Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

If you are getting artefacts on the HD3000 that will need reballing too, though I believe that just resoldering the original cpu and replacing the AMD with a new lead soldered one will offer a good fix, other specilists on this thread can confirm and know more than I do.  However the odds decrease if you have already had a replacement GPU already as reballing with lead free from what I have seen, and images also in this thread you can plainly  see scorch marks where they have been done at too high a temperature. Inside that narrow multi layer pcb where the two processirs sit are a lot of tracks which go from the cpu memory controller to the memory slots, and the GPU to the video output on the logic board.

i Have found that the polishing of the twin cooper die plates that sit on the CPU and GPU surfaces help with cooling a lot and is also crucial.  Shined like mirrors instead of the buff looking finish and with far less thermal paste it's a typical 3-5c drop for each chip. That is the exactly the CPU/GPU failur prevention work I have done so successfully and petitioned apple repeatedly to change their engineering guidelines - a cost of a few bucks and they have ignored my repeated attempts at these cheap suggestions.

You with a 'virgin' logic board stand by far the best chance for a long term fix and if my one fails likewise with its original processors I will be having the exact same work done on mine,  Though nevertheless it really does depend on how good your reballing company is at doing it and my clients are fortunate that we have an excellent company I recommend to clients here in the UK. just make sure they reprofile those plates As many who are not experienced with the 2011 may not think it is necessary..

good luck in finding a Greek agent and excuse my grammar and capitalisation as typing replies on an iPad using safari is almost as infuriating as Apple casting every 2011 owner adrift depending on your local consumer legislation.  It is a typing nightmare with iOS and has consistently been so for years!

For great GPU cooking apps I suggest furmark or unigine valley. There are plenty of users who have tested theirs refurb boards to breaking point on this thread and macrumors.

most of the time it is 3 logic board strikes then a retina 15 but not all, even in the us. I imagine that they vary from state to state over the pond.  We in the UK are fortunate to have very strong laws with the sale of goods act offering six years on defective goods and if you have purchased it from an Apple Store i have yet to know of any UK user to hasn't had apple cave in.

the most infuriating and shabby thing is this policy should apply worldwide never mind it all depends where they can get away with it and leave the users paying the bill!

I see the header of this topic has a link that says "Branched to a new discussion."

But when I click it, it says "Access to this place or content is restricted. If you think this is a mistake, please contact your administrator or the person who directed you here."

What does that mean?  I know there are quite a few topics that overlap this MBP 2011 issue, but I've no idea what that means.

For what it's worth, I'm stunned that Apple isn't at least responding to this topic.  I realize they can't read every topic in the support communities, but you would think that they at least skim the ones that get a lot of responses, because it's a sign that the community hasn't resolved the problem, and in this case, a lot of people have been contacting Apple through every possible venue.  Everything from contacting their local in-store Genius Bar, calling the 800 numbers, Tweets, Facebook pages, emails and Tweets to Tim Cook, web sites, petitions, and even a class action lawsuit. Through all this, not even a single "We're checking into it" from them.

It's not like this issue will fade away.  I think the fair thing is to simply give us some peace of mind by telling us any replacement parts will be guaranteed another 3 years, instead of 90 days.  Compared to a full-scale recall, if they install high quality replacement parts, it'll cost them virtually nothing, and they gain the trust of the "Pro" community.  Total win-win.

What we don't like is paying again and again for the same parts.

My Macbook Pro is running on its fourth logic board since last May; the failure intervals have been pretty constantly between two and three months, so just under the 90 day warranty. At least here in Finland the Apple authorized service does say that they will obey the local consumer laws, no questions asked, and "repair" the computer again should it fail after the 90 day warranty, as here 12 months is more of a standard.

The last time the computer was in for repair, I demanded for a lasting solution from the service, as replacing the logic board clearly isn't one. The directed me to call Apple support line, which opened a ticket for my case and told me it would have to be repaired three times (and fail yet another time) before they would offer me alternative solutions to the problem.

The fourth logic board has been working for a month now and I'm expecting it to fail before the end of the year under normal use (which includes photo and video editing), and see just what happens then.

Same deal exactly. To be honest, I wasn't sure if Currys/PC World would even look at the thing - I've had warranty and repair issues with them before. But even if/when they do fix it, I know it will just be a temporary solution, because I'm stuck using gfxCardStatus to prevent an overheat/reboot cycle for the second time.

So, the fail and repair cycle then? I have to say, I expect better from the vendor, given they built their fortune and reputation on customer loyalty and the quality of their products. I'll have to figure out what the best of the rest is when replacing my shiny unibodied paperweight.

