Reported 2016 MacBook Pro graphics issues likely caused by third-party software [u]
An undetermined number of 2016 MacBook Pro models are suffering from disturbing graphical rendering issues, with owners reporting full screen artifacts, screen tearing, flashing, random "glitches" and even system crashes. The issue, however, is related to overzealous third-party software and is not indicative of a critical hardware flaw.
Screen distortion on a 2016 13" MacBook Pro without Touch Bar. | Source: Apple Support Communities member JPL007
Reports of graphics related issues first surfaced shortly after the new MacBook Pro lineup arrived in customers' hands last month and have only increased in recent days. Apple's Support Communities website, for example, contains multiple posts (1, 2, 3, 4) from concerned owners of both 13- and 15-inch 2016 MacBook Pro variants.
Initial reports were unable to pin down a root cause of the errors, but sources familiar with matter informed AppleInsider that overaggressive or otherwise sloppy code distributed in third-party software is to blame. That said, a small number of users report seeing similar problems with Apple's own Photos app.
In a serious case chronicled by a MacRumors forum member Jan Becker, a new 15-inch MacBook Pro configured with an optional AMD Radeon Pro 460 GPU encountered trouble and ultimately crashed while transcoding video in Adobe Premiere Pro. Becker consequently took the machine into an Apple store for replacement.
The incident did not go unnoticed by Apple. Becker said he received a call from the company's headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., where a team of engineers asked him to help replicate the glitch over the phone and requested access to the affected laptop for further investigation.
Circumstantial evidence suggests 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar models equipped with the Radeon Pro 460 are most impacted by offending software, which makes sense considering Apple's top-end machines are commonly used for computationally intensive video and image editing tasks. Identical reports of graphical maladies are cropping up from owners of 15-inch MacBook Pro models running standard AMD Radeon Pro 450 and AMD Radeon Pro 455 GPUs.
Perhaps most telling are similar issues seen in 13-inch MacBook Pro models, both with and without Touch Bar. Since the 13-inch variants rely on a different graphics processing system than their larger siblings, specifically Intel's integrated Iris graphics chips, the problem can likely chalked up to faulty software.
Update: Apple has informed us that users experiencing the graphical distortions elsewhere than un-updated software should contact Apple support or make a Genius Bar appointment for case documentation.
Screen distortion on a 2016 13" MacBook Pro without Touch Bar. | Source: Apple Support Communities member JPL007
Reports of graphics related issues first surfaced shortly after the new MacBook Pro lineup arrived in customers' hands last month and have only increased in recent days. Apple's Support Communities website, for example, contains multiple posts (1, 2, 3, 4) from concerned owners of both 13- and 15-inch 2016 MacBook Pro variants.
Initial reports were unable to pin down a root cause of the errors, but sources familiar with matter informed AppleInsider that overaggressive or otherwise sloppy code distributed in third-party software is to blame. That said, a small number of users report seeing similar problems with Apple's own Photos app.
In a serious case chronicled by a MacRumors forum member Jan Becker, a new 15-inch MacBook Pro configured with an optional AMD Radeon Pro 460 GPU encountered trouble and ultimately crashed while transcoding video in Adobe Premiere Pro. Becker consequently took the machine into an Apple store for replacement.
The incident did not go unnoticed by Apple. Becker said he received a call from the company's headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., where a team of engineers asked him to help replicate the glitch over the phone and requested access to the affected laptop for further investigation.
Circumstantial evidence suggests 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar models equipped with the Radeon Pro 460 are most impacted by offending software, which makes sense considering Apple's top-end machines are commonly used for computationally intensive video and image editing tasks. Identical reports of graphical maladies are cropping up from owners of 15-inch MacBook Pro models running standard AMD Radeon Pro 450 and AMD Radeon Pro 455 GPUs.
Perhaps most telling are similar issues seen in 13-inch MacBook Pro models, both with and without Touch Bar. Since the 13-inch variants rely on a different graphics processing system than their larger siblings, specifically Intel's integrated Iris graphics chips, the problem can likely chalked up to faulty software.
