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 nexuz6,

    nexuz6 nexuz6 Apr 10, 2014 1:26 AM in response to KrAfTy31
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    Apr 10, 2014 1:26 AM in response to KrAfTy31

    KrAfTy31 wrote:

     

    Hello everyone,

    I had the same issue on my mac boop pro Early 2011 but I found THE solution to solve this problem and it works !!!

    In fact, the solder of GPU has micro lesions. The pewter of GPU must be soften in order to suppress these lesions.
    For information, the logic board without thermal grease must be placed in a stove at around 175°C during 7 minutes and 30 seconds. For all details, the original post is on macgeneration and the article is “Réparation réussie GPU Macbook Pro 15" 2011“.

     

    How long has it been running since the owen bake?

  • by KrAfTy31,

    KrAfTy31 KrAfTy31 Apr 10, 2014 1:44 AM in response to nexuz6
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 10, 2014 1:44 AM in response to nexuz6

    On the forum, people which done this experiment since 4 months report that it still work...

  • by egorsokolov,

    egorsokolov egorsokolov Apr 10, 2014 3:34 AM in response to monstruowong
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 10, 2014 3:34 AM in response to monstruowong

    Well, in this case maybe you should use some cloud-based solution for backing up your most important stuff on a daily basis.

  • by genericUser1,

    genericUser1 genericUser1 Apr 10, 2014 4:20 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 10, 2014 4:20 AM in response to abelliveau

    Just came back from the Apple Store.Had the same GPU failure as everyone in this thread. The worst part is that my Apple Care Protection plan ran out about 30 days ago. The only option was a replacement of the logic board which I have to pay for myself (around 480€). It is not even guaranteed that the new logic board will really be a new one. It is likely that they use a refurbished version. I read about this issue back in december and was worried since that I might experience that problem. That apple hasn't said a word about this widespread issue yet is unacceptable in my opinion (the genius told me that a huge amount of 2011 MBPs are coming in for the exact same reason right now). I'm really disappointed in how apple is handling this situation.

  • by alidbc,

    alidbc alidbc Apr 10, 2014 5:43 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 10, 2014 5:43 AM in response to abelliveau

    Same issue here, GPU replaced by 3rd party because logic replacment would cost a fortune. But again it got defected. Now using gfx card status to keep it on integrated only. Lesson learned, last Apple device for me.

     

    Regards,

    Ali

  • by triffski,

    triffski triffski Apr 10, 2014 5:45 AM in response to genericUser1
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apr 10, 2014 5:45 AM in response to genericUser1

    If you're in the EU, research and then speak to Apple about your protection under EU consumer law.

  • by renatocoral,

    renatocoral renatocoral Apr 10, 2014 6:22 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apr 10, 2014 6:22 AM in response to abelliveau

    Hi,

     

    unfortunately I too have experienced the same issue with my 15" Macbook Pro early 2011.

     

    Back in 2008 I bought my first mac and it was a 15” Macbook Pro early 2008. It had only one dedicated graphics and 2.5 ears later the GPU died. Back then Apple issued a recall program but I was unfortunate at that time because I live in Brazil and here the Apple Technical Support is very poor. I took the computer to 3 different stores that had Apple Support and none of them identified the problem as related to the GPU but all where asking R$ 2,500.00 (about US$ 1,200.00) to replace the logic board. This was in 2011 and so I figured It was a better option to buy a new mac. So I bought the early 2011 15” Macbook Pro.

     

    Two years later (2013) a friend offered me to try to repair the 2008 MPB it by putting its logic board in the oven and resoldering the GPU. It worked for 6 months. So it was indeed the cause of the problem and Apple should have replaced it back in 2011 while the recall program was still valid (it ended in december 2012).

     

    Last year I started to see the messages in Apple’s Forums about the same GPU issue on the 2011 15” MPB and immediately thought NOT AGAIN.

     

    Just this week, about the same 2.5 years since I bought this 2011 15” MPB, the issue started happening. Right now I’m being able to use it but forcing the use of the integrated graphics using the gfxCardStatus.

    But for how long will it last?

     

    2.5 years for such an expensive computer is totally unacceptable. Before that I had 4 laptop PCs that lasted mode than 6 years of continuous use and still work today (15 years later).

