Macbook Pro NVIDIA Chip Failure – Apple owes me a logic board

I purchased a Macbook Pro in 2008.  Apple has acknowledged that Macbook Pro’s from 2007 and 2008 contain a defective NVIDIA graphics card that causes the computer to lose video.

Apple promises to replace all malfunctioning graphics cards in these Macbook Pro’s FREE OF CHARGE, even if the computer is no longer under warranty.

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

Products Affected

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

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.

However, if the “Geniuses” at the Apple store fail to test your malfunctioning computer for the NVIDIA problem the first time you bring it in, you’ll burn out your entire logic board so that they can’t test for the NVIDIA error, and they’ll charge you $300-$500 for a new logic board.

Apple has acknowledged that my Macbook DOES have the defective NVIDIA processor, but they state that they will only replace my entire logic board if they can test for the NVIDIA error.  Since the NVIDIA chip has already killed my logic board (and a simple google search shows that thousands of Apple users have experienced this same frustration), they cannot perform the NVIDIA test, and refuse to be of any help.

I’ll use this blog to document my struggles to get Apple to replace my defective laptop.  You can watch along, and see if Apple listens to reason, logic, or the voice of one person screaming, “DO THE RIGHT THING APPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

I won’t stop screaming until then.

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