Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

I've come here simply to add yet another reply on top of the 6,105 other replies of people with the same 2011 GPU design flaw. Not that it makes any difference, as Apple will just ignore this post. My early 2011 MacBook Pro 15" did not die slowly. It was a quick and sudden death. One day it was working, the next day red lines in the screen.

Took it to the Mall at Millenia Apple store in Orlando, Florida only to be told by the manager that I should be happy that I got a good 3 years out of it. He also told me that my expectation of it lasting 6 to 7 years was crazy.

The funny thing is, my family has a 2007 Toshiba laptop (cost $500) that still works to this day. I am currently writing this post on a 2006 Gateway laptop. We have a Gateway desktop from 2007, another Gateway desktop from 2009, and a Compaq Presario from 2002, and a couple of old 1999 PowerMac G4's sitting around that still all work. My expectations are too high? I think not. I'm basing it on experience.

So when I bought this 2011 MacBook Pro for $1800 (over 3 times the price of the Toshiba), I expected it to last at least as long as other computers I have had in the past. I thought Apple's build quality was some of the best you could get. Apparently I was wrong. Apple's hardware quality (and lately the software too) has shown itself to be so bad, I will never buy another Apple product. Why? Not because my computer failed. Manufacturing and design flaws DO HAPPEN; I understand that. I will not buy another because Apple has remained silent on the issue, without even so much as a statement such as "We are looking into it". They simply act like they have never heard of it.

The only way Apple will recognize their problem is if we continue to tell them.

<Edited By Host>

Well, currently my MacBook Pro with it's design defect is still constantly On & Off at the moment with regard to the fault and I live in constant fear that some program or background process may randomly kick-in the discreet GPU and crash while I'm in the middle of editing some data or some other sensitive activity. It hasnt died completely for good yet, but I feel it's getting progressively worse each time.

I can forget running anything that requires graphical performance, therefore my premium MacBook Pro is more on par with a NetBook for running simple basic tasks like text documents and browsing the net without any webpages containing complex plug-ins.

This is a disappointing and ultimately embarrassing way to be, especially if a friend brings along their PC Laptop in which I have to pray my MacBook Pro 2011 doesn't come to a halt from the GPU defect, or I bite the bullet and shut it down and continue any work later.

To constantly have to worry when my defective MacBook Pro (2011) will next crash while in Desktop (which is often), or if it will successfully boot-up to the Desktop screen or repeatedly fail with grey or blue screen, is in itself very soul destroying. I constantly having to cross my fingers, hold my breath while wishing and praying - it's like a lucky-dip (or is that unlucky-dip). Is this really how it should be as an owner of one of Apple's Premium priced bespoke flagship computers, a computer that was touted to meet the demanding all round performance requirements for professionals (hence the Pro in the products name).

It may sound mediocre but one thing for sure that is very effective long term, both for documenting and confirming the issue being present on all owners & users being affected by this fault; is to upload 'pictures' of your fault in it's different states (which I've done previously).

Pictures are very powerful as well as giving visual confirmation. Unless mistaken, I get the impression that only a certain amount of affected owners/users have actually uploaded snap-shots of their machine when in the fault mode reported here.

Images undoubtedly get the point across quite effectively as well as being visual confirmation. Its a small notion but could have a bigger impact eventually and overall.

i have two macbook pro..both are 15` and 13`.. last year i cant use my 15` mbp because this issue.. and now my mbp 13` have issue with wifi no harwarde issue..try google around and it common issue for mbp. what wrong with you apple.

still looking for solution to fix my mbp 15. its collecting dust now. how sad

I sent my detailed report to

http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbookpro.html

but didn't get reply, automated or otherwise. Did anyone get a reply?

Just adding my burden to this thread. Was not aware of this issue until I myself experienced this with my early 2011 MBP 17".

First the screen started to get distorted, garbled, showing left side of screen on the right side vica verca, and then finally the blue screen appeared, together with the fan maxing out on the RPM's. Unresponsive and sounding like a jetengine, I finally turned the machine off, let it cool down, and I'm still able to start it up and use it for Excel, simple webpages and stuff. But immediately when trying to use graphic heavy programs, it agains bites the dust, and leaves me in a very dark blue place....

It saddens me that such a fine and extremely expensive piece of hardware suddenly stops working after 3 years of loyal service, maybe this fault is the ultimate Kill-Switch and part of the "expiration of products to force us into new purchases" philosophy so many are talking about these days :-)

Adding photo as suggested previously... Not really hoping for any help though...

Well, not adding anything much that's new, but we've just had 2 late 2011 15" MacBook Pros in my department suffer from this same problem.

Really disappointed that Apple has not taken action to address this through a recall programme or something. Given how much money they have it is poor that they would let their reputation for quality be jeopardised in this way.

KevJbradley wrote:

 

KevJbradley wrote:

 

So I actually got my macbook back from the apple store tonight, which I thought was impressive (only dropped it off this morning). After taxes, the new logic board came out to $622.78 (in Halifax, NS, Canada). Outch. Still, the difference is huuge. Even from months ago. The whole thing is running about 20 degrees cooler, just browsing with chrome. And everything just seems to work better. Videos load better, pictures load faster, and OSX boots quicker (and that's with an SSD). So I'm just crossing my fingers that this will actually fix it for a decent amount of time. I guess time will tell. Good luck to everyone else!

