Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

But why start another discussion?

alealla wrote:

I have the same problem, but I don't know what to do.

In which country are you located?

I don't know why your sad.  If you get to your 4th logic board, Apple will replace your laptop with the most recent Retina laptop

seriously? why didn't they run a banner on their wesite when I was browsing and choosing my MBP, this is quite a promotion!

I quote on:

Despite knowing of these defects in the 2011 MacBook Pros, Apple did not notify owners or purchasers of the MacBook Pros of the defect or provide a workable solution.

 

Nor has Apple taken appropriate steps to diagnose the issue. To this day, when a Laptop is brought to an Apple store exhibiting the Graphics Defect, Apple’s technicians perform diagnostics that tests the performance and functionality of most of the system’s components including the CPU, the integrated Intel GPU, and other hardware, but not the discrete GPU.

 

Instead, Apple quietly restricted the performance of the 2011 MacBook Pro Laptops in order to keep the defectively manufactured Laptops from manifesting the Graphics Defect during the warranty period.

 

Specifically, Apple limited the Laptops’ operating speed, thereby reducing the operating temperature and the likelihood of solder balls cracking.

 

Evidence of Apple’s performance downgrade is available from Apple’s own website, which in February 2011 (when the Laptops were released) boasted that the Laptops’ graphical performance was three-times faster than the 2010 MacBook Pro Laptops. By November 2011, when Apple upgraded the 2011 MacBook Pro Laptops, Apple had significantly reduced the performance capabilities of the Laptops and began representing that the Laptops’ graphical performance was only two-times faster than the 2010 MacBook Pro Laptops.

 

A laptop testing website noted in a December 2011 review of the Laptops that the discrete GPU in the Laptops was running slower than expected, and said the following about the discrete GPU in the 2011 MacBook Pro: “A look at the clock rate disappoints us. In the reference design (and in Windows laptops we know) the clock rate is 725 MHz, but Apple uses a clock rate of 675 MHz."

 

...

 

Apple has failed to repair the Graphics Defect because there is no simple fix. At best, Apple can replace the MacBook Pro’s logic board with an equally defective logic board. Moreover, because the failure rate of the Laptops is so high, Apple has run out of new logic boards to provide consumers and is now “repairing” the defect by recycling logic boards with new discrete GPUs soldered to the logic boards, using the same defective manufacturing methods.

 

Consumers who brought their MacBook Pros in for service during the warranty were often denied warranty service after being told that the issue was due to water damage or software installed post-purchase. At best, Apple employees would say that the graphics card had failed and that the “fix” for this issue was a replacement logicboard, which was equally defective and similarly prone to the Graphics Defect.

FAO Spain:

In response to Apple’s failure to remedy the Graphics Defect, Spain’s oldest consumer protection organization, Organización de Consumidores y Usuarios, opened an investigation into Apple’s conduct in December 2014.

and they better re-introduce matte screens by the time I'm onto my fourth logicboard, because I don't want no free retina mirror.

September 12, 2014. That was the date of my first post regarding this issue. I can't believe it's been over a year since my post and almost 2 years since this original thread was started.

2 weeks ago I ditched my iPhone for a Galaxy S5. i miss my iPhone but gosh Apple has left a sour taste in my mouth. I would have been doggedly loyal to them if they had only been loyal to me. I've been loyal to them since the early nineties and have spent thousands upon thousands of dollars with them. But sadly that doesn't mean anything in this day of giant corporations.

I wonder what Steve would have said about all of this?

I do hope they figure this out, I'm not looking forward to getting a PC.

Count me in the group of unfortunates that have, once again, been duped by Apple.  My late 2011 MacBook Pro with discreet graphics is now a brick that can't get through the boot sequence.  My AppleCare expired 6 weeks ago and so my only options will be to fork out ~ $500 for a second faulty logic board or $2000+ for a new laptop.  I should note that this is the second seriously defective Apple laptop I've had in a row.  Previously, my 2008 refurbished MacBook Pro (purchased in 2009) lasted only 28 months before becoming unusable due to GPU overheating issues.

I'd switch to Linux if I could, but there are a couple of applications I use that are unique to OSX and for which there are no suitable replacements.

Apple should be ashamed of these stylish hunks-of-junk that they keep selling.

Consider looking for a shop that will replace the offending chip for far less than, about half,  $500...$600.   The replaced chip will be new, not heat stressed, and soldered in with different process.  Suddenly a $2000...$3000 brick in the corner has new life.

Took awhile but I have found such a service in New York of all places.  I am using my wife's iMac now because my MBP is in shipping.

Next I would like to regain the lost 33% performance hit from the firmware update.  Anyone know how to reverse a firmware update?

Maybe Apple will show up, tell the truth and believe that doing the right thing is the right thing to do.  Maybe not.  At least we can look out for ourselves and vote with our dollars during our next selection.

I have 5 early pop up toasters in my basement that still work.  One has a carrying bag.  A 1990 laptop???

I wonder what Steve would have said about all of this?

Do you mean that Steve that was in charge, when Apple went back on their word of "free e-mail for life" and started charging for iTools and taking back the email addresses from anybody who would not pay for it?

Touche

whatwillthishelp wrote:

 

I don't know why your sad.  If you get to your 4th logic board, Apple will replace your laptop with the most recent Retina laptop

 

seriously? why didn't they run a banner on their wesite when I was browsing and choosing my MBP, this is quite a promotion!

 

I quote on:

 

Despite knowing of these defects in the 2011 MacBook Pros, Apple did not notify owners or purchasers of the MacBook Pros of the defect or provide a workable solution.

 

Nor has Apple taken appropriate steps to diagnose the issue. To this day, when a Laptop is brought to an Apple store exhibiting the Graphics Defect, Apple’s technicians perform diagnostics that tests the performance and functionality of most of the system’s components including the CPU, the integrated Intel GPU, and other hardware, but not the discrete GPU.

