MacBookPro Alu 2008 Graphics kernel panic help

[arkade]

I have an A1260 MacbookPro. It's an old model and I think it is suffering from a graphics chip problem and was hoping someone can confirm from the crash report I managed to snap before it shut down again...I have attached the photo I took, sorry its overexposed but you can still read what it says.

The screen goes crazy colours and/or pixelated and becomes impossible to use, usually straight after boot.

Please let me know if you can decipher what this crash report means. Thank you so much 🙂

 

[DeltaMac]

There's not much that you would need to decipher. The hardware problem that you have likely says it all

The screen goes crazy colours and/or pixelated and becomes impossible to use, usually straight after boot.

And, a few lines from your picture
com.apple.nvidia ....
com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSuppport...
com.apple.iokit.IOGrphicsFamily...
com.apple.nvidia.classic/NVDAResmanTesla
etc.

most (maybe all) of those are connected in some way with the graphics chip, which makes sense with what you see briefly on the screen.
The graphics chip is failing.
If you want to try something, you can search for "reflow logic board on MacBook Pro".
Basically removing the logic board, and putting it in a warm oven for an hour or two.
It's a hobby fix that helps some (not in all cases)
Re-phrasing - fixing means replacing the logic board.

 

[arkade]

Thank you very much for your response. This had been my conclusion but I just wanted to check before I went cooking things! 🙂

Bit worried about putting the logic board in the oven...

 

[maflynn]

Google the steps, and see the details, that way you'll have a better understanding of the process.

The alternative is to just throw the computer away (I think the 2008 model is beyond Apple's repair window).

 

[arkade]

I've seen some steps utilising a heat gun and protecting the rest of the board with foil. I think I'll go this route since it will give a better feeling of control. Fingers crossed I don't destroy the board! Any tips greatly appreciated.

Google the steps, and see the details, that way you'll have a better understanding of the process.

The alternative is to just throw the computer away (I think the 2008 model is beyond Apple's repair window).

 

[maflynn]

Tbh, I think an oven can work better as it will reflow the entire board, but then I've done nether.

Good luck

 

[snaky69]

I've seen some steps utilising a heat gun and protecting the rest of the board with foil. I think I'll go this route since it will give a better feeling of control. Fingers crossed I don't destroy the board! Any tips greatly appreciated.

Your board's already shot, you can't really make it any worse.

Have at it.

 

[BrettApple]

I've successfully reflowed a couple 8600M GT chips using a heat gun and some foil to protect it. It'll work if done right, but it very likely won't last long. Long enough to export application licenses or something if you need to, but that's about it. It might go a day, a week, maybe a month but it will die again. Just how they are unless you get it completely reflowed with new solder but that would be cost prohibitive at this point.

Just take your time during disassembly/reassembly and make sure the chip is completely clean and you have new thermal paste to put on it. Like some AS5 etc. Then use a fan control app to keep the RPMs a bit higher to keep it cool. Should last a bit.

 

[arkade]

Cheers folks. I successfully used a heat gun, although we shall see how long it lasts! Thanks all for your help 🙂

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Cheers folks. I successfully used a heat gun, although we shall see how long it lasts! Thanks all for your help 🙂

All reports suggest a few months and you may get away with the same fix a couple more times before it is dead I would start putting away money for a new computer now if I as you.