My UMBP Is Doing Lots Of This! (Scrambled Screen)

[Bazzy]

Hi All,

I have a June 2010 17" 2.8 UBMP. It regularly has instances where by information on the screen regularly gets "garbled" &then freezes - it either just garbles the entire screen or a Column right down the screen. This garbled column then will appear across all other tabs, apps & even on the desktop. The only way to get rid of this garbling is either to close down the web browser which only sometimes works but more often a restart is required. Just for further information, this screen garbling also occurs for a few seconds when some web pages are loading.

Can anyone tell me what is going on & if it is a software or hardware error? Is there something I can do (novice level) to fix this? Please refer to the pics attached!

Bazzy!

 

[0007776]

Maybe a problem with the graphics card, it's still under warranty right? I'd take it in to the genius bar.

 

[Eidorian]

I'm going to second the video hardware problem. Do you have an external monitor around as well?

 

[mulo]

I used to have this big time on my old MBP, but it never left safari...
I'm curious too.

oh and please clean your screen

 

[Tomorrow]

I know it's only from looking at two pictures, but that doesn't look like a software problem to me.

 

[surfologist87]

Only 3 months in...take it in and let them check it out.
Since youre having one problem, id think about applecare if you plan on keeping it longer than the one year.

 

[emiljan]

I had the same exact issue with my 2009 13" MBP. The video card was failing. I took it to my local Apple store and they replaced the whole logicboard.

 

[Bazzy]

Hi All,

I am very sorry about the dirty screen - I "normally" keep it clean if you could possibly believe me now!

Believe it or not, this was a brand new Replacement from Apple for a June 2009 UMBP that had no end of problems! This is my third Apple replacement over the years so it looks like I am singled out by the powers that hand out curses as to who gets the very few problem Apple computers! Looks like I will be having to call Apple for an appointment then? Sadly I do not have another monitor at hand. I only really use my UMBP for the internet, email & some very basic apps so i is hardly being taxed in any way!

Also, lately, my Pages, Numbers & Keynote apps will not load - I get a window saying that there was a problem & will report to Apple? Any idea why this would happen? Another thing I have noticed is that Flash causes problems - I get a message saying Flash is has quit/not responding or it gets stuck & the heat & temps go right up - any ideas? All software updates are in place.

Bazzy!

 

[Eidorian]

I'd get a new machine like right now, again.

 

[pastrychef]

Looks like GPU to me, too.

 

[dusk007]

Take it with those pictures to Apple and it looks a lot like a GPU problem. Does it happen with Intel or nvidia GPU?

That is what use to happen when my Desktop GPUs got unhappy with the clock speeds I wanted them to run at. Since you can't overclock much in OSX it is probably a defective chip or a cooling problem. Either way it is a hardware prob that needs repair.

 

[Bazzy]

Hi All,

Damn! I am having multiple major throat surgeries next week & be bed bound for around 4 weeks so I will not be able to take it Apple till afterwards but at least I now know there is something definitely wrong with the machine & it is not my fault!

Many Thanks!

Bazzy!