Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

Hello again,

after moving the driver files around I got an extremely weird state. My MacBook is now booting, but shows this: stuff:

No external display is connected.

Yes. I have the same problem. I even moved the ATI extensions back, rebooted and although I can log into OS, I can't switch to integrated. Strangely, for me at least now, I don't get hard freezes, just consistent application crashing.

Does anyone happen to have any ideas as to how to maneuver around this jam?

I don't think it's possible to gauge the number of affected machines from our perspective - only Apple is  in a position to assess that from feedback, repair logs, etc.  It's easy to over- or under-inflate the failure rate from the forum posts on here and other sites.  The userbase here is very self-selective.  Many Apple users are more likely to take their machine straight to the Genius Bar (especially while it's under warranty of AppleCare) without posting here.  Most of my tech-savvy friends and colleagues (including a couple who have worked for Apple or an authorized service provider) avoid these forums because they feel like they're full of too much "noise" to get the information they need - they prefer other Apple-oriented sites.  So we're definitely not seeing a diverse portion of the 2011 MacBook Pro-owning population.

The Apple website's MacBook Pro feedback form is the only official, sanctioned means of sharing information - users have been told repeatedly by customer service reps, Genius Bar employees, etc. to submit feedback through that form.  Emails to Tim Cook's address seem to go  to his executive customer relations team - a number of posters have received a response from someone after sending a polite email explaining the problems they've experienced.  When I emailed, the executive team contacted the specific store that I'd been having trouble with, to make sure that they were handling my case appropriately. 

And as for Apple HQ folks reading these threads... there are community moderators that come through to remove content that's in violation of the terms of use, but I don't think Apple pays much attention to these discussions otherwise.   I certainly wouldn't rely on it.  

Does anyone know or have tried something like this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oO1Ze5JXnFk

I think its a good alternative, it will turn our laptops into desktops, but at least they would be very usable.

Also check: http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/162652-diy-external-thunderbolt-gpu-turbo-cha rges-macbook-air-graphics-performance-by-7x

I would just like to document that I am having the same problem here and will be attempting the temporary work around posted here https://discussions.apple.com/message/23737231#23737231

Here are some screenshots of the screen glitch reported by many also followed by some system specs shared by most here having the same issue.

I purchased my late 2011 Macbook pro from best buy where I will be taking it tomorrow to see if it falls under their replacement plan I paid for at time of purchase.

This is an epic failure on Apple's end. Even after multiple high profile blogs and news sites have reported the "2011 hard freeze" issue Apple has chose the path of non action and zero acknowledgement. The article that claims "pushing mac users loyalty to the edge" is **** right.

If pushed over the edge, I will cross back over to the dark side and pay half the price for a fully working machine next laptop purchase. Don't make me do it Apple. Turn my black heart with a show of faith. Make me believe in you again.

<Personal Information Edited By Host>

I have finally got some news from my Apple Store. Just as a recap for everyone to be aware. I took my macbook pro early 2011 to my apple store when seeing the graphics card break after upgrading to the latest firmware. They quoted me 500 euros (around $700) for a logic board replacement. I agreed to pay for it since I have always thought that Apple laptops should last at least 5 years. After a week's time, Apple calls me to pick up the repaired unit, they claimed that they had changed the logic board and that I should be good to go. After a week's time, the laptop was shutting down randomly. So I decided to take it back to the Apple Store, here in Europe we have 90 day guarantee for reparations. They take another week to repair it and I go to pick it up again. After two days and a firmware upgrade (SMC 1.8 I believe), the computer starts causing me troubles again, it reboots randomly and the graphics card is deffective. So I decided to take it back another time. This time they take a bit longer, but I get a new display for free together with a new logic board, they thought the old display might have caused the problems. I take it back home and it seemed to be working properly. With and without external monitor. With and without automatic graphics switching. The moment I upgrade the firmware (SMC 1.8), the graphics card starts giving me the exact same problems. So I decide to take it back to the store. They can't believe it and this time they diagnose a wrong OS installation (?!?!?). I dont care anymre, I have almost giving up with the laptop, I just want them to either repair it or to give me back my money. One week after the send me the email telling me that the reparation is done and that I can go pick it up. One hour later they react telling me that I should ignore the previous email. I believe that was the moment when they managed to reproduce the problem (probably ugprading the firmware). In the meantime, I have bought myself a 13' mac book pro as I can't be without a laptop for two months due to different reasons (studies). Three days later they send me an email telling me that the repair is impossible and that I will get a replacement unit.

My thoughts after this long process is that Apple has done something terribly wrong with the firmware upgrade. I do think that there is a lot of people mixing problems. I have never demanded too much of my graphics card, so it is likely that I didn't hit the problem with the badly solded GPU card. I think my problem had only to do with the firmware, because during all those replacements, I never gave a chance to my card to heat up. However, that doesnt mean that the people that make their graphic card work hard, will get problems due to a bad hardware design. I am just saying that they are different problems.

My thinking is that if the bad hardware design was a problem, it would have been from the beginning. So I would not understand why laptops lasted two years without giving major problems and suddenly we are all experiencing so many problems. The same way I can't understand how a new logic board replacement would not last longer than a couple of days after having seen how a new logic board can last for two years... I really think in my case the problem is the firmware or at least software related (otherwise why do people complain about the Mavericks upgrade).

Sorry for the long post, I just wanted to share my experience in case it helps someone make an educated decision.

Hi,

Thank you for these informations and all the sense you put into your words.

One way to answer the question of the immediat failure of repaired macbook pros is that they swicth non-functioning logic-board with refurbished one that does not have benn diagnosticed with that kind of problem.

I don't believe they throw to the bin all the logic boards the so easily pick from "damaged" computers.

Let's hope I'm wrong.

I think they are begining to act as I read more and more that Apple is calling back angry customers.

edevera,

May I ask just which model Apple planned (plans) to give you as a replacement?

Clinton

I don't see why you think it's a firmware issue when you were having problems before the firmware update????

Please read again my post.

I too think there is something to the idea that an "innocent" firmware upgrade pushed many of our machines over the brink. My experience with computers: it is almost NEVER (and I mean rarely, really) ever just "one" thing that causes a complex system to malfunction. So to those of you looking for that "one thing" that is causing our problems I wish you luck but I doubt you will be successful. IMHO, those of us looking for a more complex interaction of hardware + firmware + software are on the right track.

Michael

Hey guys, My finder is crashing on startup after moving all my ATI related files into a temp folder to force the system to only use the integrated graphics card.

It patched the screen glitches and hard freeze issue but now apps randomly close and finder immedietly closes on open.

@edevera - interestingly, Apple's SMC Firmware Update page points to version 1.69f4 (SMC 1.7) as the latest for "MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011)" / "MacBookPro8,2". However, when you follow the link:

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1633

The page states "MacBook Pro SMC Firmware Update 1.8" and "This update is recommended for MacBook Pro (mid 2012) models."

Not sure if this has something to do with the problem. Also, the "Late 2011" model, which neraly has identical specs except for the CPU bump (I believe) has completely different SMC version.

@Swampus- I wonder if you can shed some light based on your experience with the survey.

Cheers.

-hq

Just carried out a Chipset replacement on a Macbook Pro 2011 6490m with GPU Failure. Here are some pictures if anyone is interested.

1. Old GPU

GPU has now been removed and old lead free solder removed.

Old and New GPU side by side.

We reball the new GPU in lead solder.

Below: New GPU fitted and Logic board cleaned of flux residue.

This is the repair you need done if you get one. Brand New GPU in lead With picture proof...