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+--- Thread: MBP Nvidia video failure (/showthread.php?tid=143188)
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MBP Nvidia video failure - AllGold - 10-22-2012
My 2008 MBP is at Apple because the video failed. This is the well-documented Nvidia video card failure. Apple and Nvidia had a four year repair extension. Unfortunately, my machine is past the four years.
I never had a problem when it was under Applecare for the first three years of its life. Also never had a problem during the following year (4th year), at least not that I recall. But I started having intermittent problems over the summer. Sometimes the video wouldn't work on startup but a restart--after holding down the power button until it powered off--would get it going. Recently, I had no problems at all... until one day when it completely failed and nothing I could do would bring it back.
Care to wager on whether I pay the flat $330 repair fee? I think there's better than a 90% chance I will be paying.
Re: MBP Nvidia video failure - Wailer - 10-22-2012
Toss up. Depends on the genius, how you act, what you look like, etc. Having had applecare should help. I'd definitely act like you don't know what's going on, how it started to have problems a while ago but you were so busy and couldn't afford to be without a computer, and how you love this computer. I wouldn't mention the recall.
Are you sure it's the video card and not the display?
Does the computer function otherwise? Can you SSH in? It might make a nice server.
I'm not even sure it's worth $330 to fix. You may fix it and then have something else die within a year or two. The salvage value could be anywhere from $200-$400 ($400 if it's just a bad display) and I think I'd rather invest $770 into newer hardware.
Re: MBP Nvidia video failure - Racer X - 10-22-2012
Mine failed outside of the 4 year window, and they DID fix it for free.
Be nice and polite and call Apple if the Genius doesn't take care of you.
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2377
I kept on quoting the last line of their Knowledge Base article "Apple will continue to evaluate the repair data and will provide further repair extensions as needed." and I kept requesting a repair extension from their customer relations dept.
Re: MBP Nvidia video failure - AllGold - 10-22-2012
The Genius said he didn't have any say over whether I was charged. He verified the Nvidia failure and when he entered it into the system, it calculated the repair cost ($310 vs $0) automatically based on the date of sale. That's why I think I will be paying. The Genius said there was a small chance the repair depot would cover it if they saw something unusual in the failure but probably not.
I also called Apple earlier when it was having intermittent problems and they said it wasn't covered.
Sure, I would rather get a nice new i7 quad. But at this point, I'd rather pay less and limp along with my old machine for a while longer. I also have some software on it that I wasn't able to deauthorize (when the video card fails, it doesn't work with an external monitor either).
Re: MBP Nvidia video failure - AllGold - 10-22-2012
Racer X, thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU!!!!!
Re: MBP Nvidia video failure - GGD - 10-22-2012
And interesting article from a guy who was in your situation. When all else failed, he sued Apple in small claims court.
http://www.seattlerex.com/seattle-rex-vs-apple-the-verdict-is-in/
Re: MBP Nvidia video failure - onthedownlow - 10-22-2012
I had some outside the window and they would not fix any for free.
The laptop(s) was still worth it, so I forked over the $300 and they replaced the boarrd with an onboard video from ATI. That board failed less than a month later. They told me they wouldn't fix it again and offered no refund or warranty on the work. This was just this past Summer.
I still have never seen my $300. Oh well.
Re: MBP Nvidia video failure - Manlove - 10-22-2012
I had mine fixed after the closing date. Be firm and persuasive. Don't shout, smile. Be persistent.
Good luck.
I did have a screen shot that I'd printed out of the screen looking 'failed' which seemed to help.
Re: MBP Nvidia video failure - AllGold - 10-23-2012
onthedownlow wrote:
I had some outside the window and they would not fix any for free.
The laptop(s) was still worth it, so I forked over the $300 and they replaced the boarrd with an onboard video from ATI. That board failed less than a month later. They told me they wouldn't fix it again and offered no refund or warranty on the work. This was just this past Summer.
I still have never seen my $300. Oh well.
How can they not have a repair warranty? :dunno:
Re: MBP Nvidia video failure - GGD - 10-23-2012
AllGold wrote:
[quote=onthedownlow]
I had some outside the window and they would not fix any for free.
The laptop(s) was still worth it, so I forked over the $300 and they replaced the boarrd with an onboard video from ATI. That board failed less than a month later. They told me they wouldn't fix it again and offered no refund or warranty on the work. This was just this past Summer.
I still have never seen my $300. Oh well.
How can they not have a repair warranty? :dunno:
They have a 90 day warranty on repairs.
http://www.apple.com/legal/terms/repair/usretailrepairterms.html
If your product is repaired outside of warranty, Apple warrants (1) that the repairs will be performed in a competent and workmanlike manner and (2) that all parts used to repair your product will be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of ninety (90) days, unless otherwise specified by Apple.