Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

mmobed wrote:

 

I've been experience said symptoms on my 2011 Late MacBook Pro 15" with the AMD 6770M, vertical lines, screen shifted, distortion, colors but I can't seem to replicate it. When it first happened I did a forced shutdown and tried to replicate it but using Heaven on Max settings for about an hour and it ran perfectly fine, then I tried opening and using several gpu intensive applications such as Google Earth and Logic but it wouldn't happen. However when I do minor random things like google image search then I'll see it crash again. If my discrete GPU runs for 1+ hour using demanding applications like Heaven but crashes with more random things does this mean I am affected by this fault?

 

P.S. I am using an external monitor via my display port so I'm always on the discrete gpu.

Welcome to the club....  

Your problem will increase in frequency and severity over the next few weeks, ultimately reaching a point when just booting up will turn into a ordeal.

Like all intermittent problems proving its existence to Apple technicians will be difficult or without question depending on chance.  For an Apple technician to deny the problems existence is a display of suspect character of the technician.

Please report the problem to Apple and do what you can to make Apple fix your computer.  That may turn into an exercise in frustration but will be useful for all as the mountain of failure mounts.

Thanks for what ever you can do to help us, the owners of MBPs with failing GPUs from AMD.

I was afraid of that. Thanks for your quick reply. I have already reported the problem to Apple just to add to the number of owners but I've yet to go to an Apple store as I am out of warranty and it seems like statistically they are more likely to charge me for a logic board replacement which I've heard just delays the problem until it happens again.

I was having problems with my 2011 Macbook Pro locking up a couple weeks ago.  It took me about two days to get it to where I could boot back up and use it.  Once I got it to boot back up I could not get it to fail again.  Since my Applecare expires next week I took the Macbook to the Apple Store and described the problems that I had with it locking up and running hot for some time as the fans would run for the smallest things.  They sent my Macbook out to the Depot for repair where they replaced the Logic Board and both fans.  It seems to be working better since coming back but I wonder how long that will last.

I Started having issues about a month ago. I was watching YouTube and my the video kept repeating on a very short loop. I restarted the computer and I got able screen at start up. I tried a safe reboot and all seemed fine. About a week ago my screen wentt black while reading, restarted my computer and got a grey screen.  I had to reinstall the OS but after a few days I have had a grey screen, white screen and a white screen with black horizontal lines. 

i couldn't get an appointment at a Genius Bar in London so have to do a drop in at an authorised repair centre.

I Am out of warranty, but a few years ago I had a similar situation with my Imac . I started to get purple lines on the screen, which turned out to be a common fault from a bad batch made in Beijing. That time Apple picked up my computer, repaired it and brought it back within three days,  free of charge, even when out of warranty. That was in Jaan though but I was hopiing for the same level of response in the UK.

Raybye wrote:

......

 

I Am out of warranty, but a few years ago I had a similar situation with my Imac . I started to get purple lines on the screen, which turned out to be a common fault from a bad batch made in Beijing. That time Apple picked up my computer, repaired it and brought it back within three days,  free of charge, even when out of warranty. That was in Jaan though but I was hopiing for the same level of response in the UK.

You may be in luck during this unfortunate time.  Look back through a few pages and you will find others who live in England mentioning laws about good operation expectations for devices with significant cost ..i.e.  MBPs.  Apparently armed with this law its possible to have Apple repair you computer at no charge.  Please look back a few pages.

No matter what ... please help all of us by reporting the problem and joining any petitions regarding this problem.   Often companies like Apple can not see us, but they can feel our heat.... to paraphrase some wise person who said something like that years ago.

Good Luck

already been down that route, currys have done all repairs for free (after a battle or three) but with it breaking so many times they've basically told me not to bother getting it repaired as it will only break again but they can only offer me £650 in exchange, although this is a good amount for the laptop, its simply no where near enough to get me a new macbook pro.

Lucky me, it seems I now have this same problem with my 2011 MBP.  Took it to the Genius Bar and they said I should have the "GPU" replaced.  Got the "Work Authorization" email just now and the part to be replaced is described as: "Board, Logic, 2.2 GHz".  Not sure what I'm going to do yet, but I am leaning against getting that ~$350 repair done.

andrewpeac wrote:

 

already been down that route, currys have done all repairs for free (after a battle or three) but with it breaking so many times they've basically told me not to bother getting it repaired as it will only break again but they can only offer me £650 in exchange, although this is a good amount for the laptop, its simply no where near enough to get me a new macbook pro.

Faith, Persistence, Community....

Stay the course.  Apple represented their product as top quality.  You, being reasonable person, believed Apple and bought their product.  When it failed you, being a reasonable person, returned your MBP for repair by an Apple representative believing they have the skills, certified by Apple, to repair the computer to at least originally promised quality. 

