[bluesloth]

So out of nowhere my MacBook has developed some weird display issues.

Here is a screen capture of what it looks like when I invoke dashboard. This happens when I use the app switcher also.



Any ideas what this might be?

[ibook_steve]

GPU's going bad. You may need a logic board replacement.

Attach an external display and see if it happens on the external display as well.

You can try resetting the SMU and PRAM (search Apple support for instructions), but graphic corruption like that is usually indicative of a dying GPU.

Steve

[Art Vandelay]

You can also boot from the Install DVD or run AHT to rule out software corruption in your OS X install.

[tightsocks]

I just had a similar issue with a PowerBook G4. I was browsing (Google Maps if i remember correctly) and the whole display (built-in screen and external monitor) both turned into zig/zag patterns.

I forced a restart and the issue remained, I could't see any GUI.
Over the course of a few days I tried resetting PRAM, PMU, etc to no avail.
Tried booting directly from a CD with the same results.
I even took it to the Genius bar and they said it was almost certainly the GPU/logic board.

A few days later I hooked it up in Target Disk Mode and restored from a cloned back-up.

Now it's working fine again...

[ibook_steve]

Originally Posted by tightsocks 

A few days later I hooked it up in Target Disk Mode and restored from a cloned back-up.

Now it's working fine again...

For now.

[larkost]

Originally Posted by ibook_steve 

For now.

That was a silly reply. If a software changed it, then it was a software problem. Software changes don't temporarily fix hardware problems as your post hints at.

[jmiddel]

Originally Posted by larkost 

That was a silly reply. If a software changed it, then it was a software problem. Software changes don't temporarily fix hardware problems as your post hints at.

I disagree. I had the same kind of problem on an iBook, where software reinstalls, of the OS, temporarily fixed the hardware problem until finally the thing just stopped working.

[Art Vandelay]

Also note that the problem still occurred when booted from an Install disc. It's a hardware problem and will be back.

[ibook_steve]

Originally Posted by larkost 

That was a silly reply. If a software changed it, then it was a software problem. Software changes don't temporarily fix hardware problems as your post hints at.

This is not a software problem. The reason why it's probably working fine "for now" is because the chip hasn't been stressed again yet. Heat is notorious for bringing out video issues especially if there is a problem with the VRAM on the chip.

Trust me, that's a hardware problem. I've seen it more times than I can count.

Steve

[GuyWithACamera]

I get something similar but not quite. Sometimes when I open my MB Pro Penryn and wake it from sleep, some windows and areas are garbled like that but moving the windows around or switching apps "fixes" it. I haven't reset the PMU in a long time which would probably help.