Macbook Pro Video Flickering Surrounding Icons search boxes Bright Green that fades

[greenmamba11]

Hello, I have been having this issue with this Macbook Pro 17" that I bought used. At the beginning I thought it was a feature of Snow Leopard because my G4 Mac is running Leopard. Bright Green flashes of light that surround boxes on the left side and diminishes triangularly into the background. That is the best way I can think to describe it. Also, sometimes I notice that the lines of text at random places on the left side of screen appear to become slightly uneven in just the one spot where two characters in a word would normally come together. I do not have any diagnostic tools and everywhere that I have been reading about diagnostics seems to be focused on data recovery etc.. Here is what I have; I do not know what all that you need to know but I can find out.


Model Name: MacBook Pro
Model Identifier: MacBookPro1,2
Processor Name: Intel Core Duo
Processor Speed: 2.16 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 2 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MBP12.0061.B03
SMC Version (system): 1.5f10
Serial Number (system): W8622384TJ1
Hardware UUID: 00000000-0000-1000-8000-0016CBC8EA0E
Sudden Motion Sensor:
State: Enabled
ATI Radeon X1600:

Chipset Model: ATY,RadeonX1600
Type: GPU
Bus: PCIe
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 256 MB
Vendor: ATI (0x1002)
Device ID: 0x71c5
Revision ID: 0x0000
ROM Revision: 113-xxxxxx-086
EFI Driver Version: 01.00.086
Displays:
Color LCD:
Resolution: 1152 x 720
Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Built-In: Yes
Display Connector:
Status: No Display Connected
Memory Slots:

I do not know why this is disabled and even if the right memory is here
ECC: Disabled
BANK 0/DIMM0:
Size: 1 GB
Type: DDR2 SDRAM
Speed: 667 MHz
Status: OK
Manufacturer: 0x2CFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Part Number: 0x3136485446313238363448592D3636374233
Serial Number: 0x0E25C196
BANK 1/DIMM1:
Size: 1 GB
Type: DDR2 SDRAM
Speed: 667 MHz
Status: OK
Manufacturer: 0x2CFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Part Number: 0x3136485446313238363448592D3636374233
Serial Number: 0x0E25C19B
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN OFFER.

 

[DeltaMac]

Have you tried both a PRAM reset, and SMC resets?
Probably not software, but you could try an Archive & Install option of OS X from your original restore DVDs.
If that doesn't help anything, then you could connect an external display to the DVI connector - checking if those visual artifacts also appear on the external display.
You could remove one of your memory sticks to see if there is any change, removing each one at a time. If the memory does not change anything, and you see the same distortion on an external display, then the vid card is the problem. It's part of the logic board, which would need replacing to fix the issue. If you don't see the artifacts on an external screen, then the LCD panel may need to be replaced.

 

[greenmamba11]

I do not have any original software. I have not tried to open it up yet. I will hook up my my monitor that I have on the G4 and give that a try and then try the other things that you have suggested. By any chance did you look at my specs. to see if anything is there/not there that should be/not be?

Thank you for your help!

 

[greenmamba11]

I have attached some pics I took with my Android of weird things going on with the video. i tried to do before and right after pics. Sometimes It seems to be when I am holding the track pad and moving things around on the desktop. I cannot hook up my other display to this one. Getting ready to reset the PRAM and SMC but I wanted to get some pics on here for reference. I am leaning towards the video card but I am no expert. Anyone seen these things happen?

 

[DeltaMac]

Have you updated to the current version 10.6.5? Be sure to download and install the 10.6.5 combined updater, even if you have already updated through your Software Update: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1324

 

[djackmac]

Hello, I have been having this issue with this Macbook Pro 17" that I bought used.

Get your money back if you can. Most likely its the logic board. Try external video and booting to another system to rule out the display and software. But I'd say its leaning towards the logic board.

 

[greenmamba11]

Have you updated to the current version 10.6.5? Be sure to download and install the 10.6.5 combined updater, even if you have already updated through your Software Update: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1324

I have updated to the 10.6.5 and I have reset the PRAM SMC. I will have to get an adapter to hook up my Apple Studio Display. I only paid $650 for this computer and the guy would probably give me a refund. However, do these issues get worse quick? With the way it is now it is a little annoying. I just did not think I could find a better deal. That is unless it goes out totally. If it does, I wonder if it would be worth getting it repaired? I am among the ranks if the unemployed at this time.

 

[djackmac]

I have updated to the 10.6.5 and I have reset the PRAM SMC. I will have to get an adapter to hook up my Apple Studio Display. I only paid $650 for this computer and the guy would probably give me a refund. However, do these issues get worse quick? With the way it is now it is a little annoying. I just did not think I could find a better deal. That is unless it goes out totally. If it does, I wonder if it would be worth getting it repaired? I am among the ranks if the unemployed at this time.

These things don't get better by themselves. More than likely over time the distortion will get worse or its pretty likely the GPU will fail completely and you'll have no video at all.

The cheapest you will be able to get it repaired if its the logic board will be to mail it to the Apple depot. It will cost you around $320 or maybe a little more. I'm a tech at an AASP and we can't get a board cheaper than that at cost. But seeing as you already sunk $650 into a 4 year old machine, and then possibly another $320 or so to get it working again, you are almost at $1000. You might as well get a brand new macbook or spend another $200 and get a 13" macbook pro. Either of these machines will run circles around that old original MBP and come with a 1 year warranty and you'll have until that year is up to buy AppleCare to extend the coverage another 2 years.

 

[greenmamba11]

After having a 17" macbkpro, I cannot imagine getting a 13". I might be crazy or naive but please tell me what more can the newer ones do that this one cannot do? Of course, I mean after spending another three to hundred. I am not being sarcastic I just really do not know. I have noticed a couple of limitations for sure especially that I cannot add any more ram. I have not really done my homework in comparing the different Macs. Except the little extra money that I will probably have to fork out, please help me to understand why it would NOT make more sense to repair this one?

 

[greenmamba11]

Thank you everyone for your assistance. I changed profile for the monitor and it got better for a little. Today, I got in the DVI TO VGA adapter and hooked up the external monitor did find that the problem moves to the other monitor as well. It's a real bummer. I am still debating on whether to try and get the $650 that I spent on this thing, which is a great deal, or just deal with it until it craps out and send it in and get it repaired for under $350. Anyone have an opinion on that I would appreciate the feedback.