Hi,

I am exactly going through the same problem. I bought mine in Dec-2007 and it broke in Sept-2011. Unfortunately, I didn't know about this 4-year policy and came to know last month in March 2012. I went to the apple store (Eaton Centre) Toronto, and was told that you are approximately 2 and half months out of that 4-yrs window so it will not be repaired by Apple. I find it very unfare. If there was a faulty product from apple, then it was their responsibility to inform every buyer (at least put this into the media) so that they can either get a replacement or get it repaired in time. One of the senior from apple says, we run the diagnostic and only when the problem is related to the Nvidia then we repair that also if the problem occurred within 4 yrs. Its like you buy a faulty product and then wait for the problem to occur to get the mistake of faulty chip (its apple's mistake) solved...I have been a big fan and laptop can break anytime but this apple/nvidia system feels like cheating...Don't know what else can be done.... 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Appleuser2007 
Unfortunately, I didn't know about this 4-year policy and came to know last month in March 2012.

They e-mailed MacBook Pro owners, I believe.

You had four years to read the news.

They did. Profusely. Unless you ignore all news, you would have heard about the nVidia chip problem from Apple, nVidia, or a industry-wide tech outlet.

You could have easily returned the computer. Also, it's not Apple's fault at all.

You could buy a new one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AppleProUser 

I bought my first ever MacBook Pro in late 2007, and I'll be honest I really liked it until it died on me out of blue. Upon talking to Apple Technical Care Rep, Visiting the Store and again talking to Apple Care Rep they all conluded that unfortunately my MacBook Pro had the defective Nvidia that Apple and Nvidia bothk new and both companies very smartly decided to address the issue only for those users whose machines died early in their life cycle and left others sitting on the ticking time bomb to explode in the matter of time.

Maybe both these companies saw this as a money making opportunity?

I always heard good feedback and had a positive customer service experiece until I ran into this problem. Today when I visited the apple store in Yorkdale Mall in Ontario Canada rep was like "Graphics card dies on you if you want it to be fixed you need to pay $525+, otherwise you are wasting my time kind of look". Very BAD experince. I am just 4 months above the timeline that Apple and nvidia had decided to fix it, if you are lucky enough to have it gone bad in period of 4 years they will fix it for you.

At the time of purchase I even purchased extended Apple Care/Protection Plan that itself costed me around $300+ additional, if I remember correctly that time I spent close to $2800 on this MacBook Pro purchase, which comes around 2-4 Windows Laptop, depending which brand and configuration you buy.

Since my first purchase I have bought various apple products including software and hardware, including all OS that were released since then until now. Recently being my new iPhone 4S.

If Ihave to go the path that Apple reps are asking me to take, it comes pretty close to $800 per year expense with owning this Apple MacBook Pro, which is beyond my understanding.

My point is if part would have gone bad due to any other issue or mis-use I am ok to take the hit, but if Apple knew about bad part I would have expected Apple to correct it for all identified serial numbers.

Instead of taking care of the issue Apple is trying to hide behind Nvidia and blaming them for the problem, I DID NOT buy Nvidia product I bought Apple and I want Apple to take care of this issue.


If anyone of you are going through the same issue please chime in, if you are one of those who is sitting on the ticking bomb take this as a piece of advice and make sure you take regular backup.


I AM RETHINKING ON MY DECISION TO WHETHER TO SHIFT TO APPLE OR STAY WITH MY MORE RELIABLE WINDOWS BASED PC, ATLEAST THEY ARE CHEAPER TO FIX AND WORST CASE JUST BUY NEW ONE THAT WILL COST LESS THAN APPLE REPAIR COST.

You need to read about this experience another person had and what the outcome was; Here is part of the article and a link to the rest:

Seattle Rex vs. Apple: The Verdict Is In

OK so I am being sensored for trying to post this TRUE story about Apple... DO YOU ALL WORK FOR APPLE?

Ive tried three times to help this person out with this news story and every time it is "being moderated" ..... but when I dont post the link and part of the story it is ok... Huh..

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedMan 
OK so I am being sensored for trying to post this TRUE story about Apple... DO YOU ALL WORK FOR APPLE?