     

    After reading the many threads in Apple’s Forums and sites citing the problem such as those below, I see that even if I pay the R$ 2,490.00 (US$ 1,150.00) to replace the logic board the problem had a great chance of reappearing soon.

     

    https://discussions.apple.com/message/22641030#22641030

    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4766577?start=1575&tstart=0

    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4637833?start=330&tstart=0

    http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/17/apple-announces-gpu-replacement-program-for-2 011s-spring-imacs/#continued

     

    So please Apple, acknowledge this problem and do something right. Otherwise it will be just a waste of money to keep buying macs that already come from factory with an expiration date.

  • by alidbc,

    alidbc alidbc Apr 10, 2014 6:57 AM in response to renatocoral
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 10, 2014 6:57 AM in response to renatocoral

    Mine lasted for 2 years

  • by genericUser1,

    genericUser1 genericUser1 Apr 10, 2014 7:27 AM in response to triffski
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 10, 2014 7:27 AM in response to triffski

    Do you have any experiences with that? I live in Germany and the computer was also bought here. It is a little over 3 years old now and I guess this excludes me from any EU consumer protection laws, doesn't it?

  • by paigoomein,

    paigoomein paigoomein Apr 10, 2014 8:58 AM in response to nexuz6
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 10, 2014 8:58 AM in response to nexuz6

    I guess if you've got a non-working machine, the least you can do is bake some Apple pie.

  • by SlamSlam,

    SlamSlam SlamSlam Apr 10, 2014 10:22 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 10, 2014 10:22 AM in response to abelliveau

    It's likely Apple and/or its 3rd party contractors are replacing the logic boards with refurbished parts. In fact, it explicitly says so in the work order Apple emails you when you bring the unit in for repair:

     

    goods presented for repair may be replaced by refurbished goods of the same type rather than being repaired. Refurbished parts may be used to repair the goods

     

     

    If that's the case, it's likely replacement boards will fail sooner rather than later.

     

    Apple needs to handle this.

  • by Look@menow,

    Look@menow Look@menow Apr 10, 2014 10:35 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (116 points)
    Notebooks
    Apr 10, 2014 10:35 AM in response to abelliveau

    Replacing the discrete graphics card may help. When I dropped my 13" macbook pro, it messed up my logic board, graphics card, and hard drive. My symptoms were; freezing after sleep mode or some type of impact like setting it down, overheating even when not in use, the screen would flash pixels of green, blue, magenta, black, and white and it would freeze. At one point my screen shut down and it began to make this beeping noise, which I believe is an indicator saying something had been disconnected from the logic board.

  • by theflb,

    theflb theflb Apr 10, 2014 10:37 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 10, 2014 10:37 AM in response to abelliveau

    It's just happened to my MacBook Pro early 2011 15"

     

    All the same symptoms. Tried everything. Seems like a logic board failure.

     

    When is Apple going to own up and admit its a manufacturing fault.

     

    I've been buying Apple products for 20 years & the price of this computer doesn't justify it dying through no fault of my own

     

    My first iBook key lime ran for 7 years and was still working when I upgraded. My eMac 7 years too

     

    My shiny MacBook Pro 2.5 years and dead????????

  • by mestrevilar,

    mestrevilar mestrevilar Apr 10, 2014 10:40 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 10, 2014 10:40 AM in response to abelliveau

    Same problem here, Macbook Pro 15" early 2011 i7 2.0 4 Gb SSD 256

     

    Boot to grey

    Safe to blue

    Recovery / CD Boot / USB Boot ... boot to blue

    Tried all resets, pram, smc.

    Change default HDD to SSD, same problem.

    It's dead, ... a beautiful brick.

     

    Unfortunately the computer is 3 years old by now and isn't cover by the 2 years warranty (Portugal).

  • by triffski,

    triffski triffski Apr 10, 2014 10:44 AM in response to genericUser1
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apr 10, 2014 10:44 AM in response to genericUser1

    Mine's a year newer than yours so I guess that would affect how they define quality and durability in the legal description. I think it's still very reasonable to expect a £2,000 laptop to last over three years (or 4, or 5...) so you might still be covered.

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