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

Close

Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

first Previous Page 362 of 891 last Next
  • by alessiodd,

    alessiodd alessiodd May 22, 2014 8:42 AM in response to iceman600
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 22, 2014 8:42 AM in response to iceman600

    This is indeed a design problem, as demonstrated by the fact that reballing the GPU restores it to a good working order. That said, if you live in a catacomb or in a desert tent you'd better get a rugged/weather sealed laptop because that ain't the place where a Macbook Pro is supposed to operate.

  • by aaronsaloman,

    aaronsaloman aaronsaloman May 22, 2014 12:33 PM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 22, 2014 12:33 PM in response to abelliveau

    update:

     

    I went to the Genius Bar in Montréal (St Catherine st). They are aware of the issue and were sympathetic, but said they couldn't do anything at the retail level & I would have to call Apple.

     

    I called today, and quickly went from level 1 to level 2 tech support after saying I wanted an out-of-warranty repair exception. The level 2 person repeated that they had no extended repair program for the issue. I offered to direct them to this discussion, but he said he couldn't read the discussion board or verify anything it said (smooth, this one). I went through all the angles - told him I was an independent musician whose business would be ended by a large expenditure, explained to him that I was a loyal user of 11 years responsible for tens of thousands of dollars in sales evangelism, and finished by telling him about Québec consumer law. Nothing worked. I explained to him that some people in this discussion were able to get the repair free of charge, and he said he couldn't verify that. Finally he said that even if he tried to put in an exception, their computer system would reject it this far out of warranty (2 years), so there was really nothing he could do. He couldn't explain how other people were able to get the exception.

     

    I kept him on the phone for 20 or 30 minutes, until we were just going in circles with him saying there was no repair program, no one above him to talk to, etc, etc. I commend the person who talked to them for 90 minutes, don't know how you did it

     

    So I guess I'll wait until there's a repair program or the thing dies, whichever comes first.

  • by cscheat,

    cscheat cscheat May 23, 2014 11:34 AM in response to KinYik
    Level 1 (10 points)
    May 23, 2014 11:34 AM in response to KinYik

    kinyik,

     

    **********

     

    <Edited by Host>

  • by DMC440,

    DMC440 DMC440 May 22, 2014 2:04 PM in response to rcbuse
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 22, 2014 2:04 PM in response to rcbuse

    rcbuse wrote:

     

    DMC440,

     

    I'm pretty certain he is showing an example of terrible application of thermal compound at the factory, not a little bit of dust.

     

     

    You'd be wrong.  Have a look at his earlier posts.

  • by DMC440,

    DMC440 DMC440 May 22, 2014 2:11 PM in response to aaronsaloman
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 22, 2014 2:11 PM in response to aaronsaloman

    I admire your persistence.  While there is doubtless some base policy, it seems that it's also down to the discretion of the person you speak to.  There are a lot of variables apparently.  When my machine was repaired free of charge out of warranty it was probably down to local consumer law pressure but they also said things like "because you bought it from Apple rather than a third party retailer" and "you've clearly looked after the machine".

     

    Irrelevant, probably, but it shows how the different outlets handle the issues.  Very frustrating.

     

    Incidentally, the latter comment about caring for the machine was repeated when I collected the machine so I can assume IT WAS NOT FULL OF DUST. In fact I know it wasn't, having had a look inside a few days prior.

  • by A.khojast,

    A.khojast A.khojast May 22, 2014 2:25 PM in response to DMC440
    Level 1 (10 points)
    May 22, 2014 2:25 PM in response to DMC440

    Hi @DMC440, How you find an astus for permanently ignore the discrete AMD by your mac? Is there anybody from France? I am from France (Brest)! Has any body, repaired his MBP early 2011 here for free in Frace?

  • by roman@maui,

    roman@maui roman@maui May 22, 2014 3:11 PM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 22, 2014 3:11 PM in response to abelliveau

    I am wondering how all the dust that shown in the pictures gets into the computer? Mine was pretty dusty when I open it up to get to the memory. I had to clean it! There are 2 fans that work hard to cool off the CPU and other energy demanding parts. So if computer constantly needs cooling down, does it mean that it's design should be able to handle this?  Or all this power require different case to contain it that would look like a small suitcase. But that not what Apple want to put on market. So is it a struggle between the power and control of this power that was missed in the design of the Macbook Pro laptops? The current solution does not work because it causes such a side effect as overheating that puts so much stress on the electronics that they fail. Is it like strapping someone to the racket to experiencing the bliss of flying and having no strategy for landing.

