JP
Apple has publicly blamed NVIDIA for graphics hardware failures in some MacBook Pro models, after initially customers were informed that their computers would not be affected. The news is the latest blow to NVIDIA, whose GPU problem has caused multiple laptops to overheat. According to Apple, NVIDIA assured them back in July that the issue would not impact on MacBooks; however the company’s own investigation turned up NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics processors being inaccurately reported as integrated Intel chips.
The fault – which NVIDIA have blamed on an unnamed substrate or bumping material used in the chips manufacture – causes the MacBook Pro to display either distorted or scrambled video, or no video at all. Machines made between approximately May 2007 and September 2008, including the MacBook Pro 17-Inch 2.4GHz and 15-Inch, 2.4/2.2GHz, and the early-2008 MacBook Pros, with the NVIDIA chips could all be affected.
Apple is asking any owners with affected machines to bring them in for evaluation. They’re also issuing refunds to users who have already paid for repairs.
[via Electronista]
