NVidia 9600 graphic cards defective?

yeah, it ***** cause I really like the machine. I would totally switch from windows to mac if I had one that worked. I got my refund, so now it's just waiting for a definitive answer from apple(might be awhile, they don't ever admit things till way down the road). I am just bummed about it. Not so much that they have a hardware issue; I can deal with that as long as it's made right, it's more along the lines of not telling customers who pay top dollar what the **** is going on.

Peace

All,

I recently post on this discussion the same issues I had with everyone with a blackscreen and a soundloop for my new macbook pro. Please find below the video snapshot i created after the same occurences happen to my MBP.. this is actually the 4th time it happen..

Please note: Im only using my yahoo chat, itunes and safari and already it gives me this faulty video error. I have to force shutdown my mac and its annoying. I couldnt even believe if im a graphic designer,musician,videographer etc and this thing can happen.. You will lose your previous work and wow its interesting that it can happen when u expected..

I hope you guys find this helpful and after the video is a pic snapshot with todays date to ensure the validity of this hardware failure..

Youtube link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKdgvAdxuLk

--
thanks

Rico2kblogs

I got my MBP a few days ago and yesterday I played COD4 for almost an hour having the CPU and GPU running at 80°C without problems. But today I played it for like 10 minutes and then I got the black screen. Should I try to get a replacement or get the logicboard replaced?
Couldn't the problem be in the fan system, the fans are really slow to speed up, and yesterday they were only at 4000rpm even tough the temps were at 80°C.. ?

You can regulate the fans a bit more with a free program called smcFanControl.

Still though, this situation *****. How are we really supposed to find out if we have bad 9600 graphics chips other than running games until the black screen of death wipes out the LCD?

My main gripe is my external display is hardly ever detected and then **** thing runs so hot when using anymore than three apps.

Apparently the update to Leopard 10.5.6 should magically solve all of these issue.
I really hope so or I'm never investing in Apple products again.
The other question is, where the **** is the update, were into months of these issue remaining unsolved.

Apple is not doing too good right now.

Zen-Zero wrote:
Then I saw a few articles about heat problems then Wifi Issues

I haven't experienced either here...

then I read about a weird RAM issue that caused crashes

Latest firmware update seems to have fixed it for most. I'll find out myself tomorrow when my 4 gig upgrade kit arrives.

and now it's a defective GPU with bad bumps.

Rumors of a defective GPU. No one has provided anything concrete except the internet amplification of rumor as fact. If anyone has anything beyond stories based on the original rumor I would be interested in seeing them.

I really want the Macbook Pro - they are a work of art, but I'm not prepared to fork out 5 grand (AU) for paper weight.

Mine (and many others) are far from a paper weight. If you have Apple stores you can physically get to easily on the off chance you do have a catastrophic issue, I wouldn't hesitate. I'm glad I ignored the internet keyboard jockey's and picked one up. Aperture flies on this thing and the display is gorgeous!

Agreed, Aside from the problems in gaming, my machine was great.

Hi Eric

Thanks for your reply.

I have no doubts that there are many new Macbook Pro owners out there, probably very happy with their machine and quite possibly blissfully unaware that if their video card gets too hot it could be irreparably damaged.

What worries me is if the inquirer is correct and there are defective nVidia chips sprinkled throughout the production line then there is a risk of ending up with a lemon. What makes things worse is that this ticking time bomb may not go off straight away.

I don't want to be a beta tester when I'm paying for the privilege, I don't have the time to run about getting what should be a feel good purchase repaired again and again...

So until Apple or nVidia acknowledges that the machine has this flaw or the inquirer is forced to make a retraction - I'll wait patiently on the sidelines.

Used smcfancontrol yesterday to make the fans spin at 4500rpm and the temps were steady at 60°C while playing COD4

Now if only we didn't need 3rd party software to make our machines work.

Zen-Zero wrote:
I have no doubts that there are many new Macbook Pro owners out there, probably very happy with their machine and quite possibly blissfully unaware that if their video card gets too hot it could be irreparably damaged.

