NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT vs. NVIDIA Quadro FX 570M?

I just have a PC vs. Mac question, as I am looking at the new MacBook Pros. Which of the following NVIDIA processors is the best for intense graphic applications? Why does Mac only have 1 option, and is it superior to the PC options?
PC
NVIDIA Quadro FX 570M
NVIDIA QUADRO NVS 140M
Mac
NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT
Many thanks!

what do you want to do with such devices, work, play, and specifically which software?
usability is often ignored by people who get swayed by paper-based specs, and it is important to know what you are going to do with a machine before making up your mind, not just which processor and hardware has a .01 percent coolness factor above the other.
I am somewhat biased, for I have developed an intense distrust, disenchantment, and pretty much an aversion to what you would call "PC" software and OSes. Twenty years of DOS and Windows have left me no fond memory, if not for the fact that I know how to fix a lot of software and hardware problems (you learn when you are constantly confronted to problems, and problems abound in the world of Windows).
A Macbook Pro is a beautiful machine, and it is hassle free a good 90%+ of the time, you can install Windows if you must anyhow, but Apple doesn't sell for cheap. Mind you, most high-end PCs do not cost much less anyhow, just the low end ones.
The 8600M GT card supports DirectX 10, can play even Crysis on a 32-bit Windows version very well (I play it from time to time, beautiful), but it isn't a 8800 card, nor is it the best card in all of laptop PCs. I do consider the Macbook Pro a desktop replacement, and I have very intensive use of my machine (scientific software for academics and industry, video games, multimedia, you name it).
So if you must play the latest game, and I mean the latest, with the highest frame-per-second count of all your friends, don't go for a 8600M GT, (ii) for a laptop anyways (laptop were never, never meant to compete with desktop-grade hardware, no matter what you local wise arses will tell you), and (iii) buy a console instead. BUT, if you want to play most games, very well, and you are concerned with media editing, usability, stability, reliability, etc., a Macbook Pro is a beautiful thing to have...
Cordially,
Dr Sly

Similar Messages

Lock-ups/freezes - Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT

Hi all, I have been the owner of a MacBook Pro since August or so. My problem is that when working with my MacBook Pro, occasionally the display freezes up. Sometimes it recovers, sometimes the machine refuse to recover. If I listen to iTunes, I hear the music playing on in the background, which indicates that this is an issue with the graphics chip, and not the computer in general.
I have searched the Internet, and it seems I am not the only one who has issues with the Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT. According to slashdot.org, Apple acknowledges that this may be an issue (http://apple.slashdot.org/apple/08/10/11/1518246.shtml).
Have anyone else experienced these kinds of issues, and if you did, how did you solve them?

Hello! I am feeling a little more secure now that there have been quite a few posts about the poor preformance of the nVidia cards in the SR Macbook Pros, its comforting to know this isn't an isolated issue. I've gone as far as contacting Apple to let them know of the poor preformance. They've were, as usual, very nice and as helpful as they are allowed to be. Currently, I have a replacment on the way apparently, my original was deemd DOA I believe. However, it seems at the time all we can do is report our issues to Apple. My main concern is the legnth of time these machines have been out, and the amount of units sold to unknowing customers who are being sold on what Apple is marketing as a strong feature of the machines: the graphics card. When in reality, the card is extraordinary, the preformance in OSX is extremely poor. It is up to us as consumers to let Apple know how aggrivated we are.
Please, take the time and send your responses and feelings to Apple. You can do that here:
http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbookpro.html

HT203254 Can you find a NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics processors

Where Can you find a NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics processors. I need one for my MacBook Pro 15" A1260.

the GPU is soldered on the logic board. you would need to buy a new logic board.

Macbook Pro 4,1 - NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT

So, over the last 2 years, I very rarely used my Mac. I had my work laptop, iphone and iPad. In the last few weeks I started using the laptop
for running the INSANITY workout videos(MP4) during my workout. Sunday, June 30, during my early morning workout, the laptop screen
scrambles like a checkerboard and froze. I could still hear the audio, but the video was gone. A minute later, the laptop shutdown and reboot with message
"Your computer restarted becasuse of a problem. Press a key or wait a few seconds to continue starting up." (displayed in 6 languages)
After a few reboots the sytem would come back up, but only for about 5 minutes, then same message.
Today, Tuesday, I finally found the discs my system shipped with (10.5x), so I was able to run Apple Hardware Test
(currently running Mountain Lion/ software Download)
I checked box for extended testing. Total test time 1 hour 54 mins 52 secs,
Test Results
Alert: Apple Hardware Test has detected an error
4VDC/1/40000003: VideoController
I google 4VDC and find
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2377
"The NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics processor repair extension program ended on December 7, 2012. This program provided extended repair coverage for a period of four years from the date of purchase, and as of Dec 7th 2012, it is unlikely products qualify for this extended repair coverage."
Oops, missed the free repair by 6 months, paperweight :-)
Thanks for reading, happy 4th of July all.

