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Mac Pro Apple Care

T

tpavur

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 8, 2010
196
0
As I recently got my Mac Pro I was curious what the consensus is on purchasing Apple Care, I plan on upgrading the CPU and GPU later on down the line, I know I will need to retain the original processor tray when I turn it in for warranty. However is it worth it for things like the logic board and PSU or is it very rare/cheap to replace these items as needed? I'm very hardware literate so replacing things is not the issue it is simply the parts that i am worried might be hard to come by and very expensive versus the cost of Apple Care.

Any guidance with cost examples would be awesome, thanks in advance. Also where is a cheap place to buy just a 12 processor tray later on down the road? It seems like I can slide the puppy right in and be ready to go since they are all 1366 chip sets. I bought a single processor Mac Pro that is my reason for one day wanting to buy a new tray, OWC offers the upgrade but they keep my old tray, this is not an option for me.
 
The parts are fairly reasonable all things considered. The most expensive proprietary parts would be the logic board(s). You can score a logicboard for about $400/$500, same for a single socket processor board.

Also, I've seen a new chassis with power supply and all internal fans go for about $200 or so on eBay. If you shop around you can find the parts cheaply.

I wouldn't bother with Applecare personally. I would only consider it for a Macbook (Pro) (Air), and even then I would be skeptical. I've owned 8 or more Macs. Never had any of them serviced within the time frame of Applecare.

Here are two scenarios that had happened to me:

I had a G4 Mac Mini that died the day I purchased the first gen Aluminum 20" iMac. It had reached 3 years and 2 months. Luckily I did not buy Applecare on the Mac Mini, or else I would've been out even more cash.

The same first gen Aluminum iMac had its hard drive fail 3 years and 2 months after it was purchased. However, this time I had purchased Applecare, but was out that extra cash for Applecare, plus the cash for a replacement disk. Luckily replacing a disk is very cheap and easy to do. This computer is chugging along nicely.

Everyone has their own opinions on Applecare. Obviously, due to my experience, I have reasons to dislike it and be disuaded from it. Some people have wonderful experiences. Those are generally people using a Macbook (Pro)(Air). However, most experiences anyone cares to share with anyone over a forum like this, is the negative experiences in which their machine breaks prematurely.

Hopefuly my experiences can help you decide.

Also, I used to work in retail electronics. While Apple has excellent customer service, extended warranties are designed to drive profit margins up, first and foremost.

Just remember, by buying one, you are betting your product will fail within that time frame. However, odds are usually against that bet.

But aside from everything I mentioned, I never want some "Genius" taking my machine and trying to fix it. I can do it myself, a lot faster and more accurately. I'd rather take the $250, or whatever the cost of the extended warranty might be, and bet that my prodcut WON'T fail.
 
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sorry totally disagree! $300 for this, $500 hundred for that

F-THAT!

my 2008 mac pro cost over $2000, so for $300 more for apple care! i have already made my money back!

brown out happened, fried my video card memory, hard drive, memory and logic board all replaced! now tell me that is less than 300 for all that!

CYA!!!! cover it good !

get the apple care, anything can happen and sometimes does!

better to be safe then sorry imo!:cool:
 
j2048b said:
sorry totally disagree! $300 for this, $500 hundred for that

F-THAT!

my 2008 mac pro cost over $2000, so for $300 more for apple care! i have already made my money back!

brown out happened, fried my video card memory, hard drive, memory and logic board all replaced! now tell me that is less than 300 for all that!

CYA!!!! cover it good !

get the apple care, anything can happen and sometimes does!

better to be safe then sorry imo!:cool:
Click to expand...

+1. In all my macs - from my first iMac to my actual MP and MBP - I always get Applecare, and have always used it... most of the times for not very serious stuff, like a noisy fan or clogged scrollwheel mice. But a couple of times, I used it for critical issues that ended up in exchanged new machines and better deals due to the hassle: those instances have paid applecare for all of them.

A MP is a big investment. Is good to know that for 2 extra years you wont have to run the risk of expensive repairs. Apple quality these days is not what it used to be.

Get Applecare - you have one year from the purchase date to fish for a good deal - even as low as 150 bucks or less (for example, these kind of deals) - and the worst case scenario is that you don't use it at all. But if you do need it, chances are you'll regret it big time.
 
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Check this out:

Applecare for $176 (no tax, no US shipping) from a highly respected seller (B&HPhoto in NY). In stock. Act NOW! ;)

So, for that money, how can one afford to take the risks?

cheers!
 
