New 17" unibody MacBook problems
The new unibody 17" MacBook Pros have been out for a week or so, and users have noted some problems with the devices. These problems are not widespread; however, new purchasers should be aware of them, and know what to look for to see if they're affected.
The new unibody 17" MacBook Pros have been out for a week or so, and users have noted some problems with the devices. These problems are not widespread; however, new purchasers should be aware of them, and know what to look for to see if they're affected.
GPU Issues
In past MacBook Pro models, Apple was given a batch of faulty GeForce graphics processors that caused the displays to randomly shut off. While the current laptops do not appear to suffer this problem, several users have reported what appears to be GPU overheating, as well as some instances of persistent graphical artifacts. These artifacts appear as either green or pink patches, grids, or lines on the display which primarily happens when users run graphically intensive applications such as games. Other users have found similar artifacts when running high-definition video.
Apple Discussions poster dallen33 writes:
"Just got my new 17" MBP unibody. I was watching an episode of 24 in 720p and green lines started appearing over the video. I felt the notebook and it was incredibly hot."
We recommend that users run a full battery of tests on newly purchased computers (especially laptops) to put them through their paces and test for these types of problems. Since these problems happen more when graphics-intensive applications are run, users may not notice them if these applications are not run regularly. Therefore, immediately running a variety of CPU and GPU intensive tasks upon receiving the new computer should ensure things are running correctly. It is also recommended to regularly run CPU and GPU-intensive programs to ensure proper function is maintained over time.
Testing Hardware
1. Go online and download recently released 3D game demos which will be sure to run the computer at full blast. The following games are options that should work, though the more the better since each will access different graphical library functions which will make use of different parts of the GPU. The goal is to get both the CPU and GPU running at their maximum to generate as much heat as possible--the computer should NOT malfunction under any task.
2. Additionally, users should try running DVDs and HD video for a while; downloadable from iTunes or numerous other sources.
3. Test RAM Lastly, users may wish to test the RAM by running this utility.
4. Regularly run Apple's hardware diagnostics. To do this, reboot the computer with the "Applications Install Disk 2" (For newer computers; older ones may need Disk 1) in the drive and hold the "D" key immediately after the boot chimes sound.
Graphical artifacts can arise from firmware problems and more rarely from buggy drivers; however, they can also be caused by faulty hardware. Unfortunately it is not always easy to determine the exact cause, especially with brand new hardware that has not had driver updates and firmware updates. As such, for users affected by this problem there is not much that can be done to directly address these problems; however, users might try the following suggestions.
Things to Try
1. Reset the SMC and PRAM It is possible a problem is caused by some SMC or PRAM setting, so before affected users return their computers it is recommended to try resetting these. To reset the PRAM, hold down the options-command-P-R keys at bootup, allowing the computer to reset and make the boot chimes several times before releasing the keys and booting normally.
Resetting the SMC is a little trickier, because it usually requires the removal of the battery. For non-17" laptops, this Apple Knowledge Base document contains instructions for resetting the SMC. It may be that the SMC for the 17" can be reset similarly to the MacBook Air (which also has a nonremovable battery), in which case the instructions are to turn off the computer and PLUG IN the power cord. Then press Shift-Control-Option keys on the LEFT side of the keyboard, and then press the power button once. Let the computer rest for a few seconds, and then power it up again.
2. Toggle between GPUs Since Apple's drivers for the new GeForce 9400M/9600M GPUs are relatively new, they do not fully support all the features of these chipsets and also have a few bugs in them. These should improve over time, but it could be that these problems are due to drivers not being set correctly. As such, users should try toggling between the onboard GeForce 9400M and the dedicated 9600M to see if that clears the problem. To do this, open the "Energy Saver" system preferences and change between "Better battery life" and "Higher performance", logging out and back in to effect the change.
3. Have Apple Replace the Computer: If these problems cannot be cleared by simple tests or PRAM/SMC resets, it is recommended to call Apple and have the computer replaced.
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