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Mon, 11 Aug 2008 Alleged Nvidia problem grips some MacBook Pros

Alleged faults in Nvdia GPU chips cause problems for MacBook Pro, owners claim

Jonny Evans

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A small but vocal number of MacBook Pro owners have been complaining of graphics errors affecting their machines, and the latest mumbles suggest Nvidia hardware may be to blame.

Nvidia is denying some reports which claim there's problems in some (not all) of its G84 and G86-based mobile graphics cards, while ZDNet suggests all cards with the new chips, including the GeForce 8600M GT used in MacBook Pros - may be prone to failure and overheating.

A Macworld reader who claims to have been affected by the problem explains: "The 8600M GT in my June 2007 MacBook Pro failed last night in exactly the same way as many other users - PC and Mac - have experienced.

"The computer runs as normal but has no video output - if you connect via screen sharing the System Profiler lists the display as an Intel GMA X310 with no other graphics chip available."

News of the problem first began to glimmer in July, when The Inquirer reported on these alleged problems with Nvidia hardware.

Apple's own tech support forumshave many complaints which seem to detail this problem.

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Comments received


Anon said on Mon, 11 Aug 2008

No, I don't believe an Apple computer could have a problem. You people said these machines were perfect and never had a problem.

Well, suppose it is just another linux distro.

hortont said on Mon, 11 Aug 2008

It's a /UNIX/, but most certainly in no way a Linux distro, sorry.

James said on Mon, 11 Aug 2008

Same stuff, different badge.

mollie said on Mon, 11 Aug 2008

So what does an faulty chip has got to do with Linux.
i don't see the connection, other than a stupid answer, for something you obviously don't nothing about.

mollie said on Mon, 11 Aug 2008

So what does an faulty chip has got to do with Linux.
i don't see the connection, other than a stupid answer, for something you obviously don't nothing about.

James said on Tue, 12 Aug 2008

Fishing rod is on overtime. Damn you brits are uptight.

Rod said on Tue, 12 Aug 2008

see www.nvidia.com/object/io_1217319887756.html


Rod said on Tue, 12 Aug 2008

The reality probably lies somewhere in between. Some users clearly have had problems. Some of the posters on the Apple boards however, are pretty "suspect" (first timers from most unusual locations simply making "me too" posts, presumably "boosting" the dubious Inquirer article's doom and gloom).

We may no more soon though, given that Nvidia have announced that they will be saying more about their 2nd quarter projections today - www.nvidia.com/object/io_1217319887756.html


Andy said on Tue, 12 Aug 2008

I've had my MB Pro since last August, and it's affected by the same graphics problem, and all indicators are that it's an issue with the software - that is, OS X 10.5.x - and not the hardware.

But it would help if Apple actually acknowledged the problem exists, as that would give us the confidence of being able to think the company actually gives a damn and is willing to work on a fix.

The dark screen and jagged line effects are well documented by owners across the net, and in the Apple forums. I am only surprised that it's taken this long a time for Macworld to actually highlight the situation in one news posting which is hardly on the ball in providing us with 'new' news on this occasion.

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