HT203254: MacBook Pro: Distorted video or no video issues

Learn about MacBook Pro: Distorted video or no video issues
mike_from_canmore

Q: This problem just started after 4.5 years. What are my options?

I just started having graphics failure on my Macbook Pro (early 2008), and this appears to be the issue in TS2377. The support issue notes that if this fails within four years of the purchase date, it will be replaced free of charge.

 

My macbook looks to have experienced this 4.5 years after the purchase date, and seems to be manifesting itself when the machine heats up after a few hours of normal use. (I have yet to run Apple Hardware Test to confirm, but there are pink / green graphics artifacts that look very much like a hardware failure - either GPU / Logic Board / RAM etc.)

 

A new macbook may be in my future, but I am uneasy since I have now experienced:

  1. This hardware failure on my 2008 Macbook Pro; and
  2. A similar GPU failure on an Apple TV (also an NVIDIA chip).

 

With the more compact, integrated Macbook Pro (Retina Display), I suspect repairs beyond warranty become even more costly than older models - and this also uses an NVIDIA chip. The bottom line is that when I spend the premium for Apple products, I expect to be purchasing a superior product (both user experience, as well as hardware); my confidence is somewhat shaken in the quality of hardware I'm purchasing.

 

1) Since this has occurred at ~ 4.5 years since my purchase date, what are my options?

2) Does anyone have a link to some information that could reassure me that purcahsing another Macbook with an NVIDIA chip is *less* likely to experience a similar failure? (e.g. design changes, etc.)

 

Thanks for thoughts / info!

Macbook Pro (MacBookPro4,1) 2.4GHz 2GB RAM, Mac OS X (10.5.2)

Posted on Aug 6, 2012 1:04 PM