Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

jebedias wrote:

 

Can I please ask you guys to state quite clearly that the problems are beyond the 6750 model?

 

I have a Radeon 6770m with the exact same problems, and so do many users.

 

I'm afraid of the possibility that Apple might start a repair/recall program that only accepts early 2011 MBPs, when it's quite clear that late 2011 MBPs also present the problem....

I have a late 2011 MBP with the 6770M and have the same problem, but it seems like so far most people with a late 2011 model haven't encountered the problem yet.

I saw a survey where most people reporting the problem have the 6750M on an early 2011.  If people with early 2011 models are just starting to report the problem, then it might be a few more months before a lot of late 2011 users start reporting the problem.

@ jebedias

@ nudoru

@ sample1

Have read the https://discussions.apple.com/message/23737231#23737231 thread?

Does the the procedure solve your problem and shows the log the same entries?

Then welcome to the club.

By the way, I agree with sample1, the late 2011 models maybe are just starting to show this symptoms.

Enjoy your 

I just had my 15" 2011 model die. Tried resetting PRAM and now will not boot at all. I pulled the HD and the GPU messages are all over the log file.

Searching around a bit, I found out that the last 2 GPU replacement programs have had particular aspects:

1) GeForce 8600M GT on 2007/2008 MacBook Pros: The actual GPU was defective and other manufacturers besides Apple (HP, Dell) also used defective chips in their computers. There was a class-action lawsuit targeted at nVidia, and nVidia itself settled and handled the replacement. This means Apple didn't have to pay for the replacements.

2) AMD Radeon 6970M on 2011/2012 iMacs: Again, the GPU was defective. In these iMacs, the GPU is not soldered to the mainboard, but rather in a MXM (Mobile PCI Express Module) add-on card. This allowed Apple to just order new MXM modules and replace them quickly and easily.

In our case, it's pretty much agreed that the problem is not a faulty AMD part, but a badly architected/constructed product, and I think Apple will not own up to their mistake unless their hand is forced by a class-action lawsuit.

Those of us in other countries who can't be members of the class, have to contact our national consumer protection organizations to pressure Apple into making themselves accountable.

I had my logic board replaced 10 months after purchase for a black screen startup with full-blast fans issue. It fixed that problem, free of cost to me. I thought it would have also fixed the possibility of this issue, thinking that the newer components would have not been defective. I was wrong. Earlier this year, I started getting the blue screen during graphics card switching and my solution was to permanently use the discreet card. Well today I started getting the computer randomly lock up with either colorful vertical lines, the screen split in half with reversed sides or all together scrambled and pixelated windows. I am heading to the Genius Bar tomorrow but I do not want to simply put it another logic board that's destined to fail in a year. This is ridiculous that this hasn't been addressed by Apple! The recent iMac graphics card issue was handled fine according to the experience of someone I know who had one out of warranty--no cost to him.

Had an appointment at genius bar on Saturday in Dresden (GER)

http://www.apple.com/de/retail/altmarkt-galerie/

As expected I did not get any useful advises.

What me wonderes they did not even try to run ASD (apple support diagnostics).

Anyways - my only goal was to get on list of affected users.

Also I pointed them to this thread.

Result:

Offering logic board replacement.

410,- EUR logicboard i7@2.0 AMD HD6490M

29,- EUR  flat charge

+

83,41 sales tax of 19% !!

-----------------------------------------------------

EUR 522,41

Going to arrange BGA repair now..

Please check my post on page 72. Ensure you get a brand new chipset fitted with proof. A reflow or reball in my opinion is a short term repair.

Kind Regards

Chip replacement is granted.

148,- EUR incl. shipping. (if GPU only needs replacement.. up to 199,- possible)

12 month guarantee on repair activities.

24 month guarantee on replacement parts (GPU, Northbridge, etc..)

this is no reflow repair.

new chips, professional BGA repair with optical chip targeting down to 0,01 mm accuracy.

Ensure you get photo proof Good luck

Hi,

Better go for the more expensive Apple solution, with the BGA repair you will never get your money back. Have a look in the iMac (27-inch): AMD Radeon 6970M Video Card Replacement Program here:

     http://support.apple.com/kb/TS5167

Read the Additional Information at the end:

If you believe you have paid for a repair or replacement due to this issue, contact Apple regarding a refund.

Enjoy your 

And you will end up with the same problem again in 2 years , because the don't fix the real problem.

Enjoy your 

Nope.

Not an option for me.

1. my MBP is out of guarantee or any service

2. replacement program is for iMacs only ! 

3. 520,- currently is out of my budget possibilities

4. I do not have 3 or 6 or whatever month of time to wait until Apple announces

    similiar program for A1286 series.

4. Apple will provide me 90 days repair guarantee..  12month from the BGA repair guys.

@bga_repairs: photo proof is requested.. crossing fingers.

Same here, in Stuttgart (GER). I arranged the repair for 490€, waiting since a week...

I hope I get a new logic board, but I am not 100% sure. But when they charge you the full price, do you think they do do a reflow?

 

Artikelnummer	Beschreibung	Preis	Fälliger Betrags
661-5852	Board, Logic, 2.2 GHz	€ 381.00	€ 381.00
S1490LL/A	Hardware Reparatur Aufwand	€ 29.00	€ 29.00
Steuer			€ 77.90
Gesamt

 

Don't think they would fool You with simple reflowing or BGA repair.

Guess You will get a "brand new" (unused) logicboard mounted.

But I don't know if it is a production issue and You will get a piece

out of faulty series again.. even if it is new.

perhaps not so randomly, when I upgraded to Mavericks, one of the things I did was make sure that NO PLUGINS were added to Safari. One of the plugins that facebook attempts to install "unity plugin" I have prevented from being loaded. Coincidently, my machine (along with other changes, so I can't directly point to this) has been mostly stable this past week.

I have been wondering about plugins and their relationship to our GPU experiences. I'm leaning towards the thought that "some" plugins put a lot more stress on our already stressed out machines. And perhaps the timing of our experiences coincided with the release of a popular library such as "unity plugin" ???

Anyway, it might be useful to collect some anecdotal evidence by having some of you clean out your plugins and see if your machine starts acting more normally.

YMMV

Michael