MacBook Pro screen blinks

My new MacBook Pro display screen is blinking or flickering every few minutes now. I've only noticed it when I've switched to the integrated 9400M graphics processor. I don't recall seeing any blinks when using the discrete 9600M GPU. Usually it is only the top half or so of the display that blinks or flickers for a split second. Anyone else having the same problem?

Hi,
you can change the graphics chip via the systempreferences under the "energy saver" lightbulb icon.
In addition to earlier postings in this thread, I changed over to the faster graphics chip and the blinking and visual artifacts dissapeared. The good news is (at least for the moment) that when i changed back to the native chip the problems seem to have gone.
Another thought is that, after reading the link/article on malfunctioning N chips, the problem seemed to have to do with over heating, which to my mind seems illogical as i had usually had the problems directly after a (cold) start-up.
So considering that the problems dissapered after switching back and forth between chips and that the original problems occured while the comouter was still cold, does imply some sort of soft ware problem. Come on Apple, let´s have a fix.

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Mid-2010 MacBook Pro Screen Blinks

Hello, the evening before going abroad, my MBP screen began to blink on and off to a black screen before returning to a temporary normal state. I have tried a PRAM reset and noticed that the boot screen runs fine with no flicker, but both the login and desktop screens blink? The battery is due for replacing soon, but I don't see the this having any impact on the screen blinking? I have searched for an appropriate EFI update but have not seen one
Has anyone come across this before on the 13"? Or has anyone got suggestions to resolve this issue?
Many Thanks in Advance!!!

I have the same problem with my late 2011 MBP 15
http://forums.appleinsider.com/t/160161/apples-2011-macbook-pro-lineup-suffering -from-sporadic-gpu-failures
It seems to be a common problem, and a pretty expensive one to fix. I am hoping to be able to use the consumer rights we have in Sweden to get it fixed for free.

Nvidia GeForce 9400M makes my MacBook Pro screen blinks

I am using a Macbook Pro 2.4MHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GB 1067MHz DDR3.
That's the one with the Nvidia GeForce 9400M and the Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT.
Using the Nvidia GeForce 9400M, as my default video card, seems to make my screen blinks. That is random.
Apple's Hardware Test show no problems.
When I am using the Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT the screen blinks stops.
I am sure that all started after updating to Mac OS X Snow Leopard. I am currently running Mac OS X 10.6.5.
Is this a software problem or there is a problem with the Nvidia GeForce 9400M chip?
Does any is experiencing the same problem?
+the problem withe the screen blinking is quite old. I am mostly using my Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT as my default video card with no problem at all, but I want to be able to use my Nvidia GeForce 9400M because of the better battery life.
Any help will be valuable.+
Tom.

I have the same issue with mine and sadly I missed the date to get Applecare on this machine (they usually call but this time around they didn't). ***** that I didn't get this resolved before my warranty ran out .. I'm certainly not going to shell out for a replacement motherboard out of pocket. I now use the 9600 graphics exclusively and can almost watch my battery drop by the minute.
On a side note I'm not very impressed with the quality control Apple has had with their portables in the last few years. I bought this unit refurbished and it took two units to get one that worked properly, and even then this one never did as it's had this video blinking issue since day one. The problem is I didn't really notice it until recently when I started using it running more often on battery and decided to use the mobile chipset to save battery time. This is the third MBP I've had and their 3rd MBP that's had motherboard issues.
When it comes time to replace this one I'm seriously considering going with a macbook air or something else. Can't justify spending the money on more MBP's with such terrible track records.

Macbook pro screen blinks after connecting it to LED Cinema Display

Hello, just bought a 27 LED Cinema Display to connect my macbook pro 17 (early 2009).
Everything fine until today. After disconnecting my laptop to the display the screen of laptop blinks.
Never had this problem.
I would appreciate any help.
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...but I need to be sure that my macbook will not stop working if I leave the problem with the screen blinks.
Of course you do — we all need to be sure our machines will keep working properly. Unfortunately, there's never any certainty about that, even if one's machine is working perfectly right now. But if it's any consolation, I've seen nothing posted in these forums to indicate that the blinks commonly foreshadow anything worse, so I think you can be reasonably confident that your machine isn't at the start of a predictable course of deterioration.

Macbook Pro screen blinks - Possible solution

I have a MacBook Pro and the display screen blinks randomly. I changed Energy Saver in System Preferences from "Better battery life" to "High performance" and it seems to have solved the problem -- the screen no longer blinks. Just wanted to share this with other users.

Follow these documents.
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1440
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1455
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3964
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1509

Macbook Pro Screen blink with Genius bar. What should i expect?

