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Is this a GPU issue in Macbook Pro 2006?

M

man132

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 19, 2021
22
10
Indonesia
Hi All,
Today my Macbook pro 2006 (Macbookpro1,2) display is somehow suddenly show diagonal lines, have somebody here was facing the same issue? Is this a Chip defect? I already try to reset the SMC but the problem is still there. Any suggestions or comments are appreciated.

Regards,
 

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It very well could be a GPU failure. The Radeon X1600 used in 2006 MBPs is notable for failure, not as common as the infamous 2007-08, but they do fail. If you have any discs available that include the Apple hardware test, try runni that test to check for a GPU. If it’s failed, AHT may report you have no GPU installed, but run the tests if it says installed.

Otherwise, it may be hard to be certain. Does it always display this pattern or only after some usage?
 
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man132 said:
Hi All,
Today my Macbook pro 2006 (Macbookpro1,2) display is somehow suddenly show diagonal lines, have somebody here was facing the same issue? Is this a Chip defect? I already try to reset the SMC but the problem is still there. Any suggestions or comments are appreciated.

Regards,
Click to expand...

Echoing @retta283 here, I think GPU failure is a possibility — or, at a minimum, the GPU is getting too hot because the original thermal paste is probably no longer effective as it once was. I feel this is something with which @dosdude1 , who works on boards with GPU issues, will have more familiarity.
 
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This definitely looks like a GPU failure to me. As a secret lover of the MacBook Pro 1,1 and 2,1 it's heartbreaking to see that.

AFAIK the issue with the Radeon Mobility X1600 wasn't a chip-level problem as with the GeForce 8600M, but was a problem with the BGA solder joints failing.
 
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retta283 said:
It very well could be a GPU failure. The Radeon X1600 used in 2006 MBPs is notable for failure, not as common as the infamous 2007-08, but they do fail. If you have any discs available that include the Apple hardware test, try runni that test to check for a GPU. If it’s failed, AHT may report you have no GPU installed, but run the tests if it says installed.

Otherwise, it may be hard to be certain. Does it always display this pattern or only after some usage?
Click to expand...
This is the first time its shown this pattern after I own this machine for 2 years (I bought this machine from a marketplace), unfortunatly I dont have AHT disc so I cant running the test,, thank you
 
rampancy said:
This definitely looks like a GPU failure to me. As a secret lover of the MacBook Pro 1,1 and 2,1 it's heartbreaking to see that.

AFAIK the issue with the Radeon Mobility X1600 wasn't a chip-level problem as with the GeForce 8600M, but was a problem with the BGA solder joints failing.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the information, I will try to reball it
 
I'll weigh in on this from personal experience and concur that the GPU is failing. As I've mentioned in numerous posts, my 2006 MBP was affected by this issue and I managed to find on eBay a later revision of the logic board that doesn't suffer from this problem (2.16 Ghz) and its been trouble-free ever since.
 
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I took my logic board out and baked it in the oven at the proper temperature and for the proper length of time, and it worked again for another year after that ... but then, like everyone else's baked logic board, it eventually died again and I have it sitting in the tomb downstairs while I decide what, if anything, to do with it now. Really liked that machine; used it for years and years until the GPU died.
 
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man132 said:
Hi All,
Today my Macbook pro 2006 (Macbookpro1,2) display is somehow suddenly show diagonal lines, have somebody here was facing the same issue? Is this a Chip defect? I already try to reset the SMC but the problem is still there. Any suggestions or comments are appreciated.

Regards,
Click to expand...
This is, unfortunately, a bad GPU. I've had one other '06 with Radeon X1600 do this, new GPU chipset got it back up and running 100%.
 
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TheShortTimer said:
I'll weigh in on this from personal experience and concur that the GPU is failing. As I've mentioned in numerous posts, my 2006 MBP was affected by this issue and I managed to find on eBay a later revision of the logic board that doesn't suffer from this problem (2.16 Ghz) and its been trouble-free ever since.
Click to expand...
Could you inform me the revised logic board ID number?
 
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man132 said:
Could you inform me the revised logic board ID number?
Click to expand...

As long as the logic board has the 2.16 Ghz CPU you should be fine. I can't remember where I read but during a long night of Googling in search of solutions I came across a discussion that reported that the 2.16 Ghz board isn't affected by the problem. The GPU is still a Radeon X1600 but it's upgraded from 128 MB to 256 MB and in the eight years since the logic board was replaced (the original was the 2 Ghz version) there hasn't been any signs of glitches so I'm definitely in the clear. :)

If you're interested in doing this, keep an eye on eBay and see if a fully working board comes up for sale - this was how I found my replacement and it was quite cheap too.
 
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