Johnf1285 said:
Everyone has their own opinions on Applecare. Obviously, due to my experience, I have reasons to dislike it and be disuaded from it. Some people have wonderful experiences.
Click to expand...

Absolutely right. In the end, the decision whether to buy AC or not is up to you.

That being said, replacement parts for the Mac Pro are not as expensive (any more) than for Apple's mobile devices, so you certainly do have a point.

Personally, I always buy AC. Over the years, it saved me more than 5000€.
A quick anecdote; 2 months before AC ran out (so the unit was 34 months old) my 30" Cinema showed some image distortions. Apple replaced it within 24 hours. Saved me 1700€ (yes, that's $2500). Thank you very much Apple. :D

If you want to be on the safe side, buy AC. It really isn't that expensive if you buy it from third party sellers.
The fact alone that Apple's quality control isn't really good these days (if existent at all) makes me buy AC every time.
 
In case you're curious, this page lists the Internet/catalog resellers who are Apple-authorized for various products.

J&R is listed, B&H is not. However, B&H does say they are a value-added Apple reseller on their own Web site.
 
That list is not complete. B&H is definitely an Apple Authorized Dealer. You can use Apple's search to find it.
 
Apple care

My Mac Pro is coming into its third month so I am getting ready to buy apple care thanks for the thread!!!! When I purchased my hex I bought 2 ACDs together from Apple.

Do I need to buy separate Apple Care for both ACDs or 1 or none?

Thank u in advance :)
 
if the mac pro invoice has both acd's on it you would be covered for one certainly maybe both.


"Apple hardware coverage
The AppleCare Protection Plan provides global repair coverage, both parts and labor, from Apple-authorized technicians around the world. Apple hardware coverage includes:

Your Mac computer
Included accessories such as the power adapter
Apple memory (RAM)
AirPort Express Base Station, AirPort Extreme Base Station, or Time Capsule2
MacBook Air SuperDrive (for Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server only)
Apple display purchased with your Mac"
the above is pulled form apple's site.


personally if you purchased this it looks to me like one for sure.

you should get an email response and if apple says both are covered you want it in writing. or at least in an email not a phone call/

found the pdf looks like only one display


http://images.apple.com/legal/applecare/docs/NA_APP_English_v5.3.pdf



a. Scope of Coverage. Your coverage for defects begins on the date your Covered Equipmentʼs Apple hardware warranty expires and terminates at the end of the Coverage Period (“Repair Coverage Period”). Apple will provide both parts and labor, but may require you to replace certain readily installable parts yourself, as described below. Apple may provide replacement product or parts that are manufactured from parts that are new or equivalent to new in both performance and reliability. The replacement product or parts will be functionally equivalent to the replaced products or parts and will assume the remaining coverage under the Plan. The products or parts that are replaced become Appleʼs property. Apple strongly advises you to record as a back up, data and software residing or recorded in the Covered Equipment, before having the Covered Equipment available for repair or replacement services. The scope of support provided to you will vary according to the Plan you purchased, as follows.
☟☟☟
(i) Under APP, Apple covers the Covered Equipment and one compatible Apple branded display if purchased at the same time and registered with a covered Mac computer.


An Apple-branded mouse and keyboard are also covered under APP if included with the Covered Equipment (or purchased with a Mac mini). An AirPort Extreme Card, an AirPort Express or AirPort Extreme Base Station, Time Capsule, an Apple-branded DVI to ADC display adapter, Apple RAM modules and MacBook Air SuperDrive are also covered under APP if used with the compatible Covered Equipment and originally purchased by you up to two years before your Mac purchase or during the term of your APP. If during the Repair Coverage Period there is a defect in the materials or workmanship of the Covered Equipment or the other covered items described above, Apple will at its option, repair or replace the affected item.
 
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diazj3 said:
Check this out:

Applecare for $176 (no tax, no US shipping) from a highly respected seller (B&HPhoto in NY). In stock. Act NOW! ;)

So, for that money, how can one afford to take the risks?

cheers!
Click to expand...

I also got mine from B&H last September. Not spend $176 for two additional years of protection of a $3200 computer? I make mistakes occasionally but I'm not stupid!

If anything happens I would much prefer delivering the MP to the Apple store and picking it up a few days later compared to mucking around in the quicksand of eBayland looking for affordable repair parts.

