abelliveau

Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

I have an early 2011 MacBook Pro (2.2 GHz Intel Core i7, 8 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 memory) running OS 10.8.2.  It has two graphics components: an AMD Radeon HD 6750M and a built-in Intel HD Graphics 3000. Since I've had the computer, the screen would get a blue tint when the computer switched between them.

 

However, as of two days ago, the problem has become substantially more severe.  The computer was working fine, when all of a suddent the screen when completely blue.  I had to force restart the computer.  Since then, the screen has gone awry on numerous occassions - each time necessitating a hard reset.

 

I installed gfxCardStatus, and have discovered that the computer runs fine using the integrated card, but as soon as I switch to the discrete card - the screen goes .

 

I am just wondering what my options are (any input on any of these would be appreciated!):

 

1) Replace the logic board.  Would this necessarily fix the issue?

 

2) Is there any way to "fix" the graphics card? 

 

3) Keep using gfxCardStatus and only use the integrated graphics card.  This is definitely the easiest/cheapest option, but to have such a computer and not be able to use the graphics card seems like a real shame.

 

4) Is there any other alternative?

 


MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7, 8 GB memory

Posted on Feb 1, 2013 4:45 PM

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Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

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  • by chriszacc,

    chriszacc chriszacc Jan 22, 2015 7:46 PM in response to danimalapple
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 22, 2015 7:46 PM in response to danimalapple

    jjust got back from the Apple Store, looks like my mid 2011 MacBook Pro suffered the same fate as many of your machines

    gonna be 600$ to replace the logic board... And advice as to whether or not I should go ahead with the repair???

  • by chriszacc,

    chriszacc chriszacc Jan 22, 2015 8:15 PM in response to chriszacc
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 22, 2015 8:15 PM in response to chriszacc

    Story: This macbook had been working well for a number of years then a week ago I updated to Yosemite and the problems started. It froze once with the telltale pixelated graphics and blue lines. A hard restart seemed to fix it till it happened a second time a day later. This time it didn't come back online, would just boot 1/3 of the way then go to grey.


    what was the most disappointing was that the first tech at the Genius Bar ran a diagnostic saying everything looked fine with the hardware and it was probably just a corrupted OS. I brought it back the next day after backing up only to learn that it's probably actually a GPU issue and the whole logic board needs replacing. Went from thinking solution would be free to very expensive:(


    The second tech admitted that this is aknown issue but they are not allowed talking about it.. He would only say that it's in the apple legal teams depart,net as of the moment.


    Really hoping Apple decides to offer its customers a proper fix for this as soon as possible.

  • by r100,

    r100 r100 Jan 23, 2015 1:39 AM in response to chriszacc
    Level 1 (35 points)
    Jan 23, 2015 1:39 AM in response to chriszacc

    My machine failed at the Apple Strore in front of the Genius but the HW test he ran after the crash did not show anything wrong with the hardware. So it is not a reliably test in this case. They ended up replacing the logic board for free.

     

    I have a question concerning the thermal paste on the heat sinks and chips of the recent replacement logic boards:

     

    Does anyone know if these recent replacement boards have better thermal paste on the chips ? I have had my MBP2011 back from Apple and have been running gpu-tests  on and off for the last week or so and the chips heat up to around 80-90°C under full load. Not sure this is a safe level. If any of you techies could chime in here ? What are normal temperatures for these chips ? Is better thermal paste required ?

  • by obwianMacobi,

    obwianMacobi obwianMacobi Jan 23, 2015 2:58 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 23, 2015 2:58 AM in response to abelliveau

    Shame Apple can't look after it's loyal customers in the same way as they look after their Shareholders...

     

    http://www.macrumors.com/2015/01/22/tim-cook-9-2-million-2014/

  • by deka303bis,

    deka303bis deka303bis Jan 23, 2015 2:59 AM in response to r100
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 23, 2015 2:59 AM in response to r100

    please please please do not make apple replace your logic board....it will be not a new one but a refurbished (is it the right term?) and you will have to go back again! best solution invest a hundred of buck and go to a reballer they will last more. me and my father have this same computer mine broke first (hard gaming brought to that i think) and without knowing the issue i got the logic board replaced, after it broke again (over the 90 days period ) i decide to go to a rebiller who told me that my logic board was a ****** one and that i should have never let them change it. but anyway i rebelled and it lasted for an half a year more. my father went directly to a rebiller without changing the logic board and the computer still works and now is past half year...so do not make them change your logic board for a refurbished one...there are no new logic boards for this model around...what they change to you are just pieces of broken ones put togheter!

  • by Ryan Griffin,

    Ryan Griffin Ryan Griffin Feb 6, 2015 9:56 AM in response to r100
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Feb 6, 2015 9:56 AM in response to r100

    At the Apple Store the expert told me that #1 the graphics problem was most likely due to the thermal paste. He said that even if I send my MBP out to Apple for a logic board replacement, I would be getting a "new" Logic Board that could also have the same thermal paste problem   He recommended I had an authorized service provider redo the past  (******).  They did the paste replacement for $40 for me.  It only lasted 4 days before my Macbook Pro failed again.

     

    <Edited by Host>

  • by adfffffff,

    adfffffff adfffffff Jan 23, 2015 5:18 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 23, 2015 5:18 AM in response to abelliveau

    I have a 15" 2011 MBP with a similar graphics display issue.  Quoted $709 AU by Apple to replace the logic board today.  Apple Store genius bar rep said they don't see many people complaining about 2011 failures.  Showed him this discussion with 11,000 replies.  He claimed it is the first time he has seen it.  He acknowledged an unrelated issue with 2010 MBP but said apple techs have made no statements about known defects with the 2011 MBP - so there was nothing he could do.

