Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

clintonfrombirmingham wrote:

 

Evil8Beezle,

 

I've not had to have a reball just yet - I'm still under warranty and DID have a logic board replaced and that's lasted six months so far. When I'm out of warranty (April 2015) then I'll just go ahead and reball the machine. But it's worked for others - and it's the only thing that I know to be a genuine fix.

 

I have a Sager now, which I'm slowly migrating over to -> I think that I'll be a dual-use household (as I've always been, really) in the foreseeable future. My Sager has Thunderbolt and I'm using one of my LaCie 2big Thunderbolt drives on it, as well as connecting my Apple Thunderbolt Display from time to time. I stayed with Windows Pro 7 when I purchased the machine - just purchased it with two mSATA SSDs because I've two standard 2.5 storage bays remaining for the time when I eventually give up on Mac altogether: after being on Macs for 27 years...

 

I've seen numerous reports of users having their machines reballed, however, and I'll stick to advising that until I hear of something better.

 

Clinton

Logically reballing looks like the best option, and yes I've seen that some have had this done but not heard back about how long they are lasting (I guess that will take some time) It's just a little concerning that a lot of places are only offering 3 months warranty on this service which leads people (me) to believe that it may not be a long term fix. I hope it is, as I do like my 17" antiglare MBP running windows 8.1. I'm just annoyed that Apple won't comment on the issue.

If I was to be annoyed and bitter, it would be because when I chose this laptop, I was also looking at a Sager! LOL (Hindsight is a wonderful thing) and what sold me on the MBP was the hardware quality & customer service! - Up until that point i'd always been a PC man, and looks like i'll be heading back that way (hardware wise) in the future!

I picked the first option replaced the logicbroad with AUD640 and I just sent my macbook pro to the Apple store in Adelaide this afternoon again which is the forth time with in two months and the third logicbroad was replaced at last week. It work less than a week.

Mr.Wai wrote:

 

I picked the first option and I just sent my macbook pro to the Apple store in Adelaide this afternoon again which is the forth time with in two month and the third logicbroad was replaced at last week. It work less than a week.

Sadly this points towards Apple using second hand defective Logic Boards as replacement parts (Or that is my conclusion anyway...)

Well as you are already down this road, and hopefully only paid once (if at all) for a replacement Logic Board, I think you should probably start bartering with Apple over a NEW replacement machine. Best of luck and keep us posted on how you get on. 

The reballer who posted earlier "ps3specialist" is providing a 1 year warrenty for a cost of $160, $20 shipping (US).

I know some people here have used his services but I see no responses or followup posts so far. If I thought I could get 2 more years out of my current MBP 15" I would send it.

And as my MBP brick only boots to a light, blue screen I wanted to ask if anyone had other ideas as how to get to my OS. If I can get in I can keep it running for a while. I tried the "mount -uw /" option without luck.

josepiedaly1122 wrote:

 

The reballer who posted earlier "ps3specialist" is providing a 1 year warrenty for a cost of $160, $20 shipping (US).

 

I know some people here have used his services but I see no responses or followup posts so far. If I thought I could get 2 more years out of my current MBP 15" I would send it.

Yep, i saw that ps3specialist was offering 12 months, but didn't want to let my post of otions get too long. Sadly for me I'm in the UK, so shipping going to be expensive. I can't find a warranty that long in the UK, only 3 months. Prices also vary a lot. I've seen adverts on ebay for £50 (but have no feedback from customers using their service, so a little dubious...) Most are about £120-150 for a Reball. The one I referenced at £170 in the UK is also on ebay and claims to replace the chip with a new one (Probably the option I would choose).

However what I'd really like, is for Apple to come up with a proper solution (even if it is Reballing!), and give a 12 month warranty on it. I'd pay for that (not that i want too really,but I'm open to compromise with Apple).

But what I don't like, is the denail of the issue which Apple seem to have chosen. (I guess the sums don't add up well for Apple on the issue!)

josepiedaly1122 wrote:

 

And as my MBP brick only boots to a light, blue screen I wanted to ask if anyone had other ideas as how to get to my OS. If I can get in I can keep it running for a while. I tried the "mount -uw /" option without luck.

