abelliveau

Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

I have an early 2011 MacBook Pro (2.2 GHz Intel Core i7, 8 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 memory) running OS 10.8.2.  It has two graphics components: an AMD Radeon HD 6750M and a built-in Intel HD Graphics 3000. Since I've had the computer, the screen would get a blue tint when the computer switched between them.

 

However, as of two days ago, the problem has become substantially more severe.  The computer was working fine, when all of a suddent the screen when completely blue.  I had to force restart the computer.  Since then, the screen has gone awry on numerous occassions - each time necessitating a hard reset.

 

I installed gfxCardStatus, and have discovered that the computer runs fine using the integrated card, but as soon as I switch to the discrete card - the screen goes .

 

I am just wondering what my options are (any input on any of these would be appreciated!):

 

1) Replace the logic board.  Would this necessarily fix the issue?

 

2) Is there any way to "fix" the graphics card? 

 

3) Keep using gfxCardStatus and only use the integrated graphics card.  This is definitely the easiest/cheapest option, but to have such a computer and not be able to use the graphics card seems like a real shame.

 

4) Is there any other alternative?

 


MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7, 8 GB memory

Posted on Feb 1, 2013 4:45 PM

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Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

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  • by degger,

    degger degger Apr 6, 2014 12:14 PM in response to D3us
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 6, 2014 12:14 PM in response to D3us

    The most simple explanation of this is Apple sets more on design, portability thus making things smaller.

    Smaller in electronics often results in getting hotter. Especially using same and same thermal design for more power..

     

    I could not disagree more. A well designed system operated within their thermal limits should also last a long time. Apple's thermal design (mind you, today the laptops are not even the smallest) and system management have always been one of the finest in the world and as a result there're almost no reports of systems with failed semiconductor parts while this still quite common with other vendors, in fact I've neen any component failure in a Mac at all while I've replaced many (mostly capacitors) in other vendors' machines.

  • by paulfromrockford,

    paulfromrockford paulfromrockford Apr 6, 2014 12:46 PM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 6, 2014 12:46 PM in response to abelliveau

    From my receipt. Had the logic board replaced under applecare. Italics, bold and underlined mine.

    "

    Except when service is covered under Apple's one year limited warranty, an AppleCare service contract, or statutory consumer rights, the service of your product, as described above, is governed by the Apple Repair Terms & Conditions, as set forth on the Work Authorization you signed when you originally authorized service.


    Note: The items identified above have been exchanged by Apple for new or refurbished parts or products. Any applicable cost is indicated adjacent to the the part(s) or product description. Service parts are subject to tax."

  • by fredrik1977,

    fredrik1977 fredrik1977 Apr 6, 2014 1:35 PM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 6, 2014 1:35 PM in response to abelliveau

    Same issue here, italy.

    i've replaced the logic board after having the typical failure issue... still having issues with the new board simply using sketchup.

    Planning to ask some advice to my office lawyer.

  • by landonandrey,

    landonandrey landonandrey Apr 6, 2014 3:16 PM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 6, 2014 3:16 PM in response to abelliveau

    I have the same issue MacBook Pro early 2011.

    My mac even didn't boot, but this solution helped me to work with integrated gpu:

    http://www.asyncro.com/2013/12/12/macbook-pro-discreate-graphics-card-issue-fix/

    After that I have installed gfxcardstatus app.

    Try it!

  • by qqallan,

    qqallan qqallan Apr 6, 2014 3:46 PM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 6, 2014 3:46 PM in response to abelliveau

    I've had similar issues with my MacBook Pro early 2011. My MBP refused to boot about 8 months ago and the diagnosis was that there was a problem with the graphics card. The logic board was swopped out. Last week it happened again. Dead; logic board being swopped out.

     

    This is my last month under Apple Care. I'm concerned that the same thing is simply going to happen again in a few months.

  • by Richard ,

    Richard Richard Apr 6, 2014 5:24 PM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 6, 2014 5:24 PM in response to abelliveau

    Adding my pebble to the pile (rather pricey pebble) my late 2011 MacBook Pro is showing the exact same thing as these images. It started about two weeks ago and is now not coming on at all. The machine is running but no video is displayed.

  • by eLVog,

    eLVog eLVog Apr 6, 2014 5:48 PM in response to renan_rodrigues_duarte
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Notebooks
    Apr 6, 2014 5:48 PM in response to renan_rodrigues_duarte

    Foi o preço estimado pela Soma, assistência autorizada da Apple em Porto Alegre, Renan.

    Perguntei para eles quanto custaria trocar a placa lógica. Eles responderam que "em torno de R$ 1600".

     

    BTW: planning to do something about it? I'm divided between selling the parts of my Mac ou waiting, just in case Apple takes action.

