Screen flicker on Macbook

'm on a Macbook (Intel Core Duo 2gHz Processor, 1Gig of Ram, 10 gigs of space left on an 80Gig drive).
The issue is that, at seemingly random times, my screen will flicker, as if the power management was trying to dim the screen during a period of inactivity period.
I called Apple support and they told me to:
1) Disconnect the power
2) Remove the battery,
3) Hold down the power button for 5 seconds
4) Reconnect the power and the battery
5) Power up, and when the system started to boot, hold down ALt-Option-P-R until the second boot cycle.
At first, it seemed to work. The screen flicker stopped. However, now when I boot, I get a grey screen of multi-colored vertical lines, and I need to Alt-Opt-P-R each time to get into the OS.
And, as of yesterday, the screen flicker is back.
I have no ambient light detector like the Macbook Pro, so I know that's not it. I've not seen any other reference to this on the web, so I'm stumped.
Thanks for any insight you might have.

I've experimented a bit, and I've found that the screen usually starts to flicker when the computer is under high load, such as playing a few YouTube videos, or playing a game.
When it started flickering for me, I was running on battery power. My first theory was that the battery could possibly not be supplying enough power to keep everything going (even though it was > 50% charge), but then one day I started getting the flicker while I was plugged into the power adapter. I could still be that the MacBook's hardware is requiring more power than it is getting, but if that were the case, more people would be having this issue.
The flickering doesn't really annoy me that much, as it only lasts for about a minute or two at the most, and it seems to come around once a day or so. It does worry me though, the way in which it flickers doesn't seem good -at all-, and I'm afraid that one day the screen will flicker and it'll get stuck like that, or even not turn on properly again. With my luck it'll be the day the warranty runs out.
As of right now I can't afford to part with my laptop either, as I also have school.
Hopefully someone finds a software fix, or Apple figures out the exact cause of the problem so it can be sent in for a quick hardware fix.

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Any solution for having daily screen flicker on my 2.13GHz 13" 2011 Macbook Air (running 10.6.8)???

well, the title says it all...I see on the Macbook Pro support threads that this is a continuing issue for that model and people seem frustrated that repeated replacements of motherboard and/or displays are not solving the problem.
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I run Onyx and fix disk permissions and clean out various caches at least once a month...but other than that, I just use the computer for low-intensity tasks of word-processing and web browsing mostly...
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The screen on my macbook has malfunction. When I change the brightness to zero and return to the first level of brightness it works briefly but then the screen starts to flicker brightness and quickly extinguished. It seems to be a bad contact, it would not be normal for a quality product that should have, he has less than two years of use. Not because of the bad use or crash. Someone with the same problem or can help me? It's really a contact problem? I've done all the procedures recommended by the online support. Thanks.

Hey everyone in Apple world!
I figured out how to fix the flashing yellow screen problem that I've been having on my MBP! Yessssss!!!
I found this super handy website with the golden answer: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379
I followed the instructions on this page and here's what I did:
Resetting NVRAM / PRAM
Shut down your Mac.
Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command (⌘), Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
Turn on the computer.
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Release the keys.
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(Note that I arrived at this solution when I first saw this page: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2570?viewlocale=en_US)
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Macbook pro retina screen flicking problem

I bought this 15 inches Macbook pro back in Nov, 2012. And I have the screen flicking problem in Dec.
The problem is the same here listed on youtube. You can find hundres of them just by searching "retina flicker" on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko6WCqw20ZE
And I did a lot of researches on this. I had also gone to the Apple Store 2 times, one Genius Bar Staff told me this has to be a hardware problem and offer to fix my laptop, others said it might be a software based problem and adviced me to wait for the new system update. I don't have time for a long fixing so I chose waiting. That particular one who told me to wait for the next software update also encourage me to dig deep and tried to find the root cause by myself...and I did. I found my screen flicking problem could caused by cellphone inteference. And It seems that the Wi-Fi antena is also a key component here. If I turn off Wi-Fi completely, the flickering went away.
Some solutions I found online
1. It can caused by Enable Safari webGL. So disable webGL and turn off develop mode
2. Disable displaycard auto switch in Power saving tab
3. Close the lid put the sytem into sleep and re-open the lid
4. stop using Wi-Fi. That's right people, try disable Wi-Fi!! It's the only working solution for me.
5. It could be caused by CDMA cellphones including US Verizon brand cellphones and many others. GSM cellphones are OK. Try to turn off your cellphone or drive to a empty plaza and try to see your laptop still flickering at your car. Turn off your cellphone when You do this.
What doesn't work
Reboot
reinstall OS
go to Apple Store and change Logic Board (Someone reported that after logic board change, the problem came back after a while)
Let me know if you guys have any findings, Thanks!!