Sorry can't help you there (I'm a windows man). Have you looked back through this thread? - I saw a lot about getting it to boot the Mac OS but didn't really read them as not relevant to me. But I do recall that when the Mac OS boots up it uses the AMD GPU first and then switches to the integrated graphics afterwards. I think the upshot was that you need to keep trying and when it does eventually (with a wing and a prayer) boot, don't turn it off, just put it to sleep. However, don't quote me on that, I'm not a Mac OS man.

I feel your pain, I really do. But I really do not think we should wait for Apple to recall/repair. It might take months or longer and these laptops are already between 2 and 4 years old.

So waiting and wishing is a waste of time in my opinion. As soon as I can afford the cost, mine is off for reballing. 

indeed, some sent their computer to ps3specialist and got back stating he worked fast.

and the fact that those people have not come back to say it failed again seems to indicate it as being a good solution especially for the reasonable price + the 1 year guarantee.

if I were in the US, I would already have chose this option anyway.

Thanks for your comments and sympathy josepiedaly1122 but think you have it worse than me (I can at least get my windows machine to boot and use the integrated graphics without issue under windows)

We are all suffering with this issue, and getting annoyed at each other isn't going to help!

Reballing is probably everyone's best option who hasn't already started down the Logic Board replacment path with Apple.

Those people who have, MAY be better off staying on that path and negotiating with Apple over a replacement machine (after a few Logic Board replacements). But who knows? Anyway, thought I should say that to ensure I didn't upset some people as my earlier list of 5 options clearly did.

Those who do choose to have a reball should be aware that this is likely to affect their warranty IF a recall and fix was made by Apple (Not looking likely!)

They should also be aware that some Reballers use leaded solder, and some use lead free solder. One enquiry I made about this was replied by saying; they used lead free solder in accordance with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive.

My preference would be to use leaded solder, as from what I have read. This is better and doesn't have some of the issues the lead free solder is reported to have. But I'm no expert on this, so feel free to correct as needed!

Best of luck people!

<Edited By Host>

I can't believe Apple's not responding to the issue after so many months of complaints from all corners of the world. I've been buying everything from Apple but I think it's not gonna happen again. I'd go for Samsung or Sony from now on.

It's utterly ignorant and disrespectful to consumers for Apple to not even respond to the problems that they are responsible for.

gitfunky wrote:

 

I can't believe Apple's not responding to the issue after so many months of complaints from all corners of the world. I've been buying everything from Apple but I think it's not gonna happen again. I'd go for Samsung or Sony from now on.

 

It's utterly ignorant and disrespectful to consumers for Apple to not even respond to the problems that they are responsible for.

To be sadly cynical about the answer to that point, it probably comes down to a case of numbers. Apple have sold thousands and thousands of these laptops, and the sheer cost of doing a recall would be a fortune and bad news to the shareholders. The Apple accuntants have probably made the decision that it is better to let us all suffer and ride the wave of bad feeling over it, and hopefully come out the other side without too much damage.

If this is the case, we the consumers need to do everything in our power to ensure this type of thinking doesn't become the standard for corporate companies. And the best way we can do that is to avoid companies that adopt such policies at a corporate level and hit them where it hurts, in the pocket!

This is just a bit off-topic but I found that as I'm a heavy graphics user, a 'gaming' laptop - and at 17" with Thunderbolt connectivity - was going to be the best investment I could make.

Maybe not too OT - as there are others looking at moving to the world of Windows, too.

Clinton

I'd say you're on topic Clinton,

People need to know what their alternatives are for the future due to this problem (if they don't fancy a reball or Logic Board replacement). You just didn't mention that you're talking about a Sager laptop!

clintonfrombirmingham wrote:

 

This is just a bit off-topic but I found that as I'm a heavy graphics user, a 'gaming' laptop - and at 17" with Thunderbolt connectivity - was going to be the best investment I could make.

 

Maybe not too OT - as there are others looking at moving to the world of Windows, too.

 

Clinton

The Asus g75vx is looking really nice. My brother-in-law has the non thunderbolt version and it is a beast. Keeps cool too. *ehem*

Edit: this post probably won't be here soon. Hope it gets through.