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MBP intermittent screen glitch issue on restart *pics*

L

landonjfolz

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 9, 2005
6
0
I have a 1.83 MBP, with 1.5 gigs of RAM (stock 512 + additional crucial 1gb) 80 gig HD. Pretty standard.

My issue is that once in a while when I restart my machine, bootup is really slow and then I get a weird screen glitch. Often I won't get a full re-boot but will get a half appearing dock and no desktop icons. Sometimes it will have lots of grainy lines across it. Sometimes I will get the beach ball for extended times and it will just freeze there. Basically I keep restarting it, and eventually it goes away and boots up normal.

The thing is I can't really replicate the problem. It just happens at random. Sometimes it happens after I have a system crash, and I need to restart, and sometimes it happens just after a system update restart.

Like I said, it doesn't happen that often, but when it does it kind of freaks me out. I've had the logic board replaced in the past to eliminate the "whinning" (which, thankfully is now gone) and I wonder if this is another logic board problem. Other than that the computer has been great. And upon the complementary Applecare expiring pretty soon, I wonder if I should take it in for a repair or just not worry about it. It's kind of hard to take it in if I can't really show them the problem.

Any thoughts, comments, suggestions, or ideas?
 

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I instaled the RAM when I first got the computer. I have wondered if maybe I should remove the RAM and re-seat it.
 
I would say it was GPU due to the screen glitching but that wouldn't explain slow boot times. I'd suggest that it's a logic board problem and you should go to an Apple Store and keep rebooting to see if you can get the glitch to appear.

It's not a foolproof plan but I'd give it a go.
 
if you can, you could try posting this on the apple support forums (Geniuses discredit any non-official apple forum, even this one) and link to the pictures.
 
Looks like a GPU issue to me, almost 100% certain. Take your machine back to Apple, they should be able to repair/replace it for you =]
 
Great, thanks.

I just did a test, and after about (5) restart/shut downs I get the same wacky symptoms.

I did this test with the crucial RAM in, and without it. Both times I still got the glitch.

So I'll take it in to the apple store tomorrow and see what they can do about it.

What is the GPU? Is that the graphics card?
 
Yup, GPU is your graphics card. If Apple will fix it for you it shouldn't be a large job, they may even do it for you on site.
 
No I didn't run a hardware test. I don't even know how to do that. I'll look into it now.
 
I had the exact same problem with my PowerBook G4. It normally happened when i pulled the powercord out or plugged it in. I was told it was my Logic Board... I was inclined to think it was my GPU. Anyway... Good Luck. Make sure you show them those pictures. And if you don't get any help just send an email to steve@apple.com. I did. Actually I think I sent around 14.

Brad
 
So I took the MBP into an Apple Store today. The Genius deduced that since there are a bunch of weird lines around my cursor (*see pic #2) and they follow the cursor when it moves that it is a logic board issue.

He said he was certain that it wasn't a GPU issue. As I mentioned earlier I have already had my logic board fixed once before, to remove the whine. I hope when it comes back it'll be all good and fixed, with no whine. One can hope...

He mentioned that it could possibly have been a loose screen connector 'causing the problem, but then figured, no, it's probably not.

So the part is on order. Let's hope it works out. I'm banking on getting this fixed and then living with whatever else happens, since I can't afford to get Applecare right now. This is the lats month of complementary support.

On an unrelated note, I saw a guy today who hauled in his entire iMac (boxes, machine and all) because he thought the customer support rep told him to bring it in to the apple store to get them to help him set-up his .mac. Unbelievable!
 
Got my computer back from the Mac Store, and it apprears to be great. Haven't seen the problem yet or been able to replicate it.

And the new Logic Board is nice and quiet still, so I'm happy about that.

So hopefully all is fixed.
 
landonjfolz said:
Got my computer back from the Mac Store, and it apprears to be great. Haven't seen the problem yet or been able to replicate it.

And the new Logic Board is nice and quiet still, so I'm happy about that.

