Got a defective Apple Mac Pro built in late 2013? Apple will fix it for free until 2018.
According to an Apple Support thread, found by MacRumors, Apple has quietly initiated a free repair program for Mac Pro desktop computers launched in Fall 2013. An internal notice, also obtained by MacRumors around the same time, provides additional details on the program, with information on what renders the late 2013 Mac Pros eligible for the free service.
A number of late 2013 Mac Pro workstations have reported GPU-related issues, with graphic cards manufactured between February 8 2015, and April 11, 2015. The symptoms reported include: distorted or no video, unstable or frozen systems, spontaneous shut downs, and even the inability to start up.
Apple has vowed to repair those systems affected, free of charge, as long as they meet the requirements mentioned above, until May 30th 2018.
According to the internal document gained by MacRumors, Apple estimates a repair time between 3 and 5 days, and involves the replacement of both graphic cards. It’s unclear whether the AMD FirePro D300 GPU qualifies for the free repair, as there is no mention of it in the document, but the GPUs of interest mentioned by Apple include AMD FirePro D500, featured in the high-end model of the Mac Pro, and the D700, featured in the built-to-order version.
Owners of a Late 2013 Mac Pro, that integrates a GPU manufactured in the first quarter of 2015, who have not been contacted directly by Apple, in regard to this issue, can schedule an appointment at the nearest Genius Bar, or at an authorized Apple Service Provider, for a determination whether the Mac Pro affected is eligible for free service.