Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Retina MBP screen tearing

Compton said:
Installed bootcamp and ran 3DMark 2011 for a couple of hours in Win7. No problems whatsoever. The Intel HD 4000 isn't active in Windows so I'm also starting to suspect that the integrated graphics chip (or the drivers) is the culprit.

Here is the list of software that I have running pretty much constantly in OSX. Haven't yet tried turning them off but will do it tonight:

Alfred
DropBox
1Password
Fantastical
BetterSnapTool
Neu
nexTab
TotalSpaces
Evernote
OmniFocus
TypeIt4Me

I have a BTO 2.6/16/512, almost the same configuration as Jimmypop's (BTO 2.7/16/512). Another similarity is that the screen tearing is also strongly (exclusively?) associated with the computer waking from sleep. I'm also pretty sure that have exactly the same problem.

Please let me know, Jimmypop, if you take your laptop to an  service provider and hear what's causing the tearing. My repair shop is understaffed due summer holidays and I can't afford to lose the computer now for extended period of time due to occupational reasons.
Click to expand...

I have the exact same BTO system than you, and a few of the same pieces of software. So I'm pretty sure we have an identical problem. And judging by the comment prior to me, it may probably be software related. So the software that we both use (according to yours and my list) is here:

Alfred
DropBox
1Password
Evernote

So it could be one of these that are the offenders. However I thoroughly doubt it is Alfred... and maybe Dropbox. They are both constantly open and I would assume the issue would crop up more because of this.
 
Same "tearing" issue. I have the rMBP 2.3GHz/8GB/256GB. I let it go to sleep a few times while using integrated graphics only, and no issues. Opened VLC player (it switches to discrete) and let it go to sleep and massive tearing once I turn it back on. While tearing, switch back to integrated and everything is fine. If I switch back to discrete it's again, fine.

Only time this happens is if the rMPB goes to sleep while using the NVIDIA 650M
 
kbuck1984 said:
Same "tearing" issue. I have the rMBP 2.3GHz/8GB/256GB. I let it go to sleep a few times while using integrated graphics only, and no issues. Opened VLC player (it switches to discrete) and let it go to sleep and massive tearing once I turn it back on. While tearing, switch back to integrated and everything is fine. If I switch back to discrete it's again, fine.

Only time this happens is if the rMPB goes to sleep while using the NVIDIA 650M
Click to expand...

Have you boiled this down to the card? Or VLC? Are you 100% sure it's the card is what I'm asking really...

As of now I'm hoping it's a 3rd party piece of software.
 
GCWB said:
Have you boiled this down to the card? Or VLC? Are you 100% sure it's the card is what I'm asking really...

As of now I'm hoping it's a 3rd party piece of software.
Click to expand...

I'll try it with a few different apps.
 
kbuck1984 said:
I'll try it with a few different apps.
Click to expand...

I couldn't replicate it with Evernote... and I haven't got the issue in the last half day.

Maybe it's not a replicable problem, maybe it's a combination of issues. Ergh!
 
GCWB said:
I couldn't replicate it with Evernote... and I haven't got the issue in the last half day.

Maybe it's not a replicable problem, maybe it's a combination of issues. Ergh!
Click to expand...

I don't have too many apps installed yet, but iMovie and iPhoto were both fine. I can replicate the issue by opening VLC player, going full screen, putting it to sleep and turning it back on = Tearing. If I am not full screen VLC acts normal upon wake.

Forcing the card to discrite with other apps, iMail, iCal, iTunes does nothing.

So as of now I can only get VLC to do it, and only on full screen.
 
kbuck1984 said:
I don't have too many apps installed yet, but iMovie and iPhoto were both fine. I can replicate the issue by opening VLC player, going full screen, putting it to sleep and turning it back on = Tearing. If I am not full screen VLC acts normal upon wake.

Forcing the card to discrite with other apps, iMail, iCal, iTunes does nothing.

So as of now I can only get VLC to do it, and only on full screen.
Click to expand...

Oh awesome... at least it's replicable. I would give that a go but:
A) I have no videos on my system currently
B) I'm not in a situation where I can easily restart, have a few ongoing projects going on at the moment.

