Level 1

21 points

MacBook Pro Logic Board Failure

I was using my computer just fine (2007 MBP core 2 duo) all day. Put it to sleep came back after 30 minutes and tried to wake it and it's dead. I held down the power key to shut it down then tried to restart no luck. No start up chime, no screen, keyboard seems dead as well (caps lock light does not light up), HD does not start up. The only signs of life are the white light on the screen latch that is now on, the fans are spinning and the DVD drive seems to work.

Reset the power management module and zapped the PRAM, no luck.

MBP 2007 Core 2 duo 2.2, Mac OS X (10.6.5)

Posted on Dec 7, 2010 7:47 AM

Top-ranking reply

dmd25

Level 1

0 points

Posted on Jul 23, 2012 9:44 AM

Sorry! Don't know why the link didn't work.

I think your plan is exactly right. Go get a diagnosis and then take it to Apple and see what you can do to get it fixed. Again, thebhoydave1888's information was very helpful to me (though I ended up not needing anything but the encouragement to try.

This is the page to which I was trying to link:

MacBook Pro: Distorted video or no video issues

Products Affected

MacBook Pro, models with NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics processors

Symptoms

In July 2008, NVIDIA publicly acknowledged a higher than normal failure rate for some of their graphics processors due to a packaging defect. At that same time, NVIDIA assured Apple that Mac computers with these graphics processors were not affected. However, after an Apple-led investigation, Apple has determined that some MacBook Pro computers with the NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics processor may be affected. If the NVIDIA graphics processor in your MacBook Pro has failed, or fails within four years of the original date of purchase, a repair will be done free of charge, even if your MacBook Pro is out of warranty.

What to look for:

Distorted or scrambled video on the computer screen
No video on the computer screen (or external display) even though the computer is on

Specific products affected:

MacBook Pro 15-inch and 17-inch models with NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics processors
- MacBook Pro (17-Inch, 2.4GHz)
- MacBook Pro (15-Inch, 2.4/2.2GHz)
- MacBook Pro (Early 2008)
These computers were manufactured between approximately May 2007 and September 2008

Resolution

If your MacBook Pro is exhibiting any of the symptoms listed above, please take it to an Apple Retail Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP) for evaluation, or call your nearest Apple Contact Center. Before visiting the Genius Bar at the Apple Retail Store, please make a reservation (available in some countries only).

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.

Note: If your MacBook Pro is not experiencing any of these symptoms, you do not need to contact Apple.

Apple will continue to evaluate the repair data and will provide further repair extensions as needed.

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1,419 replies

Keith Walsh Author

Level 1

21 points

Jan 6, 2011 10:43 AM in response to Robert Stone

I have to say that the more I interact with AppleCare the more frustrating it gets. To address my iMac issue I had to call four times. To finally convince them I did not have a software issue I had to run the apple hardware test, the techtool hardware test then reformat my hard drive and re-install the OS. Only then they did they give up and direct me to a service provider.

To discuss the MBP issue I went above the first Applecare rep to a senior rep who was in no way helpful. His position was that the Nvidia issue and the logic board issue are two separate issues and if the techs are not able to diagnose the Nvidia issue then tough luck for me.

Having spent around $10,000 on Apple hardware over the past 5 years I've just about had it. I'll drag both my latest broken macs to the provider to get the iMac repaired and a diagnosis on the macbook pro and take it from there I guess.

Message was edited by: Keith Walsh

Message was edited by: Keith Walsh

HaleBoo

Level 1

4 points

Jan 7, 2011 11:44 AM in response to Keith Walsh

Logic Board fail Macbook Pro 2008. Replaced under Applecare - 5 days was left on warranty!! (3yr Protection Plan A)
Have been using Mac alot over the last 4 months and im glad i did now.
Full cost to replace would have been £720 (£600 + £120 VAT)
Applecare were very helpful got appointment at local Store same day, luckily the one Logic Board they had in stock hadnt been assigned. Was fixed same day and collected following day.......Marvelous.
Upon purchasing Applecare 3 yrs ago i took the advice..if your going to be using it alot there's a chance things can go wrong and it WILL be expensive to repair...i just got very lucky with the timing and the repair turn around time.

Keith Walsh Author

Level 1

21 points

Jan 8, 2011 12:27 PM in response to HaleBoo

HaleBoos,

It is good to hear you had a good experience. However I'm sure you might not feel as good about Apple had your Applecare expired when the issue occurred. If you are under Applecare then yes you will get the repair covered no problem but if your troubles occur after that then it's a crap shoot.

