2011 MacBook Pro board problem

Bsteffen5 wrote:

I was told it was 2011 until I looked at my paperwork. I should of made the discrepancy more aware. Sorry. Yes it is a 2012. Is it worth 300 to get it fixed or use that for a newer one. How long before this computer becomes outdated and not supported?

I wouldn't pay $300 to get it fixed. I can find plenty of local ads (Craigslist) for mid-2012 non-Retina MBP models for anywhere from $300 to $400. If you can get a replacement, you might be able to sell your old one for parts. Even without a working logic board, the case and display might be useful in another machine.

We really have no idea how long there will be software support. However, the 13" mid-2012 non-Retina stopped shipping in October 2016. Apple publicly states at least 5 years of hardware support from the last one being produced. In California that's extended to 7 years as required by state warranty laws.

Vintage and obsolete products - Apple Support

For the most part the hardware hasn't really gotten that much faster - at least not the performance of Intel processors. Software support seems to be related to how well the hardware can operate new operating systems. For example, my 2007 polycarbonate MacBook with the Core 2 Duo seems to max out at Lion. But the mid-2012 models have been through 8 different major iterations of OSX/MacOS. Can't say for sure, but right now I don't see a need to get a new one to replace my mid-2012 MBP. I even got a key repaired at an Apple Store such that it looks almost new.

Consumer Reports has some wisdom on Appliance repair, not specific to computers:

"If the cost of repair exceeds half the price of a new Appliance, buy a new one"

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The 2011 MacBook Pro has already been left behind -- it cannot run Mojave. The next MacOS, Catalina, is likely to be out in the Fall, and also not available for your older Mac.

All electronic parts will fail sooner or later. I've had logic boards replaced twice - once during the initial one year warranty period. So, 5 years is pretty good - I do not expect my devices to last longer than 3 years (while they are covered by Applecare), but will be happy if thy do. And it does not matter if anyone else has this problem or not; what matters is that you have a problem. So you need to make a decision: repair or replace; personally, I would replace an 8 year old device that is no longer supported.

Grant Bennet-Alder wrote:

The prices Apple charges for its repairs (when they have parts) seems like it never goes down from the price they charge on day 1. So I am almost certain this would be the latter.

I was just thinking that either way the OP is taking a chance on how long the device will work. Certainly for $300 I might take a chance on a computer that looks and functions well. This vintage of MBP has been a workhorse where I haven't heard of too many failing. Of course when they do fail the tendency is to believe the whole series might be lemons.

babowa wrote:

Well, the mid 2012 MBP is the last model that is actually user accessible with the hard drive, battery, and RAM easily accessed, so there is no need to remove that many components. That is one of the reasons why I bought it - the other being that it can boot with 10.9 Mavericks.

Well - Apple claims that the battery isn't user serviceable. At least that's what that sticker more or less says. Of course Apple provides instructions on how to change the RAM on all Unibody MBP models, and the 2009 instructions for replacing the drive seems to be universal even if Apple doesn't say so.

However, I was really addressing what it takes to replace the logic board, which the OP is considering. That is most definitely a job best left for someone with advanced repair skills. That's a lot of screws, a lot of thermal paste, and a lot of things that could go wrong.

Grant Bennet-Alder wrote:

The one you have is "the devil you know". Buying someone else's computer is buying their problems.

Then again repairing a computer comes with its own potential problems. When 30 different components need to be removed, there could be an issue if one of them isn't placed back perfectly. Not sure if $300 gets Apple to replace a logic board or if it's a salvage part installed by an independent shop.

I know if I sold my mid-2012 MBP (which I won't do) I would do so knowing that there are no major issues. I'd mention that the esc key was replaced and that it has an aftermarket SSD, but other than that it's pristine. I guess buying a used computer always comes with the risk that the seller isn't upfront about problems, but any kind of major repair comes with a completely different set of risks.

<<Not sure if $300 gets Apple to replace a logic board or if it's a salvage part installed by an independent shop.>>

The prices Apple charges for its repairs (when they have parts) seems like it never goes down from the price they charge on day 1. So I am almost certain this would be the latter.

Depends. While mine shows signs of wear on the keys, it’s otherwise in like new working order. Many for sale claim to be similar.

The big issue would be a failing hard drive, and new SSDs are cheap replacements that result in the best bag for the buck performance improvement.

Buying a used computer from an unknown seller is always a gamble and you won't know how that machine was treated or did it have some major problems which the seller is forgetting to tell you about. Additionally, unless they follow all of the steps here and can prove it, I wouldn't touch it:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201065

If your mid 2012 has the original slow 5400 rpm hard drive, I would consider swapping that for an SSD. However, that would mean more money spent which you probably do not want to do. And, as for the "outdating", that is the nature of electronics. They come out with a newer, faster, better, more features model all the time; then the software will be optimized to run on that and won't be compatible with the older hardware. That is what they all do - that goes for TVs, refrigerators, etc. as well. They wouldn't sell anything if it lasted a long time.

FWIW, I bought a mid 2012 in 2017 as a refurb from Apple with Applecare to 2020. I swapped the slow hard drive for an SSD and added more RAM; it is working nicely and covered until April 2020.

Well, the mid 2012 MBP is the last model that is actually user accessible with the hard drive, battery, and RAM easily accessed, so there is no need to remove that many components. That is one of the reasons why I bought it - the other being that it can boot with 10.9 Mavericks.