Calm down. You're being caught by the forum filter for being a new user posting excessive images, links, and using large font. No biggie.

http://www.seattlerex.com/seattle-rex-vs-apple-the-verdict-is-in/

So they didnt like the last one either...

Well Redman, I read the story, so everything seems to be working.

Is that accurate that the 8600 is the only GPU that can be used in the machine?  If it is defective, there is no other GPU that could be used as a replacement?

Good luck with collecting.  Look forward to the update.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wshuff4 
Is that accurate that the 8600 is the only GPU that can be used in the machine?  If it is defective, there is no other GPU that could be used as a replacement?

Yes. It wasn't made with any other.

Ouch!  So were all 8600 parts defective, so that they just replaced one defective component with another?  

Quote:

Originally Posted by wshuff4 
Ouch!  So were all 8600 parts defective, so that they just replaced one defective component with another?  

I would say yes, but they claim to have fixed it. Take whichever side you want.

Well, I guess I dodged a bullet.  Until a few weeks ago I was scouring the net looking for a used MacBook for my wife.  I saw a few interesting models that probably used this NVIDIA GPU, but I had no idea about this issue.  Glad that I ended up getting her a new MacBook Pro instead.

I just came across this problem the hard way too this past week. My Mac BookPro was 4 years old Christmas. I had purchased the Apple Care extra warranty too. Two weeks ago mine went dark, no video, neither internal or external. I have to drive 2 hours to the nearest Apple Store. They looked at it and told me I was over the warranty. I thought he was talking about my 3 yr plan. I told he, the Genus Guy, I know, he said, he for the Chip, they extended it to 4 years, you should of gotten a email about it. I told them, nope.

Well he told me they could send it out for repair to their service station in Texas for $310. I could live with that. He said that they also will go through and replace anything else that they find wrong all for the same price. He said the logic board for sure. Well we sent it in, 2 days later I get a email telling me since my my dvd drive was not the factory installed, they requoted me $1200+ to fix.

The DVD drive is not even my problem. I called the number listed, they didn't care. He told me if I would reinstall the old drive then they could do it. It was replaced by a local Apple authorized service store. I don't have the old drive. I called to talk to the manager of the Apple store I had brought it to to see if he could do anything, but all I could do was to leave a message with the person answering the phone. He told me they would go over it and call me back. All I've gotten back was the mac book pro unfixed.

Does anyone know where I can buy the logic board and replace it myself?

thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobalee01 
Does anyone know where I can buy the logic board and replace it myself?

iFixit. Hang on, I'll grab a link.

Ah, wait, four years old Christmas… that'd make it a Late 2007 model, right? And 15 or 17?

15" 2.2.

15" 2.4.

17" 2.4.

My 15-inch Macbook Pro has the NVIDIA GPU issue, according to an Apple store. I was approved to have my logic board replaced free. It was replaced, and one week later the new logic board failed. A second logic board was put in yesterday. Today that logic board failed. I'm having the same geometric images appear on the screen, bad video, etc. So I'm looking at THREE logic boards in less than two weeks. The genius at my Apple store said the GPUs in the replacement boards for these affected computers are failing, even though supposedly  the new boards have a different GPU. On Apple discussion boards you read of users with this issue getting three and four logic boards replaced and still having problems. Apple clearly has not provided a fix for the NVIDIA issue, though it maintains it has.

I'm stuck with a fried computer. 

My computer was purchased  in mid April 2008. One week after it's 4th anniversary, the screen wouldn't light up, though it there was a light indicating the computer was on. For sometime before that, at least a month or two months, I  had problems of geometric designs appearing, screen going dark and broken video, but I just kept using it because it continued otherwise to work. I did not know what the problem was.   After it was not useable, I spent a week trying to determine the problem and then concluded it was the NVIDIA issue and took it to an Apple store, where that issue was confirmed. At first Apple said it would not fix it since it was out of the 4-year NVIDIA warranty window. Then it said since it was so close to the warranty period, it would fix it under the warranty. I was happy. I even paid Apple to put in a new hard drive. Little did I know that Apple's "fix" for the NVIDIA would not work. So now I'm faced with getting my third logic board in less than two weeks and have zero confidence it will work. So my computer is toast.

