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iMac 8,1 Using NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT Fails

I

iChatX

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 5, 2013
6
0
Hello.
I'm new to the forums here and the reason I have signed up was to ask for help. The answer to the problem is quite logical: a logic board replacement.

Here's my situation:
I own a 24 inch iMac 8,1 late 2008. Around last month, it got hit with the black screen problem. Seems to be a graphics card failure (NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT).

Well, as always (and what I've read on the Internet) the repair will skyrocket to approx $1000. This is freaking me out. It's quite the sum of money. However, after thorough research I stumbled upon an apple article addressing this same issue. Turns out that the failures were due to the NVIDIA card and that Apple had a 4 year warranty for it (ended December 17, 2012). This problem with the NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT had come under a class action suit so will I be still warranted the damages? The document specifically quotes 'unlikely' but hasn't said impossible. I shall link you all to the article. So will I be under warranty?

support.apple.com/kb/ts2377

Thank you all in advance. I look forward to you people responding.
 
iChatX said:
Hello.
I'm new to the forums here and the reason I have signed up was to ask for help. The answer to the problem is quite logical: a logic board replacement.

Here's my situation:
I own a 24 inch iMac 8,1 late 2008. Around last month, it got hit with the black screen problem. Seems to be a graphics card failure (NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT).

Well, as always (and what I've read on the Internet) the repair will skyrocket to approx $1000. This is freaking me out. It's quite the sum of money. However, after thorough research I stumbled upon an apple article addressing this same issue. Turns out that the failures were due to the NVIDIA card and that Apple had a 4 year warranty for it (ended December 17, 2012). This problem with the NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT had come under a class action suit so will I be still warranted the damages? The document specifically quotes 'unlikely' but hasn't said impossible. I shall link you all to the article. So will I be under warranty?

support.apple.com/kb/ts2377

Thank you all in advance. I look forward to you people responding.
Click to expand...

I recommend upgrading your MXM GPU.
No LB replacement nesseccary.
 
rabidz7 said:
I recommend upgrading your MXM GPU.
No LB replacement nesseccary.
Click to expand...

Thank you. Since you have suggested this instead of a logic board replacement, I will assume that this repair is a whole lot cheaper. May I know how much it is for? Also, whatever the repair may be, I want to know if I can be warranted as I have a faulty graphics card.
 
iMacC2D said:
For what it's worth, the nVidia GeForce 8600M GT was only used in the MacBook Pro. However the nVidia GeForce 8800 GS was used in this model of iMac and was also notoriously problematic.

Fortunately the graphics card is a separate module from the Logic Board, which does help as the repair won't be as steep as if it were a Logic Board swap.

The best way to price up a replacement module would be to contact a local repairer (or Apple themselves) as the prices are variable between markets and service centres.
Click to expand...

Hmmmn. That's very relieving to hear. I would guess that the repair would be around $200. However, would the GS be warranted too?

I really appreciate you all replying. You guys have been very professional and accurate.
 
Also. Could somebody help me determine whether it is my graphics card causing a problem or would it be the mobo?

Thanks in advance to the people who have read my description:

I remember the day it blacked out. I was on Skype talking to a relative. Suddenly, the screen goes black. I can see the pixels lighten up but they are all black. I tried hard rebooting. When booting, the computer would boot up as normal. Then, the computer would respond for a minute or two and then it goes all haywire with the pixels. The pixels just flash all over the place. The computer goes blue or black after a while. I tried reseting the PRAM and tried safe rebooting.

I also have one more idea of what may have caused the problem. It is pretty unlikely to me that this is the problem. A month before the mac went crazy, I had purchased 8GB of RAM (4 each slot). It was from crucial, a pretty reputed and trusted company with pretty premium prices. The computer would show and register the RAM when I clicked 'About This Mac'. However, online I read the computer has a max capacity of 6GB. I overlooked it because the computer registered the RAM (or so it seems).

To end, my question is: is it the GFX, the mobo or the RAM?

Thanks in advance and I look forward to you guys' passionate and professional - like help
 
iChatX said:
Thank you. Since you have suggested this instead of a logic board replacement, I will assume that this repair is a whole lot cheaper. May I know how much it is for? Also, whatever the repair may be, I want to know if I can be warranted as I have a faulty graphics card.
Click to expand...

Are you planning on doing the repair your self or getting a worker to do it.
 
iChatX said:
Also. Could somebody help me determine whether it is my graphics card causing a problem or would it be the mobo?

Thanks in advance to the people who have read my description:

I remember the day it blacked out. I was on Skype talking to a relative. Suddenly, the screen goes black. I can see the pixels lighten up but they are all black. I tried hard rebooting. When booting, the computer would boot up as normal. Then, the computer would respond for a minute or two and then it goes all haywire with the pixels. The pixels just flash all over the place. The computer goes blue or black after a while. I tried reseting the PRAM and tried safe rebooting.

I also have one more idea of what may have caused the problem. It is pretty unlikely to me that this is the problem. A month before the mac went crazy, I had purchased 8GB of RAM (4 each slot). It was from crucial, a pretty reputed and trusted company with pretty premium prices. The computer would show and register the RAM when I clicked 'About This Mac'. However, online I read the computer has a max capacity of 6GB. I overlooked it because the computer registered the RAM (or so it seems).

To end, my question is: is it the GFX, the mobo or the RAM?

Thanks in advance and I look forward to you guys' passionate and professional - like help
Click to expand...

the most they can support is 6gb putting 8 in wont make any difference its the gpu thats at fault know problem with these macs
 
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