  • by werewolves?,

    werewolves? werewolves? May 22, 2014 3:29 PM in response to SilverHawke
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 22, 2014 3:29 PM in response to SilverHawke

    Yep, removal of dust and thermal paste reapplication make a bit of a difference in day to day operation - mostly in lower idling temperatures, but very little difference with the GPU failure problem unless you totally avoid using a MBP for "Pro" uses like it is supposedly designed to do.

     

    Good thermals just means better idling temps and a lot less throttling of the CPU and GPU at the topend, so more use of boost and top clocks, not a huge reduction in topend temperatures, when you are running a render in FCP or gaming, things are going to get hot no matter what. But they are supposed to be designed to handle that heat.

  • by OldeTimeyDiver,

    OldeTimeyDiver OldeTimeyDiver May 22, 2014 3:39 PM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 22, 2014 3:39 PM in response to abelliveau

    Just started having this issue 3 days ago on my 2011 MBP and then saw this thread.  Sadly the same thing happend to my NVidia based MBP that I had before this one.  Apple replaced the Logic Board on that one for free, and I have a Genius Bar appointment tomorrow to discuss this 2011 MBP.  But sounds like most people are getting turned away.

     

    Le sigh.

  • by DMC440,

    DMC440 DMC440 May 22, 2014 4:28 PM in response to A.khojast
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 22, 2014 4:28 PM in response to A.khojast

    I never found a way of permanently disabling the discrete GPU. Removing the extensions and clearing the kext cache resulted in a confused machine that may, or may not, have been firing up the AMD chip. When it was running, the GFXCardStatus switch kept the AMD off and was pretty effective. I'm still using it now with the new logic board but allowing it to switch. I'm keeping note of which programs initialize the discrete graphics and then seeing how they run when forced to use integrated. No issues so far.  I'll be honest and say I am treating the machine with kid gloves. There is an argument for stress testing and seeing if it will fail so that Apple will affect another repair, and so on, until they are forced to replace the machine. But I've decided not to go down that path.

    A.khojast wrote:

     

    Hi @DMC440, How you find an astus for permanently ignore the discrete AMD by your mac?

  • by Linuxx84,

    Linuxx84 Linuxx84 May 22, 2014 4:36 PM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 22, 2014 4:36 PM in response to abelliveau

    Anyway guys, the real problem is not the GPU but rather it is the heat of the CPU to be too high. If monitored temperatures you will find that all the other components have temperatures that are normal. Rendering high-quality video raises the value of cpu to 90+ degrees but the GPU temperature is usually about 64 degrees maximum during this. So the real problem is the CPU that going to deteriorate the GPU. And this has always been there! Try to look for articles on the release of MacBook Pro in February-March 2011 and you will see that the problems were initially only system crash for overheating. But now the problem has become much more serious. Then I repeat again as I did in another post that Apple delayed the release of MacBook Pro early 2011 for this reason. Now they should remedy the problem that is already known from the first moment!

  • by MDeken,

    MDeken MDeken May 22, 2014 4:35 PM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 22, 2014 4:35 PM in response to abelliveau

    Dear Apple

    just 1 question

     

    Does md103ll/A logic board fits mc723ll/A ?!

     

    i dont want to buy a new logic board wich i know will fail after months again ... hate amd geaphics they overheating issue is always there since intel pentium

     

     

    Regards From Egypt

  • by MDeken,

    MDeken MDeken May 22, 2014 4:40 PM in response to MDeken
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 22, 2014 4:40 PM in response to MDeken

    anyone there apple

  • by Allan Eckert,

    Allan Eckert Allan Eckert May 22, 2014 4:42 PM in response to MDeken
    Level 9 (54,030 points)
    Desktops
    May 22, 2014 4:42 PM in response to MDeken

    No. Apple is not here.

     

    This is a user to user forum.

     

    Apple does not read the posts here for problems.

  • by MDeken,

    MDeken MDeken May 22, 2014 4:41 PM in response to MDeken
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 22, 2014 4:41 PM in response to MDeken

    hello apple

first Previous Page 362 of 891 last Next