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

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Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

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  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Dec 1, 2014 4:57 AM in response to D3us
    Level 9 (51,166 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 1, 2014 4:57 AM in response to D3us

    D3us wrote:

     

    Csound1 wrote:

     

    philux wrote:

     

    The GPU soldering failure is because Apple decided to not use Mercury to adhere to "environmental standards"...how stupid! The other 99% of the laptop isn't environmentally friendly, so why skimp on the part that requires a toxic ingredient the most?

    In most of the world (including the EU) the use of solder containing lead is banned. It's poisonous and has killed millions of people.

     

    And you want Apple to start using it, really?

     

    Csound1, facts please?

    Screen Shot 2014-12-01 at 12.56.12.png

  • by RenardFJ,

    RenardFJ RenardFJ Dec 1, 2014 5:00 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 1, 2014 5:00 AM in response to abelliveau

    @Csound1 & @GavMackem

     

    With all due respect, your fight over whether the lead ban was or wasn't a good thing (in my opinion, definitely a good thing) is diluting the issue. Apple sold us products with very poor longevity and they are to blame for that, not any EU regulation.


    Back to topic:

    Regarding the 2010 MBP recall: First of all, how does that even work? They say customers who are withing three years of purchase are eligible, but even if you bought a late 2010 model in early 2011 you'd be out of that range.

    Secondly, was the issue comparable to what us poor 2011 MBP owners are currently experiencing? And what about the 2011 iMac recall program, that was tied to Radeon 6970M chips= My 17' MacBrick Pro has a Radeon 6770M, how comparable are both chips in terms of architecture, construction, soldering etc. I am going to an Apple Store next week and would like to bring up those and other points, in order to persuade them to repair or rather replace my machine without charge.

     

  • by GavMackem,

    GavMackem GavMackem Dec 1, 2014 5:09 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Dec 1, 2014 5:09 AM in response to Csound1

    From the sublime to the ludicrous Csound1 - I advocate it in use for REPAIRS only and have given you just a selection of uses where all OUR LIVES still depend on its use, including yours.

     

    Much of the lead poisoning is still caused by it being in fuel and I suggest you look up on the WHO and compare how many deaths a year are caused by the various lethal elements inside coal.  Do you realise the human race has pumped more radiation with Uranium 235/238 and Thorium 232 into the atmosphere than all the nuclear bombs and accidents combined by a huge magnitude by burning gigatons of it annually for the last 160 years.  It's pretty easy to do the maths - all the various elements and toxins multiplied by the total amount of coal burnt since the industrial revolution!

     

    The word learn is a very apt one - try reading a book about lead you might learn something instead of a hysterical trolling positions on something you know absolutely nothing about.

  • by GavMackem,

    GavMackem GavMackem Dec 1, 2014 5:17 AM in response to RenardFJ
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Dec 1, 2014 5:17 AM in response to RenardFJ

    I was advocating it for repairs only RenardFJ though I feel like I'm the straight man in a Monty Python sketch as usual having to explain myself through the hysteria.

     

    The 2010 Nvidia footed the bill and you get an exchange 2010 or a replacement Mac.  The iMac 2011 with its separate MXM daughter card for the AMD graphics is easy and cheap to replace.   The MBP 2011 on the other hand isn't a cheap part to replace at all which is why a certain manufacturer has their fingers in their ears hoping that the passing of time will make the problem go away, and only caving into it being defective goods where local laws mean they have no choice otherwise.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Dec 1, 2014 5:25 AM in response to GavMackem
    Level 9 (51,166 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 1, 2014 5:25 AM in response to GavMackem

    Lead is dangerous under all circumstances, it was claimed to be 'safe' and even 'efficacious' way back when commercial interests (DuPont and GM) wanted to profit from it.

     

    It is clear that the same mindset still applies in some cases.

     

    So keep it out of the repair shop as well (are you possibly inhaling the fumes?)

  • by RenardFJ,

    RenardFJ RenardFJ Dec 1, 2014 5:28 AM in response to GavMackem
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 1, 2014 5:28 AM in response to GavMackem

    And the 9770M chip of the MBP is on the Logicboard, thus forcing a complete swap of GPU, chip, etc. which is more expensive, right? But all in all the graphic processors are comparable - so I could tell them, that they've encountered similar issues with flawed chips from the same family beforehand.

     

    Sorry, my technical knowledge is a bit limited, which is in fact why I bought a Mac in the first place

  • by GavMackem,

    GavMackem GavMackem Dec 1, 2014 5:31 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Dec 1, 2014 5:31 AM in response to Csound1

    Preposterous and laughable notion - have you removed the battery out of your car and replaced what is on your roof for what other alternatives?

