Macbook pro retina flicker

Dear Support,


I bought a Macbook pro retina recently, and now the screen keeps flickering, and is very annoying.

I am not sure how to reproduce it, when it happens, it will have horizontal lines cutting across the screen very quickly and disappear.

It happens randomly across all application.


It is the same as,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq0l-bHmSYE


I have updated all patches, and still doesn't help.


Could you please advice how to fix it? Do i have to send it back?


Kind Regards

Andy

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Oct 17, 2012 6:10 AM

Reply
249 replies

Jan 28, 2013 1:33 AM in response to YCLAM

So I just took my MBPr into apple today. Brought a video in to show the flicker issue. We talked about what it could possibly be for a good while, they said it deff is not the screen. I mentioned a wire pinch and he said possibly that because I had my screen replaced before because it was an LG. They are going to run some test as usual and nothing will come up but he is going to replace the logic board. I have read multiple reports about how the logic board has fixed the problem and also how it hasn't. He also ordered an extra screen and said he might just replace both to see if that helps even though we don't think it's the screen (made sure I was getting a Samsung screen) -- but I will keep everyone posted.

Jan 28, 2013 3:06 PM in response to YCLAM

I've also had this issue since I got my MBPr when it was released. I've had to send it in twice. The first time, they couldn't replicate the issue and they sent it back without any repair.


After many hours of being on the phone with applecare I spoke with a senior advisor and he was able to 'override' the diagnosis and go straight to replacing the logic board. After receiving it back a week or so ago the problem still persists. It's extremely annoying to have issues like this for such an expensive machine.


They told me they wouldn't be able to give me a complete replacement at this point, since it was purchased in July. So ridiculous...

Jan 29, 2013 6:32 AM in response to YCLAM

After speaking with applecare again, I am now sending in my computer for a third time for a screen replacement. After asking the advisor if they would replace my laptop if this doesn't resolve the issue he went on about saying this might be "normal", or an environmental issue and a full replacement wouldn't change it. I can't believe these people.


Hopefully this solves the problem, but I don't have high hopes. I'll keep everyone posted.

Jan 29, 2013 7:11 AM in response to Josh880

Make sure you tell them that it could be the cable connecting the display to the logic board. That it might not be put in the right way and could be pinched somewhere. I've read this could possibly be the case. Also don't let them tell you this is "normal" ... If it was normal they wouldn't be trying to fix it. And that you want to take your chances on a full replacement and if not you want some kind of money back since you dropped a pretty penny on this machine with flaws. They need to take care of this! Just don't stop, they will give you what you want if you keep fighting it.

Jan 30, 2013 2:03 PM in response to YCLAM

Okay so I just got my computer back and they did NOT replace the logic board like we both talked about could possibly help. They said they replaced the screen but I can tell they did not replace it at all as it didn't have a plastic wrap on it also it was had dirty spots that i remember being on when i took it in... what I did think they did was take it off and reatch it back on making sure the cable is put in correctly. I have been using it all day playing games, watching movies, things that would trigger the flicker. I did mention to them about connecting the screen the right way before so I'm guessing they did just that. I will keep everyone posted about my screen but I honestly think its just that so far because I could produce pretty easy espically after it was in sleep mode. No flicker even booting up from sleep mode which was common all the time.

Feb 5, 2013 4:52 PM in response to YCLAM

I haven't been participating in this discussion, but I felt like I should share my expierence. After owning mine for around three months, the flickering issue reared its ugly head. I delt with it for a week when I was unable to take it in. When I finally was able to bring it in on a Saturday, I was unable to reproduce the problem (of course the first time it won't do it) but the guy took my word for it and recommended a logic board and display replacement. I thought that sounded good, so it was sent in, and I had it back and in perfect condition with a new display and logic board on Tuesday. So realisticly I was only without it for 1.5 business days, not bad Apple.

Feb 6, 2013 1:29 AM in response to YCLAM

I have had my MBPr for four months now, and the flickering has just started. I will be going to the apple store guys. Will let you guys know what I find out from them.

However what perplexes me is that, there seem to be a lot of people affected by this problem but there are no coverage on this by any of the gadget blogs. Also it appears like Apple has not found a defenitive cure for this problem, as I can see from this forum that even after getting their logic boards and the screens replaced, some people have reported that the problem has been re-occuring.

Feb 10, 2013 11:10 AM in response to YCLAM

I had occasional flickers ever since I bought it, and they got worse in late December so I took it to my local Apple Store. They replaced the logic board, and everything seemed to be fine. But the flickers just started up again, 30 minutes ago.. And Im not even doing anything heavy, just surfing the web. Going to have to return it again..

Something else I noticed since I returned it the first time, my fans are speeding up MUCH more often. Not happy with that.

Feb 12, 2013 8:11 PM in response to jps24

I had the same issue of screen flickering randomly. I went to apple and they had the logic board replaced, and they took a week to fix it.


The issue did not re-occur for 15 days or so .. but now it has again started to happen, although the frequency is less but happens.


Jsp24, can you tell more on what is "LCD Clamshell and the MLB" .. ? i am trying to understand more so that now when i go to apple store can get them a reference to your case .. and see if they can get their own repair work detials for fixing the issue.

Feb 19, 2013 2:58 PM in response to YCLAM

So, the software fix i described last time i responded to this post, did not work.. I ended up taking mine in to a retail store.. I found out that the flickering did NOT occur on external screens (via HDMI or DVI) so both me and the technician agreed that this probably is not a logic board problem, so i got my retina screen replaced.. This was about 2-3 weeks ago.. Works perfect.. i will update this discussion if something happens again..

Feb 22, 2013 8:13 PM in response to YCLAM

1) Key in "ColorSync Utility" in spotlight

2) On "Profile First Aid" Tab, Click on Verify

(It seems like the color profiles is missing or corrupted.)

3) Click on "Repair"

4) Press "Shift" + "Command/Apple" + "G"

5) Enter the following directory "/Library/ColorSync/Profiles/Displays"

6) I move this bad color profile "Color LCD-00000610-0000-A00E-0000-000004280380" to a temporary folder.

7) My screen do not experience any flickering until now.

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Macbook pro retina flicker

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