I asked the Apple store to give me more than 90-days on the warranty for the logic board because the boards are clearly failing. I was told by the store manager no. I asked for replacement computer because clearly Apple's "fix" for the problem did not fix the problem and I had GPU issues during the 4-year warranty period. The store manager told me no. I was told I have 4-year old computer, and that's apparently considered a throwaway age by Apple, even though the problem that has rendered it useless was caused by  a defect in it when Apple sold the computer, a defect Apple acknowledges the computers have, though granted the defect is NVIDIA's fault. However, NVIDIA is paying Apple to fix these computers.

Apple certainly is not standing behind its product on the NVIDIA issue because it's "fix" for the defect is clearly not working.  Apple has not stepped up to offer a genuine fix and seems not to care how this affects its customers. I won't buy another Apple computer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ilene 
My 15-inch Macbook Pro has the NVIDIA GPU issue, according to an Apple store. I was approved to have my logic board replaced free. It was replaced, and one week later the new logic board failed. A second logic board was put in yesterday. Today that logic board failed. I'm having the same geometric images appear on the screen, bad video, etc. So I'm looking at THREE logic boards in less than two weeks. The genius at my Apple store said the replacement boards for these affected computers are failing, even though supposedly  the new boards have a different GPU.

No, they don't. They have the exact same GPU, but from a different batch. Just clarifying. So you're on your third broken machine? Under AppleCare, that's cause for a modern model of comparable specs. Go back to the Apple Store, immediately talk to a manager, get your replacement.

Mention this in your e-mail based on what I say just below.

No, this isn't the case. If you came here only to say the last sentence, you should have just said it and left, because we don't care about that. Your story isn't done yet. Take it back to Apple. Three fixes equals a new machine. If they don't grant it, get all your support documents and repair tickets and e-mail… hang on, I'll get the name and address… directly. You could even e-mail Tim Cook about it. You'll get a response, after having had it filter down to the appropriate person.

There IS no genuine fix. The entire run of that nVidia chip is faulty. Apple will replace your computer with a newer one if you fall within their criteria, and you do, as long as you're not lying here. 

EDIT: Okay, just go ahead and e-mail Tim Cook directly. I forget the name of the guy in charge of PR and who would help you directly, so if you e-mail Tim it will filter down to him appropriately.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvin 
There is no suitable replacement though. Even the entry 15" is 3-4x faster. This sort of thing might work with the Mac Pro if you bought an 8-core in 2008 and they gave you a modern quad-core but you can't expect a 4 year old dual-core to be upgraded to a 2012 quad-core.

But that's what they DO. That's exactly what they do. People who suffered from the leaking of the liquid cooling system in their PowerMac G5 were given brand new (I think it would have been Penryn at the time) Mac Pros. This happens for every model if you meet the AppleCare replacement criteria.

According to Seattle Rex who won the court case against Apple on the NVIDIA issue, Apple representatives testified in court that the SAME bad GPU is still attached to the logic boards that are being used to repair Macbook Pros when the GPU goes bad. The Apple reps said in court that this is being done because it's the only size component that fits the computers. Well, then it's no surprise that I've had two replacement logic boards with bad GPUs installed by Apple fail in less than two weeks. I'm getting ready to go in for my THIRD logic board replacement due to bad GPUs in less than two weeks. That will be a total of 4 bad GPUs for my computer, including the original. No wonder the GPUs are failing if it's the same bad GPU contained on the logic boards Apple keeps putting in and is the same GPU as what caused the problem to start with. Is this fraud or some other criminal activity by Apple by replacing a known defective part with the same defective part? Apple appears to be hoping the GPUs won't fail  until after 90-day warranty on the replacement logic boards expire and then customers are stuck. 

It seems Apple has to replace these computers or provide another fix. The computers were defective and set to fail when sold, and Apple's "fix" is clearly not a fix. What a joke on its customers! 

I had Apple install a new hard drive on my computer after the first logic board replacement because it was beginning to show failure, according to a genius' test, and paid for that thinking with a new hard drive and logic board I'd be good for awhile with the computer. The technician who gave me back my computer, said yes, the life of the computer should be extended with the two replacements. Well the computer operated only a few days before the GPU failed again. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ilene 
Is this fraud or some other criminal activity by Apple by replacing a known defective part with the same defective part?

