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15" MacBook Pro Anti-Glare - Moving Images Causes Grainyness

K

kolax

macrumors G3
Original poster
Mar 20, 2007
9,181
115
So I finally got round to getting a 15" MBP with anti-glare display, however there is one issue that is really irritating. Basically, anything that moves on the screen has this weird grain/grid over it. It also seems like the backlight is flickering a bit which might be related to grain on a moving image.

This only happens with moving images. Good example is if I move an icon - looks fine on its own, soon as I move it, the grainy grid appears over it. Not a big deal for an icon, but imagine playing a movie and having that all over it, because that is exactly what happens.

Anything that moves - whether it be an icon, video, scrolling in Finder, a grainy effect appears over it.

What should I do...? Anything software related that could be causing this? Or is it a bad display? I've reinstalled OS X, reset PRAM etc..
 
this sounds very odd. Try switching up to the 9600 and see if the problem continues just for fun, because it might be a bum chip, but also try to do a screen capture and see if it is a problem happening BEFORE the display, thus not a corruption of the display itself. If the grid does not show up in the capture, take some pics/video.
 
My guess is that it has to do with the AR coating. You can't see the effect on static images because your brain adjusts to it. I saw a similar effect on my Sony Z series a while ago - you could see a faint diagonal texture if you moved your eyes around.
 
Well I just took it back to the Apple Store and exchanged it for another one. This one, exact same model with anti-glare doesn't have this issue.

Makes me think that the GPU or the screen was playing up on the old one. Ah well, glad that it's all fine now.

For what it's worth - the dude I spoke to at the Apple Store said if I wasn't happy with it he'd be happy to exchange it, but he was curious as to seeing the issue for himself. After trying to describe it to him, I enlarged the desktop hard drive icon to the biggest, and just dragged it and he saw right away the grainy/chessboard like grid that appeared over it. Cover Flow did the same thing.

This issue is not on the replacement one, so I guess it was just a lemon..
 
im glad apple was able to take care of it for you. how many days had it been since you bought it btw?
 
modular said:
im glad apple was able to take care of it for you. how many days had it been since you bought it btw?
Click to expand...

1 day.

I just went in, said I bought this yesterday and I think the screen isn't quite right. Explained what it was, didn't demand a replacement but had he not offered one I'd have winged my way round to asking politely.

Looked a bit dodgy though - I bought a 17" uMBP on Sunday, returned it on Tuesday for a 15" uMBP, then came back today to swap the 15" uMBP for one that's screen isn't playing up.
 
Azathoth said:
My guess is maybe a refresh rate thing going on, causing aliasing....
Click to expand...

It did cross my mind there might have been something up with the refresh rate - there was a slight flickering that I could see faintly.

Problem solved now though - but would have been good to know what the exact cause was. Definitely hardware based though..
 
i just received my 15" anti-glare and might be experiencing this problem... did the images look slightly mesh-like when moving?
 
emcham said:
i just received my 15" anti-glare and might be experiencing this problem... did the images look slightly mesh-like when moving?
Click to expand...

Yes! Enlarge your desktop hard drive icon really big, and if it looks something along these lines you are experiencing the issue:

Top is stationary/what it should look like when it is moved. Bottom is when it is moved.

icon_moving.jpg
 
Yep. That is it. Great. So I ordered this online, which probably means a replacement could have the same issue... Hmm
 
emcham said:
Yep. That is it. Great. So I ordered this online, which probably means a replacement could have the same issue... Hmm
Click to expand...

My display for my replacement is 9CB2.

Hopefully Apple may be aware of this issue.. call AppleCare, and ask for a replacement.
 
Kilamite said:
So I finally got round to getting a 15" MBP with anti-glare display, however there is one issue that is really irritating. Basically, anything that moves on the screen has this weird grain/grid over it. It also seems like the backlight is flickering a bit which might be related to grain on a moving image.

This only happens with moving images. Good example is if I move an icon - looks fine on its own, soon as I move it, the grainy grid appears over it. Not a big deal for an icon, but imagine playing a movie and having that all over it, because that is exactly what happens.

Anything that moves - whether it be an icon, video, scrolling in Finder, a grainy effect appears over it.

What should I do...? Anything software related that could be causing this? Or is it a bad display? I've reinstalled OS X, reset PRAM etc..
Click to expand...

this is to do with apples way of producing "millions of colours" its called dithering...
 
Kilamite said:
My display for my replacement is 9CB2.

Hopefully Apple may be aware of this issue.. call AppleCare, and ask for a replacement.
Click to expand...

I called AppleCare, and we ran a series of tests. I ended up talking to a higher up guy who said it is a screen problem among a small number of them that is being looked into right now. He said it isn't that common and it was really doubtful I'd get another like it. They were pleasant and helpful and offered me a return.

How do you find the make of the panel?
 
sab150 said:
this is to do with apples way of producing "millions of colours" its called dithering...
Click to expand...

It may be related to dithering but it obviously affects a smallish number of the displays. My replacement has a different screen and does not have this issue, thankfully.

emcham said:
I called AppleCare, and we ran a series of tests. I ended up talking to a higher up guy who said it is a screen problem among a small number of them that is being looked into right now. He said it isn't that common and it was really doubtful I'd get another like it. They were pleasant and helpful and offered me a return.

How do you find the make of the panel?
Click to expand...

That's good that they are aware of the problem and you are being offered a return/exchange.

To find the display model, go to System Preferences --> Displays --> Color --> Open Profile (Color LCD) and scroll to the bottom, "17 mmod" and under model number.
 
thank you kilamite. interesting, it is a 9CB1... one model up from your good one.
 
Just to add another data point:

My 9CB2 (15" AG MBP) does not appear to have this problem. So, perhaps, Apple fixed this problem with this screen.
 
I just got the 15" antiglare model with the 9CB2 display and have no such issues as well!

I have to say this display is freaking gorgeous!!
 
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