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 542 of 891 last Next
  • by flimflamini,

    flimflamini flimflamini Sep 8, 2014 6:48 PM in response to rdbrwn
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 8, 2014 6:48 PM in response to rdbrwn

    Thanks rdbrwn - is there a way to reverse this process back to default state? I want to bring my MBP 15 inch early 2011 (DF8Y) in to an apple store to establish a record but don't want to explain this kext file removal process.

  • by rs695,

    rs695 rs695 Sep 8, 2014 8:38 PM in response to flimflamini
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 8, 2014 8:38 PM in response to flimflamini

    Yet another blue/purple stripe screen issue here. I can't start my early 2011 MacBook Pro at all. Just green and purple stripes, then a solid gray screen. I'm incensed that Apple seems to feel no obligation to remedy this. Are they waiting for a class action? Is there one under way?

  • by scorpionlilwhip,

    scorpionlilwhip scorpionlilwhip Sep 8, 2014 9:00 PM in response to rs695
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 8, 2014 9:00 PM in response to rs695

    I do not think a class action law suit has been launched as of yet, but there are firms looking into the viability of one.

     

    We are dealing with 2 types of people who are having this failure, there are ones who have saved up and hope to get a premium computer that will last them, and there are those who replace their computers shortly after a new model has come out. The ones who hoped the computer would last them, are out of luck it would seem, unless Apple aids us in some way, whether on their own or by being forced to. The problem with them volunteering, is that in a litigeous souciety where the national pastime is lawsuits anything that remotely seems like a admission will become a rally point for those who for profit and sport relish this sort of endeavour.

     

    I was going to purchase a new MBP in about 10 months and retire my old one, but a i7 will not be as quickly obsolete as a core2duo machine, will I purchase a new Apple? It is all up to Apple now, and since they seem to be favouring sales of hand held devices, we may have become redundant as customers. most manufacturers seem to now be favouring the handheld market. Desktops and Laptops becoming a smaller niche market now. I look at the design of the computer now, since I have always used Apples and PC's in tandem, me moving away from Apple will not be a hardship to me. My next purchase of a laptop will be a computer that is designed with cooling in mind, I have even found a PC where the GPU is on a removable card for upgrades or replacement (should it fail) this comptetitors design I find rather intriguing.and as a side note I have been running both Apples and PC's since 1991 (weird..but most of my old PC's are now long gone, all my old Apples...are still running save one, a old G3 desktop that was swamped in a basement flood, but was working till that point, I have all my old Apples, but with my loss of confidence in the brand, I may get rid of a few of them now and only keep the ones I feel the most nostalgia for).

     

    Bottom line? It seems like the only recourse is to get the expensive repair, then work the machines to death in the 90 days of warranty. Wait till the computer fails, replace, repeat, and eventually they will replace the computer with a newer model (this seems to be what has happened in at least a couple cases)

  • by rdbrwn,

    rdbrwn rdbrwn Sep 8, 2014 11:10 PM in response to flimflamini
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Sep 8, 2014 11:10 PM in response to flimflamini

    Q: Why we have graphic glitches?

    A: Because of overheating, discrete GPU (dGPU) chip dies (or just solder connection between dGPU chip and Logic Board (LB) cracks - this is still debatable). When you boot your OS, the code that is written to boot the OS needs to load kext files to find dGPU. If dGPU chip is dead or it doesnt have connection with LB, boot process will fail with showing graphic glitches you are familiar to. If it doesn't load this drivers, it will not look for dGPU, it wil not ignite it and you will be able to boot your system, but with laggy graphic.

     

    Apple would really help us to provide a fix, that we would be able to use our machines as 13" MBP, that doesn't have dGPU, but that would mean that they admit the problem.

     

    What you actually do with moving AMD/ATI kext files, is that you remove them from a original directory, and when OS boots it will not find them and it doesn't look for dGPU. So reverting this "Trick" is to simply move kext files back to their original folder.

    But every time you change or even move some files, you know, that this writes time code (date modified) to any kind of file. (step no 6.)

    To revert this "trick" try (I write try, because I am not a programer and not familiar with writing codes - step no 6.) with moving ATI/AMD kext files back to its original over this procedure:

     

    What I also did later on is that I repaired Disk Permissions (google repair disk permissions if you are not familiar with this procedure.

     

    1) BOOT IN "SINGLE USER MODE"

    Press: [Power ⎋] button, then immediately hold down [CMD ⌘] + [S] while booting.

