mchanxo

Q: Field of vertical lines all over Macbook Pro screen? (+ freezes, beeps)

Hello, everyone.

 

Here's my sitch: my MacBook Pro has really been acting out in terms of freezing with fields of vertical lines. Sometimes the screen will revert back to be free of the lines but remains unresponsive OR it shuts itself down and beeps. Sometimes it fails to wake up after sleep and when I attempt to power it on, it beeps. I took my Mac to a service provider and thinking it was a RAM problem, we ordered and put in new RAM. The problem persisted and then the logic board got replaced. Everything was seemingly fine and in working order when one day a kernel panic occurred and everything was happening all over again. I just brought it back to the service provider and we re-installed my original RAM that came with the Mac. It worked fine at first, but then the RAM beeps occurred again as well as the field of vertical lines that halt the whole system. At this point I'm simply confused at what could be the problem, as the Apple Hardware Test detected "no problem found,"  the PRAM/SMC have been reset, it booted up completely fine in safe mode, and I've run Disk Utility on Command + Recovery. The Apple Diagnostics tag also says that everything seems to be OK, but what could be the root of this problem??

 

Does anyone have any insight or suggestions on this? If so, please let me know. Needless to say, I'm tired of dealing with Mac issues when I really need it for schoolwork and such. (Sidenote: I also no longer have a warranty and for my logic board I got it replaced via an Apple Customer Care Code). Anyhow, many thanks in advance to anyone who might have some input on the matter!

 

PS. This is what it looks like. These pictures are from two separate occasions whereby the Mac froze and these distorted fields of vertical lines popped up.

 

photo 1.JPG

photo 2.JPG

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Feb 13, 2014 8:38 PM

Close

Q: Field of vertical lines all over Macbook Pro screen? (+ freezes, beeps)

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

Page 1 Next
  • by PlotinusVeritas,Helpful

    PlotinusVeritas PlotinusVeritas Feb 13, 2014 9:03 PM in response to mchanxo
    Level 6 (14,806 points)
    Feb 13, 2014 9:03 PM in response to mchanxo

    I took my Mac to a service provider and thinking it was a RAM problem, we ordered and put in new RAM.

     

     

     

     

    Your GPU has failed,

     

     

    Contact Apple for appt. for full diagnostics and replacing the logic board.

  • by mchanxo,

    mchanxo mchanxo Feb 13, 2014 9:08 PM in response to PlotinusVeritas
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 13, 2014 9:08 PM in response to PlotinusVeritas

    Hi PlotinusVeritas,

     

    I just got the logic board replaced in the new year; it was the next step the service provider took following the failure of the new RAM. Also, what is GPU?

     

    Thanks a bunch for your response.

     

    - mchanxo

  • by PlotinusVeritas,

    PlotinusVeritas PlotinusVeritas Feb 13, 2014 9:12 PM in response to mchanxo
    Level 6 (14,806 points)
    Feb 13, 2014 9:12 PM in response to mchanxo

    I just got the logic board replaced in the new year;

     

     

    Yes, I read that.,.......nevertheless, thats the case.

     

     

    GPU is graphics processor

  • by mchanxo,

    mchanxo mchanxo Feb 13, 2014 9:14 PM in response to PlotinusVeritas
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 13, 2014 9:14 PM in response to PlotinusVeritas

    Hi,

     

    Thanks for your input. So you would suggest that the entire logic board needs to be replaced, or is there a specific component to the GPU that has to be fixed? Do you happen to know at all how this kind of problem occurs (my model is a mid-2012)? It seems like I've been dealing with this problem endlessly and I was wondering if there was any solid advice in terms of Mac care that would help avoid the issue for future reference. 

     

    Thanks again, I really appreciate it.

     

    - mchanxo

  • by PlotinusVeritas,Helpful

    PlotinusVeritas PlotinusVeritas Feb 13, 2014 9:25 PM in response to mchanxo
    Level 6 (14,806 points)
    Feb 13, 2014 9:25 PM in response to mchanxo

    gpu is affixed to logic, it would be the board.

     

    other than obviously a defective component, let me ask you:

     

    1. Are you gaming a LOT, and notice your Macbook getting excessively hot?

     

    if yes, there is a moderate statistical possibility of same due to this.

     

     

    otherwise is simplex failure of an extremely complex computer component nobody will bring down to anything more than "high complexity in electronics means things can fail".

     

     

    There is no avoidance of hardware failure if youre treating your mackbook fine, you just got struck with very bad luck in multiple repairs.

     

     

    Full diagnostics are needed and free, so make an appt. for a drop off of your machine.

  • by mchanxo,

    mchanxo mchanxo Feb 13, 2014 9:31 PM in response to PlotinusVeritas
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 13, 2014 9:31 PM in response to PlotinusVeritas

    Hi,

     

    Thanks very much for your input. As I do not game and only using my Mac for schoolwork, surfing the Web, and watching shows occasionally, your advice helped and I just hope bad luck doesn't strike me any further. I think I'm going to call Apple as well, as the first logic board replacement was covered by them via a Customer Care Code and if the repair's been insufficient maybe they can look into the issue. Anyhow, many thanks again for your patience and time!

  • by taxdawg3420,

    taxdawg3420 taxdawg3420 Apr 18, 2014 6:10 PM in response to mchanxo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 18, 2014 6:10 PM in response to mchanxo

    I have a mid-2012 MBP and have the same exact issue. Hardware all passed at the Apple store even after leaving it overnight for multiple stress tests. Installed new RAM and I am also on my 3rd logic board and have had no luck. Reformatted multiple times to factory settings thinking it was a software issue but that did not solve anything. I never did anything memory intensive on my laptop so I don't think I ever overstressed it. I'm taking it in one last time to see if they can do anything but frankly I think it's a lost cause at this point. Anyhow, did you ever find a solution?

