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 akamyself,

    akamyself akamyself Dec 1, 2014 12:59 PM in response to kayazuki
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 1, 2014 12:59 PM in response to kayazuki

    kayazuki,

    glad you found it.

     

    problem with this particular one, keeps coming back no matter what. it's a case study, lots of issues.

    kinda like a bad person with a badge, got some immunity somehow and takes advantage.

  • by kayazuki,

    kayazuki kayazuki Dec 1, 2014 1:06 PM in response to akamyself
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 1, 2014 1:06 PM in response to akamyself

    Oh.. That's sad.. Seriously..

     

    Hey GavMackem, I think you just replied to some post of mine, but I already got some msg from the admin that some post of mine is removed (i guess with the suggestion for the location of the serialno collector) and now I clicked "go to the discussion" in the email copy I got of your post and I land on a page saying: "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."??

     

    I'm new on this forum, what's going on..? Am I already banner or something for trying to contribute..? :-/

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Dec 1, 2014 1:17 PM in response to kayazuki
    Level 9 (51,166 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 1, 2014 1:17 PM in response to kayazuki

    Well clearly you are not banned. But your post was probably removed because of the item you mentioned.

     

    I am sure that Gav can suggest an alternate location.

  • by prebh,

    prebh prebh Dec 1, 2014 2:40 PM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 1, 2014 2:40 PM in response to abelliveau

    I have a 15" MBP late 2011 with 2,5 GHz Intel Core i7, 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3, Intel HD Graphics 3000 512 MB and AMD Radeon HD 6770M. My MBP can suddenly freeze and the sound on it will loop. It may also suddenly show vertical lines with random colours. I have to take a hard restart when it happens. Sometimes it starts as it should after these events, but lately it has started with a black screen, no chime and the LED on the front "on", but not as strong as usual. The first time it happened, i got the MBP working by pulling out the battery and put it back in again.

     

    I have run the Apple Hardware Test several times with no issues shown. I have also tried to run it with one memory card, same results. I have reset SMC, NVRAM and PRAM.

     

    It may work for a week or two, no issues, then suddenly crash. 

  • by philux,

    philux philux Dec 1, 2014 4:25 PM in response to GavMackem
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 1, 2014 4:25 PM in response to GavMackem

    Gav,

    Was that how you got Windows working in boot camp?

    When I initially purchased my MBP 2011 with snow leopard, I installed windows to test its gaming performance.

    Windows worked better!

    Cue an SMC firmware update, and bang Windows stops working. After reinstall, its a dudd with no hardware access, not even to WiFi or USB for a dongle. OSX works better on its own machine now!

     

    Come to think of it, I dreaded every SMC firmware update my MBP received, made it worse and more erratic. Then came Mavericks and its major SMC changes and bang my healthy battery dies after 103 cycles and GPU is on the fritz.

     

    In my experience I have never seen a Mac computer receive more SMC firmware updates than this particular MBP 2011 model. Were Apple aware of the heating leadless solder on GPU problem from the start and simply trying to "tune" our hardware to underperform? Cause it didn't go unnoticed by myself.

     

    BTW this GPU issue is *major* in Australia right now as we are in summer. "Lucky" for Apple, we have a small population....right?

  • by mattevenos,

    mattevenos mattevenos Dec 2, 2014 9:56 PM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 2, 2014 9:56 PM in response to abelliveau

    IMG_3745.JPG

    THIS, AND OTHER SOLUTIONS FOR OUR "USEFUL" MACBOOK PRO 2011

     

    <Edited by Host>

  • by Nickiwi,

    Nickiwi Nickiwi Dec 1, 2014 5:16 PM in response to kayazuki
    Level 1 (35 points)
    Apple Music
    Dec 1, 2014 5:16 PM in response to kayazuki

    Hello kayazuki. As you are in Belgium try either D3US, a regular positive contributor to this forum, who does reballing, or a firm called iLabo with branches all over Belgium http://www.imacrepair.be/index.php?KId=&SId=&Tc=FR

    Good luck!

  • by djzantas,

    djzantas djzantas Dec 1, 2014 7:14 PM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 1, 2014 7:14 PM in response to abelliveau

    Great news for me.

