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Defective nVidia GPUs?

Back to the thread topic... defective nVidia GPUs...

I got my 2.2 MBP back from Apple. They were nice enough to fix it for free even though the warranty had just expired. They basically replaced all of the innards, new logic board, new hard drive, new several other things I couldn't decode from the work order. It runs just like it did before, VERY HOT, and a bit flaky with the video. I now have a 3 month warranty on parts and labor.

I'm generally pissed because my MBP has a high probability of failure within the next year because of the GPU. I've installed iStat Pro widget and I can see the GPU runs HOT. Of course I can just touch the keyboard and figure that out. So now if I sell my MBP I feel bad cause it's gonna die at some point, and if I keep it I feel bad also cause Apple has sold me a product with a design flaw and a limited life span. My old Ti Powerbook lasted 5 years and is still kicking (barely). This whole mess leaves a bad taste and gives me the idea that Apple and nVidia deserve a CLASS-ACTION LAW SUIT. This is how these sorts of things are remidied. Especially since neither Apple nor nVidia had fessed up as to the scale of the problem, judging from some of the posts to this thread.

Anyone have any thoughts on that subject (fessing up and class action law suit)?
 
my SR MBP went in the shop about a month ago

the display was just 2/3's solid grey and it would not go away. however the DVI port worked just fine.... so whether this is a GPU problem, who knows.

apparently the problem has been fixed, theyre just waiting on some replacement keyboard backlighting parts (coz that flaked out too) and then ill get it back, but they didnt say what the problem was or how it was fixed. ill enquire when i go to pick it up hopefully before the end of the next week.
 
sgr91 said:
First, I have to say that I am not at all technically literate and following this thread alone has been a challenge - but I would really appreciate some advice. I was planning on buyuing a 17" MBP this weekend and then I got on this website, looking to see if there are any soon to be released updates to the machine, and came across this issue. Having read as much as I can on this topic, I still can't figure out if this is indeed a problem with the "older" units, or an ongoing problem that would affect the computer I would buy now. I am an amateur photographer and decided to change from my Dell XPS to a MBP which I'm planning on using to edit photos in Photoshop and use for Powerpoint presentations for work. I don't need to get the computer immediately, but my Dell is on its "last legs" and my extended warrantly has expired so I'm getting very nervous every time it freezes up.
So, if you were me, would you feel confident in buying a MBP this weekend or would you wait - and how long? Thanks.
Click to expand...

WAIT for the next revision to come out. It's probably only a month or so off anyway.
And yes my 17" 2.6 six month old MBP is developing graphics artifects and a black screen after sleep.
 
Wouldn't Apple pull these from the store if they are causing this many problems??? I have a feeling its just a minor occurrence with the MBP
 
greenmymac said:
What I mean is... if there is a MAJOR problem they would not continue to sell them..
Click to expand...

And what he meant was ... unless there is a problem that causes users to be injured or die (thereby creating liability beyond the profit of keeping them in the marketplace) Apple is not likely to pull their entire pro line of laptops, especially since none of the other laptop OEMs are doing so.

Cheers,
 
panzer06 said:
And what he meant was ... unless there is a problem that causes users to be injured or die (thereby creating liability beyond the profit of keeping them in the marketplace) Apple is not likely to pull their entire pro line of laptops, especially since none of the other laptop OEMs are doing so.

Cheers,
Click to expand...

Ok well if it was a major problem wouldn't apple release a statement or be scrambling to fix it?

your turn!
 
greenmymac said:
Ok well if it was a major problem wouldn't apple release a statement or be scrambling to fix it?

your turn!
Click to expand...

Perhaps so, but in this case it looks like the problem is on a third-party component that is not easily replaced. They will most likely take the current HP approach, which is repair 'em when they break and make out of warranty exceptions on a case by case basis. Remember, this doesn't just impact Apple and believe me these laptop manufactures are not going to do a wholesale recall without there being a safety issue forcing them to do so.

Cheers,
 
panzer06 said:
Perhaps so, but in this case it looks like the problem is on a third-party component that is not easily replaced. They will most likely take the current HP approach, which is repair 'em when they break and make out of warranty exceptions on a case by case basis. Remember, this doesn't just impact Apple and believe me these laptop manufactures are not going to do a wholesale recall without there being a safety issue forcing them to do so.

Cheers,
Click to expand...

