Odd issues with 2015 15” MBP (dGPU model)

Question

MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2015

2.2 GHz (Turbo Boost up to 3.4 GHz), 2.5 GHz (Turbo Boost up to 3.7 GHz), or 2.8 GHz (Turbo Boost up to 4.0 GHz) quad-core Intel Core i7 processor with 6 MB shared L3 cache and an optional AMD Radeon R9 M370X dGPU.

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Oliver Fallon @oliverfallon

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crwdns2931729:0crwdne2931729:0: yesterdayNhl 14, 2025

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Odd issues with 2015 15” MBP (dGPU model)

Hi, I have posted about this 2015 MacBook Pro before, I replaced the logic board in this Mac around 1 month ago and it’s been working fine even under stress tests but today when I opened it up, it was flickering a lot as seen in photos and videos so I hooked it up to a monitor and there was no flickering on the monitor at all so I opened it up and disconnected the reconnected the display cable and then just got a black screen on boot, no backlight on the display only on the monitor. Next, I played around and couldn’t get it to display so I closed the Mac and let it sleep for 1 minute then opened it and there was no flickering and the display was back to normal (see photos). I find this very odd. Is my display cable or LCD failing, or was it a weird NVRAM/SMC thing, and what would cause the display to not function even after a reboot and full battery disconnect but essentially fix itself after waking from sleep?

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Dan @danj

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Self employed contract worker

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crwdns2931729:0crwdne2931729:0: yesterdayNhl 15, 2025

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It looks like you have a micro fracture problem within the display it's self. The back glass of the raw LCD panel is highly processed! Creating the discrete sub-pixels that make up the discrete colored dot you see. The chemical processing of the back glass makes this glass more brittle as the metal oxide traces cross the glass they can be severed but can make and break contact so you see the effects you are seeing. The second image of the colored striped bands is indicative of this condition.

Sadly the display got damaged from something heavy pressed on it or a good bang. Time for a new display assembly MacBook Pro 15" Retina (Mid 2015) Display Assembly or here TheBookYard - 15" Display P/N 661-02532 And here's the guide to replace it MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2015 Display Assembly Replacement

crwdns2886500:0Replace a display compatible with themodel A1398 Mid 2015 15" MacBook Pro laptop. Includes the 2880 x 1800 15.4" Retina LCD screen, display cover, bezel, FaceTime HD Camera, clutch hinges, Wi-Fi antenna, camera, and display data cables.crwdne2886500:0

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MacBook Pro 15" Retina (Mid 2015) Display Assembly

$519.99

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Yeah, but when those patterns showed up, they didn't react or change to me applying pressure on the LCD nor changes to angle so its not a display cable damage from what I can see and after sleeping twice, the display has been functioning perfectly for 6 hours of use now, although when I force dGPU with gfxCardStatus, the backlight and display goes off for a second then comes back with the dGPU now active and switching from dGPU to iGPU, makes the display flicker twice, so it seems to be a problem with the component that drives the display or switches GPU on the logic board, rather than the display.

crwdns2934271:0tiawara ta 15 agoNhl 15, 2025crwdnd2934271:0 Oliver Fallon crwdne2934271:0

@oliverfallon - I think you misunderstood what I was talking about. The visible cable from the logic board to the lid display is not the issue. But in your case even these cables is not the issue here. Nor is the issue within the main logic board or software.

Within the lid is a smal circuit board which converts the eDP signal from the logic board to what the display needs and a set of cables deliver these signals to the Raw LCD panel. Your issue is within the Raw LCD panel it’s self between the flashes and the banding.

The new piece of info forcing which GPU to drive the display. Also points to the T-CON board within the display assembly (that small logic board within it).

crwdns2934271:0tiawara ta 10 agoNhl 16, 2025crwdnd2934271:0 Dan crwdne2934271:0

Alright, that's what I figured as this panel is quite old and its gasket is all but gone, might be time to get a new panel or just deal with it until it finally bites the dust. By the way, here's a video of me switching GPUs between the two if you want.

https://youtu.be/lVitxUx2ijQ

crwdns2934271:0tiawara ta 8 agoNhl 16, 2025crwdnd2934271:0 Oliver Fallon crwdne2934271:0

@oliverfallon - The vid looks OK to me, there is a short window when the displays resolution switches between the different GPU's.

If you're set don't forget to score and accept the answer - Thanks!

crwdns2934271:0tiawara ta 8 agoNhl 16, 2025crwdnd2934271:0 Dan crwdne2934271:0

Alright, thanks Dan, will do, have a good day!

crwdns2934271:0tiawara ta 7 agoNhl 16, 2025crwdnd2934271:0 Oliver Fallon crwdne2934271:0

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Yeah, but when those patterns showed up, they didn't react or change to me applying pressure on the LCD nor changes to angle so its not a display cable damage from what I can see and after sleeping twice, the display has been functioning perfectly for 6 hours of use now, although when I force dGPU with gfxCardStatus, the backlight and display goes off for a second then comes back with the dGPU now active and switching from dGPU to iGPU, makes the display flicker twice, so it seems to be a problem with the component that drives the display or switches GPU on the logic board, rather than the display. — Oliver Fallon
@oliverfallon - I think you misunderstood what I was talking about. The visible cable from the logic board to the lid display is not the issue. But in your case even these cables is not the issue here. Nor is the issue within the main logic board or software.

Within the lid is a smal circuit board which converts the eDP signal from the logic board to what the display needs and a set of cables deliver these signals to the Raw LCD panel. Your issue is within the Raw LCD panel it’s self between the flashes and the banding.

The new piece of info forcing which GPU to drive the display. Also points to the T-CON board within the display assembly (that small logic board within it). — Dan
Alright, that's what I figured as this panel is quite old and its gasket is all but gone, might be time to get a new panel or just deal with it until it finally bites the dust. By the way, here's a video of me switching GPUs between the two if you want.

https://youtu.be/lVitxUx2ijQ — Oliver Fallon
@oliverfallon - The vid looks OK to me, there is a short window when the displays resolution switches between the different GPU's.

If you're set don't forget to score and accept the answer - Thanks! — Dan

MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2015

Odd issues with 2015 15” MBP (dGPU model)

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MacBook Pro 15" Retina (Mid 2015) Display Assembly

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