Comments on: Apple and the Nvidia 'problem'

Nvidia again finds itself in the middle of an uproar over issues with an Apple notebook. But are Nvidia graphics chips really the problem? And are the issues that widespread?

[reyes89]

ITs probably the defualt fan settings for hte card and the Mac. Macs run hot as it is, and Nvidia since hte 9000 series has been having problems with there fans in desktop versions of thre cards as well, the cards run extremely hot without the fan autoadjusting, damaging the card.

[MongooseProXC]

By the way, what does an apple need a dedicated GPU for anyways? One of those atom processors with integrated graphics will do the same thing for less.

[ikramerica--2008]

ROFL. I know, right? That's what everyone tries to tell us.

The good thing about this problem is that you can turn off the offending graphics chip until you can get it fixed, so you aren't completely screwed.

[fbbbb]

The overall tone of this article is typical of the drooling Apple fanboy-apologist (and looking at Brooke's other articles, it seems I'm not wrong). I suppose you need to keep on Apple's good side to continue to be invited to the religious gatherings that is Apple's public-press events.

But that aside I *do* believe it's a problem with NVidia, which may or may not be exacerbated by Apple's currently rock-bottom QC (although the Unibody transition was a smart one - it increases apparent quality for the buyer and removes some key QC steps which Apple were always screwing up in any case) and obsession with silence. The reason I say it's likely NVidia first is that I've encountered similar issues on Windows machines with the ill-starred 8400M chips. The screen tearing, odd flickering, colour strangeness are all common to issues I had.

As far as 'facts of life' are concerned, I can wind up the GPU on my Dell Precision Covet - an otherwise 'Pro' machine - for extended periods without undue issues, and the same goes for my relatively hot-running (and non-'Pro') Dell XPS 16. Instability when the kit is mildly pushed is only a consistent fact of life for Apple owners - as I know all too well.

[ikramerica--2008]

If the top rated computers in terms of quality (large manufacturers) are made with "rock bottom QC" what does that say about the rest of the products out there?

Especially when talking of the 17" model, where 90% very satisfied ratings and under 5% repair rate (for all reasons) is amazing.

And then you have the dilemma that Macs and Sonys are known for high quality, but then everyone says that they are overpriced and are not giving a value for the money return. So, I guess nobody values quality? I don't know.

It sounds like Apple and NVidia may have a problem with this chip/fan setup. Hopefully it gets sorted out. But I've had video artifact problems and lock ups on Macs and Windows over the years. I first Apple Clone had this issue just as described re: the 17". I had a Dell that was otherwise rock solid but would lock in some games that overtaxed the graphics. And of course, the notorious white iBooks had continuing ATI chip problems that were never quite solved until the move to the intel design.

[Magallanes]

So then Apple is not guilty?.

I am a macbook pro user then i own a APPLE PRODUCT, not a Nvidia.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Apple=Rip-Off !

[bad_one]

Not to be annoyed or upset and whatnot, and I do appreciate manufacturers pushing the envelope to get out a better product, but don't they test for these things? At least if they don't, then I seriously do not understand how they can expect to put a product out into the wild that will become unusable at relatively moderate situation (video viewing, etc). I feel that if desktop performance is not ready for a laptop of such strict chassis requirements, then they should not be installing them. Just saying.

[batmodem]

This is ridiculous, three words:

Innovation and Quality Control.

[Torley]

Re: MacBook Pro w/ATI Radeon X1600 and distorted video problems, I've written more about my troubles here: http://torley.com/macbook-pro-with-ati-radeon-x1600-distorted-video-glitches