No. nVidia told Apple and everyone else that later runs of the 8600M were fixed. If they've also been shown to be defective, that's a different issue than the original one.

Which they do. Three repairs and you get a replacement.

Calm down. Just do what I said before and you should be fine.

I have a 2007 Macbook Pro which started to have problems back in February and I was devastated because I knew it was out of Apple Care warranty.  I found some forums that mentioned the Nvidia graphics card issues that sounded like the problems I was having.  First off, I phoned Apple technical department and was told by a tech and then his supervisor in no uncertain terms that firstly I was out of warranty, Apple Care had expired and the 4 year Nvidia "warranty" on the graphics card had also expired back in November 2011, so I would have to pay to have the problem fixed myself.  Well, I don't have the cash to pay for the repairs, or to buy a new Apple product and was extremely angry that I considered Apple were doing the wrong thing by me, when Nvidia are forking out to fix the issue anyway.  I was so incensed I was planning on never purchasing another Apple product ever again.  However, very fortunately, I persisted.  This time I got a different tech who put me straight through to Apple Care and a my new best friend, Andrew, who told me to take it to an Apple certified repairer (I don't have a Mac Shop near me) to have it tested and if it showed that it was a fault with the graphics card, they would authorise for it to be repaired with no expense to me.  This took a couple of weeks, and the first time my techs spoke to their techs the response was again that it was too late, but one more quick email to my mate Andrew at Apple Care and all was sorted out.  I haven't got my MacBook Pro back yet, but have heard that the part has been ordered and have confirmation that I'll not be out of pocket.

The moral of this story is don't give up.  Talk to Apple Care and be persistent.

Yes, (I know, ironic given my username) but pursue firmly any Nvidia MacBook Pro-related issues. Whether in your State, USA, Canada, Australia, UK, etc. generally there are "statutory warranties" which exceed AppleCare and any Apple official recall scheme.

That is, explore statutory warranties by your local, state and federal government which says, a product is expected to work, and not related to normal wear and tear, beyond any timeframe specified by the manufacturer (1 year, 3 years, 10 years, doesn't matter, check your statutory warranty laws).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reddogmamma 

I have a 2007 Macbook Pro which started to have problems back in February and I was devastated because I knew it was out of Apple Care warranty.  I found some forums that mentioned the Nvidia graphics card issues that sounded like the problems I was having.  First off, I phoned Apple technical department and was told by a tech and then his supervisor in no uncertain terms that firstly I was out of warranty, Apple Care had expired and the 4 year Nvidia "warranty" on the graphics card had also expired back in November 2011, so I would have to pay to have the problem fixed myself.  Well, I don't have the cash to pay for the repairs, or to buy a new Apple product and was extremely angry that I considered Apple were doing the wrong thing by me, when Nvidia are forking out to fix the issue anyway.  I was so incensed I was planning on never purchasing another Apple product ever again.  However, very fortunately, I persisted.  This time I got a different tech who put me straight through to Apple Care and a my new best friend, Andrew, who told me to take it to an Apple certified repairer (I don't have a Mac Shop near me) to have it tested and if it showed that it was a fault with the graphics card, they would authorise for it to be repaired with no expense to me.  This took a couple of weeks, and the first time my techs spoke to their techs the response was again that it was too late, but one more quick email to my mate Andrew at Apple Care and all was sorted out.  I haven't got my MacBook Pro back yet, but have heard that the part has been ordered and have confirmation that I'll not be out of pocket.

 

The moral of this story is don't give up.  Talk to Apple Care and be persistent.

I was persistent circa 2009-2010 and finally after 2 months or so AppleCare ("extended warranty") (escalated to Australia from Malaysia) authorised repair of the bottom case of my MacBook Unibody 1st Gen. Took some time to escalate, lots of pictures, Apple telling me "incorrect tools were used" (but luckily the unit was opened up at an Apple Premium Reseller authorised servicer, etc) and finally it was sorted out. Basically the MacBook Unibody 1st gen has a bottom case with two little protrusions that, for example, keeps the DVD drive in place. Those fell off, probably due to bad glue, so DVDs couldn't go in and out of the unibody metal slot properly because the DVD drive was not aligned by the pressure of those bottom case potrusions.

