Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

Hi Bradley,

I have found your post very interesting and have considered doing something similar myself - unfortunately my local Apple store is not incredibly local.

If you could let me know what your result is that would be very helpful. I will look for your reply on here.

Thanks

Ollie

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r100 wrote:

edit: or does Apple expect us to dump our MBP's into the recycling bin every 3 years ?

That WOULD of course be a much more interesting business model for them, so.. Who knows?

Oliver Grech wrote:

If you could let me know what your result is that would be very helpful.

Hi Oliver,

If you read a few hundred of posts in this topic, you'll find out that receiving a new board (or 2.. or 3.. or 4....) may very well NOT solve your problem for a very long time, as all the boards seem to be produced still with the same soldering protocol/temperature settings and therefore seem to contain all the same soldering problems.. In all honesty; yes, that's an assumption, but the only logical explanation why lots of people report that their 2nd, 3rd or 4th replacement AGAIN shows the same or similar symptoms..

I understand what you are saying but I would feel a lot better getting a new logic board for now and hope that whilst that one is working some progress will be officially made on this matter.

I have also been made aware that after your third fix you are eligible for a new 2014 Macbook Pro - or that the manager at the store has the authority to provide one.

This may be speculation but if I can get a new logic board and this laptop gets a few more years then I will feel better about the price I paid.

Hi everybody

I am having the same problems with my "MB Early 2011" and just wanted to give you an update how things work out (I mean not work out) here in Switzerland. I went to Genius in Zurich and was told that I have to pay for the repair as Apple Care expired in April 2014 (cost for repair approx 600 CHF). Genius told me that I should call Apple Care and tell them about my problem and also about this forum-topic and the different media articles concerning this matter. So I did. Finally talked to a senior manager, who was really kind, but could not do anything for me at this stage... He told me that he is aware of the GPU problem on Early 2011 MB and that they get about one or two cases per week. They register the cases and send the serials to California. His personal advise: dont pay 600 CHF for the repair, better buy a new one and wait until Apple handles the repair. BUT he also said, that he really does not know if Apple will ever do that :-(

SO APPLE, ITS UP TO YOU - INFORM YOUR COSTUMERS WHETER YOU TAKE CARE OF THE GPU PROBLEM OR NOT!

The Senior Apple Care representative I spoke with here in Holland guaranteed me that if you repair your MBP with a by Apple approved shop, you will get a refund when Apple decides on a recall. On the down side, this will make Apple only think twice because they already know they will get a whole sh*t load of claims. However, I think by paying a much higher price than "regular" laptops, we deserve this.

Apple please, this problem with the GPU is an unfortunate design flaw, however, hindsight is always 20/20. Get it over with and keep your loyal customers happy.

After emailing Tim Cook about my second graphics failure in my MBP, a representative from the executative team called me back. The person I spoke with was actually quite unhelpful and a bit rude which really surprised me. He stated that they have no information that there is any inherent problem with the 2011 MacBook Pro and that I should visit an Apple Store and would have to pay for the repair. I told the representative that I would never buy an Mac ever again because of the 3.5 year old, expensive doorstop that I currently own and he didn't really seem to care.

Apple has become a distributor of disposable lifestyle computers and not the long-lasting workhorses it once was.

Well, this kind of sums it all up for us, doesn't it..?

A sad moment in history to have reached this point ultimately..

Well their phone business is almost the same isn't' it? they expect people to buy the new model each time one hit stores. The old ones get updates that bog them down little after little. Until they are practically so annoying that the user wouldn't think twice to put the money down for the brand spanking new mode.

The workhorse hardware that just kept going seems like a thing of the past. Their new style seems to be much more of the disposable type. One thing is for sure though, when this MBP dies it won't get replace with a new one. As much as i have loved my Apple hardware through out the years, i have begun phasing them all out.

Similar experience .... Apple's rep calls me with an attitude and reads out what has already been posted in this thread about Apple's testing before releasing products ... He mentioned that they recalled same year desktops and if they find out any issue with laptops they will do the same. It seems as of now they didn't find anything and are still looking into it. He suggested that I take my MBP to the Apple Store and I may have to pay for their services. I didn't get time to take to the store. This week I called Apple Care and Apple Care's rep scheduled an appointment 118 miles from where I live. After notifying Apple about their genius rep, Apple's rep from the first time calls me and left me a voice msg that they are open to listen to my feedback. Of course ... the problem remains unresolved.

If only they have kids who have to do their school homework and submit their work online, they can understand.

I just got my repair done ($300 USD (actually $325 including tax)). I get home and BAM the same thing happens again. I've got another failing card within 8 hours of receiving my new logic board. The screen is showing glitches everywhere, and the only way to use the laptop is to use the integrated card via gfxCardStatus app. I'm going back the the Apple Store tomorrow. This is ridiculous.

Good new for all you guys holding out...

A little History:

1. Bought in 2011.

2. 2nd logic board was installed in September 2014 (at my dime, out of warranty)

3. 3rd board was installed (for free) in early December 2014 (thank God for the 90 day warranty, should be more!)

4. 4th board was installed (for free) half way through December 2014.

When I got back today to pick up my Macook Pro (I was on vacation), I made the GPU fail in the store after getting my computer back, by simply running a Youtube video in HD.  After discussing with the tech my options, they hooked me up with a brand new top of the line MBP retina, 2.8, 1tb drive.

Keep at it, and don't lose hope, keep on calling apple support, get someone you can deal with, and constantly talk to them if things are going wrong, if you persist enough you will get a replacement.   The point is, I had to go through 3 repairs with apple store before they caved (for a total of 4 failed logic boards including the most recent one that they gave me a new computer for) they are a tough nut.

Another note, you will get farther with the apple store than with apple on the telephone, try to make your laptop fail in the store right after a repair is done, that puts the pressure on them, but it does seem that 3 repairs is the magic number to get a new one.

kayazuki wrote:

 

r100 wrote:

edit: or does Apple expect us to dump our MBP's into the recycling bin every 3 years ?

That WOULD of course be a much more interesting business model for them, so.. Who knows?

It already is their business model: buy Apple hardware, pay a premium for service (AppleCare) and buy new hardware when AppleCare expires. If you don't buy service, don't complain: what you get is what you pay for. This works like a charm in North America, is a little more complicated in Europe where the consumer is protected by law, but so far, Apple has been really succesfull in wriggling their *** out of it.

Hello Everyone.

Something that confuses me and maybe you could clear this up is in regard to the discrete card. Like many of you I have downloaded the necessary app GFcardstatus.

Although many of you seem to have the problem with the discrete card and change the preference to Integrated Only, it is the opposite for me. I have issues when I use integrated only. Having it switched to discrete only allows the laptop to function as normal. I dare not turn it off however as I may never get it back on and I also have the fans manually turned up to maximum RPM.

Am I getting confused and that this is the same with everyone, or do most people have the issue with the discrete only setting?

Thanks,

Ollie

My MBP failed several times. I have an appointment set this week. How to demo the genius it fails ? Any particular sequence ?