Apple confirms faulty Nvidia chips in MacBook Pros

Earlier this year Nvidia publicly acknowledged a higher than normal failure rate for some of their graphics processors due to a packaging defect. While the company initially claimed the problem was limited to a few late-run HP products, it soon became apparent that many Dell notebooks were also affected.

Well, the brouhaha over defective Nvidia mobile graphics chips keeps rolling along, after a recent Apple-led investigation concluded that some MacBook Pro computers with the Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT graphics processor may be affected. According to the company, potentially affected MacBook Pros include those manufactured between May 2007 and September 2008 – or the entire current line of MacBook Pros and the generation immediately preceding it.

As with other laptops, the problem shows itself in the form of distorted or scrambled video, or a complete absence of video on the screen or external display. The company is asking those affected to bring their notebooks to an Apple Store for a free repair – those who have already paid for such repairs can contact Apple for a refund.

Nvidia, for its part, says that failures in Macbook Pro computers are a remote possibility, but it was ultimately up to Apple to decide how to handle their warranty and repair programs, based upon their own quality standards.