Apple Admits NVIDIA GPU Problems in Some MacBook Pros

**Iria** · Oct 10, 2008, 10:03 PM

Earlier I wrote about video issues with MacBooks with NVIDIA GPUs. While NVIDIA hadn't indicated there were issues with its GPUs in Apple products, it was clear from the number of posts at Apple's support forums that there was a problem.
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Source: Tech-Ex

***Zardon*** · Oct 11, 2008, 03:11 AM

It interests me considerably, mainly because I always seem to end up with laptops which have nvidia GPUs in them. I can't remember any failing or a single issue at all.

As I posted recently in a thread in our ATI forums my friend bought a sony laptop with a 3450 in it and the machine is a BSOD nightmare whenever any high definition video is watched. ive been through 3 days of removing, installing codecs, various players. even took the thing apart and rebuilt it with new thermal compound etc.

While I am not arguing with this initial thread there seems to be quite a lot of Nvidia scaremongering going on as well which seems to be mostly coming from Charlie at the INQ.

BlueMak · Oct 11, 2008, 06:08 AM

Well, while it is impossible for me to know for sure, it has worked on me. The only time I ever had a problem with failing graphics card in all my years with computers, was with an nvidia geforce card, but that was about a year after its release (geforce ddr 256) which was years ago and unrelated to this.
Still, after seeing small hints that there is an issue with them now and nvidia not coming out and saying it as it is (which i understand since it would create a panic), I just don't trust them enough now. Which is why my next pc (still building) has an AMD card. Yes performance has a lot to do with it, but not as much as peace of mind.
I do wonder how much of the scaremongering is true and how much it isn't.
There does seem to be some issue with at least a batch of the hardware or percentage, but nvidia not admitting it to the public makes me not trust them anymore.
Even Intel admitted to errors (original pentium anyone?), they should too.

(yes their stock would fall faster than my interest in the Wii, but...)

***Zardon*** · Oct 11, 2008, 06:43 AM

Actually they did post something about it a while ago. That said I think there is quite a bit of scaremongering with "all" their products. Its only a small percentage of laptop based components.

BlueMak · Oct 11, 2008, 08:17 AM

No question about it, some people enjoy this, even fuel it. I guess Nvidia follows Israel's strategy on nuclear weapons which can be both good and bad.

Perhaps they will admit it and give us some numbers when the 8xxx series is obsolete.

As you said I only knew of certain mobile chipsets being affected till that article on that site a couple of months ago. I haven't heard of anyone having his desktop nvidia graphics card burn or anything like that, at least not more than usual for any line. Could that guy be lying? Of course, but if Nvidia was "innocent' they could have used it more effectively. I just don't know anymore.

**Iria** · Oct 11, 2008, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zardon

It interests me considerably, mainly because I always seem to end up with laptops which have nvidia GPUs in them. I can't remember any failing or a single issue at all.

As I posted recently in a thread in our ATI forums my friend bought a sony laptop with a 3450 in it and the machine is a BSOD nightmare whenever any high definition video is watched. ive been through 3 days of removing, installing codecs, various players. even took the thing apart and rebuilt it with new thermal compound etc.

While I am not arguing with this initial thread there seems to be quite a lot of Nvidia scaremongering going on as well which seems to be mostly coming from Charlie at the INQ.

If you look through the earlier post linked in the story, there are tons of complaints at the Apple support forums ... and this is Apple posting the TS article after all so the recognize there is a problem ... I would agree that the percetage is probably low, but there are still plenty of Apple owners experiening the issue.

***Zardon*** · Oct 11, 2008, 10:14 AM

I am well aware of this. The point I was making is that im seeing people not buying nvidia at all, even on desktop systems due to the fact they think the hardware is going to fail.

nvidia actually budgeted 300 million for this. My point was that while the problems are apparent its actually quite a small percentage in the grand scheme of things and I certainly wouldnt lose faith in Nvidia due to this. It is quite common on the internet for a "pack mentality" to develop. Something starts, then spreads and everyone starts to panic. I mean if you check this thread out we have over a quarter of a MILLION views on it (and bear in mind this is just a single tech forum - us!) Vista and 7.3 Display driver atikmdag stopped responding error so I think both companies have their fair share of issues.

Ironically enough the only issue ive seen in 2 years with laptop graphics is the ATI 3450 based system I mentioned which will NOT play MKVs or high def videos without BSODing (same issue as link above) ! (Incidentally due to my job I feel I have a better view than most of this as I do play with considerable amounts of hardware).

What I would say to anyone reading this who have nvidia hardware in their machines, please dont read into this that something is going to fail, in most cases everything will be fine.