So hopefully all is fixed.
Click to expand...

Just to mention, the GPU is completely integrated on the logic board, so whatever the problem was it will be gone for good now.
 
G5Unit said:
EDIT:Or maybe a problem with your GPU?
Click to expand...

It looks like a GPU problem to me. It might need to be replaced :(

Edit: Just noticed the OPs post a few above mine. Perhaps it was a GPU issue but because it isn't removable the whole Logic Board needed to be replaced. Whatev, you got a nice computer on your hands :)
 
I know that this is an old post but...

f1400 said:
Just to mention, the GPU is completely integrated on the logic board, so whatever the problem was it will be gone for good now.
Click to expand...

Okay, that's what I thought!
I seem to be having some glitches occurring on my screen. I'm worried because I don't have Applecare anymore, and I hear that replacing the motherboard (same as logic board, correct?) is a really expensive job. Better to just get a new machine...
Any opinions and or comments?

BTW, I'm running on an iMac Intel Core Duo, 128 VRAM, ATI Radeon 1600.

I can post some pictures, if you guys want.
 
The logic board is just a different name for the motherboard. And yes, if it needs to be replaced out of warranty it's almost always better to just replace the entire computer and sell the old one for parts.

Given the age of your computer, if it turns out that the logic board needs replacement, I'd recommend to get a new computer.
 
penter said:
I know that this is an old post but...



Okay, that's what I thought!
I seem to be having some glitches occurring on my screen. I'm worried because I don't have Applecare anymore, and I hear that replacing the motherboard (same as logic board, correct?) is a really expensive job. Better to just get a new machine...
Any opinions and or comments?

BTW, I'm running on an iMac Intel Core Duo, 128 VRAM, ATI Radeon 1600.

I can post some pictures, if you guys want.
Click to expand...

From what I have seen there are a lot of problems with those imacs. GPU issues. I see that this has helped some people: http://www.hydlaaplaza.com/smf/inde...e280a5026dc7eb5d41894117b1&topic=30575.0;wap2
 
Pr0grammer said:
The logic board is just a different name for the motherboard. And yes, if it needs to be replaced out of warranty it's almost always better to just replace the entire computer and sell the old one for parts.

Given the age of your computer, if it turns out that the logic board needs replacement, I'd recommend to get a new computer.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the info, Pr0grammer. It's what I thought.
Do you have any idea what the cost of something like that might be?
Being that my current economic situation is dire, I'd rather be sure of how much something like that might cost before ordering a new machine...

edit. what is the possibility of it being a software glitch instead? would you guys like to see pics?
 
A new logic board for your computer would run about $400. Pictures would definitely help, but it sounds like it's probably a hardware issue.

A new Mac Mini for $600 would perform much better than your current iMac, and a new iMac (even the base configuration) would be much better than the Mac Mini. (A friend of mine upgraded from a G4 Mac Mini to a new iMac recently and it's literally an order of magnitude faster, probably way more.) If you looked at used or refurbished computers you could probably get a much better deal than the standard prices.
 
Pr0grammer said:
A new logic board for your computer would run about $400. Pictures would definitely help, but it sounds like it's probably a hardware issue.

A new Mac Mini for $600 would perform much better than your current iMac, and a new iMac (even the base configuration) would be much better than the Mac Mini. (A friend of mine upgraded from a G4 Mac Mini to a new iMac recently and it's literally an order of magnitude faster, probably way more.) If you looked at used or refurbished computers you could probably get a much better deal than the standard prices.
Click to expand...

okay, so $400 but what about labor?
 
Labor would be extra, I'm not sure how much though. Probably at least $100 or so. If you're not comfortable installing it yourself I'd definitely replace the computer instead of trying to get it fixed, it just won't be worth it.

It might be a good idea to take it to a Genius Bar, they'll be able to give you a better diagnosis than anyone can over the internet and they'll be able to give you better cost estimates too.
 
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