Q: MacBook Pro Logic Board Failure

Actually it is NOT NVidia's fault. NVidia did NOT install that GPU in the system, NVidia is not the company doing the Replacements, Apple did and is. Apple could of replaced the bad Logic boards with an updated model but they don't they use the same BAD chip that causes the problem in the first place.

Lets put the blame where it belongs. That is On APPLE.

All of these models should been RECALLED when the problem was discovered.

So much for Apples great Customer Service.

Sure, there should be a recall. But the chip was made by Nvidia and the same problem happened on non-Apple laptops such as HP. Nvidia is the route cause of the problem, its their GPU, not Apple's. Nvidia should be helping manufacturers like Apple and HP, but they haven't.

We can go back and forth. But if you look at a car analogy if a car came with bad parts, like brakes, that failed and the car maker was notified of the problem they would Recall those cars and Replace those bad parts with ones that were good.

Apple is NOT doing that.

More to the point Apple have recognised the problem have stated that they will carry out repairs have extended their warranty (though not for as long as other compoanies), BUT - and this is the big olne - refuse to actually diagnose your laptop when you go in, and to add insult to injury the geniuses invariably quote you a charge so very very far above an market competitors to replace your logic board which they incorrectly diagnose as the issue, that they then try to sell you a brand new laptop on top.  I saw it happen with my own eyes to a guy infront of me in the cue in the shop and then me also.  It beggars belief.  Others on this thread have described the exact same scenario.  The problem isn't with recognising the issue - one arm of Apple has come clean with that - it's the people who hire geniuses that are either to stupid to undersatnd basic scientific principles, or worse, know they are simply misdiagnosing to save the world's richest company in the whole of history having to make good on its rhetoric.  I wonder if this post will stay here?

Edit - I missed the bit about their charges being so high that you have to go the various third party companies now specialising in fixing these MBPs and when they diagnose and fix the GPU, the geniuses refuse to accept the specialist's diagnosis, they just tell you that you're in the catch 222 of non-Apple personel having opened up your MBP, and they will no longer enter into any discussion with you.  Nice.

Message was edited by: Dr_Jezz

I just checked to see how many had looked at this thread and was confused to see that the number had gone down from 160 to 110,000 and then realised that there are two threads with alomst the exact same title (the other has 'updated' tagged on the end) - not sure how that happened, but it means we have reached the quarter of a miliion customer mark for those who have at least read some of this travesty.

You know, I think the people with the logic board issues have to do the research before taking it to the store so you can combat any excuse they may come up with. I came prepared with the support article printed, this thread printed, and the fact that I HAD taken my macbook to them earlier and I let them know my display had been "going to sleep" without waking. When it finally failed permanently, I had leverage to say "you guys looked at this issue before and told me it was software related. Now it is fried, and I know the issue is the Nvidia chip, as I was seeing graphic lines and distortion."  Make sure to tell them about the graphic lines and distortion. They have a way to test these without them booting using a firewire. I saw the tech do it. Either that or I had a tech that believed me and just said that it returned a yes on the Nvidia test to take care of it. But when I went to the actual apple store, as opposed to an "authorized retail apple store" they found the issue for me. The other shop failed it and wouldn't send it off. I think it all depends on who you get to help you.

MY ADVICE:

1. Make sure you make an appointment using their online system before going in.
2. Detail the issue in the notes section of the appointment scheduler. Make sure to list graphic distortion, display sleep issues. (I believe making a note allows apple to assign the right qualified tech to address the issue properly)
3. bring print outs and details of when the issue started happening, how it started, and what you were doing. (EX: mine started because my macbook went to sleep and the battery went dead never to wake again)
4. Bring a print out of the Nvidia recall note.
5. Bring a print out of this thread, and a print out of the court case where the guy won against apple in court for this issue. (an extra tactic in case they refuse to acknowledge the issue, lets face it, 27 pages of people with the same problem is a huge issue and obviously not a fluke caused by user error. )

The more your prepared and the more knowledge you have on the issue, the more they know that you aren't someone they can push over. Also, try not to be a ***** to them, remain level headed. Being an a$$ won't help. In fact it will probably hurt your case and make the technician not want to help you at all. After all, they are just customer service people. Level with them.