Update: Apple has informed us that users experiencing the graphical distortions elsewhere than un-updated software should contact Apple support or make a Genius Bar appointment for case documentation.
Comments
It does seem troubling that such an issue could strike these new models so soon after release, and especially after similar graphics problems had impacted some MBP 2011-13 models.
One wonders just how much emphasis goes on Q and A these days. Perhaps they need to spend a bit more time and money on that. Otherwise it's going to cause damage to Apple's reputation at a time when patience is already wearing thin with many pro users.
"In a serious case chronicled by a MacRumorsforum member Jan Becker, a new 15-inch MacBook Pro configured with an optional AMD Radeon Pro 460 GPU encountered trouble and ultimately crashed while transcoding video in Adobe Premiere Pro. Becker consequently took the machine into an Apple store for replacement."
"The incident did not go unnoticed by Apple. Becker said he received a call from the company's headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., where a team of engineers asked him to help replicate the glitch over the phone and requested access to the affected laptop for further investigation."
^^^
All part of that "Q and A" you thought smart to bring up.
Apple's is from cradle to grave. Good on them.
Badly written code = Apple Photos?
Did the article author comprehend the implications of his own writing?
Look, I've got a fully loaded 2016 MBP 15" on order with Adorama, scheduled to ship around Dec. 6th, and I will admit I am worried. Any app could be vulnerable in light of Apple photos being affected. It would be nice if Apple can fix it in software, but it's clearly a hardware issue insofar as the 2015 MBP does NOT have the same issue when running the same software and OS. What's different between the 2015 and 2016 models? The hardware!
Another thing that worries me about Apple is their understanding of how to deal with video issues. My 27" 2009 iMac i7 developed video issues just after the AppleCare expired. An email to Tim Cook got the machine fixed for free, but only after they replaced the video card twice. And then several months ago the same video problems started again, which means this "fixed" video card is toast. (Video artifacts appear and it will freeze and sometimes not boot for a long time. It seems to go longer without artifacts and freezing if I never put it to sleep and keep it warm or even hot all the time. It's strange, sad and troubling. Yet I'm a Mac lover for life. What to do.)
"After the fact" is just as critical.
Bad batches, manufacturing snafus, and whatever else of that nature are part of the realities of tech manufacture. Apple has never... never ever ever been immune to this. Even under Jobs. Apple on average might have far fewer issues (and you bet when they DO have an issue it'll be reported and talked to death, unlike for the also-rans of the industry that don't actually matter), but when they do, THEN when happens? How does Apple generally react when they've already got your money?
I can offer both general, reported evidence that is available to everyone, and I can also offer my anecdotal experiences. As to the latter... Every time (and the times have been twice since 2006 - once for an iPhone swap because I broke mine, and once for another iPhone that had a defective, bulging battery out of warranty), I was made to feel like I was their only customer. They were so interested in my satisfaction that THEY were calling ME to make sure I was happy.
Cradle to grave.
I have a new MBP 2016 15" with Radeon 460 and get the glitches anywhere on the screen when running Windows 10 in Bootxamp.
The last time it glitch was in Outlook 2016 in Windows, corrupting the whole area of my inbox.
If they chose solution one, they simply lost time. Which is money if you're a professional using the MBP to accomplish work. You, at best, waited a week or so for your MBP to be repaired and returned.
If you were on a project where you were time constrained and needed, as many do, to be up and running ASAP you probably backed up your material and went to the Apple store and purchased another MBP. Money that won't be returned now or ever.
Four years later Apple offers to fix your broken MBP. Are you smiling and thinking 'cradle to grave'. Or are thinking, "Who cares I couldn't wait four weeks much less 4 years so I replaced/repaired on my own. The lack of timeliness in your solution makes it barely qualify as a solution?" Hmm?
All part of the 'cradle to grave' you thought smart to bring up.
If they would fix it if the customer paid, why did it take them 4 years to offer to fix it at their expense?
2016 13" MBP, only this kinda problem with safe mode, anyone else?
I need a new laptop but I don't trust these new MBPs yet. What is it with Apple and graphics issues?? Why can't they ever seem to get it right when it comes to the gpu?
Later.