If the MBP doesn't show a display (GPU died), how can they run the test that puts lots of colours on the screen? Also I wonder if the test just puts lots of colours on the screen and just says FAIL anyway if it detects the 8600M (because ALL of them are supposedly faulty)
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Apple says some MacBook Pros affected by faulty Nvidia chips
- Thread starter HiFiGuy528
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What I don't understand is why they are STILL selling the 8600M GT in the 17" MacBook Pro when they KNOW they are ALL faulty. Or maybe it's not???
It wasn't just colours, there were texts, shapes, patterns etc and it seemed to be logging the results of each phase. If the card fails a phase then a string of red txts show up. Then after the whole thing is done it splashes a big FAILED in red across the screen.
I would guess that if your screen goes dark...then it just goes without saying that the GPU is the culprit and you'd need a replacement board 8600GT or not
...an important question...no clue
Since Apple are selling MacBook Pros with the 8600 in them, it must mean Nvidia is still manufacturing them, surely they would have changed the manufacturing process now? Also Nvidia might have fixed the issue and is providing Apple with stock, BUT Apple are using all the old ones first to save money and also not announcing it to prevent everyone with the bad 8600 from killing it on purpose to get the new fixed one.
Ask them what is different about this card than the one that died. Ask them to prove that it's a newer revision.
Posts stating that Apple is keen to find ways to deny warranty coverage for GPU failures are becoming more numerous and are really worrying me. Yet another just came up on Apple's discussion forums; this person is reporting two consecutive tactics that Apple used on him:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=8436141#8436141
I think this trend is alarming, which is why I'm reproducing this latest post from that forum. There are many more such posts in that thread.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=8436141#8436141
I think this trend is alarming, which is why I'm reproducing this latest post from that forum. There are many more such posts in that thread.
I think this is not surprising because some people are taking advantage of this Nvidia problem & try their best to scam Apple for a brand new latest generation replacement (read another of the threads on how some people ask how to get Apple to give them a new machine even though only their optical drive broke, etc.?).... I'm sure there must be enough such cases for Apple to pull something to get back at us (even if we're innocent and do not participate in such unethical schemes).
There is a possibility, I'm not sure how the 8400m works but according to some articles I have read, all below the 8700 in the 8 series are affected and the 9400 and below are affected. I think the macbook one is safe since it's custom made for Apple and by then they would have known what is wrong with the bad chips and changed its structure. MacBook Pros should be fine though.
They'll probably just spew BS about it being "Rev 2" and being "fully tested and certified" etc
I don't doubt there are a few unconscionable individuals out there looking to take advantage of the situation, but if you read through the posts on the GPU thread, it's fairly clear that the people posting there have genuine grievances. The one I quoted above is one of many very believable anecdotes.
Guys, is there an official statement from Apple on Apple site regarding this 8600 issue?
The first post only mentioned Apple's comment via AppleInsider, and surely a public official announcement would be included in Apple's website? A friend of mine is thinking of bring his mbp in due to this issue, but the local apple representative has no knowledge of this announcement. Of course he did say that if it's an official announcement from Apple, he would honour the warranty.
So how "official" is this announcement if it's not in Apple's own website?
If someone can link me to an article in Apple's website, I'll appreciate it.
EDIT: Well I spoke to soon. There's the link
The first post only mentioned Apple's comment via AppleInsider, and surely a public official announcement would be included in Apple's website? A friend of mine is thinking of bring his mbp in due to this issue, but the local apple representative has no knowledge of this announcement. Of course he did say that if it's an official announcement from Apple, he would honour the warranty.
So how "official" is this announcement if it's not in Apple's own website?
If someone can link me to an article in Apple's website, I'll appreciate it.
EDIT: Well I spoke to soon. There's the link
It is the Apple Service Diagnostic application. It is a much more advanced version of the Apple Hardware Test, available only to certified service centers, or torrent sites.
I totally agree with your statement.
There was a thread here, where this guy is trying to get a brand new unibody MBP for his two year old MBP that had a fan give out. Not only that, he openly admits to trying to take advantage of apple and using the nvidia failure as leverage. He then plans to escalate the the issue if he doesn't get a brand new unibody MBP. I am confused as to why the mods have left the thread open. It is people like him that makes it hard for people with legitimate issues to get properly taken care of.
Its solder, but its inside the 8600 chip packaging
No - you misunderstand.
Yes, the problem is with the solder. But not the solder that is used to attach the chip to the mainboard, but solder that is inside the chip packaging and connects the chip itself to the packaging pins.
So the chip as it arrives from Nvidia has this problem solder inside it.
Steve
No - you misunderstand.
Yes, the problem is with the solder. But not the solder that is used to attach the chip to the mainboard, but solder that is inside the chip packaging and connects the chip itself to the packaging pins.
So the chip as it arrives from Nvidia has this problem solder inside it.
Steve
Guys: There IS NO CARD.
Nvidia's chip is soldered directly to the MBP mainboard. The solder that is the problem isn't the solder holding the chip to the mainboard. Its INSIDE the chip packaging and is used to connect the actual silicon chip to the pins on the chip packaging (which are in turn soldered to the mainboard).
No doubt the actually 8600M chip costs Nvidia just a few dollars to produce. Problem for Apple and us is that there is no practical way to get the dud chip off the mainboard and install another - so the whole mainboard is toast.
At least you Americans have it lucky. My quote here in SA to repair my MBP is about US$1700. You can't buy Applecare in South Africa. And the importers (Core) have yet to formally say that they will cover this repair. My MBP is 15 months old. I was burned before with the iBook G3 800MHz; mine iBook has had 4 new mainboards. If it wasn't for the jewel PowerBook G4 12" I bought in between (and that I'm using again now), I would not have bought a third Apple product.
Regards,
Steve
Anything inside the diode is nVidia's fault, not apple. And look at other companies, many excluding dell have integrated/soldered video chips because it saves space.
I agree that if a fan breaks, there's no reason for Apple to give anybody a new machine. However, if you need multiple (even just two) repairs for the defective GPU, I think a new computer is totally reasonable. We buy these expensive computers with hard-earned money and Apple is screwing us over by only extending the warranty with one year. What happens after that when the GPUs die? We have to pay, even though the defect was there from the beginning. Who is being unethical here??! Apple should do everything in its power to make sure that the inconvenience for its customers is kept to a minimum - Apple and Nvidia ****ed up, not the customer!
Apple has given me a number of brand new replacements over the years and each time I felt it was the least they could do given the trouble I had been through. It's not really a 'free' computer when your defective computer has resulted in loss of work, productivity, time and money. No doubt, these GPUs will continue to cause trouble for customers and no doubt Apple will continue to try to avoid taking the responsibility they should take.
Well, from my perspective as an Apple customer, Apple is responsible to me. I didn't buy a Nvidia computer, I bought an Apple computer. If Apple has to take a hit, so be it. I certainly am not prepared to take a hit for either Nvidia or Apple.
Ultimately the responsibility rests with Nvidia, but for Apple customers it is Apple who has to resolve the problem in a satisfactory way, not Nvidia. Apple can go after Nvidia for compensation, but that's not my problem nor my business to be concerned about.
Trust me, I know there is no (seperate) (removable) (pci esque attatched) card.
I should have said Processor. Whatever.
I've opened enough macbook pro to know. I'm still working on the old gen's Cooling architecture primer
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