     

    Abraço

  • by shiApple,

    shiApple shiApple Apr 6, 2014 6:35 PM in response to landonandrey
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 6, 2014 6:35 PM in response to landonandrey

    I used command + option + p + r while holding the power button ..let the chime ring 3 times then powered down and powered on again. This resets the PRAM and solves the problem until eventually my mac switches to the discrete graphics card (depends on the application you are trying to use). The gfxcardstatus application helps keep the display running for some time but using any adobe application forces it to switch to discrete mode again and the display eventually konks out again. Aleast this lets me login and transfer my files to the cloud so I can access them elsewhere.

  • by mgold4357,

    mgold4357 mgold4357 Apr 6, 2014 11:38 PM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 6, 2014 11:38 PM in response to abelliveau

    Another one bites the dust.

     

    I've always kept my MBP docked / on an elevated Cooler Master laptop stand with two fans on it... tonight though, I got some weird vertical lines, then grey screen and no luck restarting it.  Blue screen, grey screen, etc.  Only thing that helped:

    http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/120259/grey-screen-after-login-blue-scr een-of-death-from-cmdr

     

     

    Now I am eagerly backing everything up in case I need to move to another laptop.

  • by clintonfrombirmingham,

    clintonfrombirmingham clintonfrombirmingham Apr 6, 2014 11:46 PM in response to mgold4357
    Level 7 (30,009 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 6, 2014 11:46 PM in response to mgold4357

    mgold4357.

     

    The only good thing about having this problem is that it usually does not mess up your data at all.

     

    Still, it's always best to have a backup… just in case once your machine gets to the Apple depot they decide to erase the drive.

     

    Clinton

  • by Inkalypse ,

    Inkalypse Inkalypse Apr 7, 2014 2:05 AM in response to mgold4357
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 7, 2014 2:05 AM in response to mgold4357

    Another one bites the dust.

     

    I've always kept my MBP docked / on an elevated Cooler Master laptop stand with two fans on it... tonight though, I got some weird vertical lines, then grey screen and no luck restarting it.  Blue screen, grey screen, etc.  Only thing that helped:

    http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/120259/grey-screen-after-login-blue-scr een-of-death-from-cmdr

     

     

    Now I am eagerly backing everything up in case I need to move to another laptop.

    I tried this in single user mode from the above link:

     

    /sbin/fsck -fy /
    /sbin/mount -uw /
    mkdir /Disabled_System_Library_Extensions
    cd /Disabled_System_Library_Extensions
    mv /System/Library/Extensions/ATI* .
    mv /System/Library/Extensions/AMD* .
    touch /System/Library/Extensions
    exit

     

    and it made my laptop turn on when it wasn't turning on before, but there's a noticeable change in the overall color of the display (more blueish) and it glitches a bit while I'm dragging or clicking or whatever - not turning off or getting totally messed up though. But gfxcardstatus is showing that it's stuck on discrete and if I try to switch to integrated it says:

     

    "You can't switch to Integrated Only while the following program is running: External Display"

     

    ... I don't have an external display running so I have no idea why I'm getting this message? The whole point is that I *don't* want it to run on discrete yet now it seems stuck on it. Any idea what to do? Or how to reverse those commands? Thanks.

  • by faryaz,

    faryaz faryaz Apr 7, 2014 3:29 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 7, 2014 3:29 AM in response to abelliveau

    Look at this 433806 Views and 4,166 replies and Apple is still sleeping in steve jobs grave.

     

    Following is picture of my Macbook Pro 17 Inch 2011 model AMD Radeon HD 6750M

    GPU failure.

     

    20140404_230308.jpg

  • by Bodhitawa,

    Bodhitawa Bodhitawa Apr 7, 2014 4:15 AM in response to faryaz
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 7, 2014 4:15 AM in response to faryaz

    I wish don't get angry after have a look on this:

    There are only 3 threads with this one. If you do a searching you will find more user with the same issues in other threads. More than 1.200.000 viewers, 6500 replies..

     

    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2768351

    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4637833?start=0&tstart=0

  • by CHUVASCH,

    CHUVASCH CHUVASCH Apr 7, 2014 4:37 AM in response to Benjabones
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 7, 2014 4:37 AM in response to Benjabones

    I have the same problem.

    https://discussions.apple.com/message/25399307#25399307

     

    What do I need to do for Apple to stsrt the warranty repair program?

     

  • by isleon,

    isleon isleon Apr 7, 2014 4:39 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 7, 2014 4:39 AM in response to abelliveau

    I just encountered the same problem. 15 inch 2011 macbook pro here. This is ridiculous, if its such a common known issue Apple should offer to do something about it!

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