"Mid-2010 15in MacBook Pro Intermittent Black Screen/No Video
I would like to report that about 3 months ago my Mid-2010 MacBook Pro 15" started to show the intermittent Black screen/no video symptom. Early 2011, I bought a 27" Apple Cinema Display (MDP, not thunderbolt) for extended screen usage. Before I sent my computer to Apple Service, I did try every advice I found on the Internet regarding my problem without success. Clearly the problem was related to the NVidia 330M.
At the local Apple Service (Paraguay, South America) people were surprised, as they had known that problem to appear on 2008 MacBook Pro (Nvidia 8600M related) models only. I went there with a print copy of the Apple official acknowledge of the problem (similar to the one you posted which I noticed, is a updated version, as it includes an extended 3 year period after the original purchase for no cost service repair.
(Our July 31st 2012 updated Apple articles list noted an update to that Apple TS4088 (no longer online) first posted Oct 2011, which listed 3 year (was 2) repair extension program for this problem if it persists after applying the previous video/software updates:
(Clip below is from the doc as of 7/31/2012, Apple may revise/change it later)
"...Apple will service affected 15-inch MacBook Pro computers free of charge until three years from date of purchase. Apple will provide further extensions to this program as needed. This worldwide Apple program does not extend the standard warranty coverage of the affected MacBook Pro."
That wording is Deja-Vu from the infamous 8600M GT/MacBook Pro program which also had several extensions over the years.)
After 3 days of service test and contacts they made with USA representatives, they certified my computer for logic board replacement, which arrived 3 weeks later.
However things went worse as my MacBook Pro hung intermittently for unknown reason but not related to the video component. Again, after further service test round, they acknowledged the situation and another logic board was ordered for my computer. I remembered reading on the Internet that several customers had two Logic Board replacements before the symptoms disappeared. At first I thought they may give me a new MacBook Pro, but that was not the case.
Now I have my MacBook Pro running almost flawlessly for 3 weeks (it failed to wake up from sleep once, so I reset the SMC which appears to solve the issue). The second logic board includes the same nVidia 330M component (any later date code/rev?) and now I am very cautious about leaving my computer turned on overnight (as it was used to be) and I am trying to avoid using sleep functionality when instant on is not required. Besides that, I monitor the temperature constantly (using the free Temperature Monitor app) as I think high temperature usage for extended period, may cause the problem to resurface. (w/the flawed 8600M, some thought thermal cycling may have led to gpu separation and IIRC, some PC vendors released bios updates to try to reduce temps/increase cooling. Band-aid attempts IMHO.)
Finally, I installed Mountain Lion. No problem so far. Finger crossed.
Hope my experience is useful for someone.
-Juan"