For me this whole issue is so frustrating as it mirrors what I went through with my older iMac G5 where the logic board (and more) failed. It was out of Applecare and I had to fight hard to get help from Apple but they eventually came through for me. If they had not I doubt I would have ever bought another mac. iMac G5's were riddled with defects. Now with my Mac Book Pro it's the same situation all over again only this time Apple has been anything but helpful even though logic board failures are again a major issue on these machines as well.

HaleBoo

Level 1

4 points

Jan 8, 2011 4:35 PM in response to Keith Walsh

This is undoubtedly a manufacturing fault...but as with all manufacturing faults and warranties it has to occur within the warranty period to be resolved by the manufacturer. This failure seems to occur around the 3 year period which i think is too near the end of warranty to be addressed officially or recalled by Apple.

Keith Walsh Author

Level 1

21 points

Jan 9, 2011 12:00 PM in response to HaleBoo

I strongly disagree with that statement. If the defect is widespread then it should be addressed. Most iBook G4 and iMac G5 problems occurred well after the standard 1 year warranty and yet were addressed in various ways. Recall also that Apple's actual warranty is only 1 year, the 3 year is an optional extra.

Companies that produce products with widespread defects and they fail to address them often end up involved in class action suits irregardless of the length of the warranty. In edition many countries have what are referred to as "legal warranties" in their consumer protection laws that supersede any warranty period given by the manufacturer if the court agrees that the lifespan of the product was unreasonably short.

More to the point however the faults in these products have left many Apple customers disappointed and frustrated. I don't know why Apple would want to lose so many of their best customers when helping these people would keep them as loyal customers far into the future?

nigel17

Level 1

0 points

Jan 21, 2011 2:16 AM in response to Keith Walsh

I have had the strangest experience with my Macbook Pro 15", which dates from 2007.

Had the symptoms of a faulty logic board - flickering screen which needs restarting, and a frozen clock. Only way to deal with this is to restart. This is a sure sign of logic board or video card on the fail, but the whole unit needs to be replaced, expensive.
Fortunately i found out about the NVIDIA recall scheme and the original was part of the faulty batch. Thus, although out of apple care they still replaced it for free.

I have now had the board replaced 4 times, yes FOUR times. Exact same symptoms. Just picked it up today and the Tech Tool test shows a video card fail. So it will now need board number FIVE.

How on earth is this possible? I thought this was an exceptional thing to happen but each consecutive board failed, or else - they fitted faulty or reconditioned boards. Apple S.P. claim that the boards were new.

Once would seem unfortunate, twice careless, but five times?!

Anyone have a clue about this?

thanks

Keith Walsh Author

Level 1

21 points

Jan 24, 2011 8:01 AM in response to nigel17

Just a quick update. Dropped off the mbp at the AASP today . They normally charge $45 to determine what the problem is but when I told the guy which machine I had he said they get so many of these with failed logic boards that he would not charge me to check it out. He also agreed that Apple's position on this issue is just not right as virtually all these machines fail.

avanpelt

Level 1

0 points

Jan 30, 2011 12:10 PM in response to Robert Stone

Robert Stone wrote:
This is very odd that I have had this issue as well just today - my wife used the MBP, no problems, no drops or damage - then closed the cover as usual to put it to sleep. Then upon opening it again it does not wake, steady "sleep" light and restarts to no avail. No target disk mode. No startup chime. What gives? We're all having the same issue just about 3 years after purchase. Anyone out there with any success at reseting this - how about anyone who has replaced the backup battery on the logic board? On prior Macs funny things sometimes happen when that fails...

I had this exact same thing happen to me two and a half months ago on an early 2008 MBP. Computer went to sleep during the night, came in the next morning and the sleep light going on and off like normal. I tried to wake up the computer by pressing keys on the keyboard but it wouldn't wake. I held down the power button and the sleep light turned off. I pushed the power button again to turn it on and nothing happened. No screen, no chime, nothing. Took it into an Apple Store and they determined the logic board failed and they also replaced an "I/O cable".

The guy at the Apple Store told me one of the tell tale signs that the logic board is going out is sometimes problems with the iSight camera. I mentioned to him that in the year prior when I was on Skype calls, every few minutes the iSight green light would turn off on its own and then turn right back on. It was annoying, but I lived with it. He said the logic board was probably the culprit. In the two months since I had the board replaced, I've had no problems with the iSight camera turning on and off and then all of a sudden, it started happening again yesterday. I'm one month away from being out of AppleCare on this laptop. I'm going to monitor it for the next few weeks and if it gets worse, I'm taking it in again before AppleCare runs out.

