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Macbook Pro screen glitches, 3 beeps, NOT THE RAM

My Macbook pro has been having screen glitches randomly with lines appearing on the screen and then it suddenly shuts down. Sometimes It beeps 3 times (what everyone claims is a ram issue) and sometimes it does not beep and will just start right back up again. I'm currently using it right now and it seems to be okay but this is always the case. It works fine and then all the sudden it glitches and shuts down. I


I have had the Ram replaced TWICE and have had the ram readjusted in case it has fallen out of place. my computer has passed every hardware test imaginable. Sometimes when I scroll on safari, chrome or anywhere (when its working) the screen glitches and lags really bad. MY computer is literally unusable. I am in nursing school and my computer is vital PLEASE someone help me!!!!


Here is just some details and extra info about what I've tried and researched:

I am currently using it in "safe boot" mode and I turned the SMS (sudden motion sensor) off.

I have done so much research on this issue here is what I have found thus far, obviously the ram issue, A GPU issue, A logic board issue (lets pray its not), a battery issue or a issue with Mavericks. Could it be something I downloaded?


Mac details:

13 Inch MacBook Pro Mid 2012

Processor: 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5

Memory: 4GB 1600 MHz DDR3

Version: 10.9.1

Graphics Intel HD Graphics 4000 1024 MB


This is what it says under SYSTEM INFORMATION Hardware>Memory.Memory Slots:


ECC: Disabled

BANK 0 / DIMM0

Size:2GB

Type:DDR3

Speed:1600MHz

Status:OK

Manufacturer: 0X02FE

Part Number:0x45424A3230554638424455302D474E2D4620


then it has BANK 1/DIMM0 and basically says the same thing

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1), SOMEONE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP

Posted on Aug 5, 2014 3:32 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 14, 2018 3:41 PM

I have a MBP 15" early 2011, had the logic board replaced in the apple program for the video chip, after that, i started to get kernel errors once in a while, all was pointing to RAM, but never could actually find the defective stick tried many, after a while of seating and reseating the sticks and a fresh install os the macOs it stopped for almost a year with no problems i thought i was done; only to begin crashing, powering off and beeping this week.

i've been reading forums and watching this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpagfXra...

and having exactly the same problem as this.

So I took it apart again, and what did i find... apparently, as i said, and for everyones happines it migh not be the soldering at all!!

It seem the CLIPS that hold the stick closest to the keyboard are worn and do not have enough pressure so they do not hold the ram in place all the time, a little bump and the stick spings up like half a milimeter and the problem appears.

What did i do? Got a 1.5mm (.60 cal) piece of flat styrene about 3mm wide and 7 or 8 mm tall, put BOTH RAM sticks in place and with a little plastic tip/spudger push down the stick closest to the keyboard so the clip can make its full travel inward and insert the styrene pieces one in each side in the slots between the clip and where the screws for the backet are and then push them towards the RAM contacts to make pressure inward so the clips are pressed firmly agasint the sticks (you wont be able to remove the sticks without removing this styrene pieces).

User uploaded file

I did this, the MBP started with no problems, i can now shake it and won't freeze and/or beep at all.

I'll try to make a video or at least a photo guide showing and post the link (it will be my first YT video so be nice hahaha) so it shows the fault and fix clearly

174 replies

Oct 26, 2015 12:38 PM in response to ashlyn7371

All the latest guys on this thread. As far as most of us are aware changed the ram doesn't help anything. The problem seems to be 1 or both of the ram sockets. I solved my same problem by taking out the bottom ram completely. I only upgraded the ram to get more power. I have had no problems since I done this. I know it's not perfect but at least my mbp works again problem free for now. Open up the back and see which socket is causing the problem. Hope this helps.

Oct 26, 2015 9:41 PM in response to guedesbgeorge

Since replacing the ram I've had two hard restarts (your mac has restarted because of a problem - screen) and then it boots. I've yet to see any lines on the screen come up like it did in the past. I can pick up the laptop without this issue occurring unlike before it would freeze and give me the lines instantaneously.


The ram seems to have helped however with these two hard reboots I'm beginning to wonder if it is my SSD (no reported issues on amazon of the model I have and it has a ton of reviews).


I did call Samsung about the ram that was in the machine and they said because it was OEM, they couldn't warranty it and to call Apple.


If this happens again I may throw back in the old hard drive (and I shudder saying this, it was so slow) and see if that helps.


My last resort is to replace the logic board, but I'm not going there just yet.


Mid 2012 MacBook Pro.

Nov 1, 2015 11:47 AM in response to ashlyn7371

Hi everyone.


So glad to find this thread finally. I've been looking in French forums for one month without finding any answer relevant to my problem. I have the same MacBook Pro mid-2012 and the problem happened about one month ago (I have the MBP since 14 months). Then it became worse and worse. The first time the freeze with 3 beeps happened, I brought it straight to the closest genius bar to check. They said it was RAM and asked me 300€ to repair it. I refused and brought it to the Chinese store to test my ram. He said everything was fine. Now, the problem is still going on and I see it's a really recent problem. I agree with people saying that when we press where RAM is (while using the computer) it will crash. I observed that sometimes when I plug my earphones (after one hour using while charging, so it's a bit hot), it will crash also. I am so desperate about this problem since I use it for working!! And I trusted Apple so much after using iPhone for 5 years, I thought would be really nice. Hope this problem can be solved soon!! Because even the Chinese don't know what to do.


