Macbook Pro display

[return_of_the_mac]

What's causing the wedge-shaped column of brighter pixels show in the photo I've attached (far left of display)?

I have a column of bright pixels on the far left of the display (1680x1050) of my Macbook Pro 15" mid 2012 (non retina). This is actually a wedge shape; 4 pixels wide at the top of the display, 1 pixel wide at the bottom. The original LCD started to die a few years ago (columns of dead pixels) so I replaced it myself. As soon as I replaced it I noticed that it was not as bright as the original, but I accepted that as the price of buying a cheapish panel from China. A few days ago this wedge of bright pixels appeared on the left hand edge of the display. It looks a bit odd, but it has made me wonder whether the panel was actually fine all along and something else has been stopping it achieving peak brightness. Does anyone know what might be causing either the panel to be mostly dark, or this bright wedge of pixels?

 

[DeltaMac]

That looks like you have a screen protector that was not installed correctly -- misaligned, so the left edge is not installed to the edge of the screen, with the image on that left edge is the proper brightness, but not most of the screen underneath the screen cover. If there is nothing physical on that left edge, such as an edge that you can feel, then it's probably just a poorly assembled LCD panel, with the top layer or two not aligned during the factory assembly.

Or, more likely, a part of the backlight is "aging out", starting to die. That would explain why you didn't notice anything until recently. Nothing you can do to fix that, other than replace the LCD panel again. Is that worth the cost on an 8-year-old laptop? Only you can decide.

 

[return_of_the_mac]

Thank you, DeltaMac. I've just double checked and there's definitely nothing physical there. I'm very tempted to go ahead and replace the LCD again, but before I do so is there anything else that could be causing this? Could the inverter be at fault? Or even the mainboard?

 

[DeltaMac]

I don't think the inverter would affect only a tiny part of the screen. My experience is that the entire screen would be affected. Hmm... logic board/graphics chip? AFAIK, the only way to find out is to do the "easy" step: try a different LCD.

Or, it's perhaps a minor issue. You could use it, as is.

 

[return_of_the_mac]

Thanks, DeltaMac - that's helpful to know about the inverter.

Yeah, I'll have to weigh up whether it's worth sorting it out.

Thanks again.

 

[return_of_the_mac]

Or, more likely, a part of the backlight is "aging out", starting to die. That would explain why you didn't notice anything until recently. Nothing you can do to fix that, other than replace the LCD panel again. Is that worth the cost on an 8-year-old laptop? Only you can decide.

So I've just replaced the LCD and glass. The laptop now works, and looks, as good as new. The LCD (1680 x 1050, glossy) cost me $67 and the glass was $13. It took me about an hour and a half to do the job. Much of that was spent getting rid of the old glass glue from the inside of the top case.

Sadly, this machine won't be getting an official update to Big Sur, but overall, for me, this was definitely worth doing.

Thanks again for your help.