I think my Graphics card is dying... but how can I prove it to Apple?

[jackmack]

Ok, so approximately late december, early january, my laptop started to randomly glitch.

In a nut shell, i was working on my computer and I opened a window, and right when the window opened, my screen went mosaic (see photo below). I could still see my mouse ontop of the mosaic mess, and when I hovered over stuff like my bottom bar (don't know the technical name), I could see the mosaic change as the icons magnified. Even growl notifications cause the bottom mosaic to go dark as the notice appears.

I rebooted and thought it was just something stupid. And sure enough, life was good for a while. I'm not sure how long after, but it was a decent amount of time... it sort of happened again... only this time it was only a part of the screen that went mosaic. This time, my computer locked up for 15-45 seconds, then would work normal for another 30 seconds, then lock up again. it would repeat this until I forced it to reboot.

Within the past couple months, it seems as if it is more frequent. The only "event" i can seem to tie it to is it appears to happen more often when I plug in/unplug an external monitor, or if an external monitor is already plugged in. Something about that seems to trigger it. In fact, I am posting this right now because it happened again (and I took a pic below) right after unplugging from my external monitor.

What sucks is that I don't know how to prove this to Apple other than pictures. Since the actual freezing of the machine doesn't cause it to crash, nor does the mosaic pixel patterns, I don't have any crash files to send to apple (and I've confirmed this).

So... I have a macbook pro 17" santa rosa... is this a known problem?

What should I do to get this looked at/fixed?

I'm going to call apple again about it tomorrow.

Edit: Just so you know, the only option apple has given me was to bring it in during the problem... my laptop is how I make a living, so I can't really stop working and drive out (or in this case drive out tomorrow) to an apple store to let them see it freaking out.

 

[GoCubsGo]

That picture should pretty much prove it.

 

[jackmack]

That picture should pretty much prove it.

I'm hoping you're right.

Due to the complete randomness of the freak outs, and depending on if I'm working on a project or not or where I am, the last several times it has happened, I did not have the ability to take a picture... so this is the first time I had one handy (new cell phone with working camera).

 

[nuncupatory]

So... I have a macbook pro 17" santa rosa... is this a known problem?

Known, yes (or at least some of us believe so). Publicly acknowledged by Apple, no.
http://apcmag.com/apples_latest_notebooks_plagued_with_graphics_glitches.htm
http://apcmag.com/Content.aspx?id=2750

Tell them you've read on various forums about the Nvidia GPUs failing in MBPs, like these thread here:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1478474&tstart=15
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1332368&tstart=30
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1591913&tstart=0

You might want to try the Apple Hardware Test.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1509
If your GPU is just starting to show symptoms, you may not detect anything, but if it's almost on its way out, it might show up.

Wow, I went a bit link-crazy...

 

[jackmack]

Known, yes (or at least some of us believe so). Publicly acknowledged by Apple, no.
http://apcmag.com/apples_latest_notebooks_plagued_with_graphics_glitches.htm
http://apcmag.com/Content.aspx?id=2750

Tell them you've read on various forums about the Nvidia GPUs failing in MBPs, like these thread here:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1478474&tstart=15
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1332368&tstart=30
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1591913&tstart=0

You might want to try the Apple Hardware Test.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1509
If your GPU is just starting to show symptoms, you may not detect anything, but if it's almost on its way out, it might show up.

Wow, I went a bit link-crazy...

http://apcmag.com/apples_latest_notebooks_plagued_with_graphics_glitches.htm

Wow I wish I could give you a hug... that article describes EXACTLY the problems I've been having for MONTHS and MONTHS... I thought it was just me, or maybe a plugin problem, or something... but the text problems and the lines and the flickering... my god I'm going to call apple ASAP tomorrow. This is BS.

 

[alphaod]

Just that you know they normally won't accept pictures; they have to be able to reproduce it.

So don't be surprised if they deny you repair; it's just policy against fraud.

 

[jackmack]

Just that you know they normally won't accept pictures; they have to be able to reproduce it.

So don't be surprised if they deny you repair; it's just policy against fraud.

I'd have video taped it if my iphone had the ability. -_-

 

[7031]

It's a problem with the Nvidia 8600, 8400, 9200 and 9400 chipset. They all seem to enjoy overheating and dying.

 

[Apple Ink]

Try to make them see this:

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/nvidia-g84-g86-chips-overheating,6121.html

Might help out!

Good Luck!

 

[megageorge]

If you have a graphical glitch like that, you should be about to take a screenshot of it. I had a few screenshots of my graphical glitches and they took the machine in for repair and replaced the logic board.

You shouldn't have a problem, especially with pictures of the actual computer while it is freaking out.

 

[monkey86]

to be fair if you need it for work you will have to take it in OR have to buy a new one, take it in powered up with a full battery and then use it to the max.

it will happen you have to get it sorted or you will have a $2000 paperweight.