MacBook Pro 2011 17" hard freeze

my 20" cinema display & 2011 17" MBP run together very nicely. unchecked the auto gpu switching. ran BoinxTV - heavy GPU use - without any issue on tue for 1.5 hrs recording a meeting with soem gfx.

Can anyone who gets the lockup problem while compiling boost confirm that setting the graphics card to only integrated or only discrete (AMD) resolves the hang problem? I really would like to purchase this machine, but I do a ton of development so the compiling boost test hits very close to home.

Thanks in advance to anyone who is able to run this test and confirm / deny.

My MBP also freezes almost certainly when exiting full screen Programs (World of Warcraft most times) after I spend some time in them.
Once even viewing a picture in Quicklook (full screen) caused the freeze.

I can confirm at least on my machine that it will always hang if I lock it on discrete. If I lock it on integrated it will finish successfully.

From Apple:

+Dear John,+

+I am excited to inform you that your computer qualifies for Apple's Capture Program.+

+What is the Capture Program?+

+When Apple launches a new product we are required to take samples of all the failures. This process helps Apple Produce a better future model.+

+At this time you have two options.+

+Option 1:+
+-Continue with repair of your original unit. You may want to select this option if there is data on the faulty computer that you have not backed up.+
+Apple cannot transfer your old data to your new computer.+
+Please note: Generally repair is faster then replacement.+

+Option 2:+
+-Request a new machine. You will not be required to pay anything. Apple will ship you a new unit from the warehouse. Any power adapters, cables, and software you currently posses from the old unit, you are entitled to keep. *We do not have the ability to preinstall software. If you ordered preinstalled software we can set up a phone support call to help you install on your own, with your existing software discs. If you have a refurbished unit you will be receiving a new unit. The new unit will be the exact replica of your original purchase unless otherwise discussed.+

+Generally your new Mac will ship from the warehouse in 24 hours. If your computer has paid upgrades then it can take 1-3 days. Once your computer ships, I will forward you the tracking information. The Fed Ex tracking information will provide you with an estimated delivery date.+

+After your new unit has been delivered I will send a follow-up email that includes all the handling information about AppleCare. Also included in that email will be your one-year limited warranty. Please keep the warranty for your records.+

+Please elect from your two options by responding to this email.+

+Reply: repair - for repair. We will process the request, repair and return the unit as soon as possible.+

+If you would like a new computer please fill out the following template.+

NAME:
+PHONE NUMBER:+
+ADDRESS: (shipping address)+
+EMAIL ADDRESS:+


+Please be advised, Apple reserves the right to move your unit on to repair if you have not suggested otherwise within 24 hours.+

+Thank you.+

Sincerely,

I know you're saying the new one will have the same problem. Well there is that chance, but I'm going to go with the replacement option anyway. At least it will be easy enough to test out when it arrives.

So that's where I currently stand.

Perhaps this forum topic should be changed to Not Using your MacBook Pro.

My 2011 15" froze this morning and will not respond even to power off/power on using the power button.

When this happened, I had Terminal, TextEdit and Safari running on the desktop. No games, no external monitor and I'm using about 16GB of the hard drive. The desktop image was fine but the computer would respond neither to the mouse nor the keyboard.

I have powered off and on using the power button four times. Each time, the computer comes on showing the Terminal (my start-up programme) but the computer responds to neither the mouse nor the keyboard.

Specs:
2.2GB processor
750GB hard drive, 5400 rpm
Hi-res matte screen

I purchased the computer 13 days ago from the New York Apple Store (5th Ave) and will be returning it today. Unless they can give me an assurance that this is not going to happen with a replacement, I will be requesting a refund.

You are right, as this problem doesn't affect all MBP 2011 out there, and I think only a minority of them. Mine for example never freezed or crashed since I deactivated the Fan Speed Control option of iStat Menu, and I've played multiple 3D games already for hours and used programs that use the full power of it (like Handbreak) without any issue.

So anyone having freeze issues and having put out any possible software cause (iStat Menu fan speed control option, SMC Fan Control, Reset of SMC and PRAM done...), should get a replacement, as there are faulty and, except if you are very unlucky, the replacement unit will certainly works just fine.

