Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

Wow, that Thermal paste Chinese must have been very drunk!

My Macbook 2011 is in D3us hands now for a professional reflow, can't wait for apple to sort out their mess.

(I've already cleaned the fans ;-) )

Where are you Apple!???????????????

How much stress does watching a movie put on the system?  I am have been running stress tests but this morning I decided to just fire up netflix and let a movie run and just running the movie with very little else going on had the temps over 160 and the fans pegged at 6200 RPM.

I'm now the proud owner of a shiny aluminum block myself. I had numerous crash within the year but Apple wasn't able to troubleshoot correctly the fault thinking it was my new memory module. But recently the trouble got worse and every time the computer was switching to the discreet graphic card it would crash within 2-3 min. I have screen artifacts and the Apple store repair order confirming the GPU failure and requesting 625$ to replace the logic board. Unfortunately, Apple Canada do not recognize their fault and do not offer any kind of support. My computer is now useless as it freeze on white screen on startup. They might be some hope now in Canada since lawyers firm file a request for a class action lawsuit in Canada as well. http://www.lexgroup.ca/classaction/apple-2011-macbook-pro/

APPLE take your responsability with this problem and feel free to sue AMD afterwards. But right now you must solve this issue quickly. 

I am in Canada and have the same issue. Actually Apple will not fix this for free if you are out of warranty regardless of where you are.  It takes me about 15-20 minutes to start my computer now but I am able to do it. Try doing a pram and smc reset...

PRAM..... hold down all these keys together    CMD/OPTION/P/R    ...     then press start.... wait for the second chime and let go.. you may have to do this several times. For me I know when it might work when the bars (blue/grey) don't show up... eventually it should work.... also try an smc reset.. shift/control/option then start and release all at once...

XLT77 wrote:

 

Actually Apple will not fix this for free if you are out of warranty regardless of where you are.

That's not entirely true. In the UK Apple will fix this for free (if you bought direct from them) as they're liable under the UK Sales Of Goods Act due to this being a fault in the manufacturing process. They're well aware of this fact and if you mention to the guys at the Genius Bar that the issue with your MBP is the well-known/documented GPU fault they'll replace it FOC.

The UK Sales Of Goods Act is applicable for 6 years from date of purchase, but only applies to the retailer you bought it from. Therefore, if you bought direct from Apple it is their responsibility to repair/replace/refund (all are options under the Act) or if you bought from a reseller wuch as Currys/PCWorld it is their responsibility.

Working (patiently) with Apple's Geniuses at the Nashville, TN store. They assessed my machine, agreed that symptoms were consistent with graphics card failure, and took my machine in under the 'Fix everything for $310' deal. Apparently, they crack things open before sending them to the depot (a seemingly useful checkpoint). Thus, they checked mine out and soon called to report that their tech discovered liquid damage of the brown, fizzy beverage sort and that the depot fix in this altered scenario would now cost ~$1250. I was surprised considering my machine has been used for the last 12 months at my desk in a Chemistry lab where no drinks are allowed. I picked the machine up and checked for myself. No apparent liquid or damage. None of the first level Liquid Spill Indicators had been activated.

I did a drop in to see a Genius earlier this week and, after a long wait, asked him to re-assess and consider sending the machine to the depot for their assessment under the $310 fix plan. He checked things out and said he'd sort the work out for me, but that I'd need to replace the DVD drive and put the original hard drive back in its original location before sending it off. This is a departure from the information I received from the original Genius, even though he was aware of my post-purchase addition of an SSD. Rather ironically, the addition of an SSD and gobs more RAM were modifications I put in place 18 months ago to address the recurrent hangs, system freezes, and random resets that seem to be indicative of the early 2011 graphics chip problems.

Anyway, I hope that I'll soon be in the queue for a logic board replacement. Everybody's been helpful, although I would have liked a more straightforward process, I understand this might be the way things have to work. Can't wait to have a functional computer to work on. For those of you who are still able, get to your local store and get in on the fix while you're still under apple care. For those who aren't, $310 isn't too bad for a refurbished rig that will likely still stand up to many new machines on store shelves. Good luck.