Just adding yet another customer to this thread exhibiting these issues with my MBP early 2011 - gosh! Hoping that Apple come to the party.

The main issue I've had with Currys/PC World so far is just the shear time it's taken them to get the repair done (even though I didn't have to pay for it). I had to wait over 2 weeks before they acted on my original complaint, and then a further 3 weeks in their repair shop waiting until they got the relevant parts back from Apple.  At least if you are dealing with Apple directly, they should be holding the logic boards in stock or at least get hold of them within a matter of days. Looking back at the date of my first Genius Bar appointment to the date I got my machine back, I was without a working machine for nearly 3 months. I"m not entirely sure what Currys/PC World's policy is with regards to giving a replacement machine after a failed repair. If they adopt the same policy as Apple (3 failed boards before giving a replacement), I could be in for a very long wait.

As this is my personal machine, and I'm not earning my livelihood out of it (and I have a backup machine) I think I'll take my chances and keep sending it back to Currys/PC World and try to pursue a replacement eventually. I dare say Apple are more than happy for their certified resellers to pick up the pieces of this sorry mess, rather than them do something that addresses the problem properly.

obwian -- did you actually buy your computer from Currys/PC World, or from MacWarehouse before it was absorbed into C/PCW?

I ask because C/PCW are denying responsibility as far as my early 2011 MBP is concerned.

They do have a responsibility, but you may need to take them to the small claims court to enforce it.

Hi, I'm just another victim of this problem. I changed one logic board two years ago (when my Mac was still covered by apple care) and now I've to spend roughtly 600€ without any guarantees that I'm going to fix the problem. Hoping Apple hears us.

PS: is it true after 4 faulty logic board we can change our machine with another one?

point918 - yes I bought from Currys/PC World online. They trade under 'DSG Retail Limited', which is the address I wrote to under the Sale of Goods Act. I submitted my Genius Bar report, and also a print out of my original online order acknowledgment that (thankfully) I managed to track down in my email. There was a template letter I found (on the BBC website I think),  which I used as a starter. - If you google it, I'm sure you'll come across it. - It also had a clause in the letter, that stated that they had to respond within 14 days of receipt, although I'm not convinced this made any difference. When I'd not heard anything after two weeks, I rang them up via a customer services number another forum user posted on here - although it's not a number they like people to know. You're only allowed to ring the number if you've been given a case number by them. Because they'd got on file that they'd received a letter from me, they gave me a case number there and then, and were able to pursue my claim.

Just dropped off my late 2011 MBP at the Genius Bar - same issues, distorted graphics, unable to wake from sleep etc. Latest is disk errors that cannot be repaired via Disk Utility... Tech was aware of the bad experiences with these MacBooks - asserted Apple will make good if it is an"Apple" issue... didn't debate as he gave me a $310 flat rate to have the logic card & HDD replaced In 3-5 days... Hoping this gives me a long term fix and Apple will refund my $310 once there is agreement that a flaw in the 2011 equipment....

In your shoes, which I am, I would certainly stress the board and go for a fourth replacement. And keep going until Apple offer a PROPER repair (i.e. new graphics chip, re-soldered with REAL lead solder and polished heat sinks) or a replacement machine not in the bad series. I have had three replacements of the logic board, this last one showed weakness (vertical light green lines) after a week , then blockages, fans at top speed and while in that state the keyboard and trackpad cut off, spontaneous shut-downs, repeated log-in attempts, all the usual problems and display artefacts, GSOD etc.

Before mission-critical half hours I ensure an auto shut-down through provoked over-over-heating - this seems to re-flow the solder or do something else because the machine will then boot cleanly and work properly for a while - I've just been using it on the built-in graphics with occasional use of the discreet chip for a couple of hours - seems almost a miracle.

So STRESS it is my advice. Mine is going in for repair again next week in principle.

I'm fed up with the waste of time all this represents, Apple stop mocking us and realise we buy PRO machines for PRO WORK, not as pretty toys to just use email and social networks - perhaps an iOS device would suffice for that, or even a competitor's machine.

I picked up my machine yesterday morning but I did not have any time to do anything with it then.  Later in the evening I used it to get caught up on email and my normal internet surfing and the screen went blue with vertical lines.  Completely locked up and had to reboot, I didn't even have to give it a wok out.  This is how it started before for me.  Grabbed a couple of pics with my phone to show the people at the apple store tomorrow.  So it failed in just a couple of hours, not very reassuring.

TJMooseman

Csound1 wrote:

 

There's no Y in paid.

If you start picking on other people's spelling, maybe check your grammar first?

Don't think comment below is grammatically correct?

  Csound1 wrote:

 

It will (most likely case) removed.