You Win ;) Well I hope when I buy my MBP at the end of August it doesn't have any issues!
 
panzer06 said:
Perhaps so, but in this case it looks like the problem is on a third-party component that is not easily replaced. They will most likely take the current HP approach, which is repair 'em when they break and make out of warranty exceptions on a case by case basis. Remember, this doesn't just impact Apple and believe me these laptop manufactures are not going to do a wholesale recall without there being a safety issue forcing them to do so.

Cheers,
Click to expand...

Yes, that and in order to do a recall, they would have to have something to replace it with. I seriously doubt that Nvidia would have a new batch of redesigned GPUs for 18 million laptops. The failure rate would have to be really high to justify a recall of that scale.
 
greenmymac said:
What I mean is... if there is a MAJOR problem they would not continue to sell them..
Click to expand...

Given they are unlikely to fail within your initial warranty period (unless you buy AppleCare in which case you've already paid for the fix), they aren't likely to do ANYTHING about the problem, IMO. Apple couldn't care less if you get a defect like that. It just means you'll be buying another laptop from them that much sooner. They know true Apple fans aren't likely to jump ship no matter how bad their service gets or how high their prices are or how short their warranties are that come with them because true Mac heads don't want Windows no matter what.
 
RHD said:
Well OK, fine.
Just don't come complaining to us if your graphics card dies in a years time.
Click to expand...

Hmm.. mine MBP is just over a yeah old. Gonna be floggin it off locally, don't really care how much I get, if it's more, then the merrier!! It's still ticking despite being used and mis-treated. Though, it's already earned it weight in gold after six months service. Question is, should i sell it as a upgraded machine or revert it to factory default?
 
Running slightly cooler...

When I got my MBP back from Apple it was running really hot, same as before. I've since managed to finagle a free 10.5 upgrade disk from Apple tech support (since my MBP came back from the repair depot with 10.5 installed. I wiped it clean and put 10.4 back on it initially). After reinstalling 10.5 and adding 2GB more memory, the GPU seems to be running a slight bit cooler (around upper 70s to low 80s centigrade according to iStat Pro, versus upper 80s C before), although it still does flakey things when connecting external video to the DVI port, and sometimes freezes. Other than that, seems to be running better. I'll be keeping an eye on that sucker... :rolleyes:
 
My MBP (bought new from store in June) just sat there for about 2 minutes completely frozen. I hadn't saved my LaTeX document for about 5 hours and I had done loads of work on it - so I was crapping myself. Just saved it though - it unfroze.

What's going on here? :(
 
RHD said:
Then why do you need a high end computer like the Pro? Wouldn't a standard MacBook or the sweet little Air be more appropriate?
Click to expand...


Well there is aesthetics. Aircraft grade aluminum> plastic. Plus, if he is like me, I can't stand the thought of an integrated GPU. I refuse to buy a MB as long as it has an integrated GPU. The MBA is an exception due to its designed purpose.
 
jjahshik32 said:
I'm with you, currently trying to sell it and going to wait for the newer mbp.

Now that I think about it, do you think all the OEM vendors told Nvidia to keep their mouth shut about the specific laptops/gpu having issues so that it can be more complicated than it seems?

This could help oem vendors with exchanges/repairs/replacements. That's where the higher rpm of the fans come in from some of the oem vendors instead of announcing the specific gpu so it wouldnt be needed for the oem to recall all of the laptops that they sold?
Click to expand...

I suspect if anything like this happened it's the other way around.

Why would Dell, Sony, HP, Samsung, Apple and Lenovo plus countless others I've forgot all get together in some dark room with mulder and scully stumbling about outside with torches to talk about a big conspiracy to stop nvidia taking the blame for nvidia's mistakes and instead take the blame themselves for nvidia's mistakes (I'm assuming the rumours about how bad it might be are more or less true).

What possible benefit would there be to all these vendors to take the blame for someone else's mistakes instead of being able to tell customers: "Our quality control is good but we've been let down by that lot over there, who will be footing the bill for you to get a replacement / repair without the defect"?
 
This whole thing is just kind of a crap chute. I love the look of the current MBP, but it's got a defective GPU. The new models will come out soon enough.... but will be only a hair faster at best, will (probably) have a GPU that's not defective, but will be redesigned, for the first time in eight years (at the very moment I'm buying an Apple laptop for the first time) to something I'm going to hate. Rounded corners, chiclet keyboard, thinner laptop.

The older MBPs don't have a graphics card I'd really be able to live with.

Talk about bad luck..?
 
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