So are all MBP owners with the 8600m GT cards screwed?

[h00ligan]

Thanks for the responses..I'm in the same boat as the above poster..

46 month old mbp, logic board replaced 24 months ago.
Other repairs completed under AppleCare:
Battery
Screen (they put a worse one in)
SuperDrive
Keyboard and track pad twice, along with
Top case
Release switch

Given I've replaced my hd and ram, the only part left from the original machine is the bottom case. :/

To clarify I capped so it was more visible, not to be a jerk and shout

I am trying to get my gf moved to Mac, and want her to use this machine..so I am hoping it has some time left..hard to say. I am trying to assess whether logic Boards replaced in late 2008 on actually resolved the issues..so anyone who has had multiples, can you tell us when your first was done?

Sorry to hear about everyone's trouble...whilst I appreciate that apple warranty covered everything, clearly my machine was a lemon, and the amount of time sending it in over the course of the first two years was ridiculous. So much so that I gave p on the second screen replacement.

In future, if I have a machine with that breadth of issues, in the first two years, I will be pushing for a replacement based on it being a lemon. This has been one of the least reliable machines of any kind I've ever had..I just winder if all the replacements will remedy it. There are still plenty of things that could blow up, psu, etc.

 

[pandabearjohnso]

Hammer them

Took it in to Apple Store this afternoon. Guy brought out the Nvidia test drive (I mentioned it right off the bat that I was expecting this to be the problem). He tried three times, even using a backup Nvidia drive. Nothing. Since the keyboard wouldn't work, there was no way to get the drive going (sleep light stayed fully lit). Took it to the back of the store - I'm still curious what they actually test back there - and roughly 10 minutes later brought it back. I knew right then what I would hear. He offered me the $310 ship to depot to further test it. Told him I really didn't want to do that.

Hi redd
I think you should go back to the Apple store where the test was done or different certified repair shop and hammer them. Don't take no for an answer. So the keyboard doesn't work? I'm sure there is a way to get a keyboard connected to the thing.

It I were in ur shoes I'd hammer and hammer until somebody says "OK, OK it is the GPU we'll replace it come back next week and pick up yor computer."

Its served yr family for 4 yrs? So what. A premium comp should last 5 at least. The batt is dead? $69 on eBay for one that will last a year.

My point is you paid for a premium machine and you got a good machine w a massive flaw. Now it's failed and Apple needs to pony up.

(I just had a mother board replaced on an early 2008 MBP and I am watching every day for that thing to hiccup. If it does I'm strait back in there).

 

[zflauaus]

You may want to give them a not-so-subtle hint that you want a replacement computer.

Being completely honest, I've been thinking about how to best do this. My Applecare expires on July 3rd and it's a 75-mile drive back and forth between places. The guy on the phone said he'd prefer that I take it in to be repaired. Hell, I'm ready to buy a new computer haha.

#cheapass

 

[soLoredd]

Took it in to Apple Store this afternoon. Guy brought out the Nvidia test drive (I mentioned it right off the bat that I was expecting this to be the problem). He tried three times, even using a backup Nvidia drive. Nothing. Since the keyboard wouldn't work, there was no way to get the drive going (sleep light stayed fully lit). Took it to the back of the store - I'm still curious what they actually test back there - and roughly 10 minutes later brought it back. I knew right then what I would hear. He offered me the $310 ship to depot to further test it. Told him I really didn't want to do that.

Hi redd
I think you should go back to the Apple store where the test was done or different certified repair shop and hammer them. Don't take no for an answer. So the keyboard doesn't work? I'm sure there is a way to get a keyboard connected to the thing.

It I were in ur shoes I'd hammer and hammer until somebody says "OK, OK it is the GPU we'll replace it come back next week and pick up yor computer."

Its served yr family for 4 yrs? So what. A premium comp should last 5 at least. The batt is dead? $69 on eBay for one that will last a year.

My point is you paid for a premium machine and you got a good machine w a massive flaw. Now it's failed and Apple needs to pony up.

(I just had a mother board replaced on an early 2008 MBP and I am watching every day for that thing to hiccup. If it does I'm strait back in there).

