Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

Nowhere near. I'm in TX midway between Houston and SA, and although there's a Depot in Houston, my laptop was shipped to Memphis.

My dad was in the Army Air Corps in the 40s, shipped out of Ellington Field.

So you had your discrete GPU reballed and consider that a permanent fix?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rework_(electronics)

Besides running GpuTest stress test,

http://www.geeks3d.com/gputest/

what do you think I should watch for or can do since my logicboard was replaced?
How long would you run test and how often?
I have 90 day warranty so the clock's ticking.

Darrell... consider running lots of sites concurrently that turn the discrete processor on.  Use gfxCardStatus to find those sites.

I was in the San Juan, Pharr area to fix some very old bottling equipment for a buddy of mine a couple of weeks ago.  My MBP was running perfect then.  Since then it took a dump and is on its way back from NYC where they make picante sauce for Texans.

Yet another ****** off customer...computer will boot, show the Apple logo + pinwheel, and then go to a white/gray-ish screen and remain there. Get your act together apple!

Hi taha23, allow me to share some experience with you and everyone who has been hopelessly watching that white/gray-ish screen. The following helped me to pick up my digital life again, not for 100% but it may feel already as a relief to get access to Mail, Safari, Skype, word processor, iTunes, TimeMachine ...

Preparation:

Get yourself a USB stick with gfxCardStatus 2.3 (version 2.3 works fine for me with OS X 10.10.2):

https://gfx.io

... and smcFanControl

http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/23049/smcfancontrol

... plug that USB stick in to your mbp.

1) Leave the mbp at the gray screen for about 15 minutes. The computer will get hot, the fans will spin up, and eventually when things get too hot, it will automatically shut down.

2) Immediately reboot the mbp. There is a real chance that it will actually be able to start up normally. I guess that any broken solder points causing loss of contact, make contact again 'thanks to' heat expansion. Correct me if I'm wrong.

3) As soon as you get access to your Mac, install gfxCardStatus asap, and force your system to use the Integrated Intel Chip 'only'.

I had to repeat the above 3 times, because it would not hold everything running after it booted. Graphical glitches and system freezes forced me to reboot and didn't give me enough time to install and configure gfxCardStatus. But once you do succeed to reach that point, your computer runs ... on crutches, but at least it runs and you can still safely make a backup of your HD if necessary! You won't be able to do heavy tasks though (video stuff or demanding Photoshop actions).

With the addition of smcFanControl you can easily follow your computer's temperature and let the fans go in higher speed to help things cool down.

For what it's worth.

I am yet another Apple customer who expected optimal performance and reliability from a Macbook Pro bought in early-2011. I am a musician and use Logic Pro X heavily which now I cannot run for 5 minutes before experiencing this graphics issue inherent in old MBPs. I have had two logic board replacements in the past 3 months and am now awaiting my third (Genius Bar appointment on Saturday 21st Feb 2015). I haven't paid for a single one due to consumer rights laws in the UK but the inconvenience is killing me, my creativity and my productivity. If I relied on my music for a living, I'd be seriously, seriously out of pocket.

This is unacceptable from the World's number 1 brand and I welcome the class-action lawsuit that will be heard in April with open arms.

Apple - wake up and realise that the right thing to do is set up a machine replacement programme before tons and tons of logic boards cost you even more than that would. We're waiting for you to do the right thing.

- One angry musician -

I don't think Apple has a working repair method for this problem. The only thing they can do is replacing the mainboards - the same thing they already do in some limited cases. But Apple really needs to do something - because many people are angry to spend 2.000€ and get broken notebook after 3 years. A notebook that is designed to work just for 3 years you can get from other vendors for less than 1.000€.

Hi,

I have a 2011 MacBook pro which I bought in early 2012. It has had 3 major problems since I bought it and I haven't yet had it 3 years! Just over a year ago the battery completely failed and my laptop got sent off to be repaired under guarantee (2 years with John Lewis). It was the second time my laptop had been sent off for repair (the first time being related to the keyboard). This year my laptop was getting painfully slow trying to do anything - load programmes, running the ineternet etc Constantly it was either freezing or spending 10 minutes loading a page, sometimes crashing. I checked everything I could think of - space on the hard drive, cookies etc Eventually I tried to switch it on one morning and it couldn't find the hard drive (blank screen, flashing question mark.) I am just wondering whether my problems could be anything to do with problems other people are having with their 2011 MacBooks? I am now going to have to pay to have it fixed and I am NOT happy as it seems to me this is not a quality piece of equipment to have had so many problems in such a short space of time. Am I just 'unlucky' to have a laptop with a series of things failing in it, is it related to one thing in it that isn't up to standard, or is it just a 'friday afternoon' built laptop?! Any help appreciated.

How did you get your laptop fixed under UK consumer rights laws? Did you have to prove the fault was there when you bought it? I am having problems and just being told I have to pay for it to be fixed myself? I haven't had my laptop 3 years yet

I have also spoken with AppleCare by chat and to second line support over the phone. They are aware of the problem, but obviously they cannot do anything because they are saying Apple has not shown an official programme to replace this 2011 motherboards defects. Even if I told them the same thing happened to 2011 iMacs with the same AMD problem and that was replaced under warranty after 4 years from purchase.

