MacBook Pro with loud fan and black screen: motherboard failure?
A MacBook Pro a2338 with the fan at full speed and a black screen: the SMC reset doesn't work and the motherboard is presumed dead. An 800 euro repair. Is it worth it?
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Your Mac won't turn on and the fan is running: is it the end of the motherboard?
A MacBook Pro a2338 that suddenly refuses to boot, with the fan at full estimulante ilegal and a black screen. The owner, who had always used it carefully, finds that even the SMC reset doesn't work and the shift key, which indicates initialization, stays dark. AI suggests the classic trick of holding the power button for 10-30 seconds, but all it achieves is that the fan stops for a few seconds before starting up again. The most likely diagnosis, according to those who have been through this, points to a fried motherboard or a hung T2 management chip.
The SMC reset: hope that fades away
Before despairing, the protocol calls for disconnecting all peripherals and the charger, waiting a few minutes, and forcing an SMC reset. However, in this case the fan won't let up and the keyboard doesn't respond. Some users report having brought their Mac back to life after insisting with restarts for up to 20 minutes, but here persistence paid off nothing. The difference is that when the power management chip fails, the system doesn't even get as far as lighting up the keyboard LEDs.
An 800 euro repair: the final blow to the wallet
If the motherboard has died, the out-of-warranty repair runs around 800 euros. A figure that, for a laptop that can cost over 2,000 euros, amounts to nearly half its value. The owner is clear about it: "I'm never buying Apple again." It's not the first time this verdict has been heard from consumers who run into the fragility of modern Macs and the high cost of their repairs.
It's hard to believe that a well-cared-for machine with no bumps can go to waste because of an internal electronic failure. The obsession with thinness and maximum integration turns once-replaceable components — like the motherboard — into the heart that, if it fails, sends everything to the trash. Perhaps next time we buy a laptop, we should look beyond the logo and ask about repairability. But then again, that doesn't look good in the ad.
A MacBook Pro a2338 that suddenly refuses to boot, with the fan at full estimulante ilegal and a black screen. The owner, who had always used it carefully, finds that even the SMC reset doesn't work and the shift key, which indicates initialization, stays dark. AI suggests the classic trick of holding the power button for 10-30 seconds, but all it achieves is that the fan stops for a few seconds before starting up again. The most likely diagnosis, according to those who have been through this, points to a fried motherboard or a hung T2 management chip.
The SMC reset: hope that fades away
Before despairing, the protocol calls for disconnecting all peripherals and the charger, waiting a few minutes, and forcing an SMC reset. However, in this case the fan won't let up and the keyboard doesn't respond. Some users report having brought their Mac back to life after insisting with restarts for up to 20 minutes, but here persistence paid off nothing. The difference is that when the power management chip fails, the system doesn't even get as far as lighting up the keyboard LEDs.
An 800 euro repair: the final blow to the wallet
If the motherboard has died, the out-of-warranty repair runs around 800 euros. A figure that, for a laptop that can cost over 2,000 euros, amounts to nearly half its value. The owner is clear about it: "I'm never buying Apple again." It's not the first time this verdict has been heard from consumers who run into the fragility of modern Macs and the high cost of their repairs.
It's hard to believe that a well-cared-for machine with no bumps can go to waste because of an internal electronic failure. The obsession with thinness and maximum integration turns once-replaceable components — like the motherboard — into the heart that, if it fails, sends everything to the trash. Perhaps next time we buy a laptop, we should look beyond the logo and ask about repairability. But then again, that doesn't look good in the ad.
Also available in: Deutsch
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (10 replies).
More summaries
-
MacBook Neo at 699 euros: Apple's play for the budget market
Apple launches the MacBook Neo on March 11 for 699 euros with an A18 Pro chip, a laptop that shakes up the comparison with iPads.
-
Spain ranks second globally for noise pollution
Spain is the world's second noisiest country, plagued by unregulated motorcycles, sirens and late-night garbage collection.
-
The €50 Rowenta fan you have to turn up to 3 to switch off
The €50 Rowenta fan forces you to go up to 3 before switching it off: the motor's starting torque explains it, the price of the control dial makes it worse.
-
Albo and frozen Louriño, the most recommended callos on the forum
Several forum members criticise Litoral and recommend Albo, La Nora and, above all, the frozen Louriño
-
Spain's bicycle bubble bursts: 40% discounts and inflated prices collapse
In Spain, the cycling boom has ended. Shops offer 40% discounts as demand falls. The cost of looking professional reaches €5,905.
-
Williams Ice Blue Shrinkage: Unilever Changes Stick Format
The Williams Ice Blue stick dries out unopened due to a new format lacking the rotor seal, allowing air entry and product shrinkage.