Do you still have your old drive back? If yes, then install that again, then put the computer back together and send it to(I had upgraded to a 500 GB WD).
Unfortunately not, which makes me worried. I have a 500gb wd as well
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So are all MBP owners with the 8600m GT cards screwed?
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Unfortunately not, which makes me worried. I have a 500gb wd as well
Unfortunately not, which makes me worried. I have a 500gb wd as well
Well, the
store should do a test first, and if it fails that, then they should take the computer without checking the inside. They might later. Also, you might have some luc getting a new hard drive from ebay (one with an logo on it).Good luck.
Is it possible that the PCIe link/links from the GPU to the logicboard is the problem? Maybe they're failing, and there goes your link to the graphics card. Thus, the issue is bad link, not a bad card? Can anyone give a precise reason of how these cards fail? I know that it is some soldering that is faulty and separates or something, but not much more than that.
The Inquirer covered the nvidia case very well, I've posted something in this very thread but then it got so long...I wouldn't be able to find it through al these replies.
The soldering within the GPU itself was using some crappy materials. I believe it was the memory component of the GPU itself. Basically, the shoddy materials couldn't take the drastic heat shifts that laptops face on a regular basis (turning on and off) and eventually the gpu gets corrupt.
PCIe Lane Width
Can somebody explain what the PCIe Lane Width is/does? Is it something that starts to drop when the chip begins to fail? When my 8600M started to fail, I noticed System Profiler listed the lane width as x4, and after I got it replaced, it was back up to x16.
If the chip begins to fail again, will it show up first in System Profiler with a diminishing lane width?
Should people who have the GeForce 8600M GT installed check the Graphics/Displays section under System Profiler, and if it lists anything other than a x16 Lane Width, take it in for a diagnostic?
Can somebody explain what the PCIe Lane Width is/does? Is it something that starts to drop when the chip begins to fail? When my 8600M started to fail, I noticed System Profiler listed the lane width as x4, and after I got it replaced, it was back up to x16.
If the chip begins to fail again, will it show up first in System Profiler with a diminishing lane width?
Should people who have the GeForce 8600M GT installed check the Graphics/Displays section under System Profiler, and if it lists anything other than a x16 Lane Width, take it in for a diagnostic?
IMO, yes. On a technical level, there is absolutely no reason for the lane width to change, legitimately at least. Mine went from x16 down to 1x, at which point the Apple hardware test gave me a VideoController issue. Mind you, my card was working 'fine' but I noticed reduced speeds, and their test said the card was faulty.
This thread has me paranoid, especially since my Early 2008 model has been relatively trouble-free since I got it (minus some cosmetic issues and a faulty battery). Within the last week, however, whenever I plug in my external display or wake the display up (the computer is already running) or wake the computer from sleep, the external display flashes between a picture and black numerous times until settling on the picture.
It's nothing with the settings on this display (Samsung 21" w/DVI), especially since I've had it longer than my MacBook Pro. Right now the lane width is still "good", so I'm just keeping my fingers-crossed and waiting.
Has anyone had this happen prior to a failure? Also, it seems most of the replacements people have gotten were even worse...anyone have a replacement take care of things for good?
It's nothing with the settings on this display (Samsung 21" w/DVI), especially since I've had it longer than my MacBook Pro. Right now the lane width is still "good", so I'm just keeping my fingers-crossed and waiting.
Has anyone had this happen prior to a failure? Also, it seems most of the replacements people have gotten were even worse...anyone have a replacement take care of things for good?
I dropped off my mbp at the Apple store for logic board replacement #2. The 8600M GT died in Sept '08 and they replaced it with a rev 1 logic board. That board died as of this morning. They're going to put a rev 2 board in this time. Good thing they are covering this until four years after the purchase date. My AppleCare ran out three weeks ago.
It seems that I get the flicker on the on-screen displays when it first wakes up, when scanning both the analog (VGA) and digital (DVI) inputs. I'm starting to suspect that something else may be awry, rather than blaming my computer...
hello, i'm in the same position before you had the apple hardware test done. I have a early 2008 2.4 MBP and I just checked the PCIe Lane Width about 5 mins ago and it was x4, I restarted after to see if it would go back up, now it's x1?? What should I do?
