Apple's '07-'08 MacBook Pros included in Nvidia class-action settlement

Case No. 08-cv-04312-JW relates to Nvidia chips found in some Dell, HP and Apple notebooks sold between 2005 and 2010. For Mac owners, the suit relates to two notebooks: 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro models sold between May 2007 and September 2008.

Owners of an affected Mac system could experience distorted or scrambled video on the screen, or the display may not work when the notebook is turned on. Some Dell and HP systems also reportedly have additional issues, such as random characters, lines or garbled images appearing on the screen.

Details of the settlement have been sent out in an e-mail that some incorrectly suspected is a phony spam advertising message. However, a representative from Nvidia confirmed to AppleInsider Wednesday that the content of the e-mail is legitimate.

The class-action lawsuit known as "The Nvidia GPU Litigation" was heard in a U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California, San Jose Division. Judge James Ware gave preliminary approval of the settlement on Aug. 30.

The lawsuit alleges that graphics processing units and media and communications processors supplied by Nvidia affected the performance of some notebook computers.

"NVIDIA denies all allegations of wrongdoing and has asserted many defenses," a notice issued by the U.S. District Court reads. "The settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing." Apple, HP and Dell are not parties to the lawsuit.

Members of the class action have three potential options in the proposed settlement:

• 1. Owners of Apple and Dell machines may receive replacement of the Nvidia GPU or MCP.
• 2. Those who have an affected HP notebook may receive a replacement notebook computer similar in kind and value.
• 3. Nvidia will fund $2 million for reimbursement, which will be used to pay for repairs related to problems with the chips.

The e-mail instructs users who may be a part of the class action to register their e-mail address at nvidiasettlement.com. It states that the claim period will begin before Dec. 20, 2010.

The full list of machines and purchase date ranges is included below:

Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch) May 2007 – September 2008 Apple MacBook Pro (17-inch) May 2007 – September 2008 Dell Inspiron 1420 May 2007 – September 30, 2008 Dell Inspiron 9400/E1705 March 2006 – February 28, 2010 Dell Latitude D620 December 2005 – November 30, 2008 Dell Latitude D630 February 2007 – September 30, 2008 Dell Latitude D630c February 2007 – September 30, 2008 Dell Latitude D820 November 2005 – March 31, 2008 Dell Latitude D830 March 2007 – September 30, 2008 Dell Precision M2300 August 2007 – September 30, 2008 Dell Precision M4300 March 2007 – September 30, 2008 Dell Precision M6300 December 2007 – March 31, 2009 Dell Precision M65 November 2005 – January 31, 2008 Dell Vostro 1700 March 2007 – September 30, 2008 Dell Vostro Notebook 1310 December 2007 – September 30, 2008 Dell Vostro Notebook 1400 May 2007 – September 30, 2008 Dell Vostro Notebook 1510 December 2007 – September 30, 2008 Dell Vostro Notebook 1710 January 2008 – July 31, 2008 Dell XPS M1210 March 2006 – November 30, 2008 Dell XPS M1330 March 2007 – September 30, 2008 Dell XPS M1530 September 2007 – January 31, 2009 Dell XPS M1710 March 2006 – February 28, 2010 Dell XPS M1730 November 2007 – January 31, 2009 Dell XPS1710 March 2006 – April 30, 2009 HP Compaq Presario v30xx March 2006 – October 31, 2008 HP Compaq Presario v31xx March 2006 – October 31, 2008 HP Compaq Presario v32xx March 2006 – October 31, 2008 HP Compaq Presario v33xx March 2006 – October 31, 2008 HP Compaq Presario v34xx March 2006 – October 31, 2008 HP Compaq Presario v60xx May 2006 – October 31, 2008 HP Compaq Presario v61xx May 2006 – October 31, 2008 HP Compaq Presario v62xx May 2006 – October 31, 2008 HP Compaq Presario v63xx May 2006 – October 31, 2008 HP Compaq Presario v64xx May 2006 – October 31, 2008 HP Compaq Presario F500 October 2006 – September 30, 2008 HP Pavilion dv20xx March 2006 – December 31, 2008 HP Pavilion dv21xx March 2006 – December 31, 2008 HP Pavilion dv22xx March 2006 – December 31, 2008 HP Pavilion dv23xx March 2006 – December 31, 2008 HP Pavilion dv24xx March 2006 – December 31, 2008 HP Pavilion dv60xx May 2006 – April 30, 2009 HP Pavilion dv61xx May 2006 – April 30, 2009 HP Pavilion dv62xx May 2006 – April 30, 2009 HP Pavilion dv63xx May 2006 – April 30, 2009 HP Pavilion dv64xx May 2006 – April 30, 2009 HP Pavilion dv90xx May 2006 – November 30, 2008 HP Pavilion dv92xx May 2006 – November 30, 2008 HP Pavilion dv93xx May 2006 – November 30, 2008 HP Pavilion dv94xx May 2006 – November 30, 2008 HP Pavilion tx1xxx March 2007 – May 31, 2008