2015 Retina Macbook Screen Flicker

My Retina Pro late 2013 model started doing the same thing and I suspected the 50-odd browser tabs, high graphics card utilisation and the graphics card switching (like others).

What has fixed the flickering (every 30sec-2min) for the last 20mins was changing the screen resolution from a higher res to a lower "default" or non-scaled resolution.

Hope this helps someone and fixes mine for good.

I'll switch back to my preferred resolution later and see if it returns, then find a way to permanently disable graphics switching (assuming this is a cause). I'm holding off on Seirra for now (though someone say this helped). Currently on El Cap and happy with it.

Same problem with my MBP mid-2015 with AMD.

1 logicboard replacement (I had to pay for because there was 1 tiny liquid?? spot inside the MBP.

The flickering returned and sometimes it won't boot at all.

I've done a fair amount of research on Apple communities but almost all of the problems I've read about involve a 15" 2012 macbook pro, which from what understand, has faulty graphics switching.

I've yet to encounter another person with a 2015 MBP Retina with this same problem.

Anyone?

Fresh out of the box today at 6:30pm - Monday, December 1st, 2015 and doing this before 11:12pm.

I had traded a same specs MBP in earlier today which was doing the same thing.

The earlier MBP had el capitan.

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)

Yosemite

2.5 GHz Intel Core i7

16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3

AMD Radeon R9 M370X 2048 MB

I have it also. Sent the MacBook in for repair and all the Apple technician did was wipe and reinstall the OS and then ran the hardware tests and claimed it was fine. Of course when I got it back it started doing the same flickering again. I had informed them that the hardware tests already passed and that the issue was intermittent. Sometimes terrible and other times it does not do it for hours.

Have tried all the tricks that I found online. Resets, firmware, even happens when the wifi is off so wifi changes also do not fix the issue.

I have video of the issue but is hard to catch for as stated happens randomly and not at a high frequency. Will take into an apple store and see if I can get a better response then wiping the hard drive.

Stats:

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)

Processor 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7

Memory: 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3

Graphics: Intel Iris Pro 1536 MB and the AMD Radion R9 M370X

OS 10.10.4 with the the firmware upgrade from July 22 2015

hi floks,

i think i have a solution for this one! I had the same Issue for over 5 Weeks, but know it is gone, with just one simple step! (I use an Imac 27 Retina Late 2014)

The power supply was over a multi socket, a Table Lamp was also plunged in to that some multi socket! I just took that out and TATAAA. Everthing is fine now , no flickering! Hope i could help.

Apple has "SORT OF" acknowledged the problem.

Hey guys ...

I had a early 2011 17 inch macbook pro. This one had the same problem you guys were mentioning. It was so bad that apple had to bring out a free replacement program for the affected macs.

MacBook Pro Repair Extension Program for Video Issues - Apple Support

I got my logic board replaced in 2015. Now a month back my macbook pro conked off again. The program had already expired by then. So I thought i would buy a new one. Went around looking and found that the touch bar macbook pro isnt to my liking. I love the magsafe connector and the ports. So i went around looking for a refurbished macbook pro. And this is what i stumbled into.

https://www.apple.com/sg/shop/browse/home/specialdeals/mac

Notice how both the laptops are the same spec but for the discrete graphics card which is almost S$160 (US$118) cheaper.

I think apple knows the discrete graphics is giving problems, its just that they wont say it out in the open!!!

I thought apple would have dealt with the issue by now ( Refer: 2011 macbook pros with discrete graphics). How come the other manufacturers dont have this problem. Apple have been having this problem ( when it comes to discrete graphics) consistently since 2011!!!

I would recommend you guys to sell your working macbook pros asap & salvage whatever money you can get for it. Or wait till they come up with a free replacement program but it wont do you any good as that logic board will conk off in a year's time ( from experience).

Hope this helps you guys in some way.

Thank You.

PS: I was very careful not to overheat my MBP after i got it replaced. I Reapplied thermal paste. I switched off automatic graphics switching, had the GFX status software running ( for monitoring the temperature and the graphics switching) and still my MBP died on me (I got 6.5 yrs out of my MBP)

My friend had a early 2011 15 inch macbook pro with discrete graphics which had the same problem. He too used the free replacement program and got the logic board replaced. His too conked off one week before mine did.

1. I am still in love with apple products When it works, IT WORKS!!

2. I would still buy a mac but i would think twice before i buy one with discrete graphics.

3. I almost bought the above said discrete graphics mac. Its only when i saw the price difference i started doing my research and I stumbled onto people having problems with them.

4. Now I am contemplating whether to buy the touch bar mac to be on the safe side or to buy a refurbished non-discrete 2015 macbook pro. I do medium gaming on my mac ( Yes i am stupid to game on the mac but my work restricts me from taking my PS4 everywhere), so i need a laptop on which i can game satisfactorily. I love the MAC OS over windows is why i wanna stick to the MAC.

I have the same issue that i describe here

Mid 2015 rMBP 15 with AMD : Screen quickly Fade Out / Fade in

Could you test it by navigate between the tabs of apple web page about iPhone 6S (3D touch - Design - etc...) ?

At this time my mac is at the apple store and the genius said to me that he will test a new logic board.

Thank you

Thanks I'll try it.

Are you sure the problem is gone? It just takes one app that needs High Perf. GPU (you can check on system monitor) and the problem doesn't appear.

To be 99% sure you should close all the open apps and try:

1) manual switching repeatedly between graphic cards turning off/on automatic graphics switching in power saving settings

2) leaving automatic graphics switching ON try open Safari (better with allow WebGL on) and navigate between https://www.apple.com/music/ and another Tab like Support several times.

Even i had this issue couple of days back. Now it stopped flickering. However if this problem persists do clean install of your os X.

1. Create a bootable usb (8 GB or more) after you have downloaded the os x file from the mac app store.

Create a bootable installer for OS X - Apple Support

2. Create a full backup of your mac.

Use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac - Apple Support

3. Install os X

How to reinstall OS X - Apple Support

4. Restore your mac

Hope this is going to help you solve your problem.

Cheers! 🙂

Same issue

I see that you have got a 2015 MacBook Pro with Retina display, so if I were you, I would take it to an Apple Store or reseller to get it repaired for free (or replaced, if you bought your Mac less than 14 days ago). I have not seen that problem in any other 2015 MacBook Pro, so it may indicate that there is a hardware problem that needs to be fixed.

I have exactly the same problem. It's about 0.25 second screen distortion, from 1 to 3 times a day (I spend about 14hours on the computer).

It's a 2015 Macbook Pro retina 15" 16go RAM with the external video card

The flickering for me is on a Macbook pro and occurs even when the laptop is not plugged in (on battery), also since this is a laptop I have used it in multiple locations plugged in and unplugged and the flickering is still and issue.

I just sent mine back for a replacement. It's a hardware issue, apparently, so no amount of resetting this and that will fix it. http://www.appstorechronicle.com/2012/11/major-widespread-flaw-in-apple-retina-m acbook-pro-causes-flicker-no-recall-plan…