problems with amd gpu on early 2011 macbook pro

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MacbookPro 2011 AMD 6770M

This is my first time to use Mac (not bought by myself but from my friend), now it's even worse than a cheap 500USD cheap Windows laptop PC, so, I won't buy any Apple product again. The idiots Genius Bar asked me 600 USD to make a useless logic board replacement, I just say, no way, this is your fault and also the stupid AMD, not our problems.

So Apple, your're on the way to the tomb, SONY will say SEE YOU soon.

If they don't i would try to use Apple's recycling programm which probably pays you $500 (instead of spending that much to get a crap mainboard replacement). 😉

Wow, this is so devastating =(

So, finally I got my MBP e2011 from pro repair shop (not Apple). They replaced faulty GPU chip with a new one and now it seems, that computer works again. GPU was reballed with lead solder in October 2013, but after one month symptoms came back. I was advised (from repair shop, that made me reballing) to replace GPU chip, just for the price of a new AMD Radeon 6750m, that was 30€ and shipping back from Germany to Slovenia.

I am still figuring out under which OS (SL or Mav.) my MBP will last longer with a new chip. There are some differences between those two OS, how they are switching between integrated and discrete graphics. Any your experiences are welcome to share with me 😉

I also use Macs Fan Control app to control fans when to kick in.

I will still follow this thread and inform you if I will have graphic crashes again, but so far so good (two days now from repair).

This picture is a render from ACAD (1600x1200p). Before the GPU replacement, I was not able to produce this task without a graphic crash, white, gray, blue stripes, shifted screen picture etc. It looks now that i am able to do these tasks again.

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Yes you did right choice. I'm a 3D application user on OSX (Maya Houdini Nuke Smoke etc), the only solution is the replacement of the GPU, not the stupid Logic Board, this issue is just like the early issue on XBOX360, the stupid AMD produces rubbish all the time.

I have my laptop repaired for the third time now. Thanks to European warranty laws. But it is funny to notice if you want to enter your macbook early 2011 in the recycle program, you will get almost 100 euro's LESS compared to a 15" model from 2010. For a early 2011 model they want to give you appr 370 euro and for a 2010 model they are willing to give appr 475 euro.

I am very disapointed by Apple. Such an expensive machine and such a poor quality.

Greetings from Malaysia. My first MBP 15" CTO Early 2011 just broken down as my Apple Care is about to expire in a couple of months. I was surprised that I was not the only one. I was using Fan Smart Controller app a few months after I own my MBP running on OSX Lion. When I upgraded to OSX Mavericks, I did not reinstall the Fan Smart Controller app. That could be the reason why I am only experiencing this problem now.

Really disappointed with Apple for not rectifying this problem with a recall replacement. It was my very first Apple product as I have already gave up on Windows PCs. Really disappointed with Apple for such poor quality in an expensive machine.

Well, I just ran into this problem on my MBP 2011 machine. I've been running Aperture and FCP X, both use the GPU and my machine is crashing multiple times per day. Over the years I've purchased thousands of dollars of Apple equipment. Given the widespread impact this problem is having, it is unacceptable for Apple to not have a defined program in place to rectify this problem. I will call apple support tomorrow to see what they plan to do.

Just got back my MBP and it was the same graphic problem as the rest of you. Change the logic board as covered by Apple Care. Anyone knows if they have rectify the problems on the new board ?

No, they just replace the logic board again and again. I had mine replaced for the third time now.

Warranty Status: Out of Warranty(OW)

Ft. Lauderdale 33301-2315 USA Model: MACBOOK PRO (17-INCH, EARLY 2011)

Date of Purchase: 10-May-11

Got mine back from genius bar $310 Flat rate replace logic bd and total overhaul hinge tightened and looks as good as new so far over 3 months no GPU problems1 thing I did which was a no brainer is I maxed out the memory and put in16GB and is working great only a few times have the fans kicked on and I quit all programs and let it cool down but NO quits or weird grey stripes or PS CS GPU error message

I'm having the same problem! I have a 2011 Macbook Pro 15" and it has AMD Radeon HD 6490 Graphics card. It has same display issue: blue screen with lines, or gray screen, or screen divided in half. It does not boot correctly most of the time. When it does, it freezes when working with iPhoto, iMovie, Adobe Photoshop, or Adobe Premiere Pro. I took the laptop to a genius bar and the told me it was the graphics card, and that they could repair it for over $300.00 and that it would take around 5 days. I'm upset, because I never had these types of issues with my other laptops which are PC,and I was expecting higher performance from my Mac. It makes me wish, I haven't bought it in the first place. I could've spent much less in a PC. Now, because of this Mac issue, I cannot use my Adobe CS6 production suite for Mac (which also was very expensive) to do my work. It is super frustrating! Also it is scary to spend more than $300.00 in repairs and then having the same issue recurring in couple of months as others stated.