     

    2) CHECK AND REPAIR THE BOOT VOLUME

    Type:   fsck -fy

     

    3) MOUNT THE BOOT VOLUME (ENABLE READ/WRITE)

    Type: mount -uw /

     

    4) CHANGE YOUR WORKING DIRECTORY

    Type: cd /System/Library/DisabledExtensions

     

    5) MOVE ALL ATI/AMD EXTENSIONS BACK TO THE ORIGINAL DIRECTORY

    ** Depending on your model, you may have either ATI or AMD .kext files.**

    Type: mv ATI* /Extensions OR
    Type: mv AMD* /Extensions

     

    6) UPDATE TIMESTAMPS TO REBUILD KEXT CACHE (I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THIS STEP, TO DO OR NOT TO DO)

    Type: sudo touch /System/Library/Extensions

     

    7) EXIT "SINGLE USER MODE"

    Type: reboot  OR
    Type: shutdown -h now
  • by rdbrwn,

    rdbrwn rdbrwn Sep 8, 2014 11:09 PM in response to rdbrwn
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Sep 8, 2014 11:09 PM in response to rdbrwn

    If you want to show apple stuff, that you have dGPU related problem ask them to run a recovery of your OS or try to reinstall OSx. You will experience GPU glitches right away

  • by rsanda,

    rsanda rsanda Sep 9, 2014 4:35 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 9, 2014 4:35 AM in response to abelliveau

    I got my MBP after repair from Apple for free. Before the repair the temperatures were over 50C most of the time, even without watching any videos. Now it's around 50 when I watch HD content. The repair report says that they found something wrong with the graphic board and changed the logic board. This repair was covered by "Customer Satisfaction Code".

     

    So I guess this will last for few more months for now. Could anybody please suggest any good stress test tools?

     

    Thanks

  • by adamsrk,

    adamsrk adamsrk Sep 9, 2014 5:03 AM in response to rsanda
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 9, 2014 5:03 AM in response to rsanda

    Did it give a satisfaction code number??? It sounds like they may have made this a known issue. has anyone seen a write up about it? rsanda what state are you in and what store did you go too? Did they do it there or send it to a service center????

  • by rsanda,

    rsanda rsanda Sep 9, 2014 5:07 AM in response to adamsrk
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 9, 2014 5:07 AM in response to adamsrk

    No they didnt give a code. Apple arranged all the transportations. I think they sent it to a service center. I am in Japan. I guess they r unofficially accepting this as their mess finally.

  • by mikeydapple,

    mikeydapple mikeydapple Sep 9, 2014 6:42 AM in response to rdbrwn
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 9, 2014 6:42 AM in response to rdbrwn

    I want to take this opportunity to do 2 things:

    1) thank rdbrwn for this temporary fix, which is the only thing that allowed me to use my Macbook Pro without having to resort to Target Disk Mode using another computer

     

    2) outline what I've experienced for posterity's sake and help anyone who has had a similar issue, including keywords that I had originally searched. It's amazing that despite the over 14000 signatures on the current petition to apple at change.org and these discussion threads, it took me over a week to find this thread.

    I am using a MacBook Pro, 15 inch, early 2011, Processor 2.2GHz Intel Core i7, Memory 8GB 1333 MHz DDR3 Graphics AMD Radeon HD 6750M 1024MB, OS X 10.9.4 (13E28).

    On about 8/31/2014 I started having issues after waking the laptop from sleep, the screen had these vertical bars:

    IMG_0084.jpg

    Then, after a few restarts and a few resetting of NVPRAM, it seemed to work again. During that time, I did install gfxcardstatus, but could not identify whether one or the other graphics card was the problem.

    Then, on about 09/05/14, it failed again with horizontal green pinstripes at the login window. After entering my password, it would boot into a grey screen that I could not interact with.

    IMG_0105.jpg

    My choices were to force a shutdown my hitting the power button, or wait in which case it seemed to shut itself down after some time (as far as I could tell, it was not going to sleep because the status light was not blinking.

    I was able to boot into Single User Mode, with the green horizontal pinstripes. But fsck found no errors, and a reboot didn't lead to any changes.

    IMG_0095.jpg

    Finally, following rdbrwn's instructions, I was able to get the computer to boot into a relatively usable state, despite the lag and green horizontal pinstripes:

    IMG_0104-2.jpg

     

    As rdbrwn points out, the Mabook now thinks it's using an external display, which means gfxcardstatus won't allow me to switch tot the integrated graphics card.

     

    Is there anyway to force the Macbook to boot only using the integrated graphics card?  Would this even be helpful?  Given everyone's experience with bad replacement logic boards, I would just prefer to be able to use the Macbook as a lower end graphics-weak laptop rather than have it keep failing?

