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.