Three (LIkely unrelated) Issues

Question

Hey all,
I've had my Pro for a little less than a month and in the last few days, two problems have developed. First, I've been having the graphics glitches everyone's been talking about. I get them when scrolling in web browsers (tearing), resizing iTunes windows (all sorts of tearing), selecting text in Word or Pages (blinking) and scrolling in Finder (the bottom right section of the window goes blank when I scroll). The glitches only happen on the 9400M.
Second, my Ethernet doesn't work. It always says not connected, no matter what network I am attached to or what prefs I change.
Third, I've been getting intermittent crashes while playing games. It only seems to happen when running Steam through CrossOver Games, and I figured it was just a software problem with that app, but the Error Reports seemed to imply it was a hardware problem. They all look similar to this:
Mon Jan 19 09:52:43 2009
panic(cpu 1 caller 0x00405DEB): "NVRM: Read Error: GPU 0, PCI 0x00000200, BAR0 0xe4000000 0x612f8000"@/SourceCache/xnu/xnu-1228.9.59/iokit/Kernel/IOLib.cpp:724
Backtrace (CPU 1), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
Then there's a huge list of variables then:
Backtrace continues...
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.GeForce(5.3.6)@0x105e000->0x10f5fff
dependency: com.apple.NVDAResman(5.3.6)@0xbac000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(1.7.1)@0xb9e000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.5)@0x64c000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(1.7.1)@0x7d3000
com.apple.nvidia.nv50hal(5.3.6)@0xe09000->0x105dfff
dependency: com.apple.NVDAResman(5.3.6)@0xbac000
com.apple.NVDAResman(5.3.6)@0xbac000->0xe08fff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(1.7.1)@0xb9e000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.5)@0x64c000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(1.7.1)@0x7d3000
BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task
The crashes only happen on the 9600M GT. I think it might be an overheating issue, as when I kick smcfancontrol to 6200 RPM, the problem occurs less frequently, but I at least one of my crashes came when I was running the fans at that speed.
Obviously, I should take the computer to the Apple Store. I can't get to one for a few days, so in the mean time, I figured I'd see what all of you think. My question is will the techs be able to reproduce my problems and what will they do with my computer? The graphics glitches go away temporarily (right now I haven't had them for about 12 hours) when I zap the PRAM and the crashes don't happen always. My other question is could the problems be related. Two are them pertain to the graphics cards, so there's a possibility there.
Thanks
Message was edited by: cheez277
Message was edited by: cheez277

Answer 1

Like you, I think that this issue is a hardware issue with the graphics card(s). The scrolling/resizing issues should definitely not be happening. My MBP will resize iTunes windows and this Safari window "smooth as butter". I suppose it could be a corrupt install of the graphics drivers. You could try an Archive and Install of OS X in the meantime before you can get to the Apple store. Just restart the computer with the Install disc in the drive, and hold down the C key. Then, as you click through the installer you'll see an Options button. Click that and make sure you check off the "Archive and Install" and "Preserve Network and Users Settings" buttons.
Other than that, I'm sorry that I don't have any good news. The ethernet port will likely require a new logic board, meaning that you'll get new graphics anyway.
--Travis