I'm sure that you've seen the problem with 'burn-in' and 'ghosting' on some MBP-R machines in threads on this forum. It doesn't seem to be an overwhelming problem, but some have reported it.
Did you buy it from an Apple Store or online? Either way, you need to get tough with Apple. Tell them you need to keep your computer and, when they deliver a replacement to your local Apple Store, you'll bring it in for exchange. That's what they've been doing with most people that have had MBP-R problems - I've never heard of them requesting that you send your computer back before they will exchange. Did you contact your local Apple Store or was this response from an AppleCare phone conversation. If the latter, take it into the Apple Store, explain what you want to do, and I'm sure that they will work with you.
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The screen on my MacBook Pro Retina has horizontal lines and has a brightness flicker every few seconds since june 2013 upgrade of airport utility.

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Running Windows 7 Ultimate x64 on my brand new 15" MBP right now.
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Message was edited by: jdamien75

Macbook Pro 13 Early 2011 ocasional screen flicker...

I bought a MBP 13 early 2011 i5 new about 2 weeks ago. Over the last week or so I get an occasional screen flicker. I lasts about a second and that is it. I had a MBP 13 2010 for a year before this one and never experienced this problem with that one. I am running Lion and all the software is up to date. I guess I am wondering if anyone else with this model has experienced this, is normal, or should it be something I should be concerned about. Thanks in advance for any answers on this. Also not related to heating either, temp is running the 40's, and just web browsing.

Call Apple Care. You have 14 days from the date of purchase to return your computer with no questions asked. Otherwise, you have the standard 1 year warranty and 3 years if you purchased Apple Care.
Take FULL advantage of your warranty. Posting on a message board should be done as a last resort and if you are out of warranty or Apple Care has expired.

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The intermittent nature of the annoying screen flicker on my Macbook makes it difficult to show a tech that it is a real problem and not some figment of my imagination. Does anybody know of a "sure fire" way of reproducing it? I have been able to recreate the rapid dimming and brightening of my Macbook screen by moving the brightness indicator all the way to the left and then bumping it up one click. This only works sometimes and it only works when I do it by clicking and dragging on the ball on the display screen in system prefs. It doesn't work by using f1 and f2. I made a video of my screen while it was flickering and put the video on the desktop. I'm sending it in as soon as my box arrives on Tuesday. They're also replacing my stained top case. I hope they will look at the video and at least test the inverter and cable to see if they're the problem. Any help with how to encourage them would be greatly appreciated.
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I am the victim of this problem also. The screen flickering & brightness of the screen suddenly fade to low intensity. The screen flickering happened everytime I use my MacBook.
May MacBook was the initial Jun 2006 version.
I already get those problems (a) sudden shutdown (replace the logic board), (b) palm rest area discoloration (change the bottom case), (c) power adaptor pin contact problem (replace the new one), (d) poor performance of battery life (awaiting confirmation from local Apple support, 180cycle max. charge only 50% of initial capacity) & (e) screen flicker issue (today just send in my MacBook for them to do diagnostic).
I really lost confident with my MacBook.
Should I request a replacement of entire MacBook?
My warranty period will be expired mid of next month & the are asking me to purchase the apple protection plan. But, I claim that the unit is poor in initial build quality & why I should considered the plan. It is unfair to me.
If the MacBook is in good condition then I will consider the plan for support another 2 years (fair), not in this reverse way.
Anybody please guide me how to pursue this matter.
I previously own an iBook G4 & PowerBook G4 TI don't have these problem at all.
CK Lim (Penang, MALAYSIA)

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.... as I typed this, it did it again. Only, this time it did not flicker and shake, but got 'pixelated' (pixels came up checkered-like darkened and lightened). It did this for about 2 minutes and then stopped after I did not touch the computer.... Now it is flickering... HELP!

it means that it is not a hardware issue. Other then that, Im not too sure. Sorry I can't help you any further, but Im sure others members of this forum will read your question and be able to help you. Good luck

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I would recommend taking a look at the video troubleshooting steps found in the article below.
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Screen flicker..is everybody experiencing this?

before i soon go out and buy the mba 13",
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Screen flicker at low brightness

Hi all
I have a macbook pro unibody 15" and I seem to be getting a screen flicker at low brightness settings.
I used to have a macbook and it never did this.
Is this normal and if not, is there anything that I can do about it?
Message was edited by: Gambit Hunt

Hi G,
I was going to suggest having it checked for the NVIDIA issue, but you state you have a unibody. If you have a new unibody, you would be best served if you posted in that forum (this area is for the Original MBP). Good luck.

Screen flicker on Macbook

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