Flashing checkerboard pattern

Question

Flashing checkerboard pattern

For the last couple of months, I have noticed that my Macbook Pro will occasionally flash a quick checkerboard pattern, for just a fraction of a second. It is usually some garish colour scheme. I'm not able to reliably reproduce the image, but it pops up a few times a week. I mostly notice it when using a web browser (not just Safari but also in Chrome), where it will pop up in a small section of the screen, usually coinciding with some video or image on a web page. Is this an issue I should worry about? Or normal behaviour? (One thought I had was that it is related to an invisible overlay on a web page or something like that.)

My major worry is that there's something wrong with the graphics output in my MBP. It is still under AppleCare, but it is such a hassle to get the work done (I don't live near an Apple Store) and my work depends on my computer. Plus, it's been in for Apple Care repairs a couple of times already.

This is a mid-2010, 13" Macbook Pro. I run Lion (10.7.2).

Thanks.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Jan 5, 2012 8:33 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 6, 2012 12:36 AM in response to David Drysdale

I have the same issue, it happens for a moment then goes away... its just really unsettling and worries me its a sign of coming trouble/hardware failure. Reminds me of when my graphics card in my old G4 tower finally gave up the ghost. Also, I too have a mid 2010 13" MBP running on lion

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Answer 2

Jan 9, 2012 10:29 PM in response to David Drysdale

Same here. Always in a browser. Not sure if it's a Lion issue. But it started happening right around then. 2010 model. I've seen it about 6-8 times. Flashes once over half the window and disappears when I move the cursor. No warranty. Not feeling good about this.

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Answer 3

Jan 15, 2012 11:08 PM in response to David Drysdale

Same here. Often in browser but not always. Also started noticing it around time of upgrade to Lion. Mid-2010 13" MBP running 10.7.2.

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Answer 4

Jan 15, 2012 11:33 PM in response to David Drysdale

Same here too. I've seen it most with Itunes, but also in Safari. Mine has had it in red, gray and purple. I've seen it maybe 5 to 10 times. Never noticed it in snow leopard, only after upgrading to lion. I have a Mid-2010 13" MBP running Lion ver. 10.7.2.

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Answer 5

Jan 21, 2012 7:52 AM in response to David Drysdale

Glad I am not the only one, at least. I've noticed that it doesn't actually happen only in the browser—it is occuring in other programs as well.

I phoned Apple Support and the guy walked me through a PRAM and SMC reset and said if that doesn't fix it I will likely have to take it in for more testing. So, guess what? It's still happening. I took a screenshot the last time—usually it just blinks and is gone but once in a while it will stay up for a few seconds (until I click something) and I took advantage.

I am taking it in to the Genius Bar next weekend, when I'm near one. I am half hoping that there is something wrong with the video card and they replace the whole computer. This is my fourth trip in for repairs (three times it has been the hard drive, and now this). I guess that's probably unlikely, though.

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Answer 6

Jan 21, 2012 8:00 AM in response to David Drysdale

This is my fourth trip in for repairs (three times it has been the hard drive, and now this).

Call Customer Relations - 1800-767-2775. See what they can do for you.

Also, Apple Store are NOT the only places to have a Mac repaired. There may be an AASP closer.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304398How to find your nearest Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP)

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Answer 7

Jan 21, 2012 8:08 AM in response to Baby-Boomer-USofA

Oh, I know about the AASP but I had a pretty negative experience with my local shop. They took forever to do any work and I was without my laptop for several weeks. After they initially repaired it, the problem kept recurring. I took it back again and they said it was something I was doing while trying to restore my backup. It continued to have problems, and I went back and they fixed it again. It was okay for a while after that point, but then the hard drive failed again — the third bad hard drive that has been put into the machine. That time I took it to the Apple Store and it took them about 20 minutes to do what it took my local shop two weeks to do. Thanks for the customer relations number though. I may give them a call depending on the results of my Genius Bar appointment.

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Answer 8

Jan 22, 2012 4:03 PM in response to David Drysdale

I posted about my similar issue yesterday in the forums and just found this post.

I took mine to the Apple store a few weeks ago but they ran some test and could not duplicate the issue. And my Warranty runs out on my wifes 2010 13" macbook pro 2.4ghz 8gb ram running lion on feb 9th (bought in early 2011).

I was able to take a screenshot (posted below) and take it and the my wifes MBP back to the Apple store. After showing them, the Apple 'Genius' agreed to replace my logicboard.

So In a few days I will know if this resolves the issue or if its software type issue with Chrome/browsers, Lion and the 320m GPU bc My Early 2011 core i5 13" MBP does not have these issue.

If you want help from Apple, screenshot the issue, seemed to make them beleive.

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Answer 9

Jan 22, 2012 4:09 PM in response to justinhub2003

Thanks. I do have a screenshot to show them and hopefully that will get results. Please let me know if it pops back up for you in the meantime. I'll do the same after I get in to the store next weekend.

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Answer 10

erik190

Level 1

0 points

Jan 24, 2012 9:43 AM in response to David Drysdale

I am having the same issue; I'm impressed some of you were able to get screenshots. Everytime I have tried the checkered pattern disappears too quickly.

I'd be happy to hear if anyone finds the cause of this issue. I also notice it mostly in my browser (and notably since I installed Lion). I think that it probably has to do with the graphics card overheatting and mis-rendering parts of the screen.

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Answer 11

Jan 24, 2012 9:53 AM in response to erik190

Erik, it is only recently I've been able to get a screenshot. It seems to disappear as soon as I move the mouse, but punching in the keyboard shortcut for a screenshot doesn't seem to affect it. I'll let you know what they tell me. It may well be Lion-related—I don't recall ever seeing it before installing Lion—but I had Lion for quite some time before I started to see it as well. I don't know if it is heat-related, though, as it never seems to correspond with my computer's temperature. When my machine is running hot, I haven't noticed it (at least not any more so than when it's not running hot). But we'll see on Saturday, I guess.

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Answer 12

erik190

Level 1

0 points

Jan 24, 2012 10:20 AM in response to David Drysdale

Thanks for your response.

I have recently been using my MBP with an external monitor (sometime just the external, sometimes I use both the built in LCD and the external simultaneously). I wonder if this extra strain on the video card is causing issues? My monitor is large and can display upto 1080p.

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Answer 13

Jan 25, 2012 1:29 PM in response to David Drysdale

I just received my Wifes Macbook pro back from Apple today and I have been testing it rigorously since the swapped out the Logic Board and have yet to see the issue.

I am hoping this new Logic board solves it.

I will follow up if it continues to persist. If it does, at least I know its not a hardware failure and just software. My warranty is just about up.

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Answer 14

Jan 26, 2012 5:36 AM in response to justinhub2003

I've had the same problem for a couple of months - need to get it sorted I guess! Do keep us updated if that's solved the problem Justin.

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Answer 15

Jan 29, 2012 4:22 AM in response to darkblueslider

I managed to grab a couple of screenshots too - on a mid-2010 13.3" MBP on lion 10.7.2

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