Apple Inc. became the latest computer maker to disclose that some of its laptop computers may be affected by a flaw associated with Nvidia Corp. chips.

The problem, previously acknowledged by Hewlett-Packard Co. and Dell Inc., causes problems such as distorted or scrambled video on the computer screen or no video at all, Apple said in a notice to consumers on its Web site.

Nvidia disclosed the problem in July, and the next month set a $196 million reserve to cover costs associated with addressing the problem. It has declined to specify which models of its chips are affected.

But Apple's notice, reported by Web sites that include Gizmodo, identifies a specific Nvidia chip that manages graphics in laptops. The notice says that when Nvidia publicly disclosed the problem in July it "assured Apple that Mac computers with these graphics processors were not affected." But after an investigation led by Apple, the computer maker said it determined that some MacBook Pro models with the GeForce 8600M GT graphics processor may be affected, Apple said in the notice.

A statement issued by Nvidia says its own analysis "showed that a failure in an Apple MacBook Pro notebook is remote." But it added that a computer maker "is ultimately best able to assess the reliability of their systems."

Nvidia added that the company "has worked diligently with Apple, as we have done with all of our customers and partners, to analyze notebooks and determine if there are potential problems."

The Nvidia statement added that Apple, like other computer makers, "decides on their own how to handle their warranty and repair programs.

"Regardless, we stand by our products, thus the reason why we set aside such a large reserve, and we have and will continue to work closely with Apple and their customers," Nvidia said.

The problem, the subject of at least two shareholder class-action suits filed against Nvidia, has been traced by the company to the packaging of some of its chips. Depending on how a laptop is designed and used, heat from certain chips can cause solder connections to the packaging materials to overheat and fail, the company has said.

Customers have complained on Web message boards about how the companies have responded to the problem -- particularly PC makers' refusal to replace the chip in a laptop unless it fails. Some have also objected to a recommendation that customers adopt software changes that cause cooling fans to spin more often, which could add to wear on those components and cause noise.

Nvidia officials have said they defer to computer makers on such policies, while arguing against a general recall of particular chips because failures may be affected by the design decisions of laptop makers. The company says it is helping computer makers pay for any repairs necessary.

Apple's notice states that if the Nvidia graphics processor "has failed, or fails within two years of the original date of purchase, a repair will be done free of charge, even if your MacBook Pro is out of warranty." It adds that Apple is paying refunds to people who may have paid for repairs associated with the problem themselves.

Nvidia has said that it fixed the packaging problem some time ago. Yet some Dell customers have complained that laptops they take in for repairs may be outfitted with older versions of the chips that still have the potential problem.

A Dell spokeswoman, in a statement issued Sept. 29, said "transitioning to new parts is a complex operation and takes time. Most systems requiring service are getting new parts, but there are some that may get older parts. However, we are close to a point when we can provide new parts for all systems.

"Regardless of whether a new part or an old part is provided, Dell stands behind the system repair," she said.