I'll give it a go say tomorrow and tell you if it's replicable on my end (which it should be but yeah)

Sounds like a near confirmation that it's software. I doubt this would be the case, but is it possible that full screen apps in their full screen mode cause tearing on wake? (I am confident this issue would be far more mainstream if this is case, but something to try?)
 
GCWB said:
Oh awesome... at least it's replicable. I would give that a go but:
A) I have no videos on my system currently
B) I'm not in a situation where I can easily restart, have a few ongoing projects going on at the moment.

I'll give it a go say tomorrow and tell you if it's replicable on my end (which it should be but yeah)

Sounds like a near confirmation that it's software. I doubt this would be the case, but is it possible that full screen apps in their full screen mode cause tearing on wake? (I am confident this issue would be far more mainstream if this is case, but something to try?)
Click to expand...

I was able to confirm the replication of VLC full screen will 100% cause the tearing on wake. I'm not sure if thats a determination of a software or hardware issue maybe someone can help on that. it's maybe that rBMP have the issue switching graphic cards?

I'm on vacation in canada and i only have 4 days left on my 14 day return and won't make it back in to before it expire.
1.does anyone know if i can return this laptop in canada if it's bought in the US? 2.can i ask for an extension since Im on vacation?
3.is it possible to return it without the box if i can return it in canada?
 
andy0o0o said:
I was able to confirm the replication of VLC full screen will 100% cause the tearing on wake. I'm not sure if thats a determination of a software or hardware issue maybe someone can help on that. it's maybe that rBMP have the issue switching graphic cards?

I'm on vacation in canada and i only have 4 days left on my 14 day return and won't make it back in to before it expire.
1.does anyone know if i can return this laptop in canada if it's bought in the US? 2.can i ask for an extension since Im on vacation?
3.is it possible to return it without the box if i can return it in canada?
Click to expand...

The thing is... I have experienced the tearing, and whilst I have VLC installed.. I have not used it to play anything as of yet, never mind in full screen. So there is an another offender.

You have a warranty. That is all you need to return a Mac for an issue like this.
However, sorry I don't know the answer to your other questions. UK here.
 
andy0o0o said:
I was able to confirm the replication of VLC full screen will 100% cause the tearing on wake. I'm not sure if thats a determination of a software or hardware issue maybe someone can help on that. it's maybe that rBMP have the issue switching graphic cards?

I'm on vacation in canada and i only have 4 days left on my 14 day return and won't make it back in to before it expire.
1.does anyone know if i can return this laptop in canada if it's bought in the US? 2.can i ask for an extension since Im on vacation?
3.is it possible to return it without the box if i can return it in canada?
Click to expand...

Maybe I'm missing something here, but surely this is a VLC problem or a driver problem which will eventually get fixed. The laptop has only been out for a few weeks, give it time.
 
psynnott said:
Maybe I'm missing something here, but surely this is a VLC problem or a driver problem which will eventually get fixed. The laptop has only been out for a few weeks, give it time.
Click to expand...

We are still trying to determine the issue, just because VLC successfully reproduces the issue, does not mean that it is software. Furthermore, I have had this issue repeatedly without ever using VLC. So it's not relevant to just one application.

You're right though, he is acting a little hastily.
 
GCWB said:
We are still trying to determine the issue, just because VLC successfully reproduces the issue, does not mean that it is software. Furthermore, I have had this issue repeatedly without ever using VLC. So it's not relevant to just one application.

You're right though, he is acting a little hastily.
Click to expand...

Is everyone testing under Lion? Has anyone tried it under ML DP4?
 
psynnott said:
Is everyone testing under Lion? Has anyone tried it under ML DP4?
Click to expand...

I am still using Lion.

I do not have any other 3rd party apps that use the discrete graphics card. Maybe the issue is being caused by 3rd party apps that are full screen, using the NVIDIA card when the rMBP goes to sleep?

EDIT:
I forgot I had Borderlands installed. Ran it, minimized it showing my desktop then let it go to sleep. Same screen tearing on wake up. Once I switched to the integrated graphics it went away. Game wasn't even fullscreen.

3rd Party apps using NVIDIA causing the issue?
 
Last edited:
Puevlo said:
I wish Apple would test their pieces of junk before releasing them.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I had the same feeling. I reckon that Apple's high (overdone?) standards in product secrecy makes bug squashing and beta testing quite difficult.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back