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Weird "outline" on underside of MacBook

IgnatiusTheKing

IgnatiusTheKing

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Nov 17, 2007
3,657
2
Texas
I just noticed this on my wife's white MacBook. It's hard to see, but there's an outline of a rectangular...something...on the underside of the MacBook. It's not a crack and you can't feel it if you run your finger over it, but it looks weird.

I noticed it when she was asking me if it seemed normal for it to get so hot. I thought it was normal, until I saw the outline where it felt hottest. I've never noticed it before, so I'm assuming it's new (though it's entirely possible I've just missed it up until now).

Should I take it down to the Apple Store or is this normal?
 

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Was it a refurb? and out of curiosity is it a whitebook with the NVidia graphics or the older version?

Have you recorded the temps ? are the fans running ok ?

Can you feel the mark it raised up?.

sorry for all questions .
 
tMac85 said:
was there a sticker there?
Click to expand...

tMac85 said:
also it looks like there maybe used to be a permanent marker square there that tried to get cleaned off.
Click to expand...

Nope, it's definitely something that's showing through from inside the computer.

marbles said:
Was it a refurb? and out of curiosity is it a whitebook with the NVidia graphics or the older version?

Have you recorded the temps ? are the fans running ok ?

Can you feel the mark it raised up?.

sorry for all questions .
Click to expand...

It's not a refurb. It was bought new in September with the back-to-school special (my wife is in grad school). We didn't mind getting the older model because we sold the free iPod touch that came with it to make it much less expensive.

The mark is not raised and I haven't checked the temps because iStat was making the trackpad crazy, but the fans are definitely working, seemingly in a normal way.

acfusion29 said:
Looks similar to the iPhone 3G cracking issue.
Click to expand...

I've heard about that issue but never actual seen it. My wife has the white 3G but hasn't experienced the cracking.

NewMacbookPlz said:
I'd guess the computer was left on a magazine or something, and got hot, and it left a mark.
Click to expand...

Possible, but I don't think so. It really seems like it's showing through from inside, not a mark on the outside.
 
i'd definitely take it in and get it looked at. the computer is only 6 months old, you shouldn't be having this kind of problem right now. let us know how it goes
 
all said and done then it must be cracking :( at least they'll replace the case as it's an acknowledged issue, I wonder if the ones with NVidia chip do this as well, I'd imagine so, shame on you Apple
 
IgnatiusTheKing said:
Nope, it's definitely something that's showing through from inside the computer.
Click to expand...

The case is white plastic, which as far as I'm aware, it not transparent. If the marks are not raised, or you can't feel them, then my vote is something superficial - maybe not a permanent marker but perhaps something similar.
 
Tomorrow said:
The case is white plastic, which as far as I'm aware, it not transparent. If the marks are not raised, or you can't feel them, then my vote is something superficial - maybe not a permanent marker but perhaps something similar.
Click to expand...
Have a look at the iPhone pic posted above.
 
Tomorrow said:
I saw the pic, and that's a crack. What the OP is pointing out on the MB isn't a crack.
Click to expand...
I think its similar, the iPhone pic is higher re isn't it ? , maybe it's the start of a crack, or it could just be the newspaper/magazine suggestion but I'm leaning toward it being a crack or the start of. either way I'm sorry for the guy, .
 
marbles said:
I think its similar, the iPhone pic is higher re isn't it ? , maybe it's the start of a crack, or it could just be the newspaper/magazine suggestion but I'm leaning toward it being a crack or the start of. either way I'm sorry for the guy, .
Click to expand...

The lines on the MB look suspiciously (1) straight, and (2) perpendicular to each other. That's why I think the sticker/magazine/marker theories might hold some water.

OP: are these marks new, or have they always been there?
 
Tomorrow said:
The lines on the MB look suspiciously (1) straight, and (2) perpendicular to each other. That's why I think the sticker/magazine/marker theories might hold some water.

OP: are these marks new, or have they always been there?
Click to expand...

You've a fair point there, he did say that he'd only just noticed them.

edit* I wonder if there is a product which would be safe to use to try and clean it off, which could help to narrow down what it could be
 
There is nothing on the bottom of the Macbook's motherboard that could cause those markings (no heatsinks or anything like that). It almost certainly got there from something physical that touched the outside.
 
Tomorrow said:
The lines on the MB look suspiciously (1) straight, and (2) perpendicular to each other. That's why I think the sticker/magazine/marker theories might hold some water.

OP: are these marks new, or have they always been there?
Click to expand...

That's why I thought it was heat transfer of something. Those lines are not only at a 90* angle to each other, but they're not straight with the case of the computer. The components in the computer aren't at an angle like that to leave a shape like the OP is seeing.
 
Yes, the lines are square to each other but not to the case. I agree that in the picture it looks like it might be a mark on the outside but in person it really doesn't look that way.
 
I'd say it looks like some discolouration to the plastic caused by heat. I don't think that it is a crack, it doesn't look like one, and it seems to be consistent with the markings of some kind of internal component. I've heard stories of people's Airports becoming pretty hot, maybe this would be it.

Looking at it though it seems to look like it has occurred over a relatively lengthy period of time, and maybe a regular occurrence.

I'd have to say that it may be worth taking it down to the apple shop, it can't exactly hurt can it?
 
Just took it over to the Apple Store to have them take a look at it. They checked the logs and didn't find anything out of the ordinary (thankfully). The Genius gave the marking a good look and concluded that it was likely just a defect in the plastic and agreed that it was definitely showing through from under the lacquer and not a mark on the outside.
 
IgnatiusTheKing said:
Just took it over to the Apple Store to have them take a look at it. They checked the logs and didn't find anything out of the ordinary (thankfully). The Genius gave the marking a good look and concluded that it was likely just a defect in the plastic and agreed that it was definitely showing through from under the lacquer and not a mark on the outside.
Click to expand...

So did they not change the case for you ?, should do imo if it is a defect, ....surely:confused:
 
marbles said:
So did they not change the case for you ?, should do imo if it is a defect, ....surely:confused:
Click to expand...

I didn't bother asking because I don't care. It's not going to affect how the computer works and it took me seven months to even notice it, so it's really not an issue.
 
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