Almost the same thing happened to me.  I have a 2007 MBP with the infamous  Nvidia 8600M that failed in the 5th year (this year) and was

told it will cost $310 to replace since the "4 year Extension" expired.

Very Unfair to put a time limit on a known defect.  The GPU should last the life of the computer.

I'm very very disappointed in how this "Deal" was made with Nvidia who won't stand by their product.

I will never buy a computer with a GPU made by Nvidia.

Apple should drop  them as a supplier. (And no, I don't work for Apple).

AppleMBP2007 Frustrated Owner
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by AppleMBP2007 
I will never buy a computer with a GPU made by Nvidia.

 

Apple should drop  them as a supplier. (And no, I don't work for Apple).

Nor will I, if I can help it.

And they have. 

Ok...so let me get this straight...If you have a 2008 "model" of the Macbook Pro, then Apple is/was offering a 4-yr. warranty on the GPU/logic board?!  I never heard of that!  Here's my issue...late 2008 model, actually purchased May 2009 and warranty just expired on May 29th.  Had the classic Nvidia problems, logic board replaced March/April 2011.  Continue to have problem, took my laptop in last month and it "magically" checked out fine.  Got it back on May 31st.  Now this evening the POS is deader than a door nail.  Did all the troubleshooting, etc.  My experience w/ the MacExperience and Apple store supports leaves something to be desired...I contact AppleCare and the ahole doesn't even give me a case number and transfer me to tier 2, which no one or voice service ever picked up after letting the call ring for over 45 minutes.  At this point, I'm looking at a dead piece of metal w/ no warranty support because Apple wouldn't address the problems, when I previously took my laptop in for issues!  I've filed a report on RipOffReport, have sent a lovely email to the specific MacExperience store and I am now drafting a letter to send to various departments, i.e. DOJ, Attorney General, BBB.  I will probably go ahead and file a claim in small claims court as well, seeing how successful that route has become w/ the big companies.  What are the specifics on the 4-yr. logic board/GPU "warranty"?  At this point, I would have no problem severing absolutely all ties w/ Apple and steering others away from them.  IT for over 13 years, various certs, etc., so some Mac "Genius" trying to tell me I don't know jack is not going to fly.  You know what they say about a women scorned.

Quote:

Originally Posted by illyanawho 
I will probably go ahead and file a claim in small claims court as well, seeing how successful that route has become w/ the big companies.

Except the suit is already taken care of and they can't be sued again.

How did you buy it in May 2009? By the end of October 2012, all computers under this program will have been invalidated.

The specifics of the 4 year warranty are as follows from the Genius Bar at the Apple Store:

Free LogicBoard replacement with "fixed" Nvidia  hardware and 90 day warranty, if the Nvidia failure occurs within

4 years of your "Purchase Date" of your MBP.

If it has been more than 4 years since your purchase date, the repair will cost $310 with a 90 day warranty.

Hope this helps.

AppleMBP2007

Im having problems with my graphics cards as well and apple wont assist

Just adding my info in case it helps anyone else....

I bought my MBP in March 08, it's now July 2012 & the graphics card has just gone 4 months after the 4 year deadline. After extensive googling I found out about this problem (no, Apple did not inform people - they only put it up on a page on their website) & lined up some appointments at various Genius Bars in London. The first one said no, & I left it. The second one my partner, who is more tenacious than me, tried, they said no, held on, asked to speak to the manager "as a gesture of goodwill" etc. & eventually they relented & said they would do it for free. I haven't had it back yet so I can't comment on whether it works now, but  the moral of the story is that they can say yes if they feel like it, so just pester them until they do.

Wow! haven't been back for a while... didn't realize this would go this far but glad to see its gotten cleared up (tallest skill) I do have a question though; after reading all this I am greatly surprised that Apple has put the NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory in the latest greatest new MBP Retina ? is this a bad idea considering all this trouble they have had with them on this? 

RedMan

iMac 27-inch, Mid 2011, Processor  3.4 GHz Intel Core i7, Memory  32 GB 1333 MHz DDR3, Graphics  AMD Radeon HD 6970M 1024 MB, Model Identifier: iMac12,2