Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

Linux is probably your only real option, as I suspect you would probably struggle to setup a windows partition with GPU issue under Mac OS.

I suppose if you wanted Windows and not linux, you could switch HD's and set up it all up on a friend’s MBP who hasn't yet succumb to the issue yet

Ironically, we're not likely to get a software work-around from Apple because it would mean admitting there's a problem. They'd rather we dangle in the wind or pay them for short-term LB replacements.

I'm reporting back about a month after GPU replacement. Everything is working just fine. Nothing to complain about. For everyone still in this thread, get a GPU reball/replacement. It will fix this issue, and it's not that expensive (I paid 140 EUR with a new graphic chip). The panic about this issue lies in the fact that the only solution given to this problem by Apple, was to pay 500 EUR for a new logic board that wouldn't even fix the issue. A reball (140 EUR) repair for a 3 year old computer is a fair deal, and if Apple would have offered this themselves I wouldn't have been disappointed in them at all.

So the solution is:

Find a place where they do reballing / BGA rework in your area or on Ebay.
The place that I found offered me 12 months warranty, I think there are sellers on Ebay that do the same.

Evil8Beezle wrote:

 

JoseAngelAcosta wrote:

 

my 2011 MPB just joined to the 2011 shamefull mbp graphics card issue.

 

Sadly welcome to the club!

 

was wondering why this seemed impossible with OSX, are you sure about that?

No, I'm not sure; the only thing I'm sure about is that there's no documented way of achieving that. I played around with the power management settings of the driver but the default settings are quite incomprehensible plus each GPU variant handled by the driver has slightly different settings. Also I rummaged through the binary in the hopes to find a kill switch but to no avail.

It's probably not possible to binary patch the kexts since they should be signed as of Mavericks and it's likely not possible to write another driver that disables the PCIe device beforehand since the drivers usually enable the PCIe device again. However it might be possible to verify this by plugging something like rEFInd into the boot process...

I have the early 2011 MBP 15 with discrete GPU.  Noticed last year that the computer was starting to run hotter than usual and fans running at full speed.  System would lock-up and freeze more and more frequently.  Finally got the screen distortion/artifacts in March and then not too long after that the system would not even boot (ends up in the grey screen).  I did not purchase AppleCare with my machine so was not covered.

After many conversations with AppleCare and a few trips to the store (they visibly saw the issue even though the hardware tests they ran showed that the system was fine), and even working with Executive Relations (same experience and conversation that many of you have had), I still had to pay the $310 for the depot repar during which they replaced the MLB.  This was in April.

Machine seemed to be running ok under typical use but after about a month I started to experience the same lock-up and freeze that I saw before (I started to use more CPU and GPU intensive programs).  The system would also run hot and at times shut itself down (CPU temp would reach 204F and GPU temp would reach 231F).  Seeing that this may be going down the same path as before, I contacted Apple and am now having the machine shipped back again to be looked at and repaired.  I am waiting for Apple to ship me the return box and will wait to see what they find once they receive my machine.

I consider, Given this Shameful Issue actually Occurs everyone (or most) with an e2011 MBP 15 at arround 2.5 - 3yr usage, this could mean Apple Will be forced to do another Massive Recall including out-of warranty,  notwhitstanding are out-warranty products (but a few still on extended warranty) because the "Top Quality Product Image" of Apple would be severly damaged if they just axed to do a repalcement or repair on premature defective products (surely a massive MainBoard Replacement Recall, swapping damaged ones with new production or repaired  ones with revised solderings at least -of course if there are components available, maybe neccesary a million MainBoards-).

Just Image Samsung and Microsoft Advertising they products quality and serviceablity agaist Apple Lack of commitement on a manufacturing defect...

I Live at the caribbean and here at my city is hot now and most the year is over 25degC, this is another factor, Apple or its providers  Maybe subestimated the enviromental factor impact on the soldering/thermal compund, and while a massive failure, maybe only affect individuals living at warm places (as me).

I Have this theory, Apple or they providers just understimate the Enviromental Heat factor on the MBP Soldeirings, fatigating much earlier than they foresee                 .

ahh I have an model A1286, with Upgraded Memory (Corsair), and Upgraded hard Drive, both upgrades Unrelated with the specified failures

I feel sorry that some people still don't understand the issue correctly , Here is an example with clear pictures for a HP DV7 motherboard, the first picture show the GPU removed and the old solder still on the motherboard , the second one show how dust and dirt form an isolating layer under the solder that attaches the GPU to the logic board, look at the brown residue on the soldering pads , the last pictures show you the same soldering pads after cleaning the isolating layer of dirt that caused that computer to keep shutting down and restart with no video display, after reballing the GPU chip and reinstalling it the computer is now working as good as new, that is the real cause of all the GPU failure on any computer brand or model, no manufacturer can prevent that from happeneing as long as there is dust in the air and a cooling fan inside the computer, what I say I prove with real pictures so no one can argue its reality or think that I am trying to defend a manufacturer.

Ferrari is neither made with cheap parts nor made in China.

ps3specialist wrote:

 

I feel sorry that some people still don't understand the issue correctly , Here is an example with clear pictures for a HP DV7 motherboard, the first picture show the GPU removed and the old solder still on the motherboard , the second one show how dust and dirt form an isolating layer under the solder that attaches the GPU to the logic board, look at the brown residue on the soldering pads , the last pictures show you the same soldering pads after cleaning the isolating layer of dirt that caused that computer to keep shutting down and restart with no video display, after reballing the GPU chip and reinstalling it the computer is now working as good as new, that is the real cause of all the GPU failure on any computer brand or model, no manufacturer can prevent that from happeneing as long as there is dust in the air and a cooling fan inside the computer, what I say I prove with real pictures so no one can argue its reality or think that I am trying to defend a manufacturer.

 

 

At my city ther are few re-balling services, specialized on Xbox mostly, but they also offer laptop reballing, do you thing they mau repair my MBP, just re-balling ?

ps3specialist wrote:

 

...the second one show how dust and dirt form an isolating layer under the solder that attaches the GPU to the logic board, look at the brown residue on the soldering pads...

 

How does dirt and dust penetrate a soldered connection ?

Replaced my logic board in January on my Early 2011 17" Macbook Pro after I had limped along for awhile but it finally locked up solid. With the new logic board all was good until last week. Guess what? The problem has reappeared. Five months. A switch to Discrete card instantly caused lock up. It wouldn't restart in safe mode or after other resets. Finally I used recovery system to reinstall OS X and didn't lose any data. That allowed me to boot back in. Now I have gfxCardStatus set to only integrated.

Weird thing is why did GPU last 2-3 years originally and now, only 5 months? Very odd.

Hi Kent187,

It's a refurbished unit as we were told it's NEW logic board. Apple the big liar..

Of course, Macbook is a lot more harder to reball than xbox , it uses a smaller size soldering balls and its also a lot more sensitive to heat, you can have them try it be prepared for the worse. hope they have the right machines and enough hands on to perform such complicated procedure and By the way - this is for everyone - some people claim that the GPU has to be replaced and leaded solder is better, If a replacement chip comes with  leaded solder its a refurbished chip, Brand new chips come with leadfree solder so don't let those technicians mislead you.