MBP 13 Screen Tearing

I have a baseline MBP 13 (Late 2010) whose screen is tearing, I believe my GPU is damaged.

Scenario:

I left SC2 at the login screen for about 3 hours today after i ran out to go to a class. I got about 15 minutes ago to see applications tearing. Now, i'm typing on the laptop but there is obvious screen tearing (the laptop deals on the side are teared).


I am wondering if there are any trouble shooting things I could do to try to fix it without sending it off? - I don't want to be without my laptop for several weeks.

The best thing to do would obviously to have the laptop serviced.

 

Did you restart it yet?

 

That was my first reaction...

Anyways, i have replaced the Hard Drives (back to stock) and I am going to be taking it to the store tomorrow so that they can send it off.

From my understanding, the entire motherboard will have to be replaced...

My only concern is that fact that I have a project due within a few days that i will now have to do on school computers

 

what is screen tearing? I don't get what is really happening, the description doesn't make any sense to me.

 

Tearing would be when a GPU is rendering frames faster than a display can show them, but what you seem to be describing is artifacting. (which typically means either a GPU can't handle its overclock, or it's dying)

 

Basically, sections of my screen are not lining up.

Example. On itunes: I see these huge triangles of just gray blocks (the lower bounder color) in the middle on the screen. The upper right corner of this safari page is blurred / distorted...

Basically, my GPU can no longer properly render images... (i don't know why it is not completely damaged, but damage is evident).

 

have you tried multiple .. different resolutions? Tried an external monitor?

if you've rebooted and it still happens... it is likely a hardware problem... if you have a different OS you can boot to in any way, it would help to see if it happens there as well.

 

If all else fails, backup and reformat.

 

He said he's seeing other artifacts too. Sounds like his card is on its death bed.

 

This won't solve a hardware problem, which it sounds to be.

 

Artifacting is a sign of imminent GPU death or under Windows can indicate you've overclocked a tad too much. Tearing can happen with bad drivers. Nvidia can't make _every_ GPU perfect. By the rules of statistics, there WILL be one here and there that will have to be replaced because of defect. Nothing against Apple or Nvidia, that's just how it is.

 

From the things you posted, the easiest thing is to take it into the apple store and get them to run the nvidia graphics card utility. It will test your graphics card, and if it comes up with an error, then they will probably give you a replacement logicboard (if your're under warranty)
The suggestions of other monitors/reformats are definitely options, but more likely will not fix the problem, but its worth a try if you have a monitor laying around.

 

trying things are just part of troubleshooting to narrow down the problem... not for actually fixing anything. While its most likely bad hardware, thats not for certain... thats why in troubleshooting you do things to rule out any possibilities you can if its as easy as like plugging in a monitor.

 

I have already returned it to the Apple Store i bought it from and they said it would take about 2 - 3 days to fix. (They are ordering the logicboard today). It is still under warranty of course.

Sorry for using screen tearing as the word of choice, lol... (i know this has to deal with GPU's not being able to render the graphics demanded of them during 3d games). - But i'm sure the GPU would have had trouble doing this as well.

I tested the software. I bootcamped into Win 7 and i switched out the hard drives. (I cloned my hard drive back in August before i switched them out).

It was obviously a hardware issue - I am very impressed with the service they are offering though - 3 days compared to a month with other companies.