When someone says the repair will not meet the quality Apple originally represented, they are speaking of less than honorable business practice for honest payment.  In most countries such behavior is cured by the legal system.  Fraud being illegal.

Thanks. I will take a look. I bought the MacBook in Japan so not sure if it will count for Apple goods purchased outside the UK

mmobed wrote:

 

I've been experience said symptoms on my 2011 Late MacBook Pro 15" with the AMD 6770M, vertical lines, screen shifted, distortion, colors but I can't seem to replicate it. When it first happened I did a forced shutdown and tried to replicate it but using Heaven on Max settings for about an hour and it ran perfectly fine, then I tried opening and using several gpu intensive applications such as Google Earth and Logic but it wouldn't happen. However when I do minor random things like google image search then I'll see it crash again. If my discrete GPU runs for 1+ hour using demanding applications like Heaven but crashes with more random things does this mean I am affected by this fault?

 

P.S. I am using an external monitor via my display port so I'm always on the discrete gpu.

I had read somewhere that Photobooth would consistently make your GPU fail. It worked on my late 2011 MBP15". Try it.

The external GPU in my Late 2011 MBP (purchased in early 2012) has failed THREE times now. I'm on the pacific coast of Costa Rica at the moment, with no possible way to get the motherboard replaced. My girlfriend is flying down on March 9th, so I purchased a NEW MBP for ANOTHER $3700. An other alternative could have been to fly back, pay to get the motherboard replaced AGAIN, and fly back down to Costa Rica -- with a MBP that has a life expectancy of about 6 months.

So get this... I sent Tim Cook and email, and a customer service rep calls me, gets the details, takes a few days to "investigate", then offers me a whopping -- get this -- $100 discount on my replacement laptop purchase! Can you believe that? I was floored.

js.

I have a MBP early 2011 15" and its AMD graphic card has failed. Apple store asked for $675 to change the entire motherboard. I think this is not fair as it is more than what it worth. I purchased it in New York and I live in Australia now.

Apple be responsive.

Local Apple Store just verified bad gpu and its off for a repair. Quoted $310 + tax for logic board replacement. Just hope I don't get it back and have the gpu fail again.

Words of wisdom, if you see any indication of graphics failure after you've had it repaired, video tape it and bring it in. . I had the same issue with all the funky graphics followed by complete failure. Paid the 300.oo to get my 2011 MBP fixed in August 2014 when it was 2 and 1/2 years old. The logic board and the hard drive was replaced. After 2 and a half months the same issue occurred in addition to the computer beeping at me (indicator of a RAM problems) followed by total failure. Logic board replaced a second time under the three month warranty. Again had issues with the funky images over the next three months, brought it in at 88 days (at least functioning this time) and again the logic board was replaced. Two days after picking it up I immediately had the funky images again. Brought it in the fourth time and they took my old laptop and at no further cost to me gave me a brand new $2,500 2015 MacBook Pro. I had taken pictures (with a current newspaper in the shot), video, and specific notes of the multiple problems as they occurred at home which helped me prove my case.

It the thought of having to buy a new computer/paying for further repairs before you get moneys worth out of it freaks you out, you might want to consider bringing it in every 3 months under the logic board warranty whether it's problematic or not, at least until their is a solution to this on-going problem with the logic board-IT WILL GO BAD AGAIN, IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE.

So I've been to the Apple Store last night (London, Covent Garden).

Apple technician told me he sees 2-3 2011 MBPs with failed graphics a day.

And this is just one guy, so how many must be there in total?

Even though my machine was purchased in Russia and technically does not fall under Europen Consumer Law, they agreed to replace the logic board at no cost. The amount they cover is £416, which includes the logic board, labour and VAT.

Every Apple Genius I spoke to didn't really want to discuss the problem in detail, but they kind of admitted it was their fault even though they didn't explicitly say so. The fact that they agreed to repair my macbook is an indication of the scale of the problem Apple is facing.

In 7-10 days I should have my macbook back in working condition. But for how long? The impression I have now is that it takes 3-4 failed logic boards before Apple agrees to replace the whole machine. So before they give you a new macbook they face £1200-1600 of costs. Isn't it easier to launch the replacement program already? Yeah I know they are making money by charging some people for those logic boards. But then they usually fail within 3 months, so they get replaced for free under warranty. And then again. So they will still be £800-1200 worse off in the end.

My advice to those who have an upcoming genius bar appoinment would be to show them that you've done your background reading, i.e. you are aware of the lawsuit, petition, legal side of things, you know a little bit about the technical side of the problem, etc.