display - red mark oddity

nphase · 10-20-2006, 11:15 AM

So these little things keep popping up all over my screen until i move or resize a window... any idea?

http://www.nphase.org/media/wierd.tiff

(it's a brand new macbook pro)

yellow · 10-20-2006, 12:24 PM

That's really weird.

First step is logging in as another user (create one) and seeing if it happens there.

Unfortunately it's likely that it's a hardware problem with the GPU, which means a trip to the Apple Store or Certified Apple Repair Center or a call to AppleCare.

Additionaly, you can try these troubleshooting steps (see #2):

http://forums.macosxhints.com/showpo...68&postcount=4

hayne · 10-20-2006, 03:11 PM

I note that it's not always red - it seems to be blue when over a lighter area of the screen. So it might be software-driven.
It reminds me of some of the mouse trails effects from OmniDazzle and similar. Do you have any such 3rd-party software installed?

Trying a different user account is certainly the first thing you should try.
Also try Safe Boot (restarting and then holding down the Shift key after the chime)
And see if it changes if you change your pixel or colour resolution in the Displays preferences.

nphase · 10-21-2006, 04:54 PM

hmm... i don't think i have any third party software that would cause anything like that, though i guess maybe some shareware software might cause that?

nphase · 10-21-2006, 05:01 PM

okay, so its happening in safe mode as well :-/

DeltaMac · 10-21-2006, 05:44 PM

Does it also happen after you create a new user, and log in as that new user?

You could also boot to your Apple Hardware test. Put in your restore DVD, and restart, holding the D key. Run the test.

And, yes, likely it's a hardware problem that will be fixed under warranty.

nphase · 10-21-2006, 11:52 PM

yep, it does happen when i create a new user. in fact, it happens at the log in screen. these litle red/blueish diagonal-square things pop up slowly, like 3-4 at a time on the screen. it seems to not happen right after setup but slowly ease into it. when i move around windows though, they go away if i go over them (or if theyre on the window im moving, they go away too).

i'll try the hardware test in the morning. The reason i dont think its a hardware thing is because i haven't really noticed it until just a few days ago. yes, this mb pro is brand new, but i'm pretty sure this hasn't happened since i first got it.

JDV · 10-22-2006, 10:10 AM

Unfortunately, like the Spanish Inquisition, nobody ever expects hardware failure on a brand new machine, but they definitely can happen, ranging from being DOA to having some component begin to misbehave soon after using it for any period of time. This problem sure LOOKS like a hardware problem, and I'm not too sure the hardware test will detect it, since it isn't a complete hardware failure. Their "going away" when you move the screen would seem to indicate that when the screen is re-drawn, the areas are drawn properly. But do they return? If so, it is likely still to be hardware-related unless you have some very unlikely candidate for a software problem.

Joe VanZandt

DeltaMac · 10-22-2006, 10:54 AM

Sure, the test may not show a failure code, but if you see the same type of anomalies while booted to that test, you can be fairly sure that you have a hardware problem, as you don't use any part of OS X for that bootable test.

markashley · 10-22-2006, 11:04 AM

Looks a bit to me like the result of the GPU overheating, though the pattern is too regular for that. How quickly does the problem occur? If you power off and back on again, does it come back more quickly than it did before? Does it happen more quickly if you do something intensive with the machine than it does if you just leave it alone?

P.S. It's polite to compress images as JPEGs when you link them, instead of TIFs which are very large.

nphase · 10-23-2006, 11:19 PM

markashley: sorry, I'm new to the whole mac experience. You're probably right about the overheating though.. it seems to take some time before it gets to the point where it puts in the red marks on there. and Yes, it comes much more quickly whenever i'm doing something intensive.

hmm... i think i'll take it to the shop soon

markashley · 10-24-2006, 02:16 AM

In that case the heatsink (and/or fan if there is one) on the GPU is probably missing/loose/not on straight, which means the GPU is not being cooled effectively. You should definitely return it to Apple.