BTW, as a photographer I can tell you that B&H is a wonderful company to deal with.
 
philipma1957 said:
if the mac pro invoice has both acd's on it you would be covered for one certainly maybe both.


"Apple hardware coverage
The AppleCare Protection Plan provides global repair coverage, both parts and labor, from Apple-authorized technicians around the world. Apple hardware coverage includes:

Your Mac computer
Included accessories such as the power adapter
Apple memory (RAM)
AirPort Express Base Station, AirPort Extreme Base Station, or Time Capsule2
MacBook Air SuperDrive (for Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server only)
Apple display purchased with your Mac"
the above is pulled form apple's site.


personally if you purchased this it looks to me like one for sure.

you should get an email response and if apple says both are covered you want it in writing. or at least in an email not a phone call/

found the pdf looks like only one display


http://images.apple.com/legal/applecare/docs/NA_APP_English_v5.3.pdf



a. Scope of Coverage. Your coverage for defects begins on the date your Covered Equipmentʼs Apple hardware warranty expires and terminates at the end of the Coverage Period (“Repair Coverage Period”). Apple will provide both parts and labor, but may require you to replace certain readily installable parts yourself, as described below. Apple may provide replacement product or parts that are manufactured from parts that are new or equivalent to new in both performance and reliability. The replacement product or parts will be functionally equivalent to the replaced products or parts and will assume the remaining coverage under the Plan. The products or parts that are replaced become Appleʼs property. Apple strongly advises you to record as a back up, data and software residing or recorded in the Covered Equipment, before having the Covered Equipment available for repair or replacement services. The scope of support provided to you will vary according to the Plan you purchased, as follows.
☟☟☟
(i) Under APP, Apple covers the Covered Equipment and one compatible Apple branded display if purchased at the same time and registered with a covered Mac computer.


An Apple-branded mouse and keyboard are also covered under APP if included with the Covered Equipment (or purchased with a Mac mini). An AirPort Extreme Card, an AirPort Express or AirPort Extreme Base Station, Time Capsule, an Apple-branded DVI to ADC display adapter, Apple RAM modules and MacBook Air SuperDrive are also covered under APP if used with the compatible Covered Equipment and originally purchased by you up to two years before your Mac purchase or during the term of your APP. If during the Repair Coverage Period there is a defect in the materials or workmanship of the Covered Equipment or the other covered items described above, Apple will at its option, repair or replace the affected item.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much!!

Both are on the same invoice, I am going to e-mail them tomorrow and see the response.... I truly appreciate it!!

JB
 
most credit cards double the warranty, even on mac pros.
So applecare only gets one year in alot of hands.

extended warranties usually are huge profit for a manufacturer.
 
sbb155 said:
most credit cards double the warranty, even on mac pros.
So applecare only gets one year in alot of hands.

extended warranties usually are huge profit for a manufacturer.
Click to expand...

+1

Apple is making nearly 30% profit off of each piece of merchandise sold to the end user. Applecare is their icing on the cake.
 
Johnf1285 said:
+1

Apple is making nearly 30% profit off of each piece of merchandise sold to the end user. Applecare is their icing on the cake.
Click to expand...

Agreed.

We own 5 macs and have saved enough money by NOT purchasing applecare to buy a 6th mac! :eek:

Now, if you're a student, tech clutz, or use the mac for biz then aaplecare would probably be appropriate.

cheers
JohnG
 
There is no consensus. It's insurance, and Apple is not selling it to lose money. It's worth it for some people but others are content to self-insure or rely on the second year of protection provided by a credit card.
 
sbb155 said:
most credit cards double the warranty, even on mac pros.
So applecare only gets one year in alot of hands.

extended warranties usually are huge profit for a manufacturer.
Click to expand...

But what if you buy a used refurbished one?

I just got a 2010 Mac Pro that still has almost 6 months left on the original year of AppleCare, but it was not purchased new. Am I to expect that AmEx would honor a 2nd year warranty claim? :confused:

If I buy AppleCare before October, I don't have to worry about whether they will.
 
Riot Nrrrd said:
But what if you buy a used refurbished one?

I just got a 2010 Mac Pro that still has almost 6 months left on the original year of AppleCare, but it was not purchased new. Am I to expect that AmEx would honor a 2nd year warranty claim? :confused:
Click to expand...

I doubt credit card warranties cover used items at all. Factory refurbished with factory warranty, not sure.
 
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