Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

Hi Oliver,

I had the same problem as you, no problem switching to discrete, computer freeze when selecting integrated.

while we all got the gpu failure, not everyone experience the exact same effects, might differ from computer to another.

avoid shutting it down, might indeed be hard to start it again at some point.

try to identify what might trigger a freeze or any freaked out behavior, for some people it is simply watching a youtube video, even a simple video play with vlc, usually any adobe products from their creative suite should be avoided, flash media player plugin included.

if you learn what you can and can't do, you might be able to use it in that state for quiet some time, I know I did for 10 months.

Good luck

like I said to Oliver, it depends.

usually any graphic intensive task should do the trick, you have to test it out and find out yourself because what triggers the failure for you might not for someone else.

I remember that launching google store in chrome was causing an instant freeze, any app using the camera as well, plans app too.

try those and maybe playing HD video, launching a game if you have one, anything requesting heavy graphic duties.

good luck to you as well.

Chakravarthy Cuddapah wrote:

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

You may want to Google "GpuTest 0.7.0" and see if that triggers something. It's a tool that has different types of specific GPU stress/benchmark tests. Per test it displays the current FPS rate. If you take heavy tests with low frame rates, you'll know your GPU is being stressed nicely.

A normal machine shd basically be able to run such tests nonstop without problems.

Maybe a nice trigger..?

Hi everyone: Want to report about what I did here in New York City. In October 2014, I got the same problems as others with my MBP 17 early 2011. Was out of warranty for several months already. The video was failing more and more often until it will not switch on definitely. I had taken photos and videos on my iPhone of the issues.

I made an appointment at the Apple store on 14th street and explained the issues to a "genius". He was not very cooperative so I asked to speak with a manager. He came and offer me to split the $ 310 cost of the repair ( S1987LL/A Labor Charge, PBG4/MBP17 and S1988LL/A Flat Rate Repair Charge, PBG4/MBP17). He told me that if the video were to fail after the 3 months warranty I should to come to see him again.

A week after … my MBP was working again. BUT it failed again after a week: the video would go black for few seconds. Very scary. Also the cut out to black would occur even before login into my account. Also my system 10.9.5 was reinstalled brand new.

So I went back to the Apple store and again they sent it to repair a 2nd time. This time I was told that they also replaced the monitor.

It has been a month since I got back my MBP after the 2nd repair and all OK for now. But I am on the look out for any new issue. If it fails after the 3 months warranty ends … I will fight for a free repair again.

I am lucky to have an Apple store few blocks from where I reside. And if Apple decide to acknowledge the issue and found the repairs I will ask for a refund.

Good luck to all.

Same Here, MBP Jan 2011 Display shows horizontal lines whit the apple symbol and the Computer don't start. Thunderbolt Display shows vertical lines in withe green and magenta.

Dear Apple Care

Well, this is just great!

Last May I got my MBP fixed by an Apple recognized and authoried company called Microfix.

They did a really good job, and even while it costed 330 euro I was happy with it. Professional people, courteous, I can recommend them.

So I contacted them again, asking them for a reflow of the GPU. They said: yes we do that and it will cost 135 euro". So well since I don't fall under the consumer law ('cause my previous employer  purchased it) and a systemboard replacement of 600 euro is out of my current budget, I was hinking, oh well, what the ****. However, when I asked when could I bring my MacBook, he answered: "Oh we are not allowed to reflow Macbooks from Apple." 

So Apple denies me a cheap solution, which is not very nice of them.

Further lessons (not that I am surprised), it is not only Apple which has these issues, obviously other brand laptops have the similar issues.

However, I stress again, I paid more for extra quality and I am not getting.

As a Linux engineer I do like the OS X interface (including the cli, GCC, git, python and all the cool developer tools loaded)

I do like physical not computer science aspect too.

I do promote these systems with everybody that comes to me with their Windoze problems

However, I don't like to be left in the cold by Apple Support!

Apple I am willing to invest 130 euros to get my MBP 2011 fixed, I am willing to promote and support your products (and believe me there is quite a bit resistance of the windows fan boys at work)... why do you not support US!

Kind regards

Hans

OK. Managed to get a free fix (that is, replacement logic board - so don't know how long the 'fix' will last) under the Sales of Good Act here in the UK. This required walking in and framing the discussion before they could suggest any other alternative. You need to know the facts, know your rights, have actually tried to fix the problem yourself and basically let them know you're not going to be fobbed off at the 'Genius' bar.

