Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

I used the site yesterday, 2/20/15, as I had just had the repair completed (which I paid for) on 2/10/15. As someone else stated, it was probably a glitch

on the site Friday as I had no issues confirming coverage on my Early 2011 17" MBP.

I am not waiting for Apple to contact me, I used the link after confirmation to contact Apple regarding reimbursement for the cost of my recent repair and

have scheduled a call from them today.

To all who are worried about the replacement board, I am certain Apple has NOT placed a limit on the number of replacements they have to do on you MBP

under the extended program. I would even go as far as saying that if by next February the issue remains as wide spread as it is now, Apple will address the expiration date at that time.

I am sure that Steve is once again "at peace" knowing that Apple has stepped up to the plate, recognized the defect, and is supporting it's 2011 MBP customers

with this long awaited program. Thank you Apple for once again standing behind your product! Only regret, is the time you took to help us all.

I used the site yesterday, 2/20/15, as I had just had the repair completed (which I paid for) on 2/10/15. As someone else stated, it was probably a glitch

on the site Friday as I had no issues confirming coverage on my Early 2011 17" MBP yesterday, try again.

I am not waiting for Apple to contact me, I used the link after confirmation to contact Apple regarding reimbursement for the cost of my recent repair and

have scheduled a call from them today.

To all who are worried about the replacement board, I am certain Apple has NOT placed a limit on the number of replacements they have to do on you MBP

under the extended program. I would even go as far as saying that if by next February the issue remains as wide spread as it is now, Apple will address the expiration date at that time.

I am sure that Steve is once again "at peace" knowing that Apple has stepped up to the plate, recognized the defect, and is supporting it's 2011 MBP customers

with this long awaited program. Thank you Apple for once again standing behind your product! Only regret, is the time you took to help us all.

Apple agreed to refund my MBP-2011 repair charges ($310) y'day, 2/20/15. I'm in USA.

I paid for logic board repair in Jan '15, contacted Apple for refund on Thurs, 2/