higher than expected failure of nvidia gpu in new unibody macbook's?

this might've been asked but do the new unibody macbook/macbook pro gpu's (9400m, 9600m gt) have the same problems in manufacturing that caused higher than normal gpu chip failures in the last generation of nvidia gpu's (8-series)?

i've heard so much bad press about those chips but i'm not sure if nvidia has fixed the issue with their current 9-series chips.

thanks.

 

It's been resolved.

 

easy enough response

 

No such problems with the 9 series.

 

nothin here

 

I've not heard of anything wrong with the 9 series GPU's, yet. The 8600M GT has had the most publicity on it's failure so far, so that's the concern for me.

 

It was discovered that some early (Oct-Nov.08) Unibody Macbook Pros had 9600M chipsets that were still using the failure-prone high-lead solders. However, the 9600M chipsets should have made the transition to less-likely to fail eutectic solders by now, so there should be no problem. The 9400M chipset has used the eutectic solder from the start, so no worries there.

 

the inquirer has the story
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer...le-macbook-pros-have-nvidia-bad-bump-material
I think no one knows for sure if nvidia is still using failure-prone high-lead bumps

 

Yet, are we having failure problems? P.S It's the inquirer.... P.P.S I bought my unibody the day they came out. I haven't had a problem yet.

 

The 9600 is pretty widespread so we should definetly see some problems arise very soon if the issue still existed with this series....would be REALLY stupid if nVidia didn't fix it

 

ati is getting closer and closer to nvidia due to this big blunder.

 

The 8600 problems didn't show up until about a year after they were sold.

 

The 9 series is still pretty new, give it time before making conclusions. Those that say it's been "resolved" don't know what they're talking about. Nvidia has been very tight-lipped about this the entire time.
I invite those that say it's been resolved to 'prove it'.

 

I agree. It is still too early to make any kind of conclusions about the 9600...

 

but the ati3650/3670 get nearly as hot as the 9600m gt. Why aren't they also flawed???

 

Did you ever actually get that 9 hours and 44 minutes as your notebook displayed?

 

From the flickering issues and scrolling on websites distortion issues the 9600m gt cards imho has similar issues to the 8600m gt cards.

 

Phew, I'm lucky the 9400M doesn't have this problem! It's my only GPU in my machine.

 

No kiddin, I have a 9400m gt card in my mac mini as well.

 

Just a question.
I have the MBP in the signature. I had it since October and it's probably the first wave CTOs shipped by Apple. when my 9600m gt is onmy CPU temp will spike to 80ish and the laptop turns to about 6000 rpm doing TRIVIAL things, no 3d rendering whatsoever. I'm thinking this is issue with the solder that's spoken of in earlier macbook pros.
Can I get any sort of confirmation on this?
Thanks

 

The temperature issues are normal. The problem with the bad solder bumps is that they can't handle the temperatures going up and down rapidly. The fix is eutectic bumps which can handle the temperatures going up and down rapidly. Sadly the temperature issues are there with both bumps but one bump will fail and the other won't.

 

That blows.
Badly :/
I barely use my discrete graphics because of how embarassing it gets doing nothing. :/

 

with my 9600GT enabled, it never gets above 2000 RPM sitting idle, or even running a few apps... it might touch 70º C, but no where near what your describing.

 

The 2.8 Ghz CPU and 7200 RPM processor might have something to do with your heat issues.

I have a 2.5 Ghz processor and the 8600 and my system is cool most of the time on Mac OSX. It can get warm with certain applications and it runs warmer under Windows.

My kids do gaming with their MBPs and use external USB fans with the laptops mounted on fruit jars [6 inches high] for lots of airflow.

 

with the 9600m gt. Mine gets into the low 70's under windows. I hear that it's quite normal due to the thin factor of the mac. However under os x, it's on the upper 50's and low 60's

 

If I had a macbook pro I would never use the 9600m gt. My macbook's 9400 seems fast enough. The 9600 is barely any faster and makes allot more heat, and if I need to game I'd just use my desktop with a GTX 285. I almost wish they would give the option to downgrade to just the 9400 so you could save like $100.

 

if you don't game on it, there is little need... My MBp is my main computer, gaming and otherwise.. and there is a big difference in games between the 9600 and the 9400.... I only enable the 9600 for higher graphic games... most games i play I still use the 9400... but like right now i have Oblivion running in another window, and the 9600 enabled, because its a difference of like 30 fps between the 9400 and 9600. its perfectly playable with the 9400 and some lower settings, but its more fun to run on max since the computer is capable of it.

 

we need a 15" macbook pro with a 9400 only!

 

I'd rather have had a 13" macbook with a 9600

 

Hey, why not? Offer 13/15/17" laptops, with regular/pro distinctions for each.

I know Apple is against complicated model lines (well, these days). But there's nothing complicated about choosing size, then performance, is there?

 

Well, with the heat problems in the macbook pro I don't think the 13 inch could handle the 9600. Also the 15inch screens are way more expensive than the 13 inch screen, which contributes allot to the macbook pro cost. They would have to buy a lower quality 15inch screen for a 15inch macbook to get it below $1500 or a price that would differentiate it from the macbook pro.

 

im pretty satisfied with my mac.especially the screen

 

check out the latest GPU failure confession from nvidia
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10245593-64.html

 

I think people are missing the point here when it comes to the nvidia GPU failure.

What made the 8600m gt faulty was that the solder points could not handle the fluctuations in temperature.

So its not about whether or not your GPU is getting hot, its about your gpu heating up and cooling down over and over. This is why ATI cards are just as hot, but don't fail.

There is no way for you to predict gpu failure based on your temps alone, its pretty much a shot in the dark.

Has NVIDIA fixed this issue with the 9600m gt? No one really knows, so I wouldn't say its resolved nor would I say its a problem yet. I would stick with ATI cards, or get some applecare.

 

I would assume they had, Or they are going to have a big problem on there hand. I really doubt they would do something that would cause a problem like the 8600. If they have, well I doubt Apple will stick with them.