Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

So I'm currently wiring this from my 2011 MBP, the machine I was having problems with. I needed to access some files that were on some DVDs and my new machine is a 2012 Mac mini Server with no DVD drive. So out of desperation I decided to try out the "SMC reset with a twist", and after several resets and PRAM resets as well, my Mac finally got past the "white screen of death"!

If my memory serves me correctly, how it happened was this: I did the SMC with a twist, normal SMC, several PRAM resets (probably around 5 times) then booted up the computer. The boot screen looked normal... no lines, nothing. I repeated this sequence about 6 times, every time I would get the white screen. Then, I decided to try something different. I repeated the sequence again, got the white screen, but left the computer on for about 10 minutes hoping that I would get to the Finder. I didn't, and decided to try booting up one last time. By some crazy miracle, it booted up normally and I have been using it since! It has been an hour so far so we will see...

I've installed gfxStatus and set it to Integrated just to be safe. I've also installed iStat Menus 5 just to keep track of temperatures. The OS is Mavericks 10.9. I'm wondering whether I should just stay at Mavericks since my machine is actually working right now... However, I'm not dependant on the MBP since I have my Mac mini which is far more reliable.

I am quite amazed  and I still can't believe that my machine is alive again! But for how long... no idea.

It is 5 hours later, and my MBP is still running fine. I even installed Yosemite about an hour ago. I also tried restarting just as an experiment and it started up fine. Still using the Integrated card only and heavily monitoring temperatures using iStat Menus. I've watched several YouTube videos in HD, though still using the Integrated card. I don't use any graphics apps. Battery life is really good too, but that's maybe because I'm using the Integrated card only. It's great being able to use my MBP again, I missed using it!

I'm curious to see how long all of this lasts. I'll continue to post updates.

I'm in for a test, also located in Belgium but can't miss it for +1 week.

<Edited By Host>

M MBP from 2011-october In Belgium has crashed too.  My Apple care ended only a few months ago,  it's so frustrating...  And from all the comments I've read here apparently replacing the logic board won't change anything since the same thing will happen a few months later. I can't believe Apple's not even acknowledging this.

Hi , I saw that you're feom Belgium and that you succesfully had your MBP repaired, I can't seem to send you an PM so can you share the place where you had yours fixed ? Thank you

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bmike-vtSep 3, 2014 12:40 PM

MacBook Pro, 17" Late 2011

2.4 GHZ Intel Core i7

16gb OWC RAM, 1333 MHz, DDR3 (after market, went to 8G after purchase, and then to 16G a few months ago)

AMD Radeon HD 6770M 1024MB

OSX 10.9.4

I've been having 2 issues.

Occasionally the USB drops out - so my mouse (Logitech wireless USB) and Apple Extended Keyboard (wired) quit working.

This is usually solved by a reboot.

The more concerning is random crashes / freezes accompanied by beeping and screen glitches.

The laptop freezes, and often the screen glitches out like the attached. Squares, grids, etc.

Sometimes it just freezes on whatever I was doing.

I get 3 beeps, and 3 flashes of the power light. Over and over.

This has even happened several times overnight, when the machine was sleeping (once after a Time Machine backup).

I have run the Apple Hardware test (full test, took an hour or more) and there are no reported RAM issues.

I'm worried that this may be a GPU issue.

Any help appreciated. I have trolled through the AMD Radeon posts related to the iMac.

I do not have AppleCare, and we have a local Apple Retailer, but no store nearby.

MacBook Pro

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My 2011 Macbook Pro 13 now is dead - logic board failure,  sign of the symptoms began having electricity leak out to the aluminum body, caused tiny spark on hands, over heat and slowness.

"Apple" is not stupid, only consumers are. Apple know exactly what products they are producing, and how long it will last for. My Macbook Pro died precise AFTER 3 years, ApplyCare is only "care" WITHIN 3 years,  Australian Tax Office, tax deduction on laptop it's effective life is 3 years.

Corporations (government is part of) deliberate making disposal products, as nowadays none of products could last long. they don't need to listen to consumers at all, consumers are their 'disposal products', if they can't keep up the "latest" technology.

My MBP has had the logic board replaced some months ago (luckily the insurance paid most og the costs).

But now it has started again!!

Will try to contact the repair shop Monday and see, what they say/offer - Obviously Apple don't care

Hi, I tried resetting the SMC 'with a twist' way, the normal way, and resetting the PRAM and now my computer has finally booted up for the first time in 4 months!

When going into 'About This Mac' -> 'More Info' the computer says I have a Intel HD Graphics 3000 chip, whereas normally it would say I had the AMD 6490M. This clearly indicates that the computer has booted up with the Intel HD Graphics 3000 chip in my opinion.

Investigating further into the system profiler I found that the computer still recognises the AMD chip but it is not being used... A problem, however is that the fan is now running at full speed, the system does not recognise the battery and the battery indicator lights on the side of the laptop do not work.

I am now struggling to restart the computer into its normal state (with the exception of the AMD chip running on startup). Anyone know a solution to this?

I have my MBP in the high fan speed stage! Any ideas how I can restart the computer without it wanting to use the AMD graphics card?

I have tried restarting it and doing a normal SMC reset but the computer just goes to the white screen!

Any help would be much appreciated!

Ok, it is now about 24 hours since my MBP was 'resurrected', and I'm surprised but happy to report that it is still functional. Still running gfx Card Status and iStat Menus just in case. Running at cool temperatures (around 45 degrees Celsius) which is nice.

The one thing I did notice was during startup, I noticed some graphical glitches going from the grey Apple logo to the main desktop. Still, the MBP pushed through much to my surprise.

niiniimiinii wrote:

 

Hi , I saw that you're feom Belgium and that you succesfully had your MBP repaired, I can't seem to send you an PM so can you share the place where you had yours fixed ? Thank you

Log in and hovver kayazuki's or my name, should be able to send a message.

hugofromsherborne wrote:

 

I have my MBP in the high fan speed stage! Any ideas how I can restart the computer without it wanting to use the AMD graphics card?

 

I have tried restarting it and doing a normal SMC reset but the computer just goes to the white screen!

 

Any help would be much appreciated!

Mmmmm… after the SMC reset with a twist, I did a series of reboots without luck, and finally did a standard SMC reset, with everything returning to normal - no graphics problems at all !

Sorry this isn't working for you, but I'm afraid I don't have any further suggestions

Definitely not downloading Yosemite. Every time I DL a new OS, my macbook slows down.

If my baby continues to freeze on me while I'm working, I might have to cross over. I really don't want to do that.

I cannot believe my Macbook wont reboot. Grey screen of DEATH. I have recently converted ALL of my devices to Apple. Phone. Macbook Pro. iPad. Time Machine. now i have a big as fkn paperweight sitting in front of me.

People... do what it takes to get them to notice the repair...

STOP SUPPORTING APPLE.

Thats the only way they will get it through their heads. Look at this forum on just this issue... give me a break 750 pages and 3million+ views and they wont take back or recall their ****** bricks or offer a replacement.

Im never buying another apple product again. I lost 6 weeks of music production and what good is a time machine back up if your fkn machine wont even boot. stupidest fkn computer failure **** ever