Thanks for the reply. I did go back in there today, hoping to get with a new tech person (I'll never call them 'Genius'). Ended up with the same guy helping me. He remembered me from yesterday and thought I decided to go ahead and pay the charge to ship it out. I told him no, I was not going to do that and that I would like them to run the test again. He did, of course, and we got the same result. The problem is, there is no power going to anything. The battery will charge but that is it. I plugged in a USB keyboard and the NUM lock key wouldn't light up when pressed; I plugged in my iPhone to see if it would charge and got nothing.

If I did send it in, and pay for that (which is still unbelievable to me), how could they even determine it's the Nvidia chip at fault? Obviously, the logic board is shot but there could be many reasons why that is (I'm playing devil's advocate here). Again, my model MBP has an abnormally high failure rate and if Apple would cover the cost of me sending it in for inspection, fine.

What else got me burning was the fact that I called several computer repair shops locally and explained the situation - not one knew of Apple covering the replacement logic board. They all wanted to charge me JUST to test it ($55-$75)!

Has anyone had the issue I've had (black screen, Mac boots, sleep light stays on, no keyboard, no functioning USB/FW ports)? If so, did you pay the $300 to have them look at it? And what was the end result?

 

[soLoredd]

Had you ever had a replacement before?

I'd like to start tracking those who have had repairs and have it fail again...when was the repair done initially, etc.

It may well just be the power supply that failed on yours.

Maybe I should start another thread..but if not



TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE HAD THEIR VIDEO CARDS FAIL:

When was the last time you had the logic board replaced?

No, never had replacement before. This is the first time I've ever had a problem with the machine. I'm also thinking it could be a power supply problem due to the symptoms I previously described.

What is the repair cost for power supply replacement, anyone know?

 

[BenZhang]

hi, i got a macbook pro with the 8600m gt as well, and that laptop just died due to the gpu recently.
check this out:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2377
it says within 4 years, so guess you have chance to replace it for free.

btw, thanks. i wouldnt know this without you.

 

[HussamRaed]

I dont think so

 

[MattZani]

Thanks for the reply. I did go back in there today, hoping to get with a new tech person (I'll never call them 'Genius'). Ended up with the same guy helping me. He remembered me from yesterday and thought I decided to go ahead and pay the charge to ship it out. I told him no, I was not going to do that and that I would like them to run the test again. He did, of course, and we got the same result. The problem is, there is no power going to anything. The battery will charge but that is it. I plugged in a USB keyboard and the NUM lock key wouldn't light up when pressed; I plugged in my iPhone to see if it would charge and got nothing.

If I did send it in, and pay for that (which is still unbelievable to me), how could they even determine it's the Nvidia chip at fault? Obviously, the logic board is shot but there could be many reasons why that is (I'm playing devil's advocate here). Again, my model MBP has an abnormally high failure rate and if Apple would cover the cost of me sending it in for inspection, fine.

What else got me burning was the fact that I called several computer repair shops locally and explained the situation - not one knew of Apple covering the replacement logic board. They all wanted to charge me JUST to test it ($55-$75)!

Has anyone had the issue I've had (black screen, Mac boots, sleep light stays on, no keyboard, no functioning USB/FW ports)? If so, did you pay the $300 to have them look at it? And what was the end result?

The problem you are having is not because of the nVidia card, if it was everything would boot but you would get no display at all. Your Logic Board has died, stop trying to get a free repair.

 

[Romeo604]

2007 MBP 17 inch Nvidia Failure taken care of swiftly

Hey all, just want to update anyone who may be in similar situation now. My screen went dark while computer is running. Figured it was the graphics because my external monitor would not get signal but computer will still boot up. I was also able to slowly click on itunes with a dark screen and play music. Never had any repairs done for this computer, never had applecare.

Brought it into 2 Apple Genius appointments at different locations. First genius appointment says not related to graphics, buy a new computer. Second genius appointment says it is under Nvidia program replacement so repairs are free.

I bought my MBP in August 2007 and it finally went today June 2011 and is only a result of me playing SC2. So any members with our generation of computers can still qualify for repair.

 

[soLoredd]

The problem you are having is not because of the nVidia card, if it was everything would boot but you would get no display at all. Your Logic Board has died, stop trying to get a free repair.

Really? Because I've read many a situation in which the symptoms vary. Some get video but it's distorted. Others have no display at all but everything else works. Some have had no chime, no display, but keyboard works.

