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Question

Preowned Macbook Pros and logic board failures...

Jul 26, 2011 4:09AM PDT

I am considering purchasing a "preowned" 15" MBP for my son to use at school.
During my research I keep reading about the dreaded logic board failure,
Are there certain models/years that are more prone to this problem or does it affect all models??
I know that the Navidia 8600 series of graphics chips is also a problem but not always related to the logic board it seems
I've also read conflicting stories whether Applecare will fix this issure out of warranty.
any comments or advice would be great !!
Thanks

Discussion is locked

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Answer
I get a bad feeling about this.
Jul 26, 2011 4:15AM PDT

The one thing is even if we dismiss what you find on the internet (yes, if I look for failures of any device I do find it!) the out of warranty repairs are more than any savings.

Let's go with this. Unless this is less than 1/2 price of new or free, this is no bargain. I know folk pay more for used apples but I don't.

The 8600 chip however is a dead zone. You can read where it's been the lightning rod of recalls and litigation.

No sale.
Bob

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Answer
Consider purchasing
Jul 26, 2011 7:11AM PDT

a refurbished machine from Apple.
You may even qualify for the Educational discount.

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I have considered...
Jul 26, 2011 10:17AM PDT

the refurbs from apple but really I was just wondering if a particular model or year was more prone to the logicboard failures as this seems to be one of the most expensive repairs that I have read about...

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Again, the 8400 and 8600 GPU.
Jul 26, 2011 10:27AM PDT

If you've been around, you don't want one or you know to only accept them as gifts.
Bob

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thanks for the great..
Jul 26, 2011 10:30AM PDT

info about the 84 and 8600 GPU.
So would it be safe to say apple corrected the problem when they moved away from these chips??

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Sorry.
Jul 26, 2011 10:34AM PDT

Google 8400 RECALL or 8600 RECALL and you can catch up on the old news. There are stories and claims from both sides. Frankly? I won't have one. Let others take the chance. I've seen enough dead 8400 and 8600 GPUs. What more can I do but warn folk about it. It's history. When they are gone, so is that issue.
Bob

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Answer
As an ACMT
Jul 26, 2011 10:55AM PDT

As an ACMT who fixes Apple laptops, desktops, and monitors allow me to offer some thoughts.

There were some 15" and 17" MBP models made around late 2007 to mid-2008 that had a defective nVidia graphics chip, and there is a special recall program in effect for that. The basic terms of the program are that it's good for four years from the date of purchase, in or out of warranty, Apple picks up the entire cost of the repair, and probably sends a bill to nVidia, but you don't care about that.

Then I think it was the Late 2008 model had some issues with the integrated graphics that would sometimes cause the display to flicker. The simple workaround for that was to switch to the discrete graphics, though that would eat into your battery life. There is a KB article on that, but there's no recall program like with the other issue. If your laptop fails the test, you have to pay for a new logic board. It should be covered under warranty if you managed to snag a system still under warranty.

Also, I'll just mention before I forget, that for over a decade now, Apple has soldered the CPU and GPU directly to the logic board, so if one goes out, the whole logic board has to be replaced.

That being said, I'd stay away from anything that's a 2007 model, that just seemed to be a really bad year for Apple quality wise.

The newer models, mid-2009 and onwards, have been pretty good quality wise. There's never one specific issue that keeps coming up over and over again. So I would go with the excellent suggestion of just checking Apple's refurb list and getting something from there. I doubt they'll have anything older than a mid-2010, which has been pretty solid across the board. The 2010 MacBook Airs might be the one exception, which have some issue with the logic board that Apple is very secretive about. It's covered under warranty, but they REQUIRE that the unit be shipped off to one of their repair depots, so that adds an extra day or two onto the repair time. Amusingly, they claim that sending it to the depot is to ensure that the repairs are done in a quick and timely fashion. Guess that's the Jobsian Reality Distortion Field in effect, but I digress.

I would definitely second the notion of buying a refurb from Apple. You never know if your logic board is going to crap out on you, but I can say that with the exception of the 2010 MacBook Airs, everything from at least Mid-09 has been pretty solid. If the logic board or something else does crap out on you, then you've got a full warranty, same as if you bought new. The two things Apple warranties do not cover, and Apple tend to be VERY strict about, are liquid damage, and physical abuse/accidental damage. You run the thing over with your car one morning, you're screwed. If you spill soda all over it, you're screwed. If you go to turn it on one day and find it won't power on, you're probably fine.

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How about the desktops?
Jul 26, 2011 2:05PM PDT

Hi Jimmy,

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Thanks Jimmy...
Jul 26, 2011 8:43PM PDT

that is exactly the kind if information/advice that I had been hoping for!!!
It seems mid 2008 is when they stopped using the 8600GT chips...

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The new Minis
Jul 26, 2011 11:25PM PDT

The Mid-2011 Minis aren't even for sale yet IIRC, or would just now be entering the distribution channel. The older Mid-2010 Minis I tend to get very few of. When I do, there's really no particular pattern to any of the failures that I've noticed.

The Mid-2011 iMacs I've only just started getting in. There is a recall on the HDDs, but it's only I believe the 1TB Seagate drives. Smudges under the glass panel would either happen at the factory, or be a result of there being some kind of particulate matter in the operating environment being sucked up by the fans and distributed around the inside of the iMac. I've had a few come in where the person is likely a smoker, and that cigarette smoke gets pulled in, and starts slowly coating the inside of the entire system. And what you don't tend to see until much later, is all the tar and other crap in the smoke that condenses over time, leaving this sort of yellow phlegm-like substance all over the place. I've also had a case where a PSU started to fail, and was emitting a bit of smoke, which got pulled in by the fans and the onto the glass.

I know it's a pain, but if you take the iMac into an AASP or Apple retail store, they can remove the class and clean it and the display panel. If it comes back after they cleaned it, then it's either something in the air where you live/work, or a situation like that failing PSU.

Sadly I never seem to get any Mac Pros in. I love those things, as they're just a total work of art the way they're designed. Almost everything is modular and separated off into it's own little compartment. It's almost completely cable free as far as the user is concerned. HDDs mount on little trays and then just slide in and out, the CPU tray just pulls right out giving you easy access to the RAM. It's their best case design since the PowerMac G4 where the side door just laid out flat and everything was mounted on that, so it was right there.

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Answer
About the NEW Mac MINI. No optical drive.
Jul 27, 2011 12:52AM PDT

For me, not an issue. Some may find it hard to accept but the new model is quite the performer.

As to failures of this or that model, NOT ONE is perfection and if you go looking for failures you will find it. HOWEVER I find that many failures are user error (that should upset someone!) and not a true failure.

The fine exception (like that GPU issue) is when I dismiss the entire line even if the company makes good. Why? I have choices. I'll use them.
Bob