Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

So far following are my observations: in my case discrete graphics card only works if I let my computer overheat.

For instance if my computer fails to boot up, I open it with command + r, wait until fans start working heavily, I let it overheat for at least 10 minutes, then if I do a hard reboot, computer boots normally, therefore I believe that computer sometimes uses discrete card on system start up therefore fails to start. After this overheat situation discrete card works for a brief period of time, depending on how long you let it overheat and how hot it gets in there.

During that brief period if you attempt changing settings to integrated only mode using gfxcardstatus, it succeeds. As a result if you turn off your machine using sleep command and if you refrain from powering off your machine, you can use your machine for a long time if you are not doing anything graphics intensive. (coding, internet surfing, watching videos, browsing pics etc.)

After waking from sleep, it keeps the setting as integrated only. But If you have to reboot for some reason, you might have the same issue again.

I noticed something interesting though, I believe gfxcardstatus writes something to PRAM as well, if you have to boot up one more time after successfully setting your mode to integrated only, it boots up fine every single time until you reset your PRAM. There is one downside to that, machine defaults to integrated graphics card during booting but every time you try changing gfxcardstatus setting to integrated only it fails. Screen freezes and you have to hard boot.

Same thing happens if you open a graphics intensive application like iPhoto, vlc player, which immediately forces os x to use discrete card. I believe since internal temperature is not high enough discrete card fails to work because of the cracks on the solder. And when you let it overheat, solder expands, and cracks fill up, card starts working again. If you need to use your computer in integrated-only mode, at this point, you will have to reset your PRAM, and then you will have to go back to the beginning of this post, try the same steps to overheat your mbp until discrete card starts working again. I don't know if it will get any worse than this but this does the trick for me now.

Instead of dealing with all this nonsense above, I hope apple acknowledges the problem and releases a yosemite update which allows us to boot our mbps in integrated only mode, some permanent configuration like that would allow us using our laptops for daily tasks without having to buy a new one.

djmatman wrote:

 

Apple has for a long time been the only option for reliable use in live sets in the music world - now what choice do we have ? Every pc I have used has been susceptible to random blue screen crashes.I'm trying to get a genius appointment and am hoping I can get the whole machine replaced, I have so much work on I'm probably going to have to buy another laptop in the meantime.

That's totally bollocks.

Before winxp might have been another story.

After xp, improved again much much more.

I am running my pc, an I7-920 - 2666MHz,  overclocked to 3800MHz from the moment I build it untill now.

Runs 24/7, no blue screens.

My wifes laptop, never seen a blue screen either.

Families laptops, no blue screens.

Customers laptops, no blue screens.

DJ's I know using windows laptops, no problems either.

Not saying it can't happen or they don't break, but for the moment macbooks fail more then other laptops.

And Apple is allways looking for excuses not having to fix it.

Another opinion I have is if you need a computer on stage, to earn money probably,  no matter a macbook, linux, windows notebook, make sure to have a spare or backup machine. Doesn't have to be top notch, jus has to work.

Not smart either to use a hardly used interface for an external hdd.

If it would have been usb you could use any other brand to get it done.

For the price of your macbook you can have 2 notebooks and some extra 2.5" usb3 hdd's.

More than fast enough.

Apple.... overrated, overpriced, worst service...

Allways customers, software, user damage or whatever fault/excuse they use to get out under the warranty.

Most people also get to hear it's not abnormal failing after 3 years...

Like in that recorded telephone conversation...

Early 2011 MBP as well. The blue/yellow change of tint began subtly months ago, but things suddenly progressed with regards to freezes/failed boot attempts etc last week, and it is now completely useless for any work or study purpose.

I agree, this is so disappointing.

My Early 2011  MBP 15" has also joined this league. I read through couple of pages of this post and so far have seen two solutions - 1. Reballing of graphics card 2. Replacement of logic board. Do we know how much does the reballing cost if done through apple store and how long this solution may work?

Let me know if anyone of you have tried this.

Gaurav1313 wrote:

 

My Early 2011  MBP 15" has also joined this league. I read through couple of pages of this post and so far have seen two solutions - 1. Reballing of graphics card 2. Replacement of logic board. Do we know how much does the reballing cost if done through apple store and how long this solution may work?

Let me know if anyone of you have tried this.

Apple(store's) doesn't reball.

