Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

That's very interesting, macadmin. Having just had a logic board replacement, I'm reluctant to mess about too much (although I run gfxcardstatus to keep on integrated) but I might experiment with it. Apart from remedying your graphic issues, are there any other indications that the discrete GPU is bypassed?

Also interesting: 2012 Retina - Ivy Bridge, Nvidia, yet similar problems...

Actually, the Geforce doesn't even show up in the System Profiler anymore:

My problems were also more serious than just graphic issues. My rMBP restarted when using the NVidia Card and mostly after that the screen stayed black after reboots. PRAM reset, SMC reset didn't work. Sometimes the whole system crashed and rebooted. All this on freshly installed 10.8 and 10.9. That's why I searched for a way to disable the NVidia Card from the start. 

So i'm currently on the phone with Apple UAE, the person who took the call had no idea about this issue. In any case she is contacting the Official Apple Service center to get more information about the records of people with failing GPUs.

I also directed her to this forum and she is having a look. I hope this leads to a substantial resolve.

Crossing my fingers

So basically... This thread began as early 2011 units.. Then entered late 2011... And now We are getting 2012 units?

Great trend going apple! Keep up the hard work!

I think, politics of Apple in this case is waiting for all our laptops will became very old and then they will say It's out of extended warranty, it's very old. No problems, buy new laptop.

macadmin.de wrote:

 

Hi, I found this thread after my 2012 Retina MacBook Pro has frequend graphics issues.

 

What finally helped me to make it usable again is setting the graphics enabler flag to off during boot. This way only the integrated graphics are loaded and I can use my rMBP like normal again. The loss of the discrete graphics is no problem at all for me as long as I can at least use my Mac.

 

Here's what you can enter into the Terminal to diable the discrete graphics during boot:

 

 

sudo nvram boot-args="GraphicsEnabler=No"

 

Of course it only takes action after a reboot.

This helped me a lot and I hope you can use it too.

I tried the following (with no success):

1) Boot into Single-Mode (cmd+s)

2) sudo nvram boot-args="GraphicsEnabler=No"

3) reboot

Did I do it right?

Thanks,

My £2,500 17" top spec MacBook Pro has just developed this problem. So along with everyone else, I now have a very expensive paperweight!!!

It's true that Apple will try to ignore this issue/fault, and think that users (mugs) will bin their 3 year old laptops to buy another one. And for some users this may be another mac. But for me it won't be, if this is how Apple handle their faults (design flaws). I ran Windows on my MacBook Pro, so won't be giving Apple a single penny more on my money (ever) and I'll do my best to steer everyone I know away from Apple products.

Apple accuntants are probably secretly doing the sums on this fault, and working out if doing a recall is going to cost them more money than projected future sales. So I say to ALL Apple Macbook Pro users that have this fault, do everything in your power to ensure it costs Apple as much as possible in bad Public Relations over this issue if you want Apple to acknowledge there is a problem with these laptops. (I know i will be!!!)

我在2011年，花了差不多3倍于市场其它笔记本的价格，选择了这么款“15-inch, Early 2011”高配的MBP，现在沦落到只能打打字，看张稍稍大点图就会死机，只有经过强行重启几次，才能回到打打字的“正常”状态。 愤怒 + 仇恨积攒中～

It's the most expensive typing machine in the world!

Got home with my new logic board yesterday to have it fail after a few hours - same symptoms.

First 19mos

Second 6mos

Third 2hours

Going back to the Genius bar today for confirmation and I want to have a chat with corporate wheither or not a 4th is the best solution. :/

Why would a 4th board be a viable solution. IT'S A DESIGN FLAW, and 100 logic boards later, YOU WILL STILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE!!!

Apple need to come up with a NEW logicboard that solves the problem and fit these FREE OF CHARGE!!!

They did give me third free of charge. I had paid $310 (depot) for the second. I don't expect any to work long term (I've been following this thread October). Thankfully the Apple store is only 20 minutes from my house and I've been scheduling my appointments near lunch so at least I can grab a good burger while I'm out. When I show back up to day (5 or 6th time in two weeks) I expect them to begin charging me rent.

However, I'm being polite and working though Apple's processes and seeing where it goes. I feel that's the best solution. Messages here don't count towards anything at Apple - but support calls and Genius appointments do. These forums are clearly for user-user support - not any kind of offical Apple involvement.

Even if they give me a fouth, I'll never trust it. I have taken step to ensure that I'll never loose data and I have a crufty old backup Mac that I can use for email while my workhorse is down. It is starting to affect my client work at this point.

I agree about being polite. But it's not very polite to be told by Apple support that they are unaware of this issue, when you know for sure they must be lying through their teeth. That in my opinion is not polite, just insulting....

So what you going to to when that 4th logic board fails in a few months? Go for a 5th?

I'm sure Apple are looking to appease people on this issue, hoping that the number of people comlaining will diminish over time without them actually doing anything constructive/costly about it.

Steve Jobs would be turning in his grave, as this was not the ethos or reputation he wanted for Apple!

After a third replacement, many poeple have recevied a new MBP.  I'm not sure why you haven't availed yourself of this option.

Hi Carl Wolf,

So are you saying that I should pay for 2 replacement logicboards, and after this I will qualify for a new MBP?

Are Apple  guaranteeing this?

Or am I expected to hand over hundreds of pounds to fix this design fault in the HOPE I might be able to get a new MBP in the end?

As from what I have read online, Apple haven't said a word on the matter...