Hello!,
I have to say in my almost 20 years of being a mac user i've never had a problem with any of my mac's. I now have a minor issue with a brand new Macbook Pro that i bought on New years day. The screen has an odd blink on the upper 1/3 portion of the screen. So i've decided to make an appointment with my local Apple store to show it to a genius. I was actually able to capture the blink on video so that i can show it to the genius.
Now my concern. If its a software issue, thats fine, i'll wait for a patch. But i feel weird about Apple fixing the machine. I feel like the laptop will lose its "magic". The receipt said there is a 14 day return policy, i guess im over that otherwise i would have paid the restocking fee to get a brand new one. Do you think I am just being dumb?

Rany,
This is a support forum. Your question isn't really something that anyone that here can answer. Only someone that knows you will be able to say if you're being "dumb"
Of course it's a bummer when you get a brand new computer... especially a high end one like a MacBook Pro... and you find you have a problem with it. Apple's service has always been among the best. If you do have a hardware issue... bring it in and have them take care of it for you. If you get it back and discover there is something more wrong with it than when you brought it in, then address it. I wouldn't not get it serviced for fear of it losing its "magic". If you're just slightly over your return period... there's no harm is asking them if they would be willing to replace it. There's no guaranty that they will, but they have the flexibility to do so. The worst case scenario is that they fix the one you have.

MacBook Pro screen blinks (Some new questions to ask)

Hello everybody, I have exactly the same problem:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1807105&start=480&tstart=0
My laptop is out of warranty, the Apple service in my country (Bulgaria) is very poor and I want to get the things in my hands. I have some questions:
1) My laptop display bliks - ok, its alright, maybe anoying but everything else works. Is it a problem to work with the display blinks or after few months my laptop will have other problems or will stop working?
2) Is it possible to found parts on the internet and repair it. Someone told me that I can found the needed parts on ebay but I see only logic boards for over 700$ I have only this issue with my laptop - the screen blinks, everything else is fine.
I'll be happy to hear some opinions from users who already have solved this problem. Thanks

...but I need to be sure that my macbook will not stop working if I leave the problem with the screen blinks.
Of course you do — we all need to be sure our machines will keep working properly. Unfortunately, there's never any certainty about that, even if one's machine is working perfectly right now. But if it's any consolation, I've seen nothing posted in these forums to indicate that the blinks commonly foreshadow anything worse, so I think you can be reasonably confident that your machine isn't at the start of a predictable course of deterioration.

My macbook pro screen blinks every 10 seconds

Is there any solution for a blinking screen?
Seems to be blinking about every 10 seconds, makes it very had to compose an email as when it blinks i will lose my typing ability.
I think it started around the time of the last OS upgrade.
Has anyone else experianced this problem?

I have the same issue with mine and sadly I missed the date to get Applecare on this machine (they usually call but this time around they didn't). ***** that I didn't get this resolved before my warranty ran out .. I'm certainly not going to shell out for a replacement motherboard out of pocket. I now use the 9600 graphics exclusively and can almost watch my battery drop by the minute.
On a side note I'm not very impressed with the quality control Apple has had with their portables in the last few years. I bought this unit refurbished and it took two units to get one that worked properly, and even then this one never did as it's had this video blinking issue since day one. The problem is I didn't really notice it until recently when I started using it running more often on battery and decided to use the mobile chipset to save battery time. This is the third MBP I've had and their 3rd MBP that's had motherboard issues.
When it comes time to replace this one I'm seriously considering going with a macbook air or something else. Can't justify spending the money on more MBP's with such terrible track records.

TS1367 My MacBook Pro screen won't turn on makes a repeating 3 beep sound

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Take it in for service.
Apple Store appointments: http://apple.com/retail/geniusbar.

Translucent impromptu possible "hacker" message interrupts current session, locks MacBook Pro screen and demands that I restart by holding down the power button of my LapTop to turn it off first. Any thought? Could this be another way to mess with us?

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Apple recommends against using any cleaner with alcohol or ammonia to clean any LCD screen. Those chemicals may damage the screen coating. The best way to clean a laptop screen is to use a microfiber wipe (such as those sold to clean eyeglasses) or a damp ( not wet) soft lint-free cloth. For more information, see:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3226
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Regards.
Message was edited by: Dave Sawyer

Comparing MacBook Pro screen with Intel iMac

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Obviously expecting a laptop screen to look as good as the larger iMacs is a bit much, but I was still very surprised at the difference in quality.
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The MacBook Pro screen is not as bright or vibrant as any plug-in type LCD I've compared it to.
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Macbook pro screen dims after waking from sleep?

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I tried to find others with this problem in this forum, but got tired of looking through all the other posts that had nothing to do with this problem.
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Macbook Pro Screen wakes up from sleep without any acitvity

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Cheers

You misunderstand the memory management scheme and misinterpret the display you're seeing.
To start with, free memory is wasted memory. Once some disk contents have been brought in, it is wasteful to discard that data just to make the RAM that it occupied "free." Inactive memory is memory that is not currently used, can be given to an application that needs it without doing any disk I/O (or used as a destination for reading disk content) but which currently holds disk data that might be useful in the future. I.e., it's file content of some sort.
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MacBook Pro screen blinks

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