Ok, Kaz & Grant, took your advice and went to local apple store. The tech ran their video checker, looked like a small black external hdd labled GPT that he plugged in. After the video fail, he said it "could" be the video card or the logic board. He was familiar with the repair program but dismissed it because he said it had expired for me in September 2012.
Issue: Garbled video on screen
Steps to Reproduce: Ran Graphics Process Test, failed.
Proposed Resolution: Depot for new logic board
Cosmetic Condition: Sticker on clamshell
Estimated Turn Around Time: We'll call you in 3 - 5 days
Mac OS Version: 10.8.4
Hard Drive Size: 200GB
Memory Size: 4GB
iLife Version: 09
Repair Estimate
Item Number
Description
Price
Amount Due
S1580LL/A
Flat Rate Repair Charge, PBG4/MBP15"
$ 210.00
$ 210.00
S1586LL/A
Labor Charge, PBG4/MBP15"
$ 100.00
$ 100.00
Total (Tax not included)
$ 310.00
$ 310.00
FYI, this is the sticker on clamshell

MacBook Pro A1260 with NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics processor

Hello,
I booted my MBP 2.5Ghz Core 2 Duo this morning and was greeted with a startup chime and then a pink 'chequer board' effect on screen while the apple logo appears faintly in the background. The OS doesn't ever load because the startup sequence seems to freeze shortly after this.
I think this sounds like the infamous NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics processor failure
If so, am I correct in thinking Apple may still be addressing the failure, free of charge. I think it's supposed to be up to 4 years from date of purchase, but given that this macbook was discontinued in Oct 2008, and it's now sept 2012 it would make it very tight, perhaps even exceeding the cutoff, becuase I can't remember the purchase date.
Does anyone know the restrictions to this offer? Do you need the original receipt/invoice? Does the MBP need to be standard, or can it have been upgraded with SSD or 2nd Hard Drive, or anything? Are they even strict on the cutoff date? Anyone have any experience on what to expect? I'm fearing the loss of time and projects while this is being sorted out
Thanks all.

It's a little late for me to jump into your discussion, I only read it when I posted an issue with the same model.
Well, I hope you got it fixed soon enough in 2012, because as I learned in the past few days after purchasing that model and reading up on the issues, Apple stopped the care for this fault on December 7th or so in 2012.
Seeing that people still get problems due to that graphics card, I should try to return the used one I just bought. I might run well now, but who knows how long.

Early 2008 MBP w/ NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics processor fail

My beautiful Macbook Pro 17" (early 2008) just started getting stripes on the screen and randomly shutting down; research and a call to a local Mac repair person say this is the known problem with the NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics processor.
What do I do now considering the class action suit in the States, and it being 2014? Do I take it to my nearest Apple store and request a fix/replacement?
I've been a Mac user since the early 6100, moved to my beautiful G4 ('Albert', as he was lovingly known), then on to the eMac 800. Bought the Macbook Pro 17" in May 2008 because I needed it to travel with but now it's presenting with vertical stripes and will suddenly shut down for no reason.
Have a Mac Mini which is my main machine, but I really need the MPB for when I travel abroad.
I don't think it's fair that the machine I bought, which I now I find out has a known issue with the graphics card, won't get dealt with because Apple closed the replacement programme in December 2012 (according to this page on Apple MacBook Pro: Distorted video or no video issues). And if it's a known faulty piece of hardware that was installed in their machines, how can there be a time limit on the replacement? If I only use my machine once in a blue moon that means it will, logically, fail much later that a person who uses a machine every day, so why do I lose out. I spent just the same amount of money to buy the new machine as everyone else so where are my consumer rights?
If there's an Apple representative that would like to respond and resolve my issue, I would be grateful. I can take my machine to the nearest Apple 'genius' bar tomorrow for the diagnostic to prove it's a faulty Nvidia graphics processor.
I'm hoping my dad with his Dell PC, which he bought in 2005 and is still running, is not right to scoff at my Mac love!
With kind regards,
Tracy Shorrock
@Freelancealot