MargaretPink,

There are at least five discussions about this problem with the 2011 models being posted - the largest is perhaps -> https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4766577?tstart=0.

Whatever you do, DON'T pay Apple to have your logic board replaced. It is, at best, a temporary solution. What you want to do is spend $150-200USD and have you GPU reballed. Some repair centers are offering up to a years warranty using this method - far better money spent for an actual 'fix' for the problem rather than a temporary patch.

Post your experience on the larger thread, too, and you can search for a reballer in your area.

Clinton

I am very sorry to say you will in all likelihood be disappointed because Apple still does not even acknowledge there is any issue.

I have had my logic board replaced three times as well as just about everything inside the machine several times and when it still did not fix the issue they stopped honoring the Apple Care. I contacted Tim Cook as suggested however I did not talk to him I got his assistant who asked me what I would like them to do to make this better. I said fix it so it works properly or replace it with one that does work. At that point my Apple Care was no longer honored and I was not refunded for the remaining time on my Apple Care which was not long, but given they had the machine for the better part of 2013 and it was unusable… but I digress. I have another Mac doing the very same thing bought at the same time and I have been completely beside myself because I have so much money wrapped up in not only Apple products but I have thousands of dollars worth of software for my music studio and photography studio.

After getting the run around from Apple for over a year my last phone call ended very heated and I had a stroke which is why you haven't seen me posting here in a long while. I decided it wasn't worth dying over and have spent many months in recovery.

The best advice I can give at this point is this... I tried many different brands and models of various laptops that rival the almighty Macbook Pro built to the max. I finally found one that just plain does everything and more than the Macbook Pro. The Lenovo W540 portable workstation. I spoke with the software companies and explained the issue and they switched my license's to Windows versus my Mac license's. I am not the only person that has had the same request for the very same reason.

I am not a fan of Windows given its instability of the OS however this machine is built like a brick. I maxed it out on all the bells and whistles including 3 years of extended warranty with spills, drops, etc protection. I never thought I'd purchase a Windows machine since I am and have been since the 80's a UNIX, then LINUX and in 2006 I began using Mac's as workstations leaving UNIX/LINUX as servers.

The price on the Lenovo W540 isn't cheap however it is much less than the Macbook Pro and you get a lot more features, ports, and extra's that isn't on the Mac's including the warranty and total cost was $2016.00. I have an extensive Engineering background so I by nature am very thorough and have read every review on so many computers including the W540 and you will see it only has 3 stars however the reason for 3 stars is because the Engineers, which are the type of users for this machine as its powerful computational abilities can not be beat by anyone BUT Engineers are creatures of habit, I know I am one and they do not like the change to the new model because they added a keypad which made the keyboard off center and awkward to use. Personally that is one thing I hated about the Macbook Pro is it did not have a number pad but it is all moot anyway because I use all my laptops in clamshell mode because I require several large screens to perform the work I do.

I said goodbye to Apple, as many are doing, and I am replacing all my company computers with the Lenovo W540 and my cellphones have all been replaced with Samsung. If you go with the Lenovo right now they are offering their new tablet YOGA 10.1 for $199, great buy, great tablet.

I am sure Apple will delete this post or edit it in their favor no worries though I have it copied and will post it on other forums as well as my own website dedicated to warning others of people, places and products.

The one thing I can say is recovering from the stroke due to being so angry it nearly killed me woke me up and I realized nothing not even bankruptcy is worth Apple's condescending above the law attitude and the only way to stop them is to stop buying their products. It is really that plain and simple, don't have them repaired because its only a bandaid and don't buy new machines. Make a stand and boycott Apple. At this time I will not even eat Apple sauce because it has the word Apple in it.

Nothing and I mean nothing is worth dying over due to overwhelming anger and panic over clients, customers, and just plain worrying which way to turn. Its been proven a replacement does not work so don’t throw your money away. I understand it is tough to start over especially for small companies like myself with very little to no resources to buy new equipment however you already know if you get the logic board replaced it will cost at least $300 or more and when it dies you will either have to replace it again or buy a new machine. So stop and think about the future, do the math, and make sure your money stays in your pockets not Apple’s.

KmS RoX,

I took a look at this Lenovo W540 on Amazon - it gets great reviews (OK, only 1 vote - but it's a 5-star rating and other W540's get 4-4.5 stars). I ended up getting a custom-built Sager - about the same price as the Lenovo that I cite from Amazon. When my MacBook Pro finally dies (it's already had the logic board replaced once) I'll get it reballed but make the switch to the PC slowly (it has a Thunderbolt port and works with my Thunderbolt Display and drives).

I'm surprised that you didn't get an offer for a replacement after the third failure - many people have. But you're spot-on about it not being worth dying over. I can empathize with you - Apple is making a customer care nightmare of this issue.

I'm going to copy and paste your message, so that if does get deleted, I'll just repost.

Best of luck,

Clinton