 

An update, 1 week after getting the logic board replaced. The whole thing still runs cooler, although I feel like the temperature may be creeping up. I use Macs fan control, which kicks the left fan on low when the CPU core 0 gets to 60 and it's set to keep the temperature below 75 degrees (beyond 75 they go into high gear). The right fan is still controlled automatically with default SMC. I'm hoping that these settings will prolong the life of this board, but that's only guessing..

 

So beyond temperature, not much to report. The only thing I've noticed is that It has recently (only today) started showing a blue flash when the graphic cards switch. The old logic board NEVER once did this. I've heard about this with other machines, but I honestly don't know what to make of it. Especially since it started a week after I got the new board...

Another update... The temperature has steadily been increasing... Not a good sign. The fans are now constantly on (I'm still using fan control to keep the temperature well below 75-ish). And today, I had my first crash. I tried to wake my laptop up from its screensaver, only to have the whole thing go black with the spinning beachball. Music was still playing, but the display was unrecoverable. So I hard resetted and everything still runs.. For now. Is it sad that I almost want it to crap out so I can bring it to apple and say "I told you so," and get another logic board while it's still under the (pathetic) 90 day warranty? If my GPU really is failing for a second time (like so many others), I will find it really hard to ever trust apple again. I paid $600 for a repair, I expect it to last longer than a few weeks!

I'd just like to ask, does anyone know what happens when Apple runs out of refurbished 2011 MBpro logic boards? Will that day ever come? I mean, the way they are approaching the issue now does not seem sustainable, we can only hope that resources will run out, forcing them to implement a bigger and better program... *cough* recall *cough...*

I'm in the same boat unfortunately.  Noticed basically the same things you did--temps creeping up, fans running more frequently and at increased speeds, and then finally crash/shutdown.  Mine is on the way back to Apple--they want to check the machine.  Not sure what the turnout will be since there's no definitive way to recreate the issue.

KevJbradley wrote:

 

I'd just like to ask, does anyone know what happens when Apple runs out of refurbished 2011 MBpro logic boards? Will that day ever come? I mean, the way they are approaching the issue now does not seem sustainable, we can only hope that resources will run out, forcing them to implement a bigger and better program... *cough* recall *cough...*

What makes you think they are not just recylcing the ones they take out of other peoples machines that have the same issue?

They appear to fail so quick (most of the time), that they are not new and definitly second hand. Some seem to be failing within hours...

KevJbradley wrote:

 

I'd just like to ask, does anyone know what happens when Apple runs out of refurbished 2011 MBpro logic boards? Will that day ever come? I mean, the way they are approaching the issue now does not seem sustainable, we can only hope that resources will run out, forcing them to implement a bigger and better program... *cough* recall *cough...*

Depends, they need at least some stock for such MBP e2011 that still covered by extended Apple Care, if run out of stock, and depending the REAL number of affected machines, they could just UPGRADE the Logic boards to another more recent model (bascically every MBP non-retina post early 2011) this case benefits you with an more powerfull and efficient MBP, and doesn imply software changes since is transparen to to OSX (actually you can do that in case you decide to replace the logic board instead to buy the same model, get a newer one suitable for Unibody MBP).

The most extremme escenario is that Apple really run off stock of logic boards suitables for replacement or upgrade on a masive recall, this case they can do:

1. If the number of affected Mac isn't enough to justify new production logic boards, they will Offer Us:
   • Exchange on a Newer Model (a basic rMBP) or
   • a Special Gift Card for the amount they consider is fair for our Mac we could use to purchase an new Mac.
2. If the number of afected devices is really large, they will re-open the  logic board's production line (less probable scenario).

Hello,

I have the same problem on my MPB early 2011, 15'4

My first MBP hadn't optical reader... Incredible... I changed it in Apple store 2 weeks later

Now this is the ATI chipset which doesn't work just before an international congress presentation.

I paid 300€ too much this chipset by comparaison with standard early MBP 15' 2011... Apple's hardware is like cheap **** !!! It's shame for them.

4 Iphone bought --> 3 repairs...

1 Ipad 2 retina --> Too warm when I use it...

I'm really surpised by apple hardware quality and after sales department

I'm sure, it was my last apple product bought.

Good luck for all the people with the same problem...

JoseAngelAcosta wrote:

 

they could just UPGRADE the Logic boards to another more recent model (bascically every MBP non-retina post early 2011) this case benefits you with an more powerfull and efficient MBP, and doesn imply software changes since is transparen to to OSX (actually you can do that in case you decide to replace the logic board instead to buy the same model, get a newer one suitable for Unibody MBP).

Hmm. I'm a little dubious about this.  Successive generations have numerous minor (and major) changes that I think it's doubtful that you could put in a newer board and have it work.  Do you know anyone who has tried this?

Hmm. I'm a little dubious about this.  Successive generations have numerous minor (and major) changes that I think it's doubtful that you could put in a newer board and have it work.  Do you know anyone who has tried this?

DMC440,

The nearest 'cousin' to the 2011 models would be the mid-2012 models and although I've never tried to fit a 2012 logic board in a 2011 casing, I seriously doubt that it can be done.

Not a solution.

Clinton