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MacBook Pro: Inconsistent backlight, hissing LCD [Updated x3]

by Dan Pourhadi Feb 22nd 2006 at 8:40PM

I'm almost done with my answer-your-questions MacBook Pro review. But before I post that, I thought it was appropriate to inform you of what appear to be Rev. A glitches in most MacBook Pro models I've tested:

The bottom of the LCD is noticeably brighter than the rest of the display, with a translucent white stripe (no affiliation to the band) stretching from one end to the other. Also, at the back of the bottom of the display (near the vent area) there seems to be a high-pitched hissing noise, presumably (?) emanating from the LCD (as the sound is consistent from one end of the lid to the other).

Everyone I spoke with who bought one of these new laptops also has these problems, and so did all the MacBook Pros at my local Apple Store.

Reader input time: If you have one of these suckers, are you experiencing the same LCD-inconsistency/hissy noise problems?

Click on to see a semi-poor quality image of the problem.

Update: Reader Paul makes an interesting observation: The high-pitched hissing noise, despite the consistent volume around the edge of the machine, seems to be coming from under the keyboard. And when the hard drive spins up to perform a task, it stops. I'm still testing this, but if the observation is apt then that would mean the noise is hard drive-related, and not the LCD as originally thought.

Update 2: OK, this just gets more thrilling: A hardware guru tells me that the hard drive is in the front-left of the machine, not the back by the noise, which means this is probably not a hard drive issue and could very well be the fan. Or the GPU. Or the CPU. Or even the speakers. Anyone else with any technical insights?

Update 3: Well, for me (and probably for most of you, too), the noise problem is the processor: I installed Apple's CHUD tools (located on the included OS X disk with the Xcode installer) and found in the new Processor preference pane that when I disabled the Core Duo's second core, the high-pitched hissing noise went away. A troubling problem, for sure, but if the noise is really that bad for you, you could always enable the Processor menu item and just turn off the second core when you don't need it.

See the brightness towards the bottom?

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I'm almost done with my answer-your-questions MacBook Pro review. But before I post that, I thought it was appropriate to inform you of...
 

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Jon

I have a week 11 production model.. same white banding issue

April 29 2006 at 3:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
MacLova

Any word on this thing?

http://spungle.blogspot.com/2006/04/booq-foleexl-verdict-fxal-system.html

April 04 2006 at 11:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Graham Stewart

Hey,

Just thought I would give some helpful info, I spoke to Apple today, if you notice the problem within 14 days it counts as a DOA (Dead on Arrival) machine and will be immediatly replaced. Mine is due for a swapout on monday via my reseller.

Hope this helps

March 30 2006 at 11:58 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Graham Stewart

Hey,

Just got my MB Pro, same problem, I can make the noise go away in two ways, Open Photobooth and minimise, Use Bluetooth like make a data call on a mobile or set address book running and click the bluetooth button.
Haven't tried disabling a core yet but will do! Sounds to me like Airport interfearance, that high pitched varied squeal is quite like i would expect a GHz radio to sound like.

Anybody thought about that??

Graham

March 30 2006 at 6:48 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jordan

I just bought a macbook 2.0 ghz from an apple store on Friday. The noise was extremely irritating, but it went away after the first day and I havent heard it since, even when performing processor intensive tasks. the LCD does seem to be brighter at the bottom, but not terribly. The screen is still beautiful regardless.

My friend also noted that the high pitched noise goes away with time. Anyeone else notice it going away ?

March 20 2006 at 3:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
andreas

I have had my MBP for about a week now, and I experience the hissing noise in some situations. It only happens at home, and I have found two ways of disabling it:

1: turn on the iSight, with either Phone Booth or the Mirror widget

2: Disconnect the power, which makes me think its something powerrelated, but leaves me baffeled as to why the isight plays into it.

March 20 2006 at 1:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
fred

Have had my MBP for about a week now, and don't notice the hissing sound or white stripe. Fingers crossed, hope neither manifest.

March 20 2006 at 1:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jozias dawson

I just got one about 2 weeks ago and i hear no noise, everything runs and sounds great.

March 20 2006 at 3:22 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
dreft

http://tweakers.net/nieuws/41637/Powerconnector-van-MacBook-Pro-vliegt-in-brand.html

A burned out powerconnector !!!

March 18 2006 at 8:29 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Peter Barry

New MacBookPro - Trackpad problems - extremely frustrating. The Arrow pointer keeps getting "stuck" i.e. it freezes for several seconds interrupting workflow considerably. Are there any fixes for this? Is it a known problem? It disappears when the cursor is visible also and takes several seconds to reappear when the trackpad is used.
There is a major problem here. Any possible speed improvement is offset completely

March 17 2006 at 9:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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