if I wait till it happens again, but won't restart normally, I might have luck then switching the power source and following the advice of the thread you shared or if its best to tackle this now.
Its so tempting to ignore it for now but if my laptop fails suddenly and completely this will be a big problem. What do you think? I'll have access to apple in the next few weeks but after that its likely another 6 months.
Thanks for thinking about this!
Thanks.
Its the original bezel. Maybe the size chabges it? Its a 15"
My MacBook Pro mid 2012 has started randomly freezing