You're right, my logic board is dead, and it is because of the video card.

 

[diehldun]

Being completely honest, I've been thinking about how to best do this. My Applecare expires on July 3rd and it's a 75-mile drive back and forth between places. The guy on the phone said he'd prefer that I take it in to be repaired. Hell, I'm ready to buy a new computer haha.

#cheapass

Just ask for a replacement MBP. I brought mine in for repairs so many times that the Genius Bar personnel recognized me, and voluntarily offered a replacement MBP on the spot.

Regardless though, I was prepared to demand a replacement unit on that visit.

 

[h00ligan]

Hey all, just want to update anyone who may be in similar situation now. My screen went dark while computer is running. Figured it was the graphics because my external monitor would not get signal but computer will still boot up. I was also able to slowly click on itunes with a dark screen and play music. Never had any repairs done for this computer, never had applecare.

Brought it into 2 Apple Genius appointments at different locations. First genius appointment says not related to graphics, buy a new computer. Second genius appointment says it is under Nvidia program replacement so repairs are free.

I bought my MBP in August 2007 and it finally went today June 2011 and is only a result of me playing SC2. So any members with our generation of computers can still qualify for repair.

Man....I wish I played that game. . If it's going to die again, I need it to be in the next 2 months :/

It may never fail though, it may be fixed.

I'm thinking of biting the bullet, rather than gambling on it...and buying a new machine...selling this one on eBay. However with a speculated redesign coming next year, it would be nice to make it another 10-12 months. That said, we did a video in iMovie for the shelter yesterday and man it Crawled. Does apple have a nonprofit pricing structure?

 

[pandabearjohnso]

Really? Because I've read many a situation in which the symptoms vary. Some get video but it's distorted. Others have no display at all but everything else works. Some have had no chime, no display, but keyboard works.

You're right, my logic board is dead, and it is because of the video card.

Hi again redd
This is exactly what happened to my MBP, although I'll never know either if it was the GPU that was the root cause or not. Most notably on mine all of the ports on the right side of the machine died, FW400, FW800, USB, and optical drive although the ports on the left side of the machine continued to work (keyboard worked also). Our local Apple aftersales shop here in Cannes, France replaced the motherboard (although after much tut-tutting about a tiny dent in an otherwise perfect case). But I was extremely lucky as it was still just inside the AppleCare 3-yr window .

I've had 4 Apple laptops and a Mini in my family in the last 8 years or so and this is the only one to have a motherboard issue, so you have to wonder if it is NVidia 8600 related or not.

I just had a quick look and see that MBP motherboards go for between $400 and $900 depending on processor speed, so if Apple won't do anything then you are probably right, its not worth keeping it alive anymore.

Enjoy your new computer!

 

[2ndname]

There will always be a lot of behind the scene bs that goes on to save the company money. A bad GPU on a notebook board, even if it is "dedicated" can still cause a mobo to fry. Just keep going to an Apple store until you find a tech that feels guilty enough knowing the true issue.

 

[Signal-11]

Thanks for the responses..I'm in the same boat as the above poster..

46 month old mbp, logic board replaced 24 months ago.
Other repairs completed under AppleCare:
Battery
Screen (they put a worse one in)
SuperDrive
Keyboard and track pad twice, along with
Top case
Release switch

Given I've replaced my hd and ram, the only part left from the original machine is the bottom case. :/

Sounds a lot like my early 2008 MBP, now just out of warranty. I think maybe the only orignal component to mine is the display case. Some parts once, some parts twice, Superdrive thrice.

Today, my screen went out with no notice while I was reading a web page. Blink. The display was powered, everything else was working, screen was out.

Reboot, same problem.

Turned off, made an appointment with Apple Store, printed Apple extended warranty notice and was about to leave. Turned on, screen came back up.

I'm guessing this is the beginning of the end for the MLB on this computer. I've been playing a lot of 3D games in the past two months so that could have been what pushed it over the edge.

What a lemon. Seriously, except for maybe the display case, every component on this MBP will have been replaced by Apple when this 8600M GT craps out. It's like Odysseus's ship. In a way, it's not even really the same computer as I started out with. Collectively, this computer's spent well over a month and a half in repair.