10-20-2006, 11:15 AM	#1
nphase Prospect Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 6	display - red mark oddity So these little things keep popping up all over my screen until i move or resize a window... any idea? http://www.nphase.org/media/wierd.tiff (it's a brand new macbook pro)

10-20-2006, 03:11 PM	#3
hayne Site Admin Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Montreal Posts: 31,939	I note that it's not always red - it seems to be blue when over a lighter area of the screen. So it might be software-driven. It reminds me of some of the mouse trails effects from OmniDazzle and similar. Do you have any such 3rd-party software installed? Trying a different user account is certainly the first thing you should try. Also try Safe Boot (restarting and then holding down the Shift key after the chime) And see if it changes if you change your pixel or colour resolution in the Displays preferences. __________________ hayne.net/macosx.html

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

10-20-2006, 12:24 PM	#2
yellow Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 10,677	That's really weird. First step is logging in as another user (create one) and seeing if it happens there. Unfortunately it's likely that it's a hardware problem with the GPU, which means a trip to the Apple Store or Certified Apple Repair Center or a call to AppleCare. Additionaly, you can try these troubleshooting steps (see #2): http://forums.macosxhints.com/showpo...68&postcount=4

10-21-2006, 04:54 PM	#4
nphase Prospect Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 6	hmm... i don't think i have any third party software that would cause anything like that, though i guess maybe some shareware software might cause that?

10-21-2006, 05:01 PM	#5
nphase Prospect Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 6	okay, so its happening in safe mode as well :-/

10-21-2006, 05:44 PM	#6
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,949	Does it also happen after you create a new user, and log in as that new user? You could also boot to your Apple Hardware test. Put in your restore DVD, and restart, holding the D key. Run the test. And, yes, likely it's a hardware problem that will be fixed under warranty.

10-21-2006, 11:52 PM	#7
nphase Prospect Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 6	yep, it does happen when i create a new user. in fact, it happens at the log in screen. these litle red/blueish diagonal-square things pop up slowly, like 3-4 at a time on the screen. it seems to not happen right after setup but slowly ease into it. when i move around windows though, they go away if i go over them (or if theyre on the window im moving, they go away too). i'll try the hardware test in the morning. The reason i dont think its a hardware thing is because i haven't really noticed it until just a few days ago. yes, this mb pro is brand new, but i'm pretty sure this hasn't happened since i first got it.

10-22-2006, 10:10 AM	#8
JDV Hall of Famer Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chicago, Illinois Posts: 3,191	Unfortunately, like the Spanish Inquisition, nobody ever expects hardware failure on a brand new machine, but they definitely can happen, ranging from being DOA to having some component begin to misbehave soon after using it for any period of time. This problem sure LOOKS like a hardware problem, and I'm not too sure the hardware test will detect it, since it isn't a complete hardware failure. Their "going away" when you move the screen would seem to indicate that when the screen is re-drawn, the areas are drawn properly. But do they return? If so, it is likely still to be hardware-related unless you have some very unlikely candidate for a software problem. Joe VanZandt

10-22-2006, 10:54 AM	#9
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,949	Sure, the test may not show a failure code, but if you see the same type of anomalies while booted to that test, you can be fairly sure that you have a hardware problem, as you don't use any part of OS X for that bootable test.

10-22-2006, 11:04 AM	#10
markashley Major Leaguer Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 322	Looks a bit to me like the result of the GPU overheating, though the pattern is too regular for that. How quickly does the problem occur? If you power off and back on again, does it come back more quickly than it did before? Does it happen more quickly if you do something intensive with the machine than it does if you just leave it alone? P.S. It's polite to compress images as JPEGs when you link them, instead of TIFs which are very large.

10-23-2006, 11:19 PM	#11
nphase Prospect Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 6	markashley: sorry, I'm new to the whole mac experience. You're probably right about the overheating though.. it seems to take some time before it gets to the point where it puts in the red marks on there. and Yes, it comes much more quickly whenever i'm doing something intensive. hmm... i think i'll take it to the shop soon

10-24-2006, 02:16 AM	#12
markashley Major Leaguer Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 322	In that case the heatsink (and/or fan if there is one) on the GPU is probably missing/loose/not on straight, which means the GPU is not being cooled effectively. You should definitely return it to Apple.