Also be prepared to explain very clearly every single step you've taken to resolve the issue so that they can't suggest it's a software issue, although they WILL still say this might be the case and suggest a complete system reinstall - so make sure you're backed up if you can get into the machine and perform one.

Make sure you've done as many of these as possible :

Tried clearing PRAM/NVRAM

Tried resetting the PMU

Tried Safeboot (you'll probably just get the blue/black stripy screen)

Tried Cmd-R to reinstall

Tried Cmd-S single user mode and run /sbin/fsck -fy a couple of times to clear up any HDD/Filesystem issues

Tried Hardware Test (boot holding D)

Tried to boot off any another recovery media - DVD/USB Stick for instance

Tried to boot off any Linux LiveCD

Tried to netboot

Tried running Memtest for several passes

Tried removing and reseating RAM just to make sure

And finally the only option that seems to make any difference for a lot of people - logging in through single user mode, creating a temp directory, finding and moving all NVidia and ATI drivers to said directory and rebooting thus forcing the Mac to boot into integrated graphics mode and not use the discrete card. Beware, they will try to blame this for the problem (or suggest it may exacerbate the problem), but they cannot deny that this is not the root cause and if you've tried every other option and this is the only thing that worked it shows there's either a software driver issue (which they'll 'try to fix' by running a complete fresh OSX install), which we know isn't the case - or hardware issue, which we know IS the case.

If you carefully, and calmly (important to be calm and not get abusive or wound up at the guys in the store despite your frustration) explain every step you've attempted to remedy the situation and that you've deduced 'it must be the known issue with the defective GPU card solder joints' (this is really important, make sure you state it clearly that this is a known issue and that you've done your homework - you'll notice they don't argue this point) they will run some checks to see if they can get it to boot and when they can't they will check the serial number.

This is where things got interesting for me. The 'genius' (to be fair, he actually knew a decent amount for an Apple Store employee) mentioned in passing that he wanted to check the serial to see if this was 'one of the affected machines'. So he let slip that the problem is widespread, acknowledged internally at Apple even if not publicly and they have a range of serials that they know for definite are affected and have a policy in place for fixing them. They're probably compiling a bigger list based on machines that come in with the problem to get a bigger picture of just how widespread the problem is.

The machine was left with them for a couple of days, then they called to say the system reinstall hadn't made a difference and that, even though moving drivers around in the system may have been the cause (yeah, they were still trying to apportion blame elsewhere) they'd replace the logic board under the Sales of Goods Act. I didn't even have to bring the legal point up, so I'm guessing they know from the number of cases now turning up that the tide is turning in favour of their customers. But if they don't agree off their own back to replace it for free, you would be prudent to mention the Act and it should help them to come to the correct decision.

A week later we picked up the laptop, so we'll see how long it lasts this time. Hopefully long enough for Apple to do the right thing and issue a full replacement programme.

I hope my experience helps others (in the UK at least) to have their problems resolved. I note there's now a class action being brought in Canada and one somewhere in the US over this issue. Other EU member states should have similar rights to UK consumer laws from what I've read - so that's worth pursuing. In the meantime keep spreading the word and publicising the issue to as many people as you can, because you never know, they may have an affected machine that just hasn't shown the problem - yet!

today my GPU was reflowed... it now boots up but still graphic failures... so I need a new GPU

next my GPU  ATI 6750M 216-0810005 will be replaced through a  ATI 6750M 216-0810005C

my "dealer" told me it makes no sense to change the lead-free solder to leaded tin-solder because of the residues

but I'm happy because I can use my MBP now

Hans Kramer wrote:

So I contacted them again, asking them for a reflow of the GPU. They said: yes we do that and it will cost 135 euro.
However, when I asked when could I bring my MacBook, he answered: "Oh we are not allowed to reflow Macbooks from Apple." 

So Apple denies me a cheap solution

Further lessons (not that I am surprised), it is not only Apple which has these issues, obviously other brand laptops have the similar issues.

"not allowed..."

Wow.. This is so predictable..And so horribly pathetic..

And it's not surprising at all that this issue appears in all kinds of systems (also reported in PS4), because Apple is of course not the only one that chose a safe soldering temperature in relation to the the prescribed max temperature resistance of all other components on those boards (which of course are similar for other brands as well).

