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Random colored pixels appear on screen, then Macbook locks up

I

illicit2k1

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 10, 2009
34
36
Ive been having an intermittent issue with my Macbook Pro. My Macbook Pro is always connected to a power source and also an external monitor. The monitor is an 23" Apple Cinema Display, connected via DVI through a DVI-Mini Display Port adapter.

These dots start appearing on both the internal display, and the external display. Shortly there after, the Macbook will stop responding to keyboard input and mouse clicks, but the mouse will still move. After that the mouse will stop moving and then I will have to hard reboot the system. After I reboot everything is back to normal.

Is this a common problem? Has anyone seen this before?

IMG_0339.jpg


System Info:

Screen_Shot_2014_03_26_at_12_03_27_PM.png
 
Last edited:
M

moneybags

macrumors newbie
Jul 16, 2013
6
0
illicit2k1 said:
Is this a common problem? Has anyone seen this before?
Click to expand...
Radeongate. See here:
https://www.macrumors.com/2014/01/17/2011-macbook-pro-gpu-glitches/
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4766577?start=0&tstart=0
I advise you to sign the petition (who knows - maybe it will work):
http://www.change.org/en-AU/petitio...-pro-with-graphics-failure?recruiter=45766001

Basically, your computer has 2-3 days left. After that it will boot to a grey screen, unresponding, with the only 'official' repair option of replacing the entire logic board that will die much sooner.

I have the same model and I don't know what to do with it. I don't want to use unauthorized reballing services because I'm still waiting that Apple will have a conscience and exchange the damaged products.

nickandre21 said:
its a gpu issue, hope you have apple care left as it will need a logic board replacement.
Click to expand...
Doesn't help. First, it's awfully expensive if you don't have apple care; then, the replaced logic boards last from 2-3 weeks to 2-3 months. You will be very lucky if your replaced logic board will die before your warranty runs out - that's three months.
 
I

illicit2k1

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 10, 2009
34
36
moneybags said:
Radeongate. See here:
https://www.macrumors.com/2014/01/17/2011-macbook-pro-gpu-glitches/
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4766577?start=0&tstart=0
I advise you to sign the petition (who knows - maybe it will work):
http://www.change.org/en-AU/petitio...-pro-with-graphics-failure?recruiter=45766001

Basically, your computer has 2-3 days left. After that it will boot to a grey screen, unresponding, with the only 'official' repair option of replacing the entire logic board that will die much sooner.

I have the same model and I don't know what to do with it. I don't want to use unauthorized reballing services because I'm still waiting that Apple will have a conscience and exchange the damaged products.


Doesn't help. First, it's awfully expensive if you don't have apple care; then, the replaced logic boards last from 2-3 weeks to 2-3 months. You will be very lucky if your replaced logic board will die before your warranty runs out - that's three months.
Click to expand...

Ive been experiencing this problem intermittently for about a year. The problem is that it happens so infrequently it would be hard to show to any one at apple (other than pictures). I called Apple Care once before and they had me reset the PRAM etc, but they I have to wait a month or two to see if the problem is fixed, which it clearly isn't. I have Apple Care on this machine through the end of the year, maybe I should just bring it into a store?

My issue looks slightly different then what others are seeing, have you seen anyone who's screen looks like mine with "random" blotches of pixels like that?
 
simon48

simon48

macrumors 65816
Sep 1, 2010
1,315
88
illicit2k1 said:
Ive been experiencing this problem intermittently for about a year. The problem is that it happens so infrequently it would be hard to show to any one at apple (other than pictures). I called Apple Care once before and they had me reset the PRAM etc, but they I have to wait a month or two to see if the problem is fixed, which it clearly isn't. I have Apple Care on this machine through the end of the year, maybe I should just bring it into a store?

My issue looks slightly different then what others are seeing, have you seen anyone who's screen looks like mine with "random" blotches of pixels like that?
Click to expand...

It's a GPU issue, they don't all fail the same. Bring it in. Apple has tests they can run that can fail your GPU with you having to recreate your issue and they can look at kernel panic logs. But do bring it in ASAP in case you do have trouble getting them to see that it is your GPU.
 
I

illicit2k1

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 10, 2009
34
36
simon48 said:
It's a GPU issue, they don't all fail the same. Bring it in. Apple has tests they can run that can fail your GPU with you having to recreate your issue and they can look at kernel panic logs. But do bring it in ASAP in case you do have trouble getting them to see that it is your GPU.
Click to expand...

Got an appointment for friday, we'll see what happens. I wonder what they will do if they can't reproduce the issue.
 
Y

yjchua95

macrumors 604
Apr 23, 2011
6,725
233
GVA, KUL, MEL (current), ZQN
illicit2k1 said:
Ive been having an intermittent issue with my Macbook Pro. My Macbook Pro is always connected to a power source and also an external monitor. The monitor is an 23" Apple Cinema Display, connected via DVI through a DVI-Mini Display Port adapter.

These dots start appearing on both the internal display, and the external display. Shortly there after, the Macbook will stop responding to keyboard input and mouse clicks, but the mouse will still move. After that the mouse will stop moving and then I will have to hard reboot the system. After I reboot everything is back to normal.

Is this a common problem? Has anyone seen this before?

Image

System Info:

Image
Click to expand...

Radeongate has hit your Mac.

Only solution: Reflow the GPU. Even a logic board replacement won't work because the replacement logic boards also suffer from the same issue. There is a manufacturing flaw in all the 2011 logic boards with Radeon (due to an over application of thermal paste and using unleaded solder).
 
I

illicit2k1

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 10, 2009
34
36
Update: Apple is definitely aware of the GPU issues you guys posted about. My machine is actually not part of that exact issue, but has a similar issue. They are going to replace the logic board on the machine under Apple Care.
 
M

Mac-Tek

macrumors newbie
Mar 13, 2014
5
0
You should take your board to a workshop for reballing. Not sure how much it would cost where you are located but you should make sure that they have apropriate equipment and experience to do the work. You may also try to reflow it. You can see a load of videos on youtube on how to reflow in your over nad all you need to buy it is apropriate flux. You will need a high viscosity flux of high quality which will go under the GPU and cover all area and all solder balls. The best I have found so far is CS-FLUX. You can see a video of it here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8HN8iw2BHY
and it is avaliable on ebay here
http://www.ebay.com/itm/390792468898

If you try either please let us know of the results
 
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