     

    Will call Apple support tomorrow and remind them that a gpu/logic board/core part of a $2100 MBP should last 5-7 years.  As of 2011, Australia introduced a consumer law guarantee which is supposed to protect consumers from products which do not live up to their expected lifespan - even outside of the 'Apple care extended warranty' period.  Similar laws may exist in other countries.  If you are impacted by this problem, do some research and call Apple.

     

    The failure of the gpu in a PRO product, and the lack of interest from Apple to remedy customers is disappointing.

  • by yosu_o,

    yosu_o yosu_o Jan 23, 2015 6:05 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 23, 2015 6:05 AM in response to abelliveau

    I have the same situation and I'm not in the position to pay for a fix! Why? Apple why?

  • by JustMultimedia,

    JustMultimedia JustMultimedia Jan 23, 2015 7:21 AM in response to Christophe.soumah
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 23, 2015 7:21 AM in response to Christophe.soumah

    This worked for me thanks Although the last command wouldn't work I can now get into my machine and backup/copy files etc. screen is still dodgy possibly because I couldn't run the last command.

  • by JustMultimedia,

    JustMultimedia JustMultimedia Jan 23, 2015 10:44 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 23, 2015 10:44 AM in response to abelliveau

    I Have the exact same problem with my MacBook Pro 2011. Identical to all posts here. Cannot afford replacement and looks like an extended warranty should be put in place. Wait for apple to sort the problem?

     

    <Edited by Host>

  • by Darrell Stall,

    Darrell Stall Darrell Stall Jan 23, 2015 7:39 AM in response to JustMultimedia
    Level 1 (22 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 23, 2015 7:39 AM in response to JustMultimedia

    @JustMultimedia - What worked fro you? What commands?

  • by Dipsea,

    Dipsea Dipsea Jan 23, 2015 11:43 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 23, 2015 11:43 AM in response to abelliveau

    My early 2011 MacBook Pro just failed in the same way as many others here - graphics banding 3 times over a 2-day period. The first two instances were fixed by rebooting. After the third, the computer comes up with a gray screen, then the apple logo, then a status bar underneath that gets to about 1/3 before the screen goes entirely gray and nothing further happens.

     

    Diagnosed by the local repair guy as the logic board. My choice, pay a lot to have it fixed with no guarantee that it won't fail again soon in the same expensive way, or pay even more for a new Surface.

     

    Where's that user friendly Apple that we all knew and loved?

  • by Hal Feldman,

    Hal Feldman Hal Feldman Jan 23, 2015 12:41 PM in response to r100
    Level 1 (125 points)
    Jan 23, 2015 12:41 PM in response to r100

    My machine failed at the Apple Strore in front of the Genius but the HW test he ran after the crash did not show anything wrong with the hardware.

    Correct. Their test apparently only tests the integrated GPU, not the discrete GPU.

     

    Does anyone know if these recent replacement boards have better thermal paste on the chips ?

    Not necessarily better paste. It is a matter of how well it is applied and the fact that it is newer (paste deteriorates over time). So, any new paste will be a better situation than what you have now.

  • by Hal Feldman,

    Hal Feldman Hal Feldman Feb 6, 2015 9:55 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (125 points)
    Feb 6, 2015 9:55 AM in response to abelliveau

    Here is one to ponder...

     

    Was told by Apple today that "after evaluating my Late 2011 17" MBP (which had been in for its eighth trip for this issue), they have determined that replacing the logic board would not resolve the issue and therefore Apple would not be servicing my machine."

    My reply (by phone to my designated Executive Office representative) was, "So are you saying that Apple recognizes that swapping logic boards does not resolve the design issue of this machine?" Their reply was, "No, we are saying that in your case it does not solve the issue and Apple will no longer service your MBP. You should buy a new machine and consider recycling this one."

     

    This is after several out-of-warranty repairs done for free over the past seven months. If that doesn't tell you how poorly Apple is dealing with this design flaw, nothing will. Apparently, I have magic powers that make my MBP different from the others and therefore it is unrepairable.

     

    I'm joining the ranks of once believers. Apple has forgotten what customer satisfaction is and how they got where they are today.

     

    <Link Edited By Host>

  • by rennyz27,

    rennyz27 rennyz27 Feb 6, 2015 9:55 AM in response to Hal Feldman
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Feb 6, 2015 9:55 AM in response to Hal Feldman

    Hal Feldman wrote:

     

    Here is one to ponder...

     

    Was told by Apple today that "after evaluating my Late 2011 17" MBP (which had been in for its eighth trip for this issue), they have determined that replacing the logic board would not resolve the issue and therefore Apple would not be servicing my machine."

    My reply (by phone to my designated Executive Office representative) was, "So are you saying that Apple recognizes that swapping logic boards does not resolve the design issue of this machine?" Their reply was, "No, we are saying that in your case it does not solve the issue and Apple will no longer service your MBP. You should buy a new machine and consider recycling this one."

     

    This is after several out-of-warranty repairs done for free over the past seven months. If that doesn't tell you how poorly Apple is dealing with this design flaw, nothing will. Apparently, I have magic powers that make my MBP different from the others and therefore it is unrepairable.

     

    I'm joining the ranks of once believers. Apple has forgotten what customer satisfaction is and how they got where they are today.

     

    ******

     

    Wow.... that's the lamest piece I've heard come from an Apple Representative I've ever heard in my life! You mean after 8 trips to the Apple Store, they didn't just give you a new machine???

     

    <Edited by Host>

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