PowerBook G4 VRAM: RIP ?

[Manuel Moreno]

This is a screenshot from a powerbook g4 1.5Ghz at 256 color.The owner (my friend) is very upset, his machine turned that after one night of playing World of Warcraft.
seems that the problem is with the video memory because the number of holes increases in order the bit depth.

how can this be? a computer that longevity is about 2.5 years?
a replacement logic board for this computer is about $800 close to a new shinnny macbook...

 

[dukebound85]

you forgot the screenshot just so you know

 

[0007776]

The screenshot is missing, but that must be annoying for it to have died.

 

[MaaseyRacer]

$800 bucks for a logicboard... Man I bet he wishes he spent the 300 on Applecare.

 

[BigJohno]

I see the shot. Sorry man. U can buy my powerbook if you want.

 

[bgordon]

$300 fix!

Guys - a little known fact here:

You can take that machine into any Apple Retail Store in the US and get a new logic board for $300.

The same thing happened to my 1Ghz G4 laptop last year, and I thought I'd have to buy a new computer. The guys at the Santa Monica Apple Store set me straight. Got my unit fixed and back for around $320 with tax.

Did the same thing a few months later with a buddy's G4 12" laptop at the Apple Store in SoHo in NYC.

Take it in. You'll see.

- bgordon

ps. This has nothing to do with AppleCare; indeed, my AC had expired a year before.

 

[metaztaziz]

VRAM Errors

I have the same kind of graphical problems with my PowerBook G4 Alluminium 1.33 Ghz. Ran the Hardware Test and found a VRAM error: 2ati/1/4 113-xxxxx-1134.

Is it posible to change the VRAM or the Graphic Card alone? or this means that the motherboard has to be replace?

Thanks. Alejandro.

 

[alphaod]

Considering the VRAM and the GPU are solders, no you can't just replace it.

This might also be a heat issue; I was pushing my card and it did this. After it cooled down it went back to normal.