     

    Ingestion of lead is proven to stunt a humans intelligence and rational thought - if there is anyone suffering from lead poisoning it's not apparent from my side as I time and time again have put forward rational and concise arguments to back up my opinions. Others who don't on the other hand....

  • by GavMackem,

    GavMackem GavMackem Dec 1, 2014 5:34 AM in response to RenardFJ
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Dec 1, 2014 5:34 AM in response to RenardFJ

    Correct.  Though if yours fails for the first time I would highly recommend taking it to a reballing specialist and get your AMD GPU replaced.  Though if you want a repair not to be effective you could insist on it having lead free solder like what Apple use.

     

    If you tell us your location I am sure others can recommend an agent where you are..

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Dec 1, 2014 5:35 AM in response to GavMackem
    Level 9 (51,166 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 1, 2014 5:35 AM in response to GavMackem

    GavMackem wrote:

     

    Preposterous and laughable notion - have you removed the battery out of your car and replaced what is on your roof for what other alternatives?

    I am not one of those people who think that just because the boys do it that makes it ok.

     

    Clearly you are.

  • by GavMackem,

    GavMackem GavMackem Dec 1, 2014 5:47 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Dec 1, 2014 5:47 AM in response to Csound1

    No - I real in the magic called reality; science, that's physics, chemistry and biology, facts, empirical results and studies and ultimately logic.  I choose that as the core foundation of how I make rational decisions and choices.

     

    Others who deal in hysteria, scare stories and reading a headline of an article instead of reading what it clearly does explain on the other hand have none I do really worry about.  With too many like that then Homo Sapiens will surely devolve into the apes and chimpanzees we once were a few million years ago.

  • by eris23,

    eris23 eris23 Dec 1, 2014 5:52 AM in response to kayazuki
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    Dec 1, 2014 5:52 AM in response to kayazuki

    Hi

     

    I think its a great idea - just having a unique set of serials we "know" are broken would be useful.

  • by Junto26,

    Junto26 Junto26 Dec 1, 2014 5:58 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 1, 2014 5:58 AM in response to abelliveau

    Just wanted to throw into the mix - same issue here on a late 2011 15".

     

    First symptom was when trying to wake the Mac from sleep, the display would remain black.  No matter what.  Holding down the power button was the only option.

     

    Next, after holding down the power button to force turn off, it would not turn back on fully.  I'd see the light indicating the HD is on, fans on low, but that's it.  Opening it up and disconnecting the battery briefly was the only fix.

     

    This happened periodically, until after disconnecting the battery and booting up, this appeared.

     

    IMG_0155.JPG

     

    I did a clean install, hoping it would fix it.  Which did, for about a week.  Yesterday, it refused to wake again, but now won't boot up at all.  No matter what I do, the display remains black.

  • by GavMackem,

    GavMackem GavMackem Dec 1, 2014 6:03 AM in response to eris23
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Dec 1, 2014 6:03 AM in response to eris23

    I am no lawyer whatsoever but what would be more useful is information requests about failure rates by using local freedom of information legislation about the percentage of GPU failures for the 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 unibody designs for a true comparison.

     

    I know there is a spike in the 2011's, I have seen stats from AASP's myself here in the UK but it would be useful if Apple had to publish them by complying with local law.  Apple do have the exact numbers that I am 100% certain of.

  • by RenardFJ,

    RenardFJ RenardFJ Dec 1, 2014 6:05 AM in response to GavMackem
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 1, 2014 6:05 AM in response to GavMackem

    I will give Apple one last chance to make this right and talk to their Geniuses at the Berlin Store (so far I only had the pleasure to converse with their hotline). If they don't offer an acceptable solution it's Auf Nimmerwiedersehen, as we like to say in German. There's a reballer in my area to whom I will trust my MBP, if that doesn't prove to be effective I'll attach wheels to that unibodied demon and use it as a skateboard.

  • by obwianMacobi,

    obwianMacobi obwianMacobi Dec 1, 2014 6:09 AM in response to GavMackem
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 1, 2014 6:09 AM in response to GavMackem

    GavMackem wrote:

     

    I am no lawyer whatsoever but what would be more useful is information requests about failure rates by using local freedom of information legislation about the percentage of GPU failures for the 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 unibody designs for a true comparison.

     

    I know there is a spike in the 2011's, I have seen stats from AASP's myself here in the UK but it would be useful if Apple had to publish them by complying with local law.  Apple do have the exact numbers that I am 100% certain of.

    I might be wrong, but I think the freedom of information act (certainly here in the UK) only applies to public sector organisations, so Apple would be immune from such requests for information.

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