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Macbook screen flicker

S

shipdestroyer

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 5, 2007
267
0
New Hampshire
My Macbook screen tends to flicker when turned on or coming out of sleep. It acts like I'm pressing F1, F2, F1, F2, etc. quickly. Anyone else have this problem?

I took it to the Apple store, but the genius couldn't set off the flicker and, therefore, couldn't do anything about it. Should I attempt the Apple Store again (which is a 30-40 minute drive one-way), or try AppleCare instead?
 
M@lew said:
If it happens, give your Macbook a little whack on the back, behind where it says "Macbook" and that fixes it.
Click to expand...

Eh, okay. If possible, I'd like to refrain from assaulting my computer. I'll keep it in mind, though.

EricNau said:
I wouldn't recommend that.


Does it flicker at any other time, or just when waking from sleep?
Click to expand...

I only notice it when waking from sleep or starting up. The longer it sleeps, the more pronounced the flicker seems to be.
 
shipdestroyer said:
My Macbook screen tends to flicker when turned on or coming out of sleep. It acts like I'm pressing F1, F2, F1, F2, etc. quickly. Anyone else have this problem?

I took it to the Apple store, but the genius couldn't set off the flicker and, therefore, couldn't do anything about it. Should I attempt the Apple Store again (which is a 30-40 minute drive one-way), or try AppleCare instead?
Click to expand...

I am not familiar with apples yet or macbooks but if it is the model using the gma950 integrated video, it may just be normal. I have a laptop with this chipset although it is a dell, and it does the exact same thing you describe. Even does it when I first cold boot the computer too. We have quite a few of these at my work as well and they all display the same behaviour. Is this something your has always done or did it just start to do it? Maybe some other macbook owners can let you know if this is normal.

Anyhow good luck with it and I hope it is just the normal behaviour and nothing is wrong with your machine.
 
^It is not normal :)


I have just returned a White MacBook to the Apple Repair Center for the flickering screen. Our black macbook does not do this at all.

It started as you say at startup or coming ot of sleep, but then progressivly became worse and flickered at all times.

They have replaced the screen, and it should be back tommorow or tuesday.

Get it checked out.
 
My question is, does it just "flicker" once when coming on or waking up? In other words, does the screen just quickly and noticeably increase in brightness and then stabilize? If this is the case, I would say it's normal since every Apple laptop I've ever owned (I've had a bunch of 'em) has done this under those specific conditions, but has then stabilized and never had any flicker at any other time.

On the other hand, if it actually flickers (bright, dim, bright, dim, etc.) then you have a hardware issue that needs to be addressed.

FWIW - Screen flicker isn't always attributable to the computer hardware. Though it often is, I once had a MacBook Pro that had a constant and annoying flicker when plugged in, but no flicker when running on battery. I replaced the cheap surge protector I was using with a respectable SP/battery backup, and the flicker went away and never returned.
 
If you can, try to capture a video of it doing that. It's nice to be able to prove you're not insane.

Mine has the same thing -- intermittent flicker -- but it doesn't really seem to do it only after waking up. It just comes and goes.

I would have gotten it checked out, but I can't do without my portable for more than a day or two. I simply have too much work to do.
 
Yeah, I thought about taking video, but I don't know how well that'll hold up at the Apple Store.

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll see what AppleCare has to say.
 
I didn't mean you'd go all out on your Macbook. Just a light tap and it'll fix. Nothing that would hurt your lid. You probably press harder when you type or accidentally bump something with your Macbook.
 
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