I've got an older Macbook Pro (~2-3 years old) that seems like it needs a logic board replacement. The problem is that it shuts down randomly but usually when you're doing anything thats some what processor intensive. I thought maybe it was just a question of thermal paste but after reading some forums online people are saying its a bad logic board. This computer is out of warranty.

I can order a logic board replacement but those run about ~$500. I'm guessing I can probably only sell this thing for $500 if it was in top shape so obviously replacing the logic board at $500 is stupid. What experience have any of you had in terms of parting it out?

http://www.powerbookmedic.com/xcart1/product.php?productid=17139&cat=465&page=2

1/23/2010 5:56:20 PM

how big is your HD?

1/23/2010 5:58:07 PM

100gb HDD

1/23/2010 6:00:54 PM

let me guess, you have one of the first-gen MBPs with the X1600 gpu?

me too

the logic board will just perpetually fail... you just keep replacing them. nothing you can do about it. we actually have a class action suit that's in the process of getting filed at the moment.

best option: go to the genius bar and convince them to do a depot repair. i think it's like $250, they ship your computer off and fix whatever is wrong with it.

1/23/2010 6:19:22 PM

^its a Core Duo 2.16 ghz

It was the first gen aluminum macbook pros that I got.

1/23/2010 7:34:30 PM

yep, same thing i have

1/24/2010 1:19:24 PM

glad i sold mine a while back

roflz

but on the other hand, cheetoFinger's is still going strong and they were purchased on the same date

she only had problems with the wifi card but warranty covered it

1/24/2010 2:25:02 PM

this is my old macbook pro, i've had two since, one of which i just sold last week. This is the only one i've had issues with though.

1/24/2010 2:33:10 PM

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1697470&start=0&tstart=0

Replies : 622 - Pages : 42

1/24/2010 4:45:08 PM

Why does Apple get to rename the motherboard?

1/24/2010 6:00:41 PM

because they Think Different(tm)

1/24/2010 7:43:30 PM

so I guess I'll part it out...who needs what?

1/25/2010 3:29:03 PM

$5 for hdd

1/25/2010 3:57:15 PM

I'll give you $250 cash for the whole thing, intact. Its good timing, I need a display and keyboard/top case for another machine I'm working on and can always use extra HDs and ram and such.

Probably the issue is the GPU, real common on that model.

1/25/2010 11:31:11 PM

^PM sent.

Were you going to use the LCD or the LCD + bezel?

1/26/2010 12:32:05 AM

Likely LCD plus bezel. Removing just the panel on those is a royal pain, its glued in and very difficult to extricate the LCD without bending the aluminum housing or cracking something.

1/26/2010 12:56:14 AM

The LCD works just fine but the bezel is not in the best condition. Its bent in the lower fornt corner but does not effect closing the screen or the display itself. Thats the only physical damage to the exterior that comes to mind. Also a few scratches on the underside.

1/26/2010 12:24:47 PM

Long as it works, heh.

1/26/2010 1:57:07 PM

it works

1/26/2010 2:18:41 PM

Didn't know if this was worthy of a new thread but my friend's mom ran over her MacBook and everything appears to be fine expect for the screen. The bezel/casing is fine and when hooked up to a monitor it works fine. The Apple store quoted like $750 or something to replace the screen.

I've never done a MacBook screen replacement, but after some googleing it seems like the screens are only $70-100. Has anyone done one? Is it easy? Why is Apple charging so much to replace a screen?

4/22/2010 4:06:50 PM

because they can.

i've never torn a MBP apart so i can't really say much but on all other laptops i've worked on it isn't difficult.

4/22/2010 4:14:38 PM

I've replaced the LCD on a macbook pro before. Its really easy. I've done it without having to replace the bezel either.

http://www.powerbookmedic.com/ - to order the part

http://www.powerbookmedic.com/mac-repair.php - find your model and you'll have free video/illustrated PDF instructions on how to do it.

4/22/2010 4:16:27 PM

awesome thanks.

4/22/2010 4:25:31 PM

Quote :

" Why is Apple charging so much to replace a screen?"

There's a few answers to this. Obviously the first has already been stated, because they can. The second is that out of warranty portable repairs at Apple are usually done in flat rate tiers based on the type, if any, of damage and the parts estimated to be involved. In your unfortunate case, it was accidental damage to the screen and/or logic board which automatically dumps it into the top tier.

The one benefit to this tier system is barring any tier changing discoveries (such as the reason your computer "just stopped working" was because you neglected to tell the tech you spilled a bottle of beer in it) whatever flat rate you pay for will pretty much replace and repair any and every component needed. So if they open the computer up to fix your screen and notice that the logic board is cracked, they'll replace that. If they notice during testing that your HDD is failing, they'll replace that. Literally the tiers are designed so that the repairs are done in such a way that you should get back a computer that is "as good as new". Since you're already paying for OOW, and at tier 4, you can also request they fix any cosmetic issues as well (scratched casing from being run over etc). If you had any warranty left on the computer, the tiered repairs also reinstate whatever was left of the warranty.

For most people who don't wind up with accidental screen damage or liquid damage, the tier pricing can be a really good deal. In your case, if you're sure it's just the screen, or you don't care about any other possible damage, you can either do the repair yourself (it's not too difficult), or you can also ask the store if they can do the repair in house, in which case they will do only the parts you request for parts + labor. The benefit to asking for in house repair is that you can come out cheaper, and usually if they notice other things wrong that will push the price up, they'll call and ask if you don't want to just send it out flat rate anyway. The down side is that whether they can do it in house is dependent on their work load and having the part in stock as they have turn around times they are supposed to adhere to. Also note that even in house a screen replacement can run between $300-600 depending on part cost.

Long story short, if you're confident in your diagnosis and your ability to fix it, you can do it yourself real cheap and fairly easily, if you're confident in your diagnosis but not your skills you can request an in house repair, or take it to any number of third party repair places. If you're not comfortable in your diagnosis and you want someone to give your computer a complete once over and fix and replace anything wrong with it, you should pay the flat rate charge, or look to see if any third party repair centers offer a similar repair service.

4/23/2010 8:08:51 AM

damn, the motherboard for a friend's HP was only $150 and i thought that was ridiculous

does the mac's board come blessed by jobs or something else that makes apple think they're worth $500? or is this just typical "we're apple, so we've decided that everything we make should cost twice as much as its pc counterpart because we know apple product users will pay for it" bullshit?

4/23/2010 8:48:04 AM

^^I won't lie, i thought that was going to start with "I don't know anything about logic board replacements, but hear me out..."

4/23/2010 11:11:22 AM