Macbook Pro - Replacement motherboard graphic card

Very likely it would be the same type of graphics chip, hopefully one that is not defective. You can check in the System Profiler to see exactly what you have.

I have the infamous GeForce 8600M GT graphics card, and many of these have failed--evidently a manufacturing problem that affected a good many of them, but not all. So far mine has performed flawlessly.

When things are manufactured by the millions, it's possible that a few--or maybe more than a few--get past the inspection process and out into the world. Most of them will be good, and chances are your replacement chip will be.

Good luck!

I have the same issue with my MBP also. I don't know but i see more and more of this issue accruing every time I'm on here. I'm a bit lucky that they are repairing it for free even though i never purchased a Apple Care. hahaha. Whew lucky me!!

I took this article "Distorted Video or no Video issue" http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2377 and showed it to a Mac Guises and they were able to honor it. I had to take it to them twice for them to honor it though.

I was a bit disappointed that the first tech didn't offer me this repair when it was available for awhile now. I had to come on here and find that article myself and take it back in the 2nd time, .... this time showing them that same article and they were able to honor it.

I hope to get my back soon. I'm left in the cold without it.

I hope those of you who are going through same thing, ... bring a copy of that article in and hopefully they can get yours fixed also.

I just want to use this computer long term...............what would I do?

As the nVidea 8600 failures often seem heat-related, I think the best path is to avoid situations that will overheat the MBP:

1) Don't block the case bottom during use. It's a big, important heat sink.
2) Don't block the exhaust vent under the display hinge.
3) If using an external monitor, leave the built-in display open. A lot of heat escapes through the key board.
4) Be circumspect about running games with intense 3D graphics. They can really run up the heat. Consider a chill pad under the computer if you just have to game.

I just went through this myself. Motherboard has been replaced and now both fans run @ 6,000 RPM. I have tried the resetting of the PRamm and no change. I like the fact the unit is now cool, but prior to this the fans only kicked into high speed when I would start when using demanding programs. Anyone know if this is the norm now or do I now need to fix the fans ???
CPU is running at 97 degrees.

Have you tried resetting the SMC , rather than just the PRAM, Sharkey-I? It is the SMC which actually controlls the fans. see http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964 for instructions.

Your fans should NOT be running at 6000 PM all of the time after the changeover. If they are, and the SMC reset doesn't fix it, then take take the computer back to the place where you had it repaired. It is likely that a temperature sensor has come adrift, or wasn't properly connected, causing the computer do go into "failsafe" mode, with the fans blazing away at maximum revs.

Cheers

Rod

The problem is with the video chip itself. Nvidia admitted that the 8600gt line had an on die (part of the chip's design) flaw that made the chips fail at a high rate. The replacement boards have the same chip, but they are supposed to be from a revised die, so the problem should be resolved. There are mixed reports on if they are fixed, but from one person I know with the problem has had no problems since the logic board was replaced.