Periodic "Blackouts" on MacBook Pro

I'm using a 2011 MacBook Pro with the latest updates and OS X.

About a week ago, I'd be in the middle of a app, writing a document or scrolling through something when suddenly the screen would go black and the backlight under the keyboard blinked. After I hit the spacebar a few times, it came back right when it was earlier (I have no idea if touching the spacebar "helped.").

I've used System Utility and run Malwarebytes, with both finding no problems.

Does anyone have any idea what's going on? Thank you in advance for your expertise and kind attention.

What version of OSX/macOS? What size MBP? Some of the 2011 MBPs had dodgy graphic chips in them. Also, what are your settings for power savings (System Preferences>Energy Savings)?

EDIT: Oh, and do you have a screensaver setting? (System Prefernces>Desktop and Screensaver).

Any idea if this was maybe the builtin screen saver kicking in?

- Nick

Does anyone have any idea what's going on? Thank you in advance for your expertise and kind attention.

Click to expand...

Is this problem occurring often or just a one time thing or very intermittently???





- Patrick
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I would try NVRAM, or SMC resets.

NVRAM - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063
SMC - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295