so, i had the nvidia breakdown a couple of years ago while this problem was still not admitted by Apple. Does anyone know if there ss anyway to reclaim the very large amount of money I had to pay to have my logicboard replaced?
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So are all MBP owners with the 8600m GT cards screwed?
- Thread starter jjahshik32
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Apple is issuing refunds to customers who may have paid for repairs related to this issue. Please contact Apple for details on the refund process.
The 8600GT chips made during the 2007-2008 time frame do indeed have a very high failure rate. This is well known. I recently spoke to a tech at my AASP and he confirmed this. He said they have a shelf full of dead MacBook Pros in the shop that have been written off by their owners and sold for spare parts due to logic board failures. MacBook Pros of that era are among the highest frequency of repair units they are seeing right now only exceeded by the 17" G5 iMacs which have faulty capacitors.
He said Apple has even designed a revised version of the logic board to replace the original.
Apple's position on dealing with the Nvidia issue is simple
1) If the machine boots but with no display they can run a software test to confirm the video card/chip failure and the repair is on Apple's (Nvidias) dime.
2) If the machine can't boot then they can't run the test and the owner is faced with a $900 + repair bill (these are the machines that end up on their scrap pile).
Either way the logic board failure rate on these machines is way above normal.
He said Apple has even designed a revised version of the logic board to replace the original.
Apple's position on dealing with the Nvidia issue is simple
1) If the machine boots but with no display they can run a software test to confirm the video card/chip failure and the repair is on Apple's (Nvidias) dime.
2) If the machine can't boot then they can't run the test and the owner is faced with a $900 + repair bill (these are the machines that end up on their scrap pile).
Either way the logic board failure rate on these machines is way above normal.
I tried that and they said only specific models with the 8600M GT are covered...
Interesting that you had a failure just after replacement, I also had a similar event this month. In December, I went in with my second NVIDIA failure (first one was summer 2009), got it replaced with no hassle - in fact i got a call it was ready for pickup about 12 hours after i brought it in! So I was satisfied. But less than a month later, I got the first recurrence, and then two days ago it happened again so i brought it in right away. It's taking them a bit longer this time, but i should have it back soon hopefully. I don't have quite as horrifying a repair history as you, but it would be a welcome surprise if they just gave me a new computer - I guess that goes without saying!
But I really wonder why both of our replacement boards failed more or less right away, that's very strange! I was wondering if they had tried to pull a fast one and put in a logic board that had been pulled out of somebody else's computer, but that seems like too low a blow.
Unlikely they did that, just an issue with nvidia replacement being no better than the original. If it keeps happening I'd start pushing for a new replacement MBP.
Cheers,
thanks for the advice, I'll definitely insist on a replacement if it happens one more time.
The funny thing is that it's not a case of the replacement being no better than the original (which i know is going to be the case) but this replacement was actually much worse than the original. My first one lasted two years, the second one lasted 1.5 years, and now this one lasted less than one month! The other cards took a while before they started failing, whereas this replacement seems as though it had already failed when it was put into my computer.
The funny thing is that it's not a case of the replacement being no better than the original (which i know is going to be the case) but this replacement was actually much worse than the original. My first one lasted two years, the second one lasted 1.5 years, and now this one lasted less than one month! The other cards took a while before they started failing, whereas this replacement seems as though it had already failed when it was put into my computer.
Intel recalls chipset due to design flaw
Yeah, recalls never happen. Imagine how naive I must be. Apple truly is better.
This is inaccurate.
They're all defective. That is the accurate way to put it. They have a 100% defectiveness rate. They should have all been replaced. Intel did the proper thing and issued a recall for its Sandy Bridge chipset.
Apple, by contrast, did not.
Except Intel created the faulty chipsets. Apple did not. No word from HP, Dell, Asus and others on whether they are recalling PCs with these chipsets. Apple is not going to recall every MBP or iMac with a faulty 8000 series GPU.