That's a pretty serious charge. There are tons of folks out there gaming or doing graphics work on the MBP's all the time. Mine has been running non-stop since I got it. The L08 MBP's have been out for three solid months now. If there was a systemic problem as bad as they are alluding to it would be showing up within three months - and these forums would be on fire (heck, just look at the threads here about click noise and other mainly cosmetic issues).

What worries me is if the inquirer is correct and there are defective nVidia chips sprinkled throughout the production line then there is a risk of ending up with a lemon. What makes things worse is that this ticking time bomb may not go off straight away.

Sigh - this could happen with ANY piece of equipment. That's what warranties are for. There is no such animal as a sure thing. Yes, this is a rev1 product - but after three months, the most serious and repeatable issue has been freezing from 4 or more gigs of RAM. The recent updates seem to have fixed the vast majority of those issues. My RAM arrives today, I'll find out for myself if it's resolved. For people who were having systemic problems, Apple has been shown to be replacing systems.

What more could you reasonably ask for? (key word: reasonably)

So until Apple or nVidia acknowledges that the machine has this flaw or the inquirer is forced to make a retraction - I'll wait patiently on the sidelines.

Enjoy your time on the sidelines while life passes you by - esp. for an unsubstantiated rumor. What if there is nothing for them to acknowledge? Why would the inquirer print a retraction? They print bombastic crap for traffic all the time. Just remember, forums like this attract more negativity then positive experiences. If everything is working fine, why would most people have a reason to come here?

if you are having problems in Leopard and Vista it could be a hardware problem, anyway make sure your system has 10.5.6 update installed already, if the problem persist send your mac for checking , but if you only experience problems playing games on vista, you can bet that is a problem related with software.
Make sure you don't run your games on a fresh vista installation, MAKE SURE that the service pack 1 and additional updates are installed and your system is fully updated. Vista had problems before with directX and there where some memory addressing issues(yes, black screens of death) even 5 minutes after starting the game so is not really a problem related with overheating.
If you are not sure, for example try running "GEARS OF WAR" if before the game starts you get a message telling you that your system needs update, there is the problem, update and play any game as much you want 🙂

My MacBook Pro that I bought in October experiences random problems in both the 9400 and 9600 graphics modes. While I am using it the screen will turn black, the DVD drive will make a noise, the front sleep indicator light comes on full, fades off, then the screen comes back on. It is not predictable. This sequence has repeated as much as five times in a row in a few minutes or as little as once every two hours. After reading all the issues with gaming, something I had not tried, I thought I would test it out.

I downloaded a Tomb Raider Demo from Apple and started it up. First I tried the 9400 mode. It game ran slow, as I expected, and within five minutes the screen went black and the sound started looping. The computer was unresponsive and had to be powered down. Next I tried the 9600 mode. This time the game ran smoothly. Yet withing fifteen minutes the same problem happened.

I am sending back my MacBook Pro to have the logic board and graphics card replaced. While I had heard that the March 2008 NVIDIA graphics chips were flawed, I stupidly assumed that NVIDIA had fixed the problem. Obviously, they have not. My recommendation is to avoid any computer using the 9400/9600 NVIDIA graphics chip. There is no way I would have bought the MacBook Pro knowing what I do now.

has there been an update on if nivida or apple is doing anyhing about the GPU's? since this:

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/12/09/inquirerclaims_macbook_pros_may_use_problematic_nvidiachips.html

Dear Co_photobug,

I presume you didn't read the never ending NVidia-stories in the Mac Pro and G4/G5 forums here and everywhere on the internet?

NVidia fixing the hardware and Apple doing the same thing with the drivers? I had some hopes, but regret I have to say now: this is an illusion! One of the problems is that since Apple has changed the graphic card supplier years ago the combination Apple/NVidia has developed into nothing more then a disaster.

I like the looks and admire the high tech manufacturing of the new books too, but stuck with a standard and - let's say mildly - not that well performing NVidia 6600 LE in my G5 I cannot change for something decent (and that's without any doubt ATI), I'll never ever buy them or any other Mac with NVidia inside.

For you personally and the other contributors I hope for the best and a good start in the new year with well functioning MacBooks Pro.

Best regards,
Robbert