troubleshooting/tutorials/security
08/16/2006, 12:05am, EDT
Wednesday, August 16th
Apple quietly updates MBP logic boards
Apple is quietly replacing logic boards in MacBook Pros that have undergone repair by Apple Authorized Service Providers (AASP) and has told its providers that the new logic board require an upgradeded version of Mac OS X. Users who have experienced problems and have had their MacBook Pros repaired may receive MacBook Pros with an upgraded logic board, according to MacNN sources. Apple told its sevice partners that some MacBook Pro computers may require Mac OS X 10.4.6 after having the main logic board replaced: "When a MacBook Pro goes in for repair, some computers may receive a different version of the main logic board (MLB) than others. The alternate MLB provides equal functionality to the one it replaces. It does not add any new functionality. It is important to note, however, that the new MLB requires a later version of the Mac OS X operating system to be installed."
Early production versions of the MacBook Pro had many problems, which were resolved by updated logic boards, but did not require a new OS version; Apple also acknowledge and addressed some battery-related problems in early version of the MBP's.
Authorized service providers are being told to give customers a new Mac OS X 10.4.6 install DVD and that if the MacBook Pro's logic board is replaced by a AASP, the AASP should update the computer's version of Mac OS X from the DVD and pass the DVD along to the customer. Apple, however, did say that all not all MacBook Pro logic board repairs would require the updated version of Mac OS X.
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I had the buzz/whine with my week 13 1.83 GHz Mac Book Pro (on sale for $300 off the original $1999), but was lucky enough to have the issue resolved within a week of purchase. Apple shipped the part overnight and the local shop had it repaired and back to me within 24 hours. I don't think it's any cooler (the service manual still calls for a crazy amount of thermal paste ... it's a CPU and heat sink, not a wedding cake) but it works as I'd expected.
Oh! Apple had a new battery to me overnight also. I'm sure they have a deal on shipping, but wouldn't it cost them less to get all this right before they release the product and spare the overnight courtesy?
Sigh.
Still a great machine, though! I now use it for my Win XP IT work.
SVC, MLB 2.0GHZ, 256VRAM(M1-CAP)MBP15" ASSY, INVERTER, NCC, MBPRO15" PCBA, LIO/AUDIO (M1) MBPRO15" FLEX ASSY, LIO/AUDIO, M1 SPKR ASSY, PURCH, M1
Three days later, the dreaded RSS, sudden shutdown started occuring with faster and faster frequency until I could not even log in. Determined it was faulty logic board so sent it in again. It is now lost, or at least, it is being searched for at this time. I got the two cd install discs for 10.4.6, however I already had 4.7 installed. I wonder if having 4.7 installed might have been problematic for the replacement logic boards, as is the 4.5.