So go for it, get a replacement unit, all of you having this issue (and not being able to find a software cause).

I guess I'm very unlucky, because I'm on the phone with Apple about my replacement right now -_-

Using GFXCardStatus on my 2.3 15" to set integrated only, results in no output to my external 24" monitor.
The same monitor works fine in dynamic and discrete modes.
I have tried unplugging etc.

Does anyone else experience this?

Thanks

Sid Merrett wrote:
Using GFXCardStatus on my 2.3 15" to set integrated only, results in no output to my external 24" monitor.
The same monitor works fine in dynamic and discrete modes.
I have tried unplugging etc.

Does anyone else experience this?

Thanks

That's by design. If you want to drive an external monitor, you must use the dedicated GPU.

Understood - thanks.

Just returned my 2011 MBO 17" after 2 days.
I think it's an issue with the fan.
I had nothing open but Firefox Browser...that's all.
I was watching a video on YouTube and when I clicked it to
full screen mode the fans started whirring as if the machine
was overheating.
I tried to exit the browser, but nothing happened, so I guess in retrospect the screen froze. I then immediately put it into sleep mode in order to
stop the noise. It was very loud. The machine was vibrating.
When I woke it, everything was normal, except for the fact that when putting it
to sleep or waking it up, the wait between the command and it happening was
abnormally long and random. prior to the fan incident the action was instant.

To me that was a big red flag. I spoke with a tech at apple who had me
partition another HD to run the basic install disc to see if it was being caused
by any of the files or software I'd migrated from my old PowerBookG4 800MHz which runs like a charm but can't handle the programs I need to use...anyway
The newly partitioned HD had the same issue with untimely sleeps and wake-ups...
a warning of things to come...
I returned it for replacement but after reading all these complaints...I think
I want to get a refund until they figure it out.

rredge wrote:
Perhaps this forum topic should be changed to Not Using your MacBook Pro.

My 2011 15" froze this morning and will not respond even to power off/power on using the power button.

When this happened, I had Terminal, TextEdit and Safari running on the desktop. No games, no external monitor and I'm using about 16GB of the hard drive. The desktop image was fine but the computer would respond neither to the mouse nor the keyboard.

I have powered off and on using the power button four times. Each time, the computer comes on showing the Terminal (my start-up programme) but the computer responds to neither the mouse nor the keyboard.

Specs:
2.2GB processor
750GB hard drive, 5400 rpm
Hi-res matte screen

I purchased the computer 13 days ago from the New York Apple Store (5th Ave) and will be returning it today. Unless they can give me an assurance that this is not going to happen with a replacement, I will be requesting a refund.

Just got home from the New York Apple Store. They acknowledged within a couple of minutes that there is a problem with my machine. I told them that I wanted a refund unless they could give me an assurance that this problem is not widespread and is fixable. Not only could they not give me that assurance, they said that there is no Apple acknowledgement of a problem. That took me aback a little. I was in fact one day past the 14 day return period, but they did not make an issue of that and gave me a full refund for the machine and case that I purchased.

I too have a MacBook Pro 15" 2.2GHz Radeon 6750, occasionally it'll randomly freeze for a second or so, even when forced to either GPU via gfxCardStatus.

Where my machine will often freeze completely (sometimes the mouse will still move) is when compiling code in Xcode 4 (was fine in Xcode 3). I've noticed the CPU temperatures reach about 94°C before it does freeze, and the fans kick in at around 90°C. (Using hardware monitor, to read the temperatures)

When stress testing using Folding@Home, the CPUs ramp up to full utilisation and temperature increases to 86°C and the fans kick in at around 75°C. So it looks like it measures the load on the CPU to determine what speed the fans should spin at.

I think there maybe two issues at play here, 1 bad graphics drivers and 2 bad temperature management. Hopefully both fixable via software update.

On a side note, the WiFi is horrible compared to my old 2007 santa rosa MacBook Pro.

I should perhaps add that there was nothing abnormal going on at all with my computer when it froze. No fan noises, nothing, and very light demand on the processor.