Cheers,
As someone who has one of these machines (bought it about 2 months before the new unibody models came out because I needed a new computer, was okay with the soon-to-be outdated specs, and figured the free iPod touch would be a good addition), I'm really nervous about still using it. Although it's gone about 2 1/2 years with constant use (a lot of daily transit up until about 6 months ago), the only problem I had was a faulty battery (which was replaced). I'm just trying to figure out when it goes off of AppleCare if I'll run into one of those situations where Apple says it's "something else" and then want to bill me more than the computer is worth. I'm not a conspiracy theorist as far as hardware repairs go, but I guess I'm wondering if I ought to unload it for something else before the AppleCare coverage is up.
(I know Apple covers these models for an additional year for just that fault, but has anyone had any issues with arguing that?)
I'm probably the wrong person to ask since I ditched my SR 2.2 after it failed once. I tend to be fairly conservative. I would personally sell it and get something newer.
Cheers,
It's funny to see this thread after just buying a late 06 MBP. I made sure it was an ATI x1600 first it is. No problems with graphic cards i hope.
I just got my Santa Rosa MBP out of the Genius shop tonight. So far with it's new Logic Board, it's working good.
There was some flickering stripes across the Desktop after it first booted up, but that seems to have gone away.
There was some flickering stripes across the Desktop after it first booted up, but that seems to have gone away.
Way too late. If they did that over a year ago I may still have been an Apple customer today. People paid $2,000+ for those computers only to have 'em croak. To make matters worse Apple was telling me I had to pay $300+ to have it repaired despite the defective hardware acknowledgement. I'm sure others have been quite frustrated...
I'm not trying to turn this into an anti-Apple thread, but it seems like every so often they have laptop models that have a fatal flaw and it's just a matter of time before the computer fails (the iBook G3s with the ATI chipset were another that comes to mind). My MBP's specs are fine for what I need, but what's frustrating is that I'm now torn with the idea of trying to sell it in favor of something else, even though it's going value seems to be the same as a new Mac mini, which is arguably the same specs, but with a better graphics chip. Anyone got any ideas on the best place to sell these, since they're "old" as far as a lot of people are concerned?
So how would the fact that the machine cannot boot prove that it isn't a Nvidia chip problem?
i'm not sure if they need the computer to boot normally in order to diagnose this problem. They have a test they run where they connect a special drive and boot into a special graphics test mode. I've been through it 3 times now and it's never been a struggle to convince them that it's an NVIDIA problem.
so with my verizon iphone arriving today sometime, of course yesterday my MBP (17" early 2008 model) fails to come up from sleep mode (got the black screen) -- tried restarting, blah blah blah, even booting from snow leopard cd -- nothing worked.
So I go on to double check my coverage on apple's support site. I am still under AppleCare, yet my telephone support says it's expired? sigh, so I can't call apple to troubleshoot over phone (note, i rechecked my coverage this morning, and now it does say my telephone support is still active...grrrr, fluke maybe?).
Anyway, At least I have a local apple store, so I take it into the genius bar. sure enough, guy there says it's a bad logic board. He did mention the nvidia issue could maybe be the cause instead, but he couldn't determine it for sure or not. Since it's under Apple Care, I guess it doesn't matter that much since it'll get repaired for free. Just gotta wait 5-7 days (like a previous poster mentioned in another thread).
note: on my receipt, it actually seemed to list what the charge would be, if I wasn't under the apple care plan, and it said the board was only $527, and labor was like $30 dollars. I find this interesting since other posters (in other threads) are quoting apple as saying $1000+ to fix.
so I'll have to wait about a week before I can fully use my new iphone (music, photos, etc.), not too mention do any work on my MBP till it comes back.
it's a good thing I got the Apple Care plan originally because, since purchasing, I've had to:
1. Replace the battery (outer casing got unglued from the rest, causing it defective)
2. hard drive died randomly, had to get it replaced -- good thing I backup to external drive, though because I'm lazy I did still lose about a weeks worth of stuff...)
3. Now the logic board / nvidia issue.
Man, at this rate, I should assume within another year or two to have further hardware issues, and by that time I'm betting my protection care plan will have expired.
not to mention I hardly ever take the MBP out of my house. I don't eat/drink near it, nor have I ever dropped it. very light wear and tear on it.
