My first Apple Macbook Pro A1226 fixed

enieves137

Weaksauce
Joined
Oct 4, 2009
Messages
126
Had my nephew's MacBook Pro A1226 to fix from last year. The usual Nvidia graphic chip. I found a Ebay seller in China that sells the IC at a good price. Goldenchipset for $25 and bought the re-ball template for $7, just in case I have mounting issue. Shipping took 1/12 weeks.

The original motherboard/logic board was defective beyond repair so I waited until an Ebay seller wants to off load his broken MacBook Pro for a decent price. I was picky and price. Won the bid for $70 and $15 shipping but he was local to me so I still gave the shipping, he brought it to my apartment, nice. I knew he had a Nvidia chip problem, yet he posted LCD crack. Took a chance and made a deal.

After the Nvidia chip was replaced, tried and dang I was successful. I work on advanced sat communication equipment so I had the hot air machine with laser guidance available. And the rework operator did it for free. All company equipment, not mine.

My next problem, learning curve on hard drive wipe/format with Apple OS X. Not as intuitive as Windows to do a wipe and fresh install.
 
Had my nephew's MacBook Pro A1226 to fix from last year. The usual Nvidia graphic chip. I found a Ebay seller in China that sells the IC at a good price. Goldenchipset for $25 and bought the re-ball template for $7, just in case I have mounting issue. Shipping took 1/12 weeks.

The original motherboard/logic board was defective beyond repair so I waited until an Ebay seller wants to off load his broken MacBook Pro for a decent price. I was picky and price. Won the bid for $70 and $15 shipping but he was local to me so I still gave the shipping, he brought it to my apartment, nice. I knew he had a Nvidia chip problem, yet he posted LCD crack. Took a chance and made a deal.

After the Nvidia chip was replaced, tried and dang I was successful. I work on advanced sat communication equipment so I had the hot air machine with laser guidance available. And the rework operator did it for free. All company equipment, not mine.

My next problem, learning curve on hard drive wipe/format with Apple OS X. Not as intuitive as Windows to do a wipe and fresh install.

This forum is turning into a personal blog, I swear.
 
I probably would've given up and try to sell the macbook as broken if motherboard related problem. Isn't that the old model macbook pro? I prob would've been more ok with selling it was parts instead of fixing then.
 
Read the post. Stating a fact that Model A1226 Macbook logic board is fixable if you replace the Nvidia chip, carelfully. Yes personal laptop, but why does it have to be a complaint if you don't understand the tread.

If you actually understand this issue, it is a big problem. I belong to Apple blog as well, I get many questions about direction of troubleshooting. People spend about $1600 new for this model and when it breaks they are looking for answers.

I'm technical in nature, part of my job working on complex satillite comunications. Thanks to 5 years in the USAF and college. I share knowledge, not hold it.
 
The problem is more widespread than people realize, if you own a laptop with Nvidia graphic chip chances are that you see this problem. Sony also has seen this issue per an online article:
http://internews.comze.com/?p=31

The book of interest:
Surface Mount Technology: Principles and Practice
You can purchase the book at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Surface-Mount-Technology-Principles-Practice/dp/0412129213

The technical fact is that the die is overheating, the heat transfer goes to the BGA connection. Since we use lead free parts, more heat is required for placement, about 255 deg C and tend to cause BGA cracks or fissues if done incorrectly. Then the part die heats up, high enough to transfer heat via the connection down to the space between the BGA and PCB to cause more solder ball fissures. It breaks the connection thus video issue, per the article.
 
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Read the post. Stating a fact that Model A1226 Macbook logic board is fixable if you replace the Nvidia chip, carelfully. Yes personal laptop, but why does it have to be a complaint if you don't understand the tread.

If you actually understand this issue, it is a big problem. I belong to Apple blog as well, I get many questions about direction of troubleshooting. People spend about $1600 new for this model and when it breaks they are looking for answers.

I'm technical in nature, part of my job working on complex satillite comunications. Thanks to 5 years in the USAF and college. I share knowledge, not hold it.

It may have been $1600 new, but that's a 2007 model, correct? Not sure how much time and effort most folks would put into fixing something that old - plus it appears that your solution requires tools/equipment that aren't readily available. Glad you were able to get it running.

There were numerous threads about this problem several years ago where people were fixing laptop MBs by baking them in home ovens.
 
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