Apple Admits To Problems With MacBooks Free Fix Offered

Apple has admitted that they have been having problems with the Nvidia graphic cards in their MacBook Pro notebooks and earlier today issued a statement claiming that they wil fix the problem for free. They are also offering to reimburse customers who have already paid for a fix.

Apple has admitted that they have been having problems with the Nvidia graphic cards in their  MacBook Pro notebooks and earlier today issued a statement claiming that they wil fix the problem for free. They are also offering to reimburse customers who have already paid for a fix.

Nvidia recently acknowledged a problem in the packaging of some of its graphics chips that caused a higher-than-normal rate of failure. In a technical bulletin posted to its Web site, Apple says that Nvidia “assured Apple that Mac computers with these graphics processors were not affected,” but Apple later found that some MacBook Pros with Nvidia’s GeForce 8600 GT graphics processor may, in fact, be affected.

Affected systems include 17-inch, 2.4GHz MacBook Pros, 15-inch, 2.4 and 2.2GHz MacBook Pros, and MacBook Pros manufactured in early 2008, all with Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT graphics chips. All such systems were made between May 2007 and September 2008.

“The Apple statement said: 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 two 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 local Apple Contact Center. Before visiting the Genius Bar at the Apple Retail Store, please make a reservation.

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.