So every now and then (I want to say at least once every few days), my screen random scrambles and then freezes. Then I'll do a cold shut down and start in order to get my computer running. It seems to happen most of the time when 9600M GT graphics is used, but it does happens sparingly when 9400M is used.

Any suggestions?

9/1/2012 4:40:19 PM

IBT "It just works!"

9/1/2012 9:00:47 PM

For starters install a thermal monitoring program and look at your GPU temps. I've seen some really poor thermal paste application on those models (like someone on the assembly line at Foxxcon just smeared a big glob on the heatsink with their thumb then slapped it together). Over time that paste solidifies . . . . combined with thermal expansion/contraction and dust buildup its not uncommon to see machines where only half the chip die is even hitting the heatsink any more.

If that does turn out to be the case I can disassemble it, clean and redo the thermal paste with far superior Arctic Silver 5. It wouldn't be cheap (Unibody MBPs are a LOT of very delicate labor to remove the logic board) but a lot less than Apple service.

9/2/2012 4:25:12 AM

Besides the Arctic paste, what other tools would I need to remove the paste and replace it.

9/2/2012 3:52:31 PM

A very fine philips screwdriver, a spudger (plastic tool for releasing clips), tweezers, q-tips, thermal material remover (or 91% isopropyl), etc. I wouldn't recommend it unless you've taken apart Apple machines before and have an extremely steady hand and eye for detail. There are a good dozen micro-miniature cable connectors and they're ridiculously delicate . . . . if you break one you're fucked and looking at a $500+ replacement logic board.

9/3/2012 12:35:01 AM

^^ Looks like a pain in the ass. You're looking at tearing the logic board out of the laptop, as you only have access to the insides of the laptop from the bottom and not the top in the pre-unibody MBPs. I would probably do it myself, but if you're not comfortable with it, I would take up ^'s offer.

For a reference, this is what you're looking at doing:
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Installing-MacBook-Pro-15-Inch-Unibody-Late-2008-and-Early-2009-Heat-Sink/835/4

But be absolutely sure your GPU is overheating before you do this. I have heard of some of the 9600 GTs having the same problem the 8600m GTs had, though nowhere near as bad as the 8600m GTs.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=273102

9/3/2012 1:19:36 AM

The late-2008 is the first unibody. I would love to take up fregac's offer, but I am in Hawaii and cannot be without my laptop for work purposes.

9/3/2012 4:46:49 AM

Run the temp program for starters. See what you get. Either way you are going to be without the machine for a bit, such problems rarely get better with time. You can always take it to an Apple Store and see what they tell you, too.

9/4/2012 3:44:53 AM

I'm getting to a point where I don't think it's the hardware, but it's Mountain Lion problem. I ran windows 7 without the same problems of freezing.

9/4/2012 12:34:55 PM

As chance would have it, I may be nearing Raleigh for a time.

1) how long would a job like this take without trying to rush the process.

2) how much are we talking for a job like this

3) what guarantee do you offer. What do you offer if the job is not successful. Identify success for the procedure?

9/23/2012 2:44:34 AM

And your responses need to be in doctoral thesis form.

9/23/2012 4:31:11 AM

No, I' m just trying to make sure we have the big things covered if I come down with my laptop. I was going to ask if he could take photos during the process.

9/23/2012 12:36:35 PM

1: An hour or so for the actual work, but there's also initial testing (to verify overheating actually IS the problem and not say a bad GPU) and then good comprehensive testing afterwards to make sure everything is 100%. Dropping it off in the evening and picking up the next day would probably be wise.
2: I'll say $80
3: I don't charge if the job isn't successful. And that would mean NO freezing/glitching under stress testing and normal range temps.


And sure, pictures are no problem, heh.

[Edited on September 24, 2012 at 3:48 AM. Reason : .]

9/24/2012 3:47:45 AM

Thanks for the info! If Raleigh comes up in the cards again in the near future, I'll definitely message you here.

9/24/2012 10:53:05 AM