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Late 08 Macbook Pro screen flickering

S

smokedog

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 26, 2008
110
4
UK
Anyone having this problem? The flicker effect I get is similar to when you set your monitor to the wrong resolution. Only noticeable when using the 9400 graphics card and screen brightness set to 4 or below.

edit: this seem occur mostly when using battery power.
 
At least for the number of folks like myself, the screen flickers both on battery and power. Only when I run the 9600M GT do I not have the screen issues.

There are a few threads here, as well as a few over on the official apple forums, if you want to make sure the issue you are having is the same as most other folks.

[edit: not just the brightness right? like part of the screen goes black or something to that effect?]
 
My problem is not with the image displayed but the backlight, which is producing a pulsing effect on low brightness.
 
My current one does not do that. Another one I tried flicked horribly at below 1/2 brightness so I had it exchanged.
 
smokedog said:
Anyone having this problem? The flicker effect I get is similar to when you set your monitor to the wrong resolution. Only noticeable when using the 9400 graphics card and screen brightness set to 4 or below.

edit: this seem occur mostly when using battery power.
Click to expand...

I have the same problem with either the 9400 or 9600. I only notice it below half brightness on the lower levels. Usually goes away after a while however. This is with or without battery.

Other than that my mac is perfect. Don't want to replace it in fear I encounter something worse.
 
Regaj said:
Under Settings/Display, uncheck "Automatically adjust brightness as ambient light changes"
Click to expand...
This makes no difference.

From further use I can confirm the flicker is present in both GFX cards and regardless of power source. In fact its flickering now as I type this

I plan on exchanging it this weekend, but my Macbook pro is perfect apart from this problem :(
 
smokedog said:
This makes no difference.

From further use I can confirm the flicker is present in both GFX cards and regardless of power source. In fact its flickering now as I type this

I plan on exchanging it this weekend, but my Macbook pro is perfect apart from this problem :(
Click to expand...

does the flicker go away after several minutes? or is it constant. Let me know how your new one is.
 
smokedog said:
This makes no difference.

From further use I can confirm the flicker is present in both GFX cards and regardless of power source. In fact its flickering now as I type this

I plan on exchanging it this weekend, but my Macbook pro is perfect apart from this problem :(
Click to expand...

also, what level of brightness are you set at?
 
I have my brightness on 2 bar, thats one up from off. When its on 5 bars, the display is fine you don't notice any flicker.
 
smokedog said:
I have my brightness on 2 bar, thats one up from off. When its on 5 bars, the display is fine you don't notice any flicker.
Click to expand...

please let me know how your new one is, i have the same issue so im curious, thanks.
 
Tex-Twil said:
yep
Click to expand...

guess, ill keep my brightness at least halfway then i don't notice it.

Also, my flicker seems to go away after several minutes from cold then i can go back to below half without flicker, seems it needs time to 'warm' up or something.
 
I have exactly the same. Perfect apart from the flickering when the brightness is below around half way.
 
I have the same flickering problem - just got my 2.54GHz MBP. It flickered from the first boot-up. I could change the intensity of the 'flickering', though, if I picked up the corner of the MBP and lightly 'bounced' the computer off the table. It would temporarily fix the problem, but you could watch the display creep back to a constant flicker over time.
 
you guys are not referring to undulations in the backlight level, correct? when i am sitting at my desk, my room's light is directly behind me such that my head casts a shadow on the ambient light sensor (right next to the isight camera). however if i move slightly, the sensor picks up the extra light behind me and cranks up the brightness. try switching off the auto brightness and see if this helps?
 
I'm talking about the display, not the backlight. The display flickers on and off (at a speed of 3-4 flickers per second). During the flickering the color of the display is very pale and 'washed out'.
 
Well I now have my replacement and its flicker free :)

But the screen has a yellow tint compared to my old one :(
 
My 3rd replacement MBP is being prepared. The replacement was a 00009C85 screen and its got quite bad light bleeding on the left and right side of the screen.

Flickering problems seem to be quite common with 00009C84 screens.

Let's see what happens with the 3rd, if I don't get lucky its a refund :(
 
smokedog said:
My 3rd replacement MBP is being prepared. The replacement was a 00009C85 screen and its got quite bad light bleeding on the left and right side of the screen.

Flickering problems seem to be quite common with 00009C84 screens.

Let's see what happens with the 3rd, if I don't get lucky its a refund :(
Click to expand...

keep us posted
 
hari-bhari said:
you guys are not referring to undulations in the backlight level, correct? when i am sitting at my desk, my room's light is directly behind me such that my head casts a shadow on the ambient light sensor (right next to the isight camera). however if i move slightly, the sensor picks up the extra light behind me and cranks up the brightness. try switching off the auto brightness and see if this helps?
Click to expand...

it's not that because i have my auto bright off.

it's just a mild flicker/pulsing at low brightness levels, only lasts 10 minutes from being cold though.
 
What do we have to do to get a nice, decent viewing screen? I mean it's not like this is a $400 laptop.
 
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