Hi Kappy,
I found my nearest UK store in Solihull, but it tells me there's no availability for appointments with people with Macs until Friday at 4pm!!! I'll be leaving the country on Thursday and need this sorted out before then.
I don't want to delay my flight, drive all the way to Solihull to be told my MBP is out of the time perioid available for the replacement programme. What exactly do you mean by 'take it in for a service'? If it's the Nvidia card as everything points to, what will they do?
Thanks for your time, and suggestions.
Cheers,
Tracy

HT203254 MacBook Pro 2007 NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT issues

I have a MacBook Pro from 2007 that all of a sudden went black. Unfortunately it was out of warranty by one month when it happened. What would be the least expensive way to replace the NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphic processor. Also, is there a way to use a different graphic processor?
Is it difficult to replace it by myself? Thanks...

Hi Reddmanz
How interesting! I posted a reply to you this afternoon asking about Mr. Cook and it appears it was never posted.
It appears a nerve has been touched - how strange. Fortunately I took a print of the discussion page so that's stuffed up their corporate effort - what a load of plonkers. I do have to deal with CEO's, SVP's and the like. All is well until their little apple cart is upset. I have no idea who, or should I say at what level, the editor is that makes these decisions. In most cases they have a lot to learn about corporate trust and public relations. It is highly likely that the person responsible is at a very low level. If he does not think so, he will when he reads this.
Ah well, no Steve to write to - it will have to be the other one - is his name Cook?
Best regards to all and do not get upset by one lowly corporate plonker.
TY
PS To Mr. Plonker - I've been using and buying Apples since 1986 - probably a long time before you were born.
PPS I suppose you pull this before it goes out but at least you will have read it.

MacBook Pro met NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT-grafische processors: vervormd beeld of geen beeld (2007-2008)

Re: Artikel: TS2377, Apple website (MacBook Pro: Distorted video or no video issues)
Specifieke producten waarop dit van invloed is:
MacBook Pro 15-inch en 17-inch-modellen met NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT-grafische processors
MacBook Pro gebuikers opgelet!
Letterlijke tekst op de Apple website: "In juli 2008 heeft NVIDIA openlijk toegegeven dat er een hoger percentage defecten bij de grafische processors is dan normaal, vanwege een verpakkingsfout. Tegelijkertijd verzekerde NVIDIA Apple ervan dat het probleem niet gold voor Mac-computers met deze grafische processors. Na het uitvoeren van een onderzoek constateerde Apple echter dat het probleem mogelijk gold voor enkele MacBook Pro-computers met de grafische processor NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT. Als de grafische processor van NVIDIA in uw MacBook Pro defect is of binnen vier jaar na de datum van aankoop defect raakt, wordt er kosteloos een reparatie uitgevoerd, zelfs als de garantieperiode van uw MacBook Pro is verstreken."
Waar dient u op te letten:
"Een vervormd of een verdraaid beeld op het computerscherm. Geen beeld op het computerscherm (of extern beeldscherm), zelfs wanneer de computer is ingeschakeld"
Mijn ervaring met de Apple helpdesk:
Ik kocht mijn MacBook Pro 17-inch-model in de week voor Kerst 2007. In december 2011 was de MacBook nog geen 4 jaar oud toen de kuren begonnen.
Ik had net een upgrade gedaan van OSX Snow Leopard naar Lion, en ik verweet Lion dat het meer gebruik maakt van geheugen en video: de laptop werd heet en de fan blies bij het minste of geringste. Met als gevolg dat de laptop hing (in jargon op internet fora: 'freeze of the screen').
Op enig moment ontstond dit verschijnsel al tijdens het opstarten. Soms moest ik wel 20 keer rebooten om de MacBook aan de praat te krijgen. Ik wisselde Memory chips op aanraden van iemand op een forum, batterij er uit start knop indrukken en battarij er weer in, maar niets hielp. Dit gebeurde steeds vaker en ik zocht op internet naar vergelijkbare kenmerken.
Alles wat er op internet over dit onderwerp te lezen valt heb ik gelezen.Die waren er in overvloed maar de relatie met de videokaart vond ik pas rond de Kerst 2011 toe iemand verwees naar bovenstaan artikel TS2377 op de Apple Website. De relatie werd mij duidelijk omdat de computer niet hangt: de harde schijf reutelde door maar de muis was onbewegelijk.
Begin januari ging ik twee weken op vakantie, maar bij thuiskomst kreeg ik de MacBook pro helemaal niet meer aan de praat. Ik baalde stevig omdat ik de MacBook pro voor mijn werk nodig heb zodat ik de laptop naar een door Apple erkende serviceprovider (AASP) bracht.
Wat blijkt? Had ik de MacBook pro een maand eerder gebracht dan wilde Apple de kosten van vervanging van het moederbord (waar de grafische processor op is gemonteerd) vergoeden. Sterker nog, de Apple helpdesk verklaart dat de computer geen dag later dan 4 jaar oud mag zijn om voor de regeling in aanmerking te komen.
Dus mensen die twijfelen: DIRECT contact opnemen met een door Apple erkende serviceprovider en die datum schriftelijk laten bastleggen als BEWIJS voor later! (advies van de Apple helpdesk)
Ik heb sterk het vermoeden dat door de hitte als gevolg van het gebruik van Lion, het soldeerwerk van de processor slechte verbinding is gaan maken. Dat de MacBook Pro 27 inch heet wordt is een algemeen bekend verschijnsel. Nog geen jaar geleden moest ik de bartterij vernieuwen (drie jaar na aaschaf), omdat deze deze zo bol ging staan dat het trackpad niet meer functioneerde. Maar Apple geeft helaas ook geen garantie op batterijen!
Ik betreur dat Apple geen coulance betracht met mijn - verder nog prima functionerende - MacBook Pro 17-inch met NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT-grafische processor. De eneige oplossing die ik nog zie is aanspraak maken op het 'consumentenrecht'. Ik adviseer iedereen dan ook contact op te nemen met de rechtsbijstandverzekering als Apple in deze casus niet meewerkt.
U bent gewaarschuwd.
Bart Lensink

