Video of my latest MBP Trouble.. 8th trip to the repair center.

[kjvmartin]

2016 MacBook Pro NTB bought on release date.

Two keyboard replacements and one logic board replacement due to loose USB-C. On the third keyboard failure the Apple Store Sr. manager exchanged my unit for the equivalent 2017 model in late 2017. Four weeks without my MacBook Pro

2017 MacBook Pro NTB replacement

Two keyboard replacements and one logic board replacement due to a graphics failure. The logic board was to be replaced during the 2nd keyboard replacement, but the depot deemed it unnecessary. Apple finally replaced the logic board in store, but I had to wait weeks. I have been without this MacBook Pro for four weeks so far.

Today, about 3 weeks later, a different graphics issue has started. iTunes content is unwatchable. It's very easily repeatable and I am sure they will want to send it to the depot again. I'm not sure what resolution to hope for at the Genius Bar. There are so many issues with the 2018 models I'm scared to ask for a replacement again. Thoughts?

Edit to add: These issues seem to pop up after I do something that gets the temps up and fans spinning for any real length of time. For example, we've been consolidating and editing a lot of photos and videos, importing, exporting in preparation for new phones.

 

[duervo]

Do you have an external monitor plugged in, or any sort of USB-C hub devices plugged in? If so, unplug it/them, and see if that helps.

 

[kjvmartin]

Nope

Running on battery, no cords at all.

 

[buran-energia]

I had similar flickering with Safari on twitch.tv. I think it got fixed after I removed adguard/adblock. I guess it won't apply to your case.

 

[AppleHaterLover]

I had similar flickering with Safari on twitch.tv. I think it got fixed after I removed adguard/adblock. I guess it won't apply to your case.

I had Safari flickering on Netflix some time ago as well on my 2017 nTB and freaked out, thought it was a hardware issue. But it didn't happen in Chrome, and it stopped after some time, so I guess it was software.

OP: Is there anything in your usage scenario that could favor these repeated logic board repairs? It sounds very weird that both your original and latest laptops have presented repeated catastrophic failures...

 

[Mattcoopes90]

I have been having this issue for about 6 months. Spoke with apple support and they assured me it would be fixed with Mojave, however having updated the OS it still persists. I can stop it for about a week by clearing the DRAM. But this then causes a DRM error stopping all video from playing with services such as Netflix and iTunes.

I have managed to solve that problem by typing
"nvram 8be4df61-93ca-11d2-aa0d-00e098032b8c:epid_provisioned=%01%00%00%00"
in to terminal from recovery mode. I watch quite a lot of streaming though my Mac when travelling so it is very annoying.

2016 MacBook Pro NTB bought on release date.

Two keyboard replacements and one logic board replacement due to loose USB-C. On the third keyboard failure the Apple Store Sr. manager exchanged my unit for the equivalent 2017 model in late 2017. Four weeks without my MacBook Pro

2017 MacBook Pro NTB replacement

Two keyboard replacements and one logic board replacement due to a graphics failure. The logic board was to be replaced during the 2nd keyboard replacement, but the depot deemed it unnecessary. Apple finally replaced the logic board in store, but I had to wait weeks. I have been without this MacBook Pro for four weeks so far.

Today, about 3 weeks later, a different graphics issue has started. iTunes content is unwatchable. It's very easily repeatable and I am sure they will want to send it to the depot again. I'm not sure what resolution to hope for at the Genius Bar. There are so many issues with the 2018 models I'm scared to ask for a replacement again. Thoughts?

Edit to add: These issues seem to pop up after I do something that gets the temps up and fans spinning for any real length of time. For example, we've been consolidating and editing a lot of photos and videos, importing, exporting in preparation for new phones.

 

[kjvmartin]

I had Safari flickering on Netflix some time ago as well on my 2017 nTB and freaked out, thought it was a hardware issue. But it didn't happen in Chrome, and it stopped after some time, so I guess it was software.

OP: Is there anything in your usage scenario that could favor these repeated logic board repairs? It sounds very weird that both your original and latest laptops have presented repeated catastrophic failures...

I use my MacBook on the couch and at the office. I transport it to and from work in a Targus laptop carrier. I charge it every night and sometimes in the evening if need be. They replicated the error in store but the waitlist for repair was too long. I have just been dealing with it since.

 

[Mattcoopes90]

I took mine in and they ended up replacing it with a new one (Long story had other issues with it) The new one which I've had for about 2 months does the exact same thing from about a week of ownership.

 

[cstm]

does your flickering look anything like this?

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2-9-32-560x-2018-mbp-artifacting-issue.2147094/

I've also been having issues with streaming on brand new 2018 model.

 

[kjvmartin]

does your flickering look anything like this?

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2-9-32-560x-2018-mbp-artifacting-issue.2147094/

I've also been having issues with streaming on brand new 2018 model.

My initial flickering looked like that, they replaced the logic board. My new flickering looks like what I posted in the OP. Who can figure this stuff out? $1500 computers. I've been good with iPads and iPhones, but the MacBook Pro of late has sent me running for the hills. Never again.

 

[Mattcoopes90]

My initial flickering looked like that, they replaced the logic board. My new flickering looks like what I posted in the OP. Who can figure this stuff out? $1500 computers. I've been good with iPads and iPhones, but the MacBook Pro of late has sent me running for the hills. Never again.

Mine is like the original post also. They replaced the logic board for me also but it did nothing. It has to be a bug, it's frustrating the support team care little about it. They just ask me to do a factory reset all the time.

 

[pshifrin]

That’s weird. Are you sure it’s not flickering because LT Casey and Chief Boden are mad at that new boss guy looking over their shoulders about everything? In all seriousness, keyboard issues big time on our office 2016 MBPs, less so on 2017, great on 2018 but on all 3 types, never have seen this.