 

[jbrenn]

Sounds a lot like my early 2008 MBP, now just out of warranty. I think maybe the only orignal component to mine is the display case. Some parts once, some parts twice, Superdrive thrice.

Today, my screen went out with no notice while I was reading a web page. Blink. The display was powered, everything else was working, screen was out.

Reboot, same problem.

Turned off, made an appointment with Apple Store, printed Apple extended warranty notice and was about to leave. Turned on, screen came back up.

I'm guessing this is the beginning of the end for the MLB on this computer. I've been playing a lot of 3D games in the past two months so that could have been what pushed it over the edge.

What a lemon. Seriously, except for maybe the display case, every component on this MBP will have been replaced by Apple when this 8600M GT craps out. It's like Odysseus's ship. In a way, it's not even really the same computer as I started out with. Collectively, this computer's spent well over a month and a half in repair.

check the pcie lane width if it is less then x16 it is failing. It is a lot easier to get it repaired if it still displays video. apple will replace a computer even out of warranty.

 

[Signal-11]

check the pcie lane width if it is less then x16 it is failing. It is a lot easier to get it repaired if it still displays video. apple will replace a computer even out of warranty.

Interesting! A couple weeks ago, I was looking through the system profiler for something else and I remember seeing the pcie lane width at 4x(?) and thinking that looked wrong, but then didn't think anything of it till you mentioned it.

Display just went out a while ago while I started running another complete backup. For some reason, I can't remote in. Stupid on my part. That's the first thing I should have verified. Sounds up, though.

I'm going to wait till this backup finishes, leave it be and try to get a remote desktop up.

This failure places me in a really tough position. I need stuff on this computer for Monday, so if I can remote, that's good enough for now, but starting next week I'll sort of be on call for an overseas north African thing. This is the only laptop I have with me and I need it.

I don't really want to have to buy another computer right now and it would be great if Apple would replace it (especially considering it's repair history (power supply x2, top case x3, bottom case, bad RAM (from Apple), HD (by me), SuperDrive 3x, display, etc) but I don't know if it'd be reasonable of me to ask for a replacement. It's 3+ years old. OTOH, all of my other Apples last 5+ years - 2-3 years for me, then another 2-3 years for whoever I hand it down to.

This MBP has been nothing but trouble for me and brought me no end of inconvenience when things stopped working/malfunctioned in the middle of nowhere, but I also don't want to be that entitled, obnoxious jerk at the Genius Bar demanding an unreasonable replacement.

 

[Ledgem]

The stories on this thread always scare me. My Applecare ran out a month or two ago, and so far I haven't had any issues with the system. Still, I worry about whether it'll be able to last for another two years.

 

[Signal-11]

The stories on this thread always scare me. My Applecare ran out a month or two ago, and so far I haven't had any issues with the system. Still, I worry about whether it'll be able to last for another two years.

How do you think I feel?

Soon after I after I bought this MBP, I remember reading this thread where someone had a comment that they felt their computer was just ticking away, waiting to fail.

A little past three years and it goes down, in a very inconvenient moment, just like I've been fearing. It sucks.

I don't know who I'm more frustrated with - Apple or myself for letting myself get in this situation knowing that all probability indicated that this critical component would fail.

 

[AnonMac50]

I have had EVERY part except the battery and SuperDrive replaced. I have replaced the charger twice in less than 2 years. Some quality. Anyway, now I have fan problems. The is also a nightmare. Just hoping I don't have the nVidia issue now.

 

[ecschwarz]

I'll chime in—an acquaintance and I both have these…mine only needed the battery (after 2 years and not many cycles) and display replaced (which, I recognize that LCD panels sometimes have splotchiness)…

Hers? It has gone through 2 batteries, one SuperDrive, two fans, a top case (keyboard/trackpad), and Apple still wouldn't exchange it. Then again, she's not the persistent type…

They're both summer 2008 builds and so far, no issues with the graphics (knock on wood). I have a backup Mac (an old PPC) and iPad if mine goes, but if that day comes and it's outside of the Apple repair program, I may just walk away and get something like a Mac mini.

I don't know what it is, but it seems like Apple has had a lot of higher-profile problems with some of their laptop graphics. I used to work at a place that had a ton of iBook G3s with the ATI Radeon problems...we were sending those in daily. I know the MBP is an NVidia problem, but how hard would it have been to switch to another chip in refurb boards?