If your internal display works, it's not the nVidia problem. The language in the article you quoted states that a non functioning internal "or" external display is an indicator of the problem. That's a little misleading (and could be cause for confusion). In all cases, the internal display would have an issue. If you also happen to have an external display, it would experience an issue as well. If your internal display is functioning properly, your GPU is functioning properly. Of course that still leaves you with getting your external display working. Fortunately, the Bravia is a popular model and it is likely others here have used it and will hopefully chime in with their experiences.

Graphics card memory NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 512MB vs. 256MB

how much difference will i see between the NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 512MB of GDDR3 memory, and the NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 256MB of GDDR3 memory??
i will be doing HD editing on FCP.
any input is appreciated!!
e

thanks..i went ahead with the higher RAM:
Refurbished MacBook Pro 2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
15.4-inch glossy widescreen display
2GB memory
250GB hard drive
8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 512MB of GDDR3 memory
got a good deal on it today.
we'll seeeeeee......
e

Compiz-fusion, nvidia GeForce 8600M GT, no Compiz-fusion configurator.

Hi there,
I have few issues with the Compiz-fusion...
1. I have the Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT card, one thing is for sure - i can play The Witcher without any trouble. And Compiz-Fusion is running very slow... Maybe not very slow, but i think, that a card that can handle The Witcher - should have no trouble with sth like Compiz-Fusion... I've installed the newest Nvidia drivers, everything seems to be OK... But it isnt... C-F is running slow, making me mad ;]
2. I can't use the ccsm... AFAIK, ccsm should be the graphical configurator for Compiz-Fusion... But i have some trouble with locales... i'm using Polish locales, and the (standard?) en_EN UTF8 locales...

Thanks for the reply.
I did that, restarted Xserver with Ctrl+Alt+Backspace
no black screen after fusion-icon command this time (I suppose because Option "AllowGLXWithComposite" is off)
but when i select Compiz as a Window Mnager from fusion-icon I have no borders in my windows and no effects and I canot switch throw windows. Why is that...?
after fusion-icon command I take this exit:
* Detected Session: kde
* Searching for installed applications...
* No GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap with direct rendering context
... nor with indirect rendering, this isn't going to work!
* Using the GTK Interface
* Starting Compiz
... executing: compiz --replace --sm-disable --ignore-desktop-hints ccp
Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":0.0".
Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":0.0".
Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":0.0".
compiz (core) - Fatal: glXCreateContext failed
compiz (core) - Error: Failed to manage screen: 0
compiz (core) - Fatal: No manageable screens found on display :0
Why I take Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":0.0".
and
compiz (core) - Fatal: glXCreateContext failed
compiz (core) - Error: Failed to manage screen: 0
compiz (core) - Fatal: No manageable screens found on display :0
is there something wrong wiht my drivers? I installed them from the official repo.
Last edited by TreeMinds (2008-05-25 16:02:32)