This is ridiculous since there are thousands of people with the same problem. Since Apple is aware of everything. Since it happened before, not only with iMac but with other Macs as well, and the worst thing of all is that Apple is not doing anything regarding this. Before Apple used to care about its clients and used to find a way to resolve similar cases even if there were only a few hundreds with the same problem, now it seems over the years things have changed, and they think more about earning money rather than have happy, reliable and returning customers just like it used to be, even when I used to work at Apple years ago.

I am sad Apple has become like this, and to tell you the truth I have been thinking of buying a new MacBook Pro because of this problem, a brand new 15-inch, with a financial program because I cannot afford it now, but what if I spend 3 years in repaying the Mac and right after that I have the same problem again with that machine? Obviously I don't want to take that risk again. Spending 2200+ euros on this superb laptop which now is less useful than a brick takes all hopes on Apple away!

Apple do something and bring all our hopes back!!

Hi catbrownsea,

Yes - the law requires the fault to have been inherent in the device (even if latent and non-presenting until some years later) at time of purchase. My local Apple Store (Grand Arcade, Cambridge, UK) recognizes this fault to have been present at time of purchase. I also purchased direct from them which apparently has helped.

The machine was just out of AppleCare when I went in for the first time but I was lucky enough to get somebody who understood and who had heard of the problem so told me about my consumer rights. All further replacement logic boards have been done under Repair Warranty (i.e. the machine has failed again within 90 days of the original repair) - yep, the replacement boards fail pretty quick funnily enough. Seems the boards they use have exactly the same problem. I'll post an update about how I get on this Saturday. I'm hoping they'll just replace the **** thing. Each logic board is an opportunity loss to them of £347, so that'll be £1,041 if they propose to give me a third for free.

If they give up on me, I'll be pretty **** miffed.

"The Sale of Goods Act offers protection against faulty goods even when the manufacturer's guarantee has run out. The act says goods must last a reasonable time - and that can be anything up to six years from the date of purchase."

"... you still have rights under the Sale of Goods Act even if your guarantee has expired. A manufacturer's guarantee doesn't replace these rights and retailers can't ignore this. It will depend on the product and the fault, but you could be legally entitled to a free repair or, in some cases, a replacement by the retailer for some time after the manufacturer's guarantee has expired."

All the best,

Adam

Speida wrote:

 

 

Apple do something and bring all our hopes back!!

During another discussion on the problem, also on Apple's discussion site, a customer living in Europe reported having his MBP fixed under the European Union's lemon law.  Some one from the states wondered out loud that it would be nice if we had such a law.

We invented that law when the folks landed at Plymouth Rock, when schools were directed by parents to teach virtues.  Honesty being a virtue.  Honesty being the supreme belief that we are all created equal, therefor our efforts are valued.

Each of us put much effort into buying Apple products such as the MBP with the belief that when Apple said it was a quality product made by a quality company we believed them.  We demonstrated our belief in Apple's word by paying a premium for the product, as the best takes extra effort and we value their time and effort.  There is a workmanship problem with that product that shows up on schedule at a single point within the product.  Common sense says the failure is not random, its one part over 90% of the time, the GPU chip is not failing, its connections are failing.

Early on our forefathers knew there would be a time when people would take advantage of other people because of their ignorance so they created the Old Deluder Act which said there must be public education in every community so the people could read the laws and read the Bible to learn morals.  Morals being the glue that links created as equals together.  One can not take advantage of another through deception if they believe we are equals.  The Old Deluder would say it's OK and created a reason, a good story, a deception within.

We created that law years ago... its called the American way because Americans believe we are created as equals, unless we are deluded.

Thanks! I'm not sure how I'm going to prove the fault existed at time of purchase though I am just being told it is 'out of guarantee' and unless I can prove it it's my responsibility. My argument that an expensive 'quality' product shouldn't have so many things failing within 3 years is just falling on deaf ears, so I'm not sure what to do... I have contacted Consumer Rights to see what they suggest, but thanks for your help!!

I live in Italy and unfortunately when I said something about the European law they told to write to the legal department by post in France in order to take lack action. I believe this would be more costly than a couple of repairs for this stupid problem!

Thanks again for your advice - I just found this article on the Sale of Goods Act: http://www.theguardian.com/money/2006/mar/25/consumernews.howtocomplain

Speida wrote:

 

...  I believe this would be more costly than a couple of repairs for this stupid problem!

Apple agrees with your choice and hopes that more will follow your lead. 

Do you know people who lie often?  No one points out their lie because they are being polite so they don't stop with one lie?

Apple has had this problem before.  The last time its was the iMac.  Apple fix each of those iMacs when the uproar got too loud.  Apple, like you, hinges their decision on costs. MBPs aren't a high volume product and 2011 was a long time ago.  If Apple doesn't nothing eventually the outcry will go away.  Apple will say they learned but to know and not to have done, is not to know yet.

When it's time to buy again will there be any doubt in your mind about choosing Apple again?

Ask to speak to another person, write emails, letters, do something to spread the word about your experiences.  Let your friends know what you have and are experiencing.  Then they will make a more informed choice when they buy, its a neighborly thing to do.