  • by The Snake in Eden,

    The Snake in Eden The Snake in Eden Sep 9, 2014 10:03 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Sep 9, 2014 10:03 AM in response to abelliveau

    I had my GPU reballed (early 2011 17" MBP) and that fixed the problem. My MBP wouldn't even boot before, and now it's fully functional again. Clearly there is a serious problem with the solder.

     

    In the Los Angeles area, I sent my MBP to ps3 specialist (search for that) for about $220 after shipping - way cheaper than a ~$800 logic board. Just make sure you pack your MBP well - I wasn't super careful and ended up getting my the box back with popped air bags (the shipping type); leaving my apple mbp box bumping around inside the shipping box. I don't know when they popped but I'm fortunate that nothing else seemed to break during shipping.

  • by Pkscott,

    Pkscott Pkscott Sep 9, 2014 3:58 PM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 9, 2014 3:58 PM in response to abelliveau

    Just got back from the Apple Genus Bar.  At the counter, the Apple Genus looked up on his iPad mini according to Apple their is no such problem with the 2011 MacBook Pro.  He wouldn't even touch my computer and said apple could take a look at it for $ 310.00 dollars. I told him that there are countless blogs and magazine articles about he issue, his response was that Apple stands behind their product.   My response: I have a problem, but all I see are lips moving and nobody helping. It's a whole different world, when your the one with the problem.

     

    My last statement to him was; it's not the $ 3,000.00 plus dollars I've spend on a MacBook Pro, it's the 25k of friends who I recommended Apple's product to, I worry about them.

     

    I'm not really sure what to tell people about Apple now?  They'll help you out on the little things, but they are ignoring the big issues.  Is this the new Apple?

     

    I'm recording my whole experience, in hopes this will be corrected.

  • by Dannyg888,

    Dannyg888 Dannyg888 Sep 9, 2014 11:35 PM in response to mikeydapple
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 9, 2014 11:35 PM in response to mikeydapple

    Thanks so much for shearing with us.  I also had the same issue.  Now only run on the integrated graphic card and can not even conic to projector to present a powerpoint.  Very unhappy with apple.

  • by sufia03,

    sufia03 sufia03 Sep 10, 2014 12:01 AM in response to Dannyg888
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 10, 2014 12:01 AM in response to Dannyg888

    HI all! Just wanna leave my comment here, hoping Apple start looking at this and finally assume the problem. My early 2011 macbookpro started giving me problems 2weeks ago. I had no idea about this global problem, so i went to apple store to check what was going on...some days later they called me saying there was no problem at all, it passed all tests, and they were going just to format it... Happy to not having to pay for repair i went for my mac. That same night i was starting to install my stuff, when the problems came back... i am going now to Apple store to explain what happened and to tell them i'm aware this is a problem with the 2011 generation... Hope they assume their fault and repair it for free!! I cannot (and don't want to) pay for this kind of repair costs... Let's see what they say...

     

    I miss old apple, when everything worked just perfectly... :,(

     

    I still have here my old black macbook working just fine and this new machine is giving me this kind of problems... Also experienced problems with the new chargers (stop working twice (the first time replaced by apple care) and because for me 80€ for a charger seems ridiculous i'm using my old, old charger that's also working just fine after all these years...)

  • by Geezg,

    Geezg Geezg Sep 10, 2014 12:34 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 10, 2014 12:34 AM in response to abelliveau

    I am just another victim of this problem, and have struggled with it for months. At first, I tried to recovery the OSX, and had made it return normal serveral tiems. But from this Monday, I can not even boot into the recovery install tool with cmd+R.

     

     

    I also tried the following way to at least bootup the machine. Let the MPB stay on the gray screen after boot up, and the fan to spin up until the machine shut down by itself. I guess it is because the temperature is too high and the machine shuts down as self-protection. Then power on the machine again, to my surprise it can boot up normally. I guess maybe it is the high temperature that let the machine to boot up with the integrated graphics card only.

     

    Hope this will help someone else.

     

    <Edited by Host>

  • by actionman99,

    actionman99 actionman99 Sep 10, 2014 2:54 AM in response to Pkscott
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Sep 10, 2014 2:54 AM in response to Pkscott

    PkScott, my reply to your post was removed by Apple.

    Apparently expressing my distaste of Apple's fading quality reputation is non-technical and 'off topic'.

     

    How can discussing our disappointment with defective GPU's be off topic?

    How can discussing our frustration with poor quality and calling for a solution be non-technical?

     

    For the record, I didn't use a single curse word, nor was I inaccurate!

     

    Actually I'm surprised someone from Apple IS monitoring this forum and STILL not doing a THING about it.

first Previous Page 542 of 891 last Next