They only replace logic boards that mostly fail again later.

First macbook pro 2011 I got in to repair was year november.

It's still running fine, as all the later ones.

Thanks D3US for your response. How much is the cost of replacing logic board ? If the logic board fails again then Apple will replace at their cost right?

@ D3us maybe you misunderstood me, I speak from personal experience when I say every pc laptop I have had has suffered from blue screen crashes, obviously not to say every other user has issues too - if there is anyone out there that successfully uses pcs  in live music environments with no issues I would like to know what model they use - I know many djs & vjs and everyone I know uses uses macs, you say you know ones who use pcs - so feel free to advise, share the knowledge. My hdd has usb input too but i left out the details of why it would still not work with the other laptops, one was just too old & it wouldn't read it and the other was a macbook air with no free port. Personally I find this system of using externals very useful, it's saved my *** on a number of occasions, each to his own bro. I have a backup laptop but not with me at the time, too much equipment that night.

Same problem here.

I lost my trust in Apple (had 2 laptops fail on my in the past 6 years, I can live and work with outdated hardware, but it just died on me, unusable and rendered useless) but mostly in AMD, my Intel gfx card works fine, it's the AMD Radeon that has died, whatever the reason may be.

Of course the AMD had to endure all the heavy load and the Intel card did not, so yeah, but that's what it's made for, so **** that noise.

In the future I'll be VERY hesitant to buy another laptop with AMD hardware, that is all.

I'll stick to Intel.

@djmatman not saying you have to switch, just take your backup system with you next time ;-).

Nothing to advise or share knowledge.

The guys I knew used nothing special, think it might even have been cheap medions as they have a 3 years warranty overhere.

But most indeed use macbooks.

Everything after Vista should be fine and stable.

For me it's more like if Apples doesn't care for it's customers, why should they care to spend money on Apple's stuff?

L O O K   U P   C H A N G E. O R G   2 0 1 1  M B P  F A I L U R E

S I G N    P E T I T I O N 

Add another name to the growing list.  I have an Early 2011 17" MBP.  I'm able to get around the issue for now by first starting up with Safe Boot and then Shut Down and go through a normal boot sequence and everything is back to normal.  I definitely can't run Slingbox, my video freaks out.  Running anything in Chrome or Firefox just feels like playing with fire.  So on the topic of what to do about this issue... Should we be opening up a formal ticket with Apple Support via their 800 number (Hopefully we don't have to pay since we're out of support)?  I would hate to think this is another #AntennaGate or #BendGate issue and people aren't going through whatever process Apple wants us to follow.  If they are actively monitoring this thread then great, but... seeing the length of this thread and the number of views, i'm surprised nothing has been done yet.  Getting a replacement logic board via an Apple Store visit seems like a temporary band-aid as it's been proved that multiple people are still exhibiting the issue post "repair".  What to do?

I just got my macbook back from reballing. Now it works very smooth.I can recommend this option to everyone affected by this fault. Replacing the logicboard won´t fix it permanently

Gaurav1313 wrote:

Thanks D3US for your response. How much is the cost of replacing logic board ?

Depends where you live.

In the US you can have a flat fee repair for 310$ I think, + taxes.

In Europe you'll have to pay 500-1100 Euro, depending model.

At least, those are figures I read/heard about.

Gaurav1313 wrote:

Thanks D3US for your response.

If the logic board fails again then Apple will replace at their cost right?

Dream on...

You get another, new or refurbished, logic board with the same problem still on it.

Apple gives you 3 months warranty on a replacement logic board.

If it fails again after 3 months, might have to pay again for it.

If your lucky, get a free fix again.

Sorry, but as I repair them too, don't really know (or care) what Apple does.

But here in Europe, it's way to expensive what they charge..

this is teh second time mine has gone. first one was just inside the end of my applecare and now, 10 months later its done again. im not real excited about spending a lot of money to pay for someone else's incompetence so this reballing thing sound like the way to go until apple finally grows up and takes some responsibility for their actions. im in SE Asia, and as lovely as the people here are, i dont trust the workmanship where i am, so does anyone have any recommendations on where to get this work done through an online vendor? there are a few on ebay but im not entirely sure which ones can trusted or not. also, whats the longest that someone has gone with the reball fix so far? if i can find a place to do this, i might put together a tutorial on how to remove and reinstall the logic board so others can follow suite too.