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Strange issue I can't figure out. Graphics card going bad? Keyboard?

Release

Release

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 28, 2012
142
198
Whenever I use high CPU apps like Adobe InDesign or Photoshop, after a few minutes, if I'm typing anything (it doesn't matter if it's a text block or saving a file) something will take over and just fill the space with periods, or 2's, or random letters. It adds periods mostly through. It doesn't always do it, and I can't easily replicate it, but it's doing it more and more often. I've never noticed it in Safari or any of the other light computing apps. Just with graphic design apps, video and once in Logic. It happened in the last OS a few times and I did a complete wipe and clean install with Big Sur.

It's a 2019 MacBook Pro, i9, 32GB, Vega 20. I'm running an external LG 27" monitor with Thunderbolt through a CalDigit T3+ with a few SSD's attached. 97% of the time since I've had it I've been using an external keyboard so I'm not sure it's the keyboard but who knows?

A restart seems to help it for a while (and some days I don't have any issue at all) so it seems fairly random. Last week I unplugged the monitor and worked for a bit and I didn't have the issue so I'm starting to wonder if it's the video card.

Anyone have any ideas to what it could be?
 
Release said:
Whenever I use high CPU apps like Adobe InDesign or Photoshop, after a few minutes, if I'm typing anything (it doesn't matter if it's a text block or saving a file) something will take over and just fill the space with periods, or 2's, or random letters. It adds periods mostly through. It doesn't always do it, and I can't easily replicate it, but it's doing it more and more often. I've never noticed it in Safari or any of the other light computing apps. Just with graphic design apps, video and once in Logic. It happened in the last OS a few times and I did a complete wipe and clean install with Big Sur.

It's a 2019 MacBook Pro, i9, 32GB, Vega 20. I'm running an external LG 27" monitor with Thunderbolt through a CalDigit T3+ with a few SSD's attached. 97% of the time since I've had it I've been using an external keyboard so I'm not sure it's the keyboard but who knows?

A restart seems to help it for a while (and some days I don't have any issue at all) so it seems fairly random. Last week I unplugged the monitor and worked for a bit and I didn't have the issue so I'm starting to wonder if it's the video card.

Anyone have any ideas to what it could be?
Click to expand...
The 2019 15" MacBook Pro is the last of the large Mac laptops with the defective butterfly keyboard. One of the symptoms of a failing keyboard is repeating keys, so you should contact Apple to get the keyboard replaced.
 
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chrfr said:
The 2019 15" MacBook Pro is the last of the large Mac laptops with the defective butterfly keyboard. One of the symptoms of a failing keyboard is repeating keys, so you should contact Apple to get the keyboard replaced.
Click to expand...
The only reason I didn't go immediately to a keyboard issue is because I don't use it very often (I use an external most of the time). I did get in touch with them about 2 months ago about it. I had some work I need to finish up and couldn't sent it off for a week. The only option they gave me is to buy a new one and then return it when mine was returned. I might be able to do that next week though.
 
Get the keyboard replaced.
It's free.
You get an ENTIRELY NEW TOPCASE in the exchange (including a new battery).

There really is no other way to fix keyboard irregularities on the butterfly keyboard models.
 
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Almost seems like those bluetooth keyboards that get stuck and repeat keys for a bit when CPU processes get too high. Interesting. I've never had this behavior happen on the internal keyboard tho.
 
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Release said:
Thanks everyone, I just set up an appointment to get it replaced.
Click to expand...
My wife recently got her battery replaced on her 2017 MBP - came with a new keyboard - the laptop is like new now. Took them about a day to do it (though a week to ship the battery to the store).
 
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