Is there any situation where I can get apple to simply replace my MBP with a newer model or atleast trade it in at a major discount to a newer model? at this point, i'd rather do that than risk further issues with my current MBP...
I'm guessing not, atleast not until it fails from the nvidia issue multiple times? Shouldn't they be replacing the logic board with one that does not suffer from the defect issue?
So I go on to double check my coverage on apple's support site. I am still under AppleCare, yet my telephone support says it's expired? sigh, so I can't call apple to troubleshoot over phone (note, i rechecked my coverage this morning, and now it does say my telephone support is still active...grrrr, fluke maybe?).
Anyway, At least I have a local apple store, so I take it into the genius bar. sure enough, guy there says it's a bad logic board. He did mention the nvidia issue could maybe be the cause instead, but he couldn't determine it for sure or not. Since it's under Apple Care, I guess it doesn't matter that much since it'll get repaired for free. Just gotta wait 5-7 days (like a previous poster mentioned in another thread).
note: on my receipt, it actually seemed to list what the charge would be, if I wasn't under the apple care plan, and it said the board was only $527, and labor was like $30 dollars. I find this interesting since other posters (in other threads) are quoting apple as saying $1000+ to fix.
so I'll have to wait about a week before I can fully use my new iphone (music, photos, etc.), not too mention do any work on my MBP till it comes back.
it's a good thing I got the Apple Care plan originally because, since purchasing, I've had to:
1. Replace the battery (outer casing got unglued from the rest, causing it defective)
2. hard drive died randomly, had to get it replaced -- good thing I backup to external drive, though because I'm lazy I did still lose about a weeks worth of stuff...)
3. Now the logic board / nvidia issue.
Man, at this rate, I should assume within another year or two to have further hardware issues, and by that time I'm betting my protection care plan will have expired.
not to mention I hardly ever take the MBP out of my house. I don't eat/drink near it, nor have I ever dropped it. very light wear and tear on it.
Is there any situation where I can get apple to simply replace my MBP with a newer model or atleast trade it in at a major discount to a newer model? at this point, i'd rather do that than risk further issues with my current MBP...
I'm guessing not, atleast not until it fails from the nvidia issue multiple times? Shouldn't they be replacing the logic board with one that does not suffer from the defect issue?
You need a major component to fail 3 times. However, if my SR MBP has the GPU failure a second time, I'm going to try my best to get a replacement. I've had so many issues, unfortunately (fortunately?) most of them are minor (optical drive 3 times, battery twice, top case once, power adapter once, GPU once) that I'm not sure I would get it.
wow, 3 times? sigh. that's ashame.
so the replacement logic board will not fall victim to the nvidia defect, will it? I mean, I would guess they'll be using a refurbished logic board, but won't it alteast be one that has the nvidia issue resolved? otherwise, they are knowingly installing hardware that is prone for failure.
so the replacement logic board will not fall victim to the nvidia defect, will it? I mean, I would guess they'll be using a refurbished logic board, but won't it alteast be one that has the nvidia issue resolved? otherwise, they are knowingly installing hardware that is prone for failure.
They are installing what they have from nvidia. People have had multiple failures. The problem most likely will continue to occur. Getting a replacement is the only real solution. Once that 4 year GPU support extension (if they don't extend one more time to 5 years) is finished they will probably start making the argument that the system has seen the end of its useful life.
Cheers,
You can also cite the total number of trips you've had to take in order to repair the hardware and say "i've been out of my hardware for X amount of days". If you think your approaching a replacement i'd call Applecare and have them take the machine and send it back. Not only have I found that the guys in texas do a more thorough job but if an issue crops up again you can say "i've been at this store x amount of times AND it's been to Apple TX once already".
Just wanted to say, the Mac mini has an nVidia GeForce 320M, which is not a better GPU. The GeForce GT 320M is. Benchmarking, and the fact that the 320M is integrated (unlike the GT 320M) makes it perform worse than an nVidia GeForce 8600M GT.