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+--- Thread: Serious MacBook Pro Video Problem (/showthread.php?tid=116287)
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Serious MacBook Pro Video Problem - mrlynn - 05-02-2011
A few months ago I gave Number One Son Andy my 15" MBP 2.33 Core2Duo (late 2006). He was trying to do video projects on an aging G4 iBook, so this was a considerable improvement; he successfully installed a 750 OTW hard-drive kit.
Recently Andy reported that he was experiencing a video problem:
Did you ever have any problems with the video card on the mac book pro? The laptop boots up but immediately the screen becomes pixellated and contorted, and then it eventually freezes. the first time this happened I the computer was unusable all afternoon. in the morning it seemed fine but after a couple hours of use it relapsed, so i have been reluctant to use it again for fear the video card is in its death throes. or that it could be something worse . . .
I suggested that he try booting in Safe Mode or from the OS CD-ROM, and that he also check which video card is in the computer. The reason I was interested in the video card is that the motherboard had died last summer, and Apple had replaced it. The original video card was an ATI Mobility Radeon X1600, but I had read of problems with an Nvidia card in subsequent models, so I wondered if Apple might have put a later mobo in the MBP when they repaired it. However, Andy says,
I am able to boot up but the video is totally distorted with pixelation. Booting in safe mode did not change the video, but it did not freeze after booting up and I was able to change resolutions in the control panel (doesn´t help) and look in about this mac to see which video card it is. I can´t really read what it says l but it appears more likely to say ATI than Nvidia.
And he asks,
Can you find out how much a new video card costs and how complicated it is to change it?
Does anyone here know if that model MBP had a separate video card, or whether it was soldered onto the motherboard? If the latter, my guess is that a mobo replacement is the only answer. According to my receipt from the repair last August, it was warranted for just 90 days.
Any information will help. :S
/Mr Lynn
Re: Serious MacBook Pro Video Problem - IronMac - 05-02-2011
Looking at everymac.com it says that it's an ATI card.
A. I don't believe that I have ever heard of MBPs having video cards that can be replaced. ie. no discrete and separate video cards. So, it sounds like the video card circuitry is built in.
B. I doubt that Apple will give you a different motherboard, ie. a later model, simply because I don't think that the ports will line up with the case but I could be wrong.
I think you are looking at a motherboard replacement.
Re: Serious MacBook Pro Video Problem - Ken Sp. - 05-02-2011
You can see your video card at About this Mac>More info>Graphics and display
If it is NVidia, you might be covered.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2377
Re: Serious MacBook Pro Video Problem - Stephanie - 05-02-2011
Whatever the problem, it wouldn't hurt to take it to an Apple Store to see if they will replace it at no charge.
Re: Serious MacBook Pro Video Problem - rjmacs - 05-02-2011
Ken Sp. wrote:
You can see your video card at About this Mac>More info>Graphics and display
If it is NVidia, you might be covered.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2377
Ken,
As mentioned by the OP, the problem is that his son can't see the display, and therefore can't check About this Mac.
So, Mr. Lynn, does he have access to an external monitor? It might help to determine whether the issue is with the LCD or with the mobo. I tend to agree with the other posters here, though - sounds like a motherboard issue to me.
Re: Serious MacBook Pro Video Problem - decay - 05-02-2011
http://forums.macresource.com/read.php?1,1033349,1033419#msg-1033419
earlier thread:
http://forums.macresource.com/read.php?1,968033,968033#msg-968033
anything like this?
Re: Serious MacBook Pro Video Problem - decay - 05-02-2011
also, he should be able to get a $300 flat-rate repair.
my MBP (1st gen) has the problem again. i'm probably going to part it out. not worth the money to fix such an old machine.
Re: Serious MacBook Pro Video Problem - hal - 05-02-2011
the 2.33GHz mbp has ATI video card is is not subject to any recall...
sorry, it doesn't sound good...
Re: Serious MacBook Pro Video Problem - Catzilla - 05-02-2011
hal wrote:
the 2.33GHz mbp has ATI video card is is not subject to any recall...
sorry, it doesn't sound good...
You may still get the $300 flat fee.
Re: Serious MacBook Pro Video Problem - mrlynn - 05-03-2011
I asked Andy to try an external monitor, and he responds:
Have tried with external monitor and with projector, same problem..
it´s not the screen. Distortion is a lot worse than the screenshot
somebody posted. It´s pretty hot and dusty here in Chincha so I
suspect that plus using the projector several days each week for a
month combined to fry something in there. The computer does get pretty
hot. Also the voltage here is known to vary quite a bit and can cause
things to burn out. Since I´m coming in june we can take it to the
apple store and give them a sob story.
He's in Peru, where there are no Apple Stores, but is making a trip back to the States next month. Unfortunately, that means he'll be without the computer for some time.
If he gets up here, I can go with him and try to convince the Geniuses to extend the mobo warranty. I wonder if the fan(s) need replacing, too.
Thanks for the suggestions.
/Mr Lynn