 

Instead, Apple quietly restricted the performance of the 2011 MacBook Pro Laptops in order to keep the defectively manufactured Laptops from manifesting the Graphics Defect during the warranty period.

 

Specifically, Apple limited the Laptops’ operating speed, thereby reducing the operating temperature and the likelihood of solder balls cracking.

 

Evidence of Apple’s performance downgrade is available from Apple’s own website, which in February 2011 (when the Laptops were released) boasted that the Laptops’ graphical performance was three-times faster than the 2010 MacBook Pro Laptops. By November 2011, when Apple upgraded the 2011 MacBook Pro Laptops, Apple had significantly reduced the performance capabilities of the Laptops and began representing that the Laptops’ graphical performance was only two-times faster than the 2010 MacBook Pro Laptops.

 

A laptop testing website noted in a December 2011 review of the Laptops that the discrete GPU in the Laptops was running slower than expected, and said the following about the discrete GPU in the 2011 MacBook Pro: “A look at the clock rate disappoints us. In the reference design (and in Windows laptops we know) the clock rate is 725 MHz, but Apple uses a clock rate of 675 MHz."

 

...

 

Apple has failed to repair the Graphics Defect because there is no simple fix. At best, Apple can replace the MacBook Pro’s logic board with an equally defective logic board. Moreover, because the failure rate of the Laptops is so high, Apple has run out of new logic boards to provide consumers and is now “repairing” the defect by recycling logic boards with new discrete GPUs soldered to the logic boards, using the same defective manufacturing methods.

 

Consumers who brought their MacBook Pros in for service during the warranty were often denied warranty service after being told that the issue was due to water damage or software installed post-purchase. At best, Apple employees would say that the graphics card had failed and that the “fix” for this issue was a replacement logicboard, which was equally defective and similarly prone to the Graphics Defect.

 

FAO Spain:

 

In response to Apple’s failure to remedy the Graphics Defect, Spain’s oldest consumer protection organization, Organización de Consumidores y Usuarios, opened an investigation into Apple’s conduct in December 2014.

 

and they better re-introduce matte screens by the time I'm onto my fourth logicboard, because I don't want no free retina mirror.

It's not a promotion.  Apples policy basically states that after one pays for the $300 repair, they are obligated to repair it again if it breaks down within the 90day window.  If by the 4th time after repairing it, it breaks down again, they will just give you a new computer because at that point it is costing them money.  There have been many replies in this thread that people have been successful in grabbing the latest Retina this way.  The Retina display also has less reflection.

https://cdtobie.wordpress.com/2012/06/18/reduced-reflectance-of-retina-display-m acbook-pro/

So my problem is,

I will grab my macbook from the AASP tomorrow. This is the 3rd repair It will have (so the 4th motherboard);

The first repair was 4 month after I bought it,

Second was 3 years exactly after i bought it,

4 month after, it crashed again.

At this point, this will be my last repair before a change. I know for sure that the computer has the left "cmd" key not working. It was before the 2nd crash of the computer, last summer. This might be due to a liquid damage, but I can't be sure of it, and the AASP didn't notice it anyway, and I havent told him. The 2 repair have been done with this "cmd" key not working.

My question is :

- Is the replacement policy only granted after the same problem (in this case the motherboard) happening 4th time? or can it be on another part of the computer ?

- Should I directly call Apple tomorrow and tell them the key is not working AFTER the repair ? Would this make me eligible for a warranty ?

- How can I be sure they won't put the liquid damage on me ? Should I try the computer in front of the AASP ?

Thanks in advance.

so I would have to endure four failed logicboards within three months each - a whole year - in order to qualify for a replacement, in what world does this make sense? and why would they replace it with the same kind of logicboard which they know is prone to failure? how does any part of this experience, whatever the outcome, constitute a 'success', and don't get me started on retina, I paid extra money for a proper - matte - screen, which is now the best feature of my otherwise comatose MBP.

Another +1 here. I decided to bite the bullet and go with the $310 repair. After a 10-day turnaround time (I know, I was frustrated at first too), I picked it up from the store today. However when I got it back, I could hardly complain...

All in all, they not only replaced my logic board, but replaced my entire bottom shell + keyboard, gave me a shiny new display assembly (goodbye dead pixels!), tightened and aligned my display hinge, replaced my flex protector HDD cable, UPGRADED my RAM from my 3rd-party (OWC) 1333hz to 2 fresh 1600hz sticks, AND they even sent my old sticks back to me.

Now I'm not saying I'm forgiving Apple just yet, as I fully expect the GPU to fail again, but d***... That's what I call going above and beyond with customer service.

".... why would they replace it with the same kind of logicboard which they know is prone to failure?"   Their level of ethics says the bottom line is more important than their word.

I have the exact same problem. My MacBook Pro stopped working with the symptoms described in this forum. It won't start up!

When my MBP acted up as you mention, I found the that bottom on the screen end was very hot.  I cooled that off with an ice bag.  Once cool the next objective was to start up in low power mode.

Not being sure what happens reseting SMC I did a reset....  Power off, magsafe connected - press these keys and the power button at the same time and hold for at least 20 seconds     shift, control, option and power button

Then release them and press the power button.  On my machine it didn't always start the first time.  or even the second or third .... so press power key and hold to power down and then restart again.    For some reason cmd R seemed to help me out.  

Once restarted down load   gfxCardStatus so you can see if you are running in "I" integrated or "A" discrete mode.    "I" is good and "A" will turn the lights out in a hurry.  Avoid iPhoto and some video sites because they will turn on "A".    I have been able to run for days by avoiding sites the turn on "A"

Hope this is helpful for you