Macbook Pro screen glitches, 3 beeps, NOT THE RAM

I wanted to give my experience with this glitch so far-- I was trying to troubleshoot some crashing and visual glitches that were intermittent, I eventually heard about the GPU bug and thought that was potentially it, but I was getting the 3 beeps sometimes, and I was getting it specifically when I tried to enter diagnostic mode while holding D on the keyboard during startup. Despite this, I am still getting the intermittent visual glitches as well, and I was hoping my computer had the GPU issue since that is covered under the apple extended warranty program for my model of macbook pro, thankfully.

Well, I took it to the apple store and they ran their video diagnostic twice in a row, and it passed both times. The tech really wanted to help me get the free logic board replacement, since it was the 'simplest' for me and obviously free, but he said they couldn't do it unless they could see the computer's GPU fail in some way. I told the tech I think I could get it to happen if I put the computer under some stress, so I booted into OSX, did a few things, and within probably 5 minutes I got a grey screen of death, proceeded by an unresponsive image of the desktop as it was the moment before the grey screen, but with tons of visual glitches--- success!! That's what they needed, and once the tech saw that, he was more than happy to place an order for a new logic board for me. They didn't have any in stock, so I took the computer home. I had also ordered 2 sticks of 8gb of ram a few days before (only 60 bucks on amazon right now) and they just arrived. I ordered them when I first heard the beeps, not knowing it was the ram slot that might be bad and not the ram itself. I just replaced the 2 4gb sticks with 1 8gb stick on the first ram slot, and everything seems to be working fine tonight. So for now I have a working computer using only 1 stick of ram, and I will get a new logic board within a week or so, and then I will insert the other 8gb so my laptop will be better off than it started.

My advice for anyone who thinks they might have this RAM bug and are also experiencing visual glitches is to wait until the computer visually shows the glitch and take it to the apple store then, or be very confident that a visual glitch will happen while you are there, because even if the computer passes apple's GPU test, they can still do the free repair if there are any visual glitches during the visit. Whether my issue is the GPU or the ram I do not know, but the logic board replacement which should clear up a bad RAM slot issue as well. Let them know the bug is intermittent and it might take some time to reproduce, and you should get it fixed free.

Exactly the same issue with my 15" Mid-2012 MacBook Pro. Started happening a few months after upgrading to 16GB. Returned to stock 8GB and issue persisted. Took to apple store and a test identified my SSD was failing, replaced it but issue still persisted. Then I found this post. I get a variety of types of crashes, some bar code like, some feezing and other just a random reboot. All result in three beeps. It can take up to 15 restart attempts to get past the beeping and get the system back up and running. Unlike others, I can't seem to consistently replicate the issue with pressure, though it has happened when carrying my laptop about.

Like other have suggested, please report this issue to apple. http://www.apple.com/feedback/

One thing to note is that the MacBook Pro Repair Extension Program for Video Issues is only valid until the end of 2016. So bombard apple with feedback sooner rather than later.

My next steps:

Film the bar code graphical crash happening. Bring it to an apple store, show them the video and try to recreate it in store. I plan to then show them this forum thread and explain the extension program and just hope that they fix it for free as a gesture of good will. I am based in the UK and will let you know how it goes. I'm moving to Canada next month so if it fails I will try the same thing there too.

Hey everyone,

It seems to me like because this is such a long running problem, and all of these errors have occurred on our 2012 models (yes, mine included) and this thread has been going for over 2 years that maybe Apple were aware of a problem but because it is for a model computer so old they really can't do much about the issue.

My computer just had this problem last night while I was playing LoL which I do on my MacBook occasionally. However, unlike the screenshots on this thread my barcodes were pink and I wasn't sure if anyone else had the same problem as well. Also, the three beeps of death did not happen every time the glitched screen came and for me the beeps only happeNed after the fourth screen glitch and happens every second time now.

Also, for the last couple of months every now and again I would get a single barcode line, usually pink or green in a random area on the screen. This had absolutely no effect on how the computer ran as I could just swipe desktops and it would go away, however I'm beginning to think it may be related as it had the same barcode glitches, if anyone else had the American problems or experience with me please do let me know.

I Also think that this has a huge part to do with the overheating, as it only originally happened when I was on LoL in load in, whereas now it happens if I move the laptop suddenly or if my fan is going full blast and the computer is boiling hot. If someone has a similar experience as me and have a solution that would be a great help, and I will be investigating smilingeyes' solution as well, but probably with an alternative as I do not have any of that type plastic just lying around at home.

thanks for the help and time in the previous posts guys, and hopefully one day Apple will provide us with an explanation

Bumping this (is that still a thing). Curious if those who have gone with the "top slot only" solution to this problem have had it work LONG term.

I just removed the bottom slot module taking my computer down to 4G RAM, and so far today it looks okay. I will leave it like this a few days and report back. In the meantime, I wonder if a few of you others would as well. Thanks.

Is this solution still working for you more than a year later?

Yes - I have now had all these 3 problems as well! Replaced SATA cable and Hard Drive already. The glitch-restart-beep issue has cropped up now. Trying to solve it with recommendations here of using only the top slot. Lets see how it goes.

I had all those problem as everyone at here as well. What I did is remove one ram which is close to the keyboard, and I can reboot it without 3 beeps sound. However, I can only use it on a flat surface, which mean i can't use it on my lap. If there are any pressure that applied to the bottom of the MacBook Pro, the screen display will glitches.

I think MacBook Pro(mid 2012) should include in the following program.

http://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro-videoissues/

"

Apple has determined that a small percentage of MacBook Pro systems may exhibit distorted video, no video, or unexpected system restarts. These MacBook Pro systems were sold between February 2011 and December 2013.

Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider will repair affected MacBook Pro systems, free of charge. See below for details on affected models and service options.

Symptoms

An affected MacBook Pro may display one or more of the following symptoms:

• Distorted or scrambled video on the computer screen
• No video on the computer screen (or external display) even though the computer is on
• Computer restarts unexpectedly

Affected Models

• MacBook Pro (15-inch Early 2011)
• MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011)
• MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2012)
• MacBook Pro (17-inch Early 2011)
• MacBook Pro (17-inch Late 2011)
• MacBook Pro (Retina, 15 inch, Early 2013) "

Well, to answer my own question. One full week of having ONLY the top slot occupied (I have an 8G DIMM on the way so I can go back to 8G, but for most of what I do, 4G is really pretty fine).

Not only hasn't the computer crashed. I can not MAKE it crash at ALL.

THIS is LIVING.

Hi Ashlyn,

I am havin the same glitch issues and shutdowns. Were you able to figure out something with that!?

Thanks,

A.

What?

at the moment i removed the RAM and it all working fine now. In the future i would like to upgrade that one RAM slot to 8GB (instead of the current 2GB)

Do this also mess it up?

So, what do you suggest?

An OS reinstall is probably the simplest thing you can do, not difficult in the slightest. The Mac will run on one RAM chip indefinitely if you choose, just put a big one in there. 8GB works well.

Sounds good. I am going to try the OS reinstall after I thoroughly back up my data. Thanks for your suggestions, they were really helpful!

"What I haven't tried and will try:

- use just one RAM on the top slot (probably a piece of 8GB)"

THIS is the only think that worked for me. 4 months now. Zero glitches.

ANOTHER UPDATE!

I think I fixed the sleeping issue too (by reinstalling iOS?). And now my sleep indicator light thingy is blinking as it should again.

:-')