Try running the Apple Hardware Test that comes on the DVDs that came with your computer. See if you get any errors. If you do, call AppleCare or go to your nearest Apple Store.
I'd try this. Though, when I did bring it into the Apple store, they weren't able to diagnose the issue. I had to send it to texas, and they ended up replacing the mobo.
thank you for the reply, i haven't seen any of the symptoms though so it's really puzzling. I'll do the hardware test around noon, it's time for bed for me. good night
Edit: here is the pic and error
toldjya . I also had this same error after the lane width decreased.
Bring it in to the Apple Store or call up AppleCare and arrange a pickup. Mention the error and decreased GFX performance. They should replace the motherboard.
. I also had this same error after the lane width decreased. Bring it in to the Apple Store or call up AppleCare and arrange a pickup. Mention the error and decreased GFX performance. They should replace the motherboard.
toldjya
Bring it in to the Apple Store or call up AppleCare and arrange a pickup. Mention the error and decreased GFX performance. They should replace the motherboard.
lol, that's what i thought, well i guess it's time i start to backup my data, don't want to lose it..
So I brought in the laptop for an appointment, when I arrived to the desk, I told the genius that I have been getting the distorted video. She asked me how I was getting them, and I told her when I was watching videos. She asked a couple more follow-up questions like what type of videos, and told me how the Internet speed can affect the distortion of the video. She asked me if the video was on the computer or an external hard drive. I told her that it was on the computer and I opened the video to show her. We previewed a little bit and saw the distorted video, she rewind back and let it played again. Next she said that it shouldn't happen at the same place and said it may be the mkv video file. The night before, inwas watching that video and it occured at random spots but when I rewinded back, I didn't see it anymore. I told her that I ran the apple hardware test and showed a pic of the error code. She replied saying that sometimes when the video card is being stressed, it will produce errors. She brought it to the back to run some test and when she came back, she said it passed so nothing is needed. I opened the laptop and told her about how the pci length keeps changing whenever I restarted. I was going to load the webpage about the nvIdia distorted video but she shut down the laptop and told me that she is going to run the extended apple diagnostic test and began typing onto the genius bar laptop and I waited. She gave me the genius bar work authorization sheet to sign and that was it. I'm just surprised at how it passed the tests today but failed when I ran the hardware test at home?? What to do now?
Call 800-APL-CARE (if you're in the US)...our local Apple Store is awful about getting laptops in for service, even if you know they're wrong, offer specific options, and even demonstrate that it's not a software issue. Either way, your computer is getting shipped off to Texas, but at least when you call the 800 #, they'll sent you a box (overnighted) with a prepaid return label (also overnighted), and then you'll get it back to your door overnighted when the repair is done. If the person you're on the phone with isn't helpful, you can always try again.
apple replaced my 2008 MBP logic board again last week. next time it happens i think i'll push hard for a replacement. we'll see.
it's bizarre to think that the cost of repairs has been over the life of the computer far exceeds the cost of the computer. i have applecare until the end of 2011, but it's a pain in the ass.
it's bizarre to think that the cost of repairs has been over the life of the computer far exceeds the cost of the computer. i have applecare until the end of 2011, but it's a pain in the ass.
I have this problem also... my display remains black and I do have a computer that falls into the defective 8600 card. My ProCare ran out in August,2010... one month ago... SUCKS!!! My question is if they say my motherboard needs replaced, will this be covered also thru the 8600 video card issue?
Would it help me to mention the error someone posted the pic of (Alert! Apple Hardware Test has detected an error. 4VDC/1/40000003: VideoController)
I really really think this is crap that one month past my ProCare and the thing dies??!!!! I am pissed! especially since I was at an Apple Store asking questions about how hot the thing gets and they just said well you should never have it touching you... lol... why again do they call them "LAPtops"?
Would it help me to mention the error someone posted the pic of (Alert! Apple Hardware Test has detected an error. 4VDC/1/40000003: VideoController)
I really really think this is crap that one month past my ProCare and the thing dies??!!!! I am pissed! especially since I was at an Apple Store asking questions about how hot the thing gets and they just said well you should never have it touching you... lol... why again do they call them "LAPtops"?