New MacBooks said to have issues with maxed out RAM, faulty NVIDIA GPU
By Donald Melanson 
posted December 9th 2008 2:54PM
posted December 9th 2008 2:54PM
While most of the complaints about the new MacBooks and MacBook Pros have focused on things like the screen or the absence of a certain much-loved port, it appears that another problem has been bugging some folks that went ahead and maxed out the RAM on their shiny new laptop. Apparently, loading 4GB of RAM (either from Apple or a third party) has caused at least a few MacBooks and MacBook Pros to freeze up randomly which, for the time being at least, can only be remedied by dialing things back to 2GB or 3GB of RAM (something tested by jkOnTheRun). While Apple isn't saying anything publicly about this just yet, one member of the Apple support forum claims to have heard from an Apple engineer who says that Apple is, in fact, aware of the problem and that a software update is on the way to fix it, possibly within a few days.
In related MacBook news, The Inquirer is now reporting that the new MacBook Pro's NVIDIA 9600M GPU suffers from the same so-called "bad bump" problem that has plagued previous generation MacBook Pros (and provided plenty of fodder for The Inq) which can, in some cases, lead to blank screens and other video errors. It's not clear, however, if the problem affects all MacBook Pros or just a bad batch, although there does appear to be a somewhat sizable number of complaints cropping up.
Read - jkOnTheRun, "MacBook fussy memory situation- maybe 4 GBs is too much"
Read - the Inquirer, "Inquirer confirms Apple Macbook Pros have Nvidia bad bump material"
[Via Electronista]
In related MacBook news, The Inquirer is now reporting that the new MacBook Pro's NVIDIA 9600M GPU suffers from the same so-called "bad bump" problem that has plagued previous generation MacBook Pros (and provided plenty of fodder for The Inq) which can, in some cases, lead to blank screens and other video errors. It's not clear, however, if the problem affects all MacBook Pros or just a bad batch, although there does appear to be a somewhat sizable number of complaints cropping up.
Read - jkOnTheRun, "MacBook fussy memory situation- maybe 4 GBs is too much"
Read - the Inquirer, "Inquirer confirms Apple Macbook Pros have Nvidia bad bump material"
[Via Electronista]
Here come the iFanboys explaining why it's actually NOT good to have max memory.
Of course it's good to max your memory so you can run your productivity apps and even dip into Windows if you really need to. My MBP 15" has 4 Gb and no memory problems. No one forces anyone to buy a Mac. I don't see a lot of smug Apple users criticizing people who buy other makes of computer. I do see a lot of non-Apple users name-calling. Why so bitter?
Got the late 2008 MBP, and no issues here, tried on both the cards.
Not again...anyone remember the video issues of the old ibooks with the ATI chips?...
I think my name sums it all up. Apple should be changed to and release this as the iFAIL, LMAO, just kidding you Apple Whores. If corporations were to engineer a "truly perfect" product, then they would no longer have the ability to promise and get the sheeple in line for a newer released version with "enhanced updates", specs, and this and that gadget galore. Now I'm not saying that they're doing it on purpose or they're scamming us out and what not, it could be that's the only way they can profit a shit load, but I just want you to think. It's like an endless circle.
the chipset should be able to support 8GB
People on macrumor's forum have claimed to get 6Gb to work
Mine has been working flawlessly... its a shame all of these problems are being reported, cause mine has been good old reliable, solid apple.
i just upgraded my new aluminium macbook to 4gb with third party memory bought from OWC. these stories really bothered me because i saw them after i upgrgaded but i havent seen any problems at all, just better performance. was i just lucky?
Can someone tell me why when I shutdowm my Ibook and close the screen, the computer dont shutdown? this is the dumbest thing ever. My windows lappy shutdown well even with the cover close.
Does anyone on this thread even own a new macbook pro, or one with problems for that matter, or even witnessed one with problems? No? then quit trolling like losers knocking only some of corporate america. I just bought one with maxed out ram and am running the 9600 card and have had no problems, suckas-so quit reeking of M$ fanboyism. Bill gates and michael dell dun give a fuck about chu
Is this comment any useful ? then quit trolling too, there isn't Windows vs MAC, I know you Americans are huge fans of bipolarity but that's not the way it always is.
There is only a failure of Apple to provide a QC.
Just asking : have all the new 4Gb MBP owners in the world posted on this topic, telling nice stories about how they bought that Mac and it was the best day of their life because it wroks "flawlessly", or is there more to come ?
Booooooooorriiinnnnggg
And no I'm not biased, it's just that I don't see the point of a comment that says : I own 1 and it works !
Great so what ? About 200 comments on this thread saying the same thing, that make 200 MBP working fine out of 1 millions sold ! hurray xD
Meh hurry up Apple. I'm itching to buy more memory (and not from you).
I have the Macbook Pro (Late 2008) (black framed screen, no fw400, etc). It was flaky while using the nVidia 9600, but never got the black screen of death. I upgraded to 4GB last Friday and it went WAY unreliable. Started freezing every chance it got... Only got maybe 30 mins between freezes. I downgraded to the original 2GB and it's been stable. I don't give a crap about the quality control issue everyone is crying about here. I just want Apple to say "we are working on an update, eta xyz days" and I would be completely happy with that. Then I would know it's (a) fixable via software and (b) on their radar as a problem that needs fixing.
I'm just glad more light is being shone on nvidia's complete failure at manufacturing. I had a bad 8400 and Dell refused to admit there was any problem at the time. I hope a large percentage of Apple's new chipset laptops fail so nvidia/manufacturers learns to get its act together. Oh and that more people learn to wait before adopting first generation hardware.
Apple is primarily a software company that forces you to buy their hardware in order to get their software. It's the only way they can make enough money to stay in business - they think. I'd like to see an Apple OS that will run on any PC - that might sell big, especially with DIY. Since most hardware is manufactured and assembled in China and the far East now, the quality is not what it used to be on Apple or any PC computer.
It seems that companies are either producing faulty runs by mistake or on purpose and selling it anyway. Look at Vista - it wasn't ready to work up to standards but Microsoft released it anyway and sold it to a bunch of PC manufacturers who weren't too happy. But, the users still flocked to buy new PCs with buggy Vista. Apple users are just as brainwashed. If they can afford it, they will buy every new product that comes out - and the early buyers get the buggy products.
I'm thinking about a mac for the first time probably need the 17 in mac pro. When was it introduced, is it ok or better compared to 15, is a new model on the way?