Sorry I forgot about UK/EU laws... in North America my statement is true.... on this matter it is also wrong for them to fix the same problem where they are compelled by law and to ignore it where they are not. We have to keep voicing our displeasure using every available means.... collectively we may get something done here if we are passive and fork over money for a fix that is proven not to be effective we have no one to blame but ourselves

I was not offered a $300 fix only a $600 logic board replacement I declined.....waiting for the courts to come through but maybe waiting for Godot??????

THX XLT77 but the PRAM and SMC reset had nothing to do with the GPU failure, samething for safe mode, verbose or single user mode as well as Apple hardware Test. Even the Hardware test is not able to diagnose the GPU failure the test clear everything even if I have artifact on the screen. The only way I was able to get the computer to start is by forcing it to go back to the integrated GPU by leaving the computer on the freeze screen until it eventually overheat and shutdown. Then I can restart in single user and remove all the discreet graphic card driver and restart. The computer is good for e-mail and net browsing that way so I might be able to wait it out until the lawsuit are heard 2-6 months from now. I might sue Apple myself also since in Quebec we have a law close to UK Sales and good law. But since it's a local law not a Canadian federal law company do not enforce it and they know most consumer will just let it go since we have to go in court to have this law enforced. For now US class action will be heard in april so I hope the Canadian class action will not be to far behind and we can have this issue resolve as quickly as possible.

OK .... PRAM and SMC resets the computer which may get you going again.. its worth a try... not sure if you have tried this or not... I am in Ontario and I joined the lawsuit initiated in Quebec on-line... if the American suit in California is settled satisfactorily for the user there will not be a trial here since the complaint is mirrored. Apple, if they choose not to appeal will recall the units and fix them at their cost, best case scenario, worst case is they win followed by, they lose but appeal which will take time. Apple can be the company they claim to be or be ruthless at the expense of loyal users that are voicing their opinions and experiences here on this thread and in the lawsuits and petitions....

I've had the same issue now on two macbooks. No response from Apple short of pay 450$ for the mobo replacement which sounds like it will just be a temporary fix.

Please comment and respond.

<Link Edited by Host>

Ok I have offered my opinion on your people claim site.....

My resolution is simple ,  find the true cause of this problem and fix it it for the loyal Apple customers. The current official Apple resolution does not work. People that are not under Apple care are told to pay $300- $600 for a logic board replacement. Some have attempted this but the problem reoccurs 3 and 4 times. It is obvious that the replacement strategy is not a true fix. I suggest this problem should be reviewed by senior Apple technicians and an appropriate resolution offered.

Does anyone seriously think Apple's technical staff cannot diagnose the difference between a failed GPU chip and a failed manufacturing process? 

Does anyone seriously think Apple's technical staff cannot effect appropriate changes so that this kind of failure is unlikely to happen again?

We are talking about some of the best of the best in the manufacture of electronic products remaining anonymous in the spot light of failure.  When there is an award for something good names are paraded on the stage.  The stage is strangely empty on this issue.

I think we have the Ford Maverick problem here, cost of repair verses costs of a law suit.  Ethics is being measured in dollars, rather than common virtues.  Up and down the chain of command, each level can say I am only doing what I am told.  Rationalizing ethics.

Stand for something or fall for anything.

jimoase wrote:

 

Does anyone seriously think Apple's technical staff cannot diagnose the difference between a failed GPU chip and a failed manufacturing process?

If you talk about people in the shops, maybe some.

If you see what comments customers got in the past...

Think the ones "diagnosing" it now might know it due customers with failing macbooks pointing them to the web about the problem.

jimoase wrote:

  Does anyone seriously think Apple's technical staff cannot effect appropriate changes so that this kind of failure is unlikely to happen again?

Will need a re-design of the cooling system.

Which probably means a re-design of the  casing...

jimoase wrote:

We are talking about some of the best of the best in the manufacture of electronic products

Themselves and others think so but... Apparently not....

jimoase wrote:

 

I think we have the Ford Maverick problem here, cost of repair verses costs of a law suit.  Ethics is being measured in dollars, rather than common virtues.  Up and down the chain of command, each level can say I am only doing what I am told.  Rationalizing ethics.

 

Stand for something or fall for anything.

Like you sai, it all comes down to the money most likely.