HT203254 NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT

The official Apple program regarding the Graphics Display: NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT has ended since December 7th 2012
Today, February 19th 2013 I still have that same problem, and don't know what I can do.
I have a MacBook Pro.
Anyone has any ideas? Apple, do you think it's normal to end a program like this when you still have users with the same problem?

Only Apple know how much it will cost but from what I have read there are 2 options, that is IF Apple will even fix it now.
1) To replace the Logic board is somewhere around $400 if done locally at an Apple store.
2) It can be sent to an Apple Repair Facility/Depot and be completely refurbished for something like $320. Unless they find more damage then that $320 will cover.
But since the system is now 5 years old (Not from date of purchase but Model years) Apple stops all support for system 5 years old and older. Only an Apple store and or the facility/depot would know if your system is to old for them to fix it or not.
Good Luck & Best Wishes.
alankirsch wrote:
Thank you Shootist007,
I'll take care of it on my own then. That ***** since Apple had an official program.
It will cost me no less than 250 usd I presume.

Reset NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics driver

How can I reset my NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics driver in my MBP 2.2 GHz, 2 Gb RAM, Mac OS X 10.7.2? When I start it up, white screen appears OK, but when the login window should appear, the screen goes black, and I need to connect my external monitor (Apple Cinema Display 23-inch DVI) to see the image. When I finally log in, and I go to the System Preferences panel and try to detect my MBP display, it seems that it does not exist.
I have tried everything: resetting PRAM, fixing permissions, etc, but nothing happens. I even formatted the HD, and tried to reinstall OS X Lion, and in this case, both monitors work as mirrors (weird, eh?). As it did not work, I tried to install the original OSX that the installation disks have, but starting the installation process from the disk did not work, because the video is scrambled (weirder!). So it is not a hardware problem, and I think the NVIDIA drivers are corrupt, but I don't know how to fix this problem. Can anybody help? Thanks in advance

Hi
Are you getting the MacBook Pro repaired ?

Normal temperature for NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT

Hi, what is the normal temperature for NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT when on notebook I use only word, or some programs, no play games.

Quote from: Mike on 01-February-10, 11:02:34
normal depends on the environment, the ambient temperature. Is it hot where you use it? Do you use it on a hard surface or place it directly on your lap or some cloth type surface. There are quite a number of variables. What temperatures are you noticing?
if I work with word or use internet the temperature is about 55*C

NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M (256 mb) vs NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT (512 mb)

Hi, new here, but ive been wondering for quite a while now which one, in terms of processing power (playing games, video editing, etc) would be better?
NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M (256 mb) or the NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT (512 mb)
the 8600M being on the previous system, and the 330M on the new one, if I were to get the new one with 256 video memory, would it still be better than the 8600M with 512mb vram that I currently have?
Thanks.

Hi so does this mean that the 330, even at 256mb will be faster right? Thanks.

NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT - What does Apple use for replacement?

I have had 'issues' with my display on my MBP 2.4 since Jan. '08. I've documented this w/ Applecare (so there is a list of reported issues so they can see there's a problem as it's not something I can replicate at the Genius bar). It's still under warranty, but my concern, and question is this...
I'd like it fixed. But, If I bring in my MBP (again) to Apple and let's say they say it is the NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT that's faulty, WHAT WILL THEY REPLACE IT WITH? Another 'faulty' chip? [I realize the whole board has to be replaced]
Is there a definitive answer to what NVIDIA chip Apple would use? I've read that they are using the SAME likely-faulty product. That is not good news. And if NVIDIA has acknowledged the problem, do they have a FIXED Chipset for this model?

My best guess is that the replacement boards also have the faulty chip. The fact that the affected MBP production run all the way to the last ones made (Sep 08) leads me to believe the there is no other option but to use the same video chips. BTW please do not assume that since the nvidia chip is soldered on the logic board that it can't be replaced. These Rev.2 boards could very well be just rebuild ones with the video chip replaced at a central workshop equipped to do such a thing.

NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT vs. NVIDIA Quadro FX 570M?

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