Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

e) sell it and move on

I've switched to an Asus with discreet graphics. After this fiasco, I have no desire to shell out $2500 for a completely sealed computer that might fail with similar problems to the one I currently have.

Gerard Klein wrote:

Hello,

At what company did you have it done? And do you have it back already? Love to hear how it worked out.

Hi Gerard, are you dutch and situated in the NL, or are you abroad? I had my MBP reflown after it died completely, having a presentiment that there would not be any useful help from Apple within reasonable time or at all, and it's working great ever since (done Dec 6th last year). If you want details, hover my name and feel free to contact me.

Add me to the list. Mine had problems with the graphics last January. I still had a month of Apple Care left, so I took it to the Genius Bar (a 1-hour drive) and left it for a week so they could replace the logic board. After that it wouldn't recognize my external monitor (via DVI) during boot up until just before the login screen appeared.

Then, last month, the graphics suddenly started acting up again. It booted a few more times, with the display getting progressively more wacked during startup, then the graphics gave out completely. Just get the Apple logo and dial with ragged lines, then blank gray screen. Single user mode shows black and blue vertical bands. Hardware Test claims nothing's wrong. Can still start it in Target Disk Mode, with Firewire logo on screen.

Calling the Apple Store only gets me the automated system i.e.: no human. Calling Apple direct also gets robo-answer, asks for serial number, then demands money to even talk to me. Tried to make Genius Bar reservation online, but again: "Expired warranty? Go away and don't bother us."

So I paid $2,000+ to get not quite three years use out of a notebook, not counting the "repair". Doesn't seem like a good return on my investment. It's now boxed up, waiting to see what the outcome of the lawsuit will be. The ruling of the earlier suit doesn't bode well. Apple used to build rock-solid computers and stood behind them. Are those days gone?

If you search for "2011 MBP FAILURE - Add your serial number", you can add your SN. That can grow into a unique list of actual machines affected, which may get multiple purposes!

Add me on the list. My 2011 mbp is shy over 2 years. Apple warranty is over and I am stuck with thin horizontal lines on my display and unable to boot up my desktop home screen. The apple genius told me I had to get a new logic board which would cost over $300 especially since I am located in Hawaii. I spent $2400 initially as an investment to have a solid laptop lasting me well over 5 years and for this to all of a sudden pop up is infuriating. I hope by signing the petitions and posting this comment, Apple will prove their good service by rectifying this mistake.

I attempted to add myself to the serial number list, but I got an error message 'no db backend' so I don't think my post was submitted.

You're right! I'll inform the admin immediately. This was all setup in a rush to get it online, but this is obviously a little booger ;-)

My 17" late 2011 MBP just exhibited the same aforementioned problems a few days ago - screen striping, screen tears, reboots et al. Left the unit off the second night after the incident since I got tired, angry and dejected at staring at a blank screen. Surprisingly on the 3rd day, I was able to log in successfully after rebooting from a striped screen. But I can only use Safari in a limited manner before it freezes and the problems return if I open Photoshop, iMovie or iPhoto, testing each app one at a time. As a freelance designer, my MBP isn't just a creative investment and more than just a serious, expensive ($3K plus) upgrade from an older MBP pre-2011 model (that still works!). It is my livelihood!!!

I am planning to visit a Genius at the Apple Store here in Sacramento, CA with my laptop to demonstrate the problems first hand, show video grabs of my screen failing and to use your post as a means to convince them that I really need a laptop replacement. I really don't have the time nor the money (since my Apple Care just expired) for costly logic board replacements that work temporarily at best, according to some of the posts that I've read here. I am hoping that my Apple Store has the same compassion and understanding that you experienced at your Store by its gesture of giving you a replacement unit.

Like most people here, I am a loyal Apple fan surrounded by my iPhone, iPads and Apple TVs. But I can't help feeling disheartened and resentful right now.

Apple…you've always represented quality and touted user experience as the heart of your business. Please make us believe it's not just a marketing sound-bite.

Hey obiwan! It's working good now!

Some wrong setting in CP.

To everyone: Search "2011 MBP FAILURE - Add your serial number", then you can add your SN. So we can make one collective list of unique identifications of all affected machines! Then at least we can get a true picture of the magnitude and confront Apple with that (not sure if they'll be impressed, but at least we can try).

This thread was a good opportunity to gather some real information, instead it's all about complaining and blaming

Lawsuits are under way (one has already failed) information gathering is now called Discovery, and it's far too late to get any real information here.

Ok great stuff. I've filled my info in and it worked this time. Anything's worth a try at this point, so it's worth a shot!

Dismissed lawsuit detail:

https://www.docketalarm.com/cases/California_Northern_District_Court/4--14-cv-03 824/Marcus_et_al_v._Apple_Inc./

This lawsuit was predicated on Apple knowingly fitting defective parts, a claim that has never been substantiated. It appears to have been born out of anger and sought revenge.

It was dead before it started, I hope the fees weren't too high.

A real claim is yet to be made.

Well... I'm done with being upset. I need some real solutions. Tomorrow, I'm taking my 2011 Macbook Pro to see what the Genius folks can do. If they cannot offer a gratis solution, I'm seriously considering sending either my Macbook Pro or my logic board for "reballing" (looks like it costs around $200). I saw some services on eBay. Does anybody have suggestions or recommendations on a place to do it? I really don't want to spend $300 to $600 on a new logic board from Apple that's probably going to go bad in 2 years.

Well, I’m now in the same boat thankfully I had bought applecare for 3 years and bought my 2011 model in march of 2012 so I am still covered, I just had my MBP 15” sent out for a second time for a new logic board so now I will be on my 3rd logic board, this is clearly an issue that they need to address. I spoke with a senior advisor and was told this was a “rare” occurrence, yet as I can see here it is not.