There's no way I'm spending another $2,700 to get a new laptop when the machine I have is fine except for the logic board problems. Now, if Apple wants to own up to the logic board issues in the late 2007/early 2008 MBPs and give me a $1,000 or $1,500 credit toward purchasing a new one, I may seriously think about it. Otherwise, in my opinion, a laptop that's well taken care of should have a longer lifespan than two and a half to three years.

Keith Walsh Author

Level 1

21 points

Jan 31, 2011 6:03 AM in response to avanpelt

avanpelt,

You should take it in or at least call Applecare and get a case ID for this problem so that if the issue escalates you can correctly tell them you reported the issue.

These machines have many logic board failures so your situation is far from unique.

I'm in the process of dealing with this issue right now with Apple and my local AASP. I'll report back when I get my MBP back but I will say I have been able to get a resolution to my problem.

Feb 8, 2011 6:41 AM in response to Keith Walsh

Well I had my first Logic Board Failure but it wasn't like what everyone else is posting on here. A couple of weeks ago I noticed my screen would go fuzzy for a moment and then go back. Once I even had to restart it to get it to fix itself. Then a week ago last Sunday it did it once again but wouldn't correct the problem. Took it in the "Genius" ran a test and said it looked like bad ram as it got to that part of the test and the screen corrected itself. So he sent it off and it came back yesterday and when I asked what was wrong with it they told me it was the logic board. That it was covered under a law suit with the graphics card maker (didn't matter I had the warranty still in effect). So...not sure if anyone else has had a problem like this or not.

Feb 8, 2011 10:55 AM in response to Keith Walsh

How about the ATI graphics? I have the old macbook pro late 2006 with ATI graphics on it and won't start. The disk seems working, but noo display, no sign of life except the light on the lid. Any suggestion on how to solve this?

Feb 19, 2011 8:53 PM in response to Keith Walsh

I bought mid 2007 my 15" MBP ( also a 2.2GHz) in The Netherlands. I got all the symptoms of a broken logic board. I am currently residing in Oman, which doesn't have an official Apple Service Provider. Apple Support website doesn't provide any information how to get in contact with Apple when living in Oman, the website redirects me to the site where you can select the country you are looking support from (and which doesn't list Oman). Also the Dutch Apple telephone number is not reachable abroad.

Does anybody have a suggestion how to get in contact with Apple when living in Oman?

Jim_M.

Level 1

0 points

Mar 27, 2011 8:44 PM in response to Keith Walsh

I have run into the same problem. My Macbook Pro started to flicker and freeze up about a month ago. What I read seemed to suggest the issue with the NVidia card and it was confirmed after I took it in to be serviced. They said they would replace the logic board for free. I just wonder if they use a different type of card in the new logic board, or if I'm going to have the same problem in another 3-4 years.

Mar 31, 2011 12:56 AM in response to Jim_M.

I've now joined the knackered MacBook club!

2008 15" MacBook Pro.

For 2 and a bit years I only used it at home for music, iMovie, browsing etc. but for my current work contract I needed to provide my own equipment, so I've been using my MacBook Pro with no problems since Christmas.

Took it home on Tuesday evening, got it out of my bag to use it. Now I may have tempted fate here, as I turned to my wife and said "I'm loving using this at work". Opened it up, latch LED on, but wouldn't wake. Turned it off by holding power button for 5 seconds, turned back, twitch from the dvd drive, hard-drive spins, fans work, but no display. Swapped hard-drive for my old 250gb, swapped memory for previous ones, still nothing.

I have a "Genius" bar appointment this afternoon. I'll report back afterwards.

In the meantime I'm using a £280 Acer which I bought for the kids. Seems to do everything pretty well. Does make me question spending nearly £2000 for a replacement Mac!

Jun 16, 2011 3:54 AM in response to Keith Walsh

ok so my MBP (bought oct 2007) died on the weekend. i took it into my local apple store tonight and the "genius" told my my logic board had died. my symptoms arent exactly the same as the nvidia because mine is just completely dead (the light blinks once and thats it, no sound, no fan, no power, nothing). he told me it would cost $2154.90 to fix it!!! i am going to go back in and tell him that i know there is a known problem with my mbp model and this just isnt good enough. i didn't pay $3000 for a laptop for it to die in 3.5yrs....

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MacBook Pro Logic Board Failure