I think I won´t repair my MBP ever! If its hard in the US to replace the logicboard for free, imagine yourself trapped in a Southamerican Apple Support. They obviously know the problem, but they don´t have the replacement(not even paying).

Maybe some day, apple recognize this error, and exchanges your MBP 08 for a new one.

Can confirm the baking Logic board option works. after MUCH frustration and lack of help from Apple, (as usual) I baked the board at 195 C and reapplied thermal paste and voila, it turned on for me!  it also runs much cooler now.

I have a problem however: now the fans are constantly running at 6000RPM after doing the SMC and ram reset.

its running at around 36 degrees Celcius which is quite cool so isnt overheating and the fan control app doesnt limit the max speed so havent been able to slow them down

any ideas how to get them back to normal?? its very loud all the time.

cheers

I had my MBP late 2007 die on me 3 weeks ago, got logic board replaced for free by apple but on the paperwork it says its a rev2 logic board they have fitted as a replacement. Is that gonna die on me ? If there is a rev3 board then surely I should of got that?

Count me in as affected by this.  MBP bought new May 2008.

A year's worth of occasional freezes and kernel panics, which I attributed to Flash overuse.  An occasional weird display glitch when starting up or shutting down.  I never dreamed this was a hardware issue, nor did Apple ever inform me of this possibility.

Then two weeks ago, computer says no.  Won't boot.  Diagnostics confirmed the nvidia issue.  Apple says sorry, you're three months past the cut-off.  No exceptions.

Now going back in the thread to find the court case that caseyctg refers to.

I've been a satisfied Apple user since I still had hair, 20 years ago.  This arbitrary decision to deny coverage is a terrible move.  There's no reason that this $2000 machine shouldn't be useable for another four years at least.  I have a G5 desktop that's 10 years old and a G4 laptop that's 8.  Come on, Apple, do the right thing.

Hi StinkyOldC,

How did u get it repaired free since urs is a late 07 model. It would have passed the 4years coverage from date of purchase.

I also have a mbp 15" bought in apr 08 and it died on me yesterday. Exactly the symptoms mentioned here. Tried calling service centre, told me that mine is  4years 4months. So don't qualify.

I am quite disappointed with the way Apple is handling this.

1. This is an known issue.  While it is good that apple offered 4 years coverage from date of purchase, what should be done is that Apple should replace e logic board for models that were manufactured within these period.  The logic board will fail, it is just a matter of when. For my case, it happens 4 months after the 4 years of the original purchase.

2. Even if I am unlucky that it spoils 4 months after the years period, must they charge $1000 for the logic board?  If they don't do a recall to replace the logic board, at least allow us to replace it at a subsidized rate! 

If I know Apple is just covering 4 years from date of purchase, everyone should just get their logic board changed before it hits 4 years. Who knows when the board will fail u, like my case, 4 months later, no warning whatever.

well i am in the uk so we have the "sales of goods act" which lasts for six years from date of purchase. Mine was bought in december 2007 from the applestore online and although the 4 years warranty apple offering was up under uk law ny six years does not end until  dec 2013. So they did it. hers the full rundown of what i went through what i posted on another forum. My macbook pro died beginning of august 2012...

like i said i have nevr heard of a rev3 version of these logic boards other than what has been mentioned on here. my replacement board is apparently a rev2. One thing that i find strange is all my ports on the right hand side (2xfirewire., usb,dvi, ethernet etc)which are connected to the logic board, are all still dusty and "used" looking. Im worried they havent changed the board but have just done a quick heatgun fix on the chip or something? I also have registered software, logic pro 9 etc and i would of thought if the logic board was replaced i would of had to re-register them again?  maybe i am being paranoid i really dont know...

I don't seem to have been so lucky with my late '07 MBP - the manager at my local Apple shop says they won't replace it as it's too old! What para of the SOG Act did you quote?

Cheers, D