  • by mchanxo,

    mchanxo mchanxo Apr 18, 2014 8:55 PM in response to taxdawg3420
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 18, 2014 8:55 PM in response to taxdawg3420

    Hi,

     

    I'm sorry to hear that you're facing similar issues. As for me, what ended up happening was that I called Apple and explained my situation carefully and reiterated the numerous repairs I had already taken with the machine, which was a barely a year old. Ultimately, they decided that they would replace my machine. Thus, I am currently typing this message to you from my new Macbook Pro that Apple kindly replaced for me and I've since shipped back my original unit. Of course it was definitely a frustrating time period to be almost a month and a half without a functioning personal computer of my own in the height of midterm season; however, I am very grateful for what Apple did. Perhaps you could call and see if you can get in touch with a senior representative and hopefully see what can be done in your case if you can explain it all. However, I would note as well that circumstances for this vary from situation to situation and it's never guaranteed.

     

    I hope this gleaned a little bit of help onto your issue, and I know how you feel I hope it all works out!

  • by gn92,

    gn92 gn92 Apr 24, 2014 8:47 PM in response to mchanxo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 24, 2014 8:47 PM in response to mchanxo

    I am having this same issue! I have a 13 inch macbook pro which I purchased in December 2012, so it's only 16 months old. I've always had a hard shell case on it, and upon taking the case off last month I noticed that when I lightly press the bottom of the computer (like when I'm picking it up to move it), I get the same graphic glitch as pictured above, everything freezes, and I have to force power down. This started happening much more frequently and also started happening when I'm not even touching the laptop. It will sometimes not powering back on and would sound the three beeps, as you mentioned. I took it into Apple and after making sure the RAM was in place and testing the hardware, I was told that it must be the logic board. It's no longer under warrenty and I cant afford such an expensive repair. It is also dicouraging that this repair didn't even fix the issue for you! This is happening more and more frequently and the laptop has also been getting very hot and has been very slow. This seems like a quality issue to me, and I have other reports of the same issue on different forums! Any suggestions on how to proceed? Any input is appreciated.

  • by taxdawg3420,

    taxdawg3420 taxdawg3420 Apr 25, 2014 1:43 PM in response to mchanxo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 25, 2014 1:43 PM in response to mchanxo

    Thanks for the advice! I took it in and unfortunately the only thing they could offer was swapping out the hardware for a flat rate of $280. At this point I don't mind paying the money as long as I have a functioning laptop and the cost is a lot cheaper than buying a new laptop. One my concerns is that the problem may come up again in the future though.

  • by taxdawg3420,

    taxdawg3420 taxdawg3420 Apr 25, 2014 1:51 PM in response to gn92
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 25, 2014 1:51 PM in response to gn92

    Since it was an intermittent issue with mine I took videos/pictures of whenever my laptop locked up. I then showed them to the genius when I took it into the Apple Store. After explaining my situation to them they agreed that it was an unusual problem and replaced my logic board out of warranty for free. I would suggest doing the same but the situation and circumstances may vary so they may not offer the same to you. However, it does not hurt to try.

     

    Also, as I mentioned to mchanxo Apple does offer a flat fee of $280 to replace any hardware that is going bad including the logic board. That could be another option but my concern with that is if it only applies to hardware that does not pass the Apple Hardware Test.

     

    Another thing to note is that the genius told me that the in-store Apple Hardware Test does not test to see if the ram slots are going bad. He said the only way to test it is to put the good RAM in each slots and see if the laptop functions correctly. He also noted that if you do install new RAM you need to reformat your laptop to factory settings because the "OS originally sat on bad memory." I am not too computer savvy so I cannot confirm the validity of his statement but it is worth trying.

     

    Hope this helps.

  • by rz116,

    rz116 rz116 Apr 26, 2014 6:25 AM in response to mchanxo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 26, 2014 6:25 AM in response to mchanxo

    Oh no.. I have the same problem and I'm out of warranty too. Seems like it's happening to a lot of people.

     

    Does anyone know if it costs to have it diagnosed if I don't have warranty on it now?

  • by Manu Cutillas,

    Manu Cutillas Manu Cutillas Apr 26, 2014 7:18 AM in response to mchanxo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 26, 2014 7:18 AM in response to mchanxo

    Yesterday I happened the same, it happens 90% of the macbook pro 15 "2011. Today I went to the apple store in Murcia (Spain) and nothing, I have to change the motherboard. My computer never has been used to play video games, I used to work responsibly. Never has overheated and yet you what happened to most.'s a shame that even apple does not respond to their responsibility equipment failures that are usually of highest range in their laptops.'s basic with intel graphics cards do not suffer from any problem. Indeed'm writing from my macbook couples with intel graphics card that works like the first day.

     

    Visit this page: http://action.mbp2011.com/

     

    or this other: http://www.mbp2011.com/

  • by clintonfrombirmingham,

    clintonfrombirmingham clintonfrombirmingham Apr 26, 2014 7:36 AM in response to Manu Cutillas
    Level 7 (30,009 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 26, 2014 7:36 AM in response to Manu Cutillas

    Manu Cutillas,

     

    I don't know if you've found the discussion yet, but I assume that your problem, with the 15" 2011 is realted to the problems as discussed here -> https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4766577?tstart=0.

     

    The best fix is a new reballed GPU.

     

    Clinton

Page 1 Next