Really super great that this wonderful law against leaded solder is creating such wonderful heaps of problems in all modern hardware, which we may all sort out ourselves Great...

Yeah sweet isn't it!

Yesterday I had another crash and it took me two hours to get my system back on-line.

Now I noticed something, perhaps it is coincidence:

Even if I have vertical stripes over the screen I try to boot up either Mavericks or Yosemite, just for the hack of it.

Then (for the second time as far I can remember) I started Mountain Lion instead and as a miracle

after 20 to 40 seconds, my system came back to life. Now this could have been a total coincidence.

However, it would be good to collect some statistics.

Currently I am running Mavericks, I still cannot get used to the flat Yosemite looks. So my crashes have

only occurred under Mavericks; it is my primary boot partition (yes I have them all three installed, I am a maniac).

And up to now twice I succeed to bring my system back to life by trying to boot up Mountain Lion.

I have had three or four crashes and I definitely cannot remember what I did the first time .... I was at that time totally obliviously of the GPU issues

(perhaps I should get out a bit more and read... on the other hand, most articles on computers as such load

of B*ll sh*t, it ain't funny anymore). If I would have know, I would have exchanged the system for a new one.. but then you wouldn't have enjoyed my posts... ;-)

Cheers

Hans

Any law that keeps such a deadly poison from polluting the environment further is a good law.

As for this nonsense

"Oh we are not allowed to reflow Macbooks from Apple."

It is untrue. Apple do not control what other companies are allowed to do. Maybe the rules were set by the repairer.

> Any law that keeps such a deadly poison from polluting the environment further is a good law.

If your concern is the environment, then your focus should be on recycling

and making products last longer. Things are not always a simple as they appear. Sure it would be nice if we could do

without lead, I agree, however, it is always a matter of compromises. The least environmental drain would be not using

a MacBook Pro at all. As it is an energy sucking system, perhaps go for a much more efficient Chrome Book and do all your

having duty processing in a way more (questionable) energy efficient cloud (sharing CPU cycling by virtualization)

>As for this nonsense

Excuse me? This is kinda rude!

> It is untrue. Apple do not control what other companies are allowed to do. Maybe the rules were set by the repairer.

Yes, by contract Apple has a say in what kind of repairs this shop is allowed to perform. They (Microfix) are a licensed Apple repair center. I even asked the fellow if he could make an exception, however, the answer was quite firm, he could not risk it. Oh yeah sure, he could cancel the contract with Apple. Sure I can find another non affiliated repair center and risk it. However, it is not your money and so please don't call this nonsense without you knowing all the facts.

Hans

I'll just have to disbelieve you, under both US and UK law that would be a restraint of trade and thus, illegal. I doubt that the EU is any more generous.

Got something to support it?

Well I am no lawyer and often the interpretation of law contradicts with my ethical compass.

And likely you are even right, and it is even not legal at all. Only a judge can validate that.

Still, I am with the fact that Microfix won't do it. And well, yeah I only had a telephone conversation... and

perhaps the fellow from Microfix didn't tell me the truth... unlikely I think. He could make me sign a waiver... well whatever.

Now bringing my system to a not authorized repair shop would completely void any warranty I still have.

That in case Apple sees the light and admits the fault is theirs. I still have hopes (darn optimist I am)

As I already fixed the keyboard issues with Microfix 9 months ago, I am not somebody that immediately

points the blaming finger to Apple. However, in this case, with so many people having the same issues (sure I have

limited statistics but then every Apple Genius or Apple rep. I talk to seems to know about it -even  if they don't admit it at first)

I feel confident to say that is a design flaw... (being full-time engineer ... design flaws are part of the job... I made way too may)

Now, I still like Apple and I still like their products. In this case they are just wrong, and perhaps because I like them, it's what hurts the most.

It is clear to me that there is some issue occurring within a subset of MBP production at a level above normal. It's not entirely clear what the cause is, but the effects are pretty obvious. I have no suggestions for a course of action, if a resolution is achieved it is possible that any machines with 3rd party intervention may be excluded, the key word here is may. There is also no actual sign of resolution, another imponderable.

I recently bought a 2011 15" because it was cheap, it works fine but maybe I will get to experience this issue firsthand (my son owns 2, both working just fine also). So the problem is confined to some set of circumstances as yet unidentified, possibly a ?

I don't see it as indicative of a general loss of quality at Apple, but I do see it as a nasty stain on the brand right now. How it is finally resolved will be important.