 

[zarathu]

I BOUGHT MINE USED. In January of 2010. It was originally purchased by a bank in August of 2009, and they also bought Applecare, for what was actually a 2008 model. I did not know this./ Bank apparently sold the whole lot of them. So it has the standard apple care warranty extending to August, 2012.

It failed in july, 2011, with the black screen of Death.

Took it in after buying a new iMac, since I thought it was dead and out of the recall(as well as not knowing that it had applecare.) Got stellar service even thought the store was mobbed. Genius plugged in some kind of Nvidia device into on start up and told me immediately that it was the logivc board/GPU unit. $863 + $39 installation= $902. No charge. But with Applecare, they may end up replacing more, or even installing Lion. I had wiped the drive and reformated it before taking it in. Too much personal stuff on it to have unknow techs mukking around in the drive: just too paranoid for my own good.

Said it would be done in 3-5 days.

So I'll probably sell it and buy my wife an iPad, and a new battery for the old powerbook 800 which reads the internet off my Apple Airport expresss just fine.

 

[Quad 2.5 G5 =)]

Well well well. After 42 months, I'm still going strong on my original logic board. Not giving it a second thought as I use it. Hoping it doesn't quit on me during college....yikes.

 

[alysssia]

I just wanted to post briefly about my experience. I was following this thread intently a year or two ago as i was an owner of an early 2008 Macbook pro which showed the same problems most have had on this thread.

On the last day of applecare, I took it in to be serviced - the video card, logic board, optical drive, and screen were replaced.

The computer i got back had the same problems, but worse, and in addition the screen had a bunch of ghost pixels as well as a strange white ghost circle around the apple - as if someone had pressed too hard while fixing the screen.

I took it in at the end of my 90 day warranty. The store did not communicate according to their set parameters with me, delaying my repair, and told me wrong information. It turns out the part (the screen I think) was not even available and they could not give me a loaner (not that I'm eligible for one anyway).

I poured my heart out on the phone (in a rather agitated manner) to the lead genius (or one of them, who knows), who called me back within an hour to tell me I had a replacement - a brand new, off the shelf, not refurbished 15 inch Macbook Pro.

I've detailed my concerns about this machine to many a customer service person before, but this is the only one who could really do anything. He did say that my case was not technically eligible for replacement but that it had been "mishandled".

So, I'm extremely thrilled with Apple - but I also think that my knowledge, gained on this thread, made it possible to talk eloquently about the video card issue, as they had of course replaced it with another 8600 chip. I told them I was deeply concerned about what would happen after my second 90 day warranty ran out - and used the word lemon once or twice nicely - and brushed off the claims that it was a "hypothetical". I have heard that line before, and I said it was bull, basically, that I was looking at a computer that was likely to fail, and that it was real to me- what more could be replaced on my computer than what they did? And since they had sent me back a worse machine, how could I trust the new repair, when I had no option to even purchase an extended warranty?

If you are still under warranty and having problems I urge you to take it in, and if you have had multiple repairs I urge you to push them, though I consider myself extremely lucky and extremely happy with Apple at the moment. I didn't think I was being particularly pushy on the phone but I did keep the poor guy on the phone for at least 30 minutes. I think I lucked out because they messed up a bit and the part wasn't in stock, mainly, but who knows?

If this is foggy it's because it's 5 am here, I just wanted to post about my experience. I've also been in a happy state of disbelief since yesterday.

 

[L3X]

Mid 2007 MBP died

My 2007 MBP that I bought in August 2007 just died last week. I took it in to my local Apple store and he definitely thinks the logic board needs replaced.

I chatted with him about the video card problem and he said that when he shipped it off they would do the tests on that. If that wasn't the case, they would charge me the flat rate of $300 or so.

I'm in a predicament because my 3 year applecare expired last summer. I'm also a month over the supposed 4-year warranty on the nVidia card.

I'm thinking about going up there again and seeing if I can talk to another "genius" and maybe get some sympathy. Otherwise, I may just pay the $300. It's cheaper than buying a new one. Or, if i ship it out, maybe the techs will be nice to me and not charge.

Any thoughts?