I also noticed that my computer was crashing when I occasionally play LOL and become really hot (that was at the very beginning though but it occurs from time to time).


please find a better solution than removing one bar of RAM.

Nov 8, 2015 6:56 AM in response to zapotsang

Hi!


Been having the same issue since Q3 of this year. It started from occasional static glitches (freezes) that leads to reboots, then not long lead to random reboots, blackouts with the 3 Beep warnings (RAM problem from what I learned). But after I get through, the laptop works. Having only the fear that it will reboot randomly and distract my work. I use my macbook for playbacks and documentation work. (Occasional games). I've had the issue of when moving from one place to another which "shakes" the device even the slightest makes the glitches then reboots, at times without having done anything, when closing the laptop to sleep and waking it up which in turn doesn't wake up but reboots, pressures on the lower left triggers the glitches.


I've modded my device to an SSD and 2nd HDD prior to the problems. Works fine the first 6 months then the problems occurred right after upgrading the software. Discovered the Ram Issue (3 Beeps) then decided to upgrade to 16gb (8gb/slot) but still experiencing the issues.


REALLY DESPERATE IN FINDING THE SOLUTION!

I've been in circles now for 2 months finding a solution.


Right now, I'm following the 1 slot fix. Hope it works somehow.


Hope some from apple fixes this.



Thanks!


Yosemite

Macbook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012)

2.5 GHz Intel Core i5

16 GB

250 SSD

500 2nd HDD

Intell HD Graphics 4000 1024MB

Dec 17, 2015 7:11 AM in response to benenenebatman

Yet another person here with the same issue!! My macbook is from 2012 as well. About a year ago it started doing all the lines and beeping and what not and eventually wouldn't turn on anymore so I gave up on it. I just recently gained the confidence to do some troubleshooting and RAM switching. I too found that taking the bottom ram slot out (closest to keyboard) has worked so far for me.


I think this is ridiculous that this many people have the EXACT same issue and it isn't recognized by apple as it is clearly a flaw on their part.

Dec 27, 2015 10:17 AM in response to ashlyn7371

I also have the same model (Mid-2012 13" MBP) and the same issue. Mine first happened 8 months after purchase, and they replaced the Logic Board and hard drive. Then 10 months after the first repair, the same problem occurred so they replaced the Logic Board and RAM. That didn't fix it either because 13 months later the same problem is happening. With two new Logic Boards, a new hard drive AND new RAM, obviously there is something clearly wrong with the actual manufacturing of this model rather than the individual parts. I would not bother paying $280 to replace/fix anything for the laptop as the problem will probably persist again eventually.


I have no idea what to do at this point as Apple won't give a full body replacement since they don't recognize the problem. How many people have to report this issue in the feedback forms for Apple to recall this absolute faulty product?


Are the RAM replacements and upgrades and such mentioned earlier in this discussion forum working? I feel skeptical even bothering to change any parts in my laptop as Apple themselves failed to fix the problem at hand after replacing the Logic Board twice.

Jan 8, 2016 8:39 AM in response to ashlyn7371

Thanks to all the experimenters in this thread. I just removed the bottom RAM and it seems to be ok.

I posted in a similar thread Picture Included. Mid 2012 13 inch Macbook Pro green/purple lines on screen. Freezes. Sometimes 3 beeps.

I, and a few others in that thread, have had this problem recur after getting the $300 Genius Bar repair around Jan 2015 - I only wish the fix was found and I knew about it before then. I would NOT recommend the genius bar repair for this issue specifically, as it is evidently a widespread problem and not idiosyncratic.

Jan 9, 2016 3:22 PM in response to Xheia

I am so glad I found this thread! Can anyone help on how to fix the problem? I seen a lot about taking one of the RAMs out.. I'm thinking about trying that, but I have no experience with repairing computers and am nervous about opening it up. I just got my RAM replaced, should I take it back to the Apple repair guy to do this, or should I try it myself? Is it very hard to do, and could someone walk me through it? Thanks!

Jan 10, 2016 2:00 AM in response to Xheia

I also have exactly the same problem, taking the bottom RAM seems to have helped.

Called apple who said this issue was covered by the following macbook pro replacement program which (as says on the webpage) only includes 15 and 17 inch models:

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

The symptoms that we have are exactly the same as in this replacement program.

However, at the genius bar they have refused to acknowledge this and told me that my model 13 inch mid-2012 macbook pro is not covered.

And quoted £350 to replace the logic board 😮 😕

Seems that a class action lawsuit is the only way to force Apple to admit that this is a fault that they should cover for this defective product.

Macbook Pro screen glitches, 3 beeps, NOT THE RAM

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