HT203254: MacBook Pro: Distorted video or no video issues

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mstevo

Q: MBP Logic board failure or GPU failure?  Apparently it's simple to test...

I have a 2008 Macbook Pro 15" (2.2Ghz) with NVidia 8600M GT graphics chip.  Last month it failed, no longer booting up.  The fans start, the LED light comes on, but the keyboard, hard drive and screen fail to come on. After reading article TS2377 I was convinced that the symptoms described match those on my MBP, so I took it to the nearest Apple store.  The 'genius' at the 'genius bar' (cringe) took it away then came back and told me that the problem was with the logic board, not the GPU.  They diagnosed this by removing the RAM and seeing if the RAM failure beeps sounded.  Seeing as there was no sound they diagnosed that the logic board was the source of failure because the RAM test comes before the GPU test in the boot sequence.  This test is so simple surely it should be posted under article TS2377???

I must say that I'm completely unconvinced by the diagnosis, but who can argue with a 'genius'?  I'd really appreciate it if someone on here could give me a second opinion?  Even if they turn out to be right I think I might take out the logic board to see if there's evidence that the GPU has fried the logic board...

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Apr 14, 2012 4:36 AM

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Q: MBP Logic board failure or GPU failure?  Apparently it's simple to test...

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  • by eww,Helpful

    eww eww Apr 14, 2012 4:53 AM in response to mstevo
    Level 9 (52,994 points)
    Apr 14, 2012 4:53 AM in response to mstevo

    The NVidia GPU problem does not prevent an affected MBP from booting, so there is something else amiss with your machine. That's what the Genius was evidently trying to communicate to you, though not very clearly. The failure to boot prevents him from testing whether the GPU is faulty. The GPU is part of the logic board, so the remedy is the same either way: replace the board. But since your board has failed in some way not related to the GPU, you'll have to pay for the replacement instead of getting it for free, which you could do if only the GPU had failed.

  • by mstevo,

    mstevo mstevo Apr 14, 2012 4:58 AM in response to eww
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 14, 2012 4:58 AM in response to eww

    OK thanks eww.  Do you see my point that the logic board failure results in the same symtoms described in TS2377?  They could save a lot of people bother by posting about the RAM removal test.

  • by PIECarolina,

    PIECarolina PIECarolina May 5, 2012 1:04 PM in response to mstevo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 5, 2012 1:04 PM in response to mstevo

    There are many comments about the NVIDIA GPU issue and Apple not replacing the GPU.  I will say I had good success in getting Apple to replace mine in my Macbook Pro. When my computer suddenly would not fully turn on, I researched the issue to find out the possible reasons and then somewhat dawdled in taking it in. It was 2 weeks past the 4-year GPU warranty window. But I had had problems for some time preceding when it wouldn't fully turn on, such as geo designs appearing on the screen and the screen going dark, and those issues did occur at least a month or more before my warranty ended. I had no idea what those issues meant and simply ignored them until the computer wouldn't fully turn on.

     

    The good folks at The Apple store in Austin initially said no luck; yes it's the GPU but it's two weeks past the warranty. But then they kindly relented because clearly the symptoms I described to them that occurred during the warranty were caused by the faulty GPU. How would I know this was the issue?  They replaced the logic board at no cost. I've seen comments here that a Genius said the problem was the logic board, not the GPU, and therefore Apple would not make the repair. I was told by my Genius that the GPU is partof the logic board, and therefore the logic board needed replacing. This was a $526 repair that I was grateful Apple took care of. I would not have made the repair and would have gone out and bought a new non-Apple computer with a warranty.

     

    When I got my computer back, I checked it before I left the Apple store and it was running slow. I ended up paying Apple to replace the hard drive, so ultimately I did pay for an Apple repair. But I'm a happy rather than disappointed Apple customer because of the free GPU repair. Happy, devoted customers has made Apple a great company, and it should be worth it to the company to fix the faulty GPUs that are close to warranty to keep customers and keep them happy.

  • by Shootist007,

    Shootist007 Shootist007 May 5, 2012 3:04 PM in response to PIECarolina
    Level 6 (16,660 points)
    May 5, 2012 3:04 PM in response to PIECarolina

    I'm sorry are you an Apple Shill? You posted this same thing in 2 other threads.

     

    Here is my response.

     

    That is great for you but how about all the people that have this same issue that Apple REFUSES to do anything for. Apple is NOT a great company. If they were they would of RECALLED ALL of the affected computers and FIXED them. Which IMHO is what a GREAT company would of done. But not Apple.

  • by MacJam2010,

    MacJam2010 MacJam2010 May 7, 2012 2:20 AM in response to mstevo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 7, 2012 2:20 AM in response to mstevo

    The exact same problem happened to my late 2007 17" MacBook Pro. I also thought it was the NVIDIA failure, but it was not. The whole logcboard had to be replaced which was expensive…

     

    Apart from that my other late 2007 15" MacBook Pro had the NVIDIA failure and the logicboard was replaced for free.

     

    But Apple should recall all affected machines and fix the issue for free. The 4 year span is too short.

  • by repomannwp,

    repomannwp repomannwp Jun 14, 2012 3:30 PM in response to mstevo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 14, 2012 3:30 PM in response to mstevo

    My Macbook pro failed this morning, NVIDIA GPU failure confirmed by apple store, and like others have said, Apple REFUSED to authorize my GPU failure repair, I'm 3 months outside the 4 yr warranty.  I especially love reading that some people have had their fix authorized, at the same time Apple is telling me that I'm s**t outta luck.  Wonderful. 

  • by Garrett4485,

    Garrett4485 Garrett4485 Jun 29, 2012 11:17 PM in response to mstevo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 29, 2012 11:17 PM in response to mstevo

    Mine just went out today and the kind folks over at apple said I was about 5 months past the recall date. I don't get that if it's five days or five months? They know there is a problem with their product they should fix it.  Makes me think twice about buying another Mac if this is how they run a company...