     

    I had a second free replacement logic board and I will go today to get it back from the premium reseller store.

     

    The first replacement logic board was last year in October 2013 under my Apple care and it worked fine for over a year.

     

    I hope also this one will lasts at least for another 1 year and then I can go for a new model. moreover it will be an almost 5 years model.

  • by Dannyg888,

    Dannyg888 Dannyg888 Dec 1, 2014 8:12 PM in response to djzantas
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 1, 2014 8:12 PM in response to djzantas

    Any one have hear any thing back about the law sue again apple?

  • by kayazuki,

    kayazuki kayazuki Dec 1, 2014 11:32 PM in response to Nickiwi
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 1, 2014 11:32 PM in response to Nickiwi

    Nickiwi wrote:

    Hello kayazuki. As you are in Belgium try either D3US, who does reballing, or iLabo with branches all over Belgium.

    Good luck!

    Thanks!!! I surely hope to see my iBookstand turn back into a powerful work machine again..!! I definitely prefer to pay reballing with a big chance of a permanent fix then to step into that weird, time consuming procedure of having to see your machine die several times (in the most unwanted moments) before it gets replaced. Thanks again!

  • by josepi90,

    josepi90 josepi90 Dec 2, 2014 12:44 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 2, 2014 12:44 AM in response to abelliveau

    Just sent in my late 2011 17" ( AMD), for its 3rd logic board replacement ( 2 weeks turn around here). The last took 6 weeks after repair to die. Using external monitor with dual link DVI, which i suspect exacerbates the issue, but seriously come on Apple ! The chances that the replacement part wont have the same defect in the future are likely zero, so a production run is required, not repairs of existing (+old) defective boards in China, before reshipping to service centers.

  • by Doppioghengher,

    Doppioghengher Doppioghengher Dec 2, 2014 12:59 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 2, 2014 12:59 AM in response to abelliveau

    Hi, the petition is now over 29000 signatures, that's a juicy number! Sadly I've a backlog of work to do and I can't wait anymore hoping in a miracle. In your opinion if I'll professionally reball my mac and then Apple decides to give us a working and newer model in exchange for our own piece of aluminium junk (hard to believe, I know), am I out of the game?

    I just need to work...

  • by philux,

    philux philux Dec 2, 2014 1:17 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 2, 2014 1:17 AM in response to abelliveau

    I'm uploading a recorded conversation with an Apple Staff member about my Macbook they still have in store.

     

    So frustrating, the way they stonewall you, and then change topic or ignore hard hitting truths.

  • by kayazuki,

    kayazuki kayazuki Dec 2, 2014 5:28 AM in response to Doppioghengher
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 2, 2014 5:28 AM in response to Doppioghengher

    Doppioghengher wrote:

     

    ... In your opinion if I'll professionally reball my mac and then Apple decides to give us a working and newer model in exchange for our own piece of aluminium junk (hard to believe, I know), am I out of the game?

    I just need to work...

    Hi Doppioghengher, if you have any such changes made to your MBP by anyone else then Apple, I think you have a near 100% chance that Apple will never decide to give you a new model. On the other hand, I highly doubt Apple is going to end up handing out 30.000+ new MBPs anyway.. That would be way too costly for their taste I suspect. Instead, IF they would acknowledge anything AT ALL about this fiasco, I suspect it would be a callback action where they'll do the reballing themselves, as that would simply cause them the least pain... These are just my thoughts of course. I am in the same mess as you are, but i'm gonna have my MBP reballed asap. If this is the only problem, I suspect these machines are as durable as all old Macs (=good for 10+years) as soon as this one sensitive mistake is fixed properly.. That's what I'm going for at least...

  • by philux,

    philux philux Dec 2, 2014 5:33 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 2, 2014 5:33 AM in response to abelliveau

    The way this is all going down is really telling of Apple's machining processes, considering the exact same thing happening everywhere.

     

    Official Macbook Pro 2011 Advertisement starring Jony Ive

     

    I think the first and last minute of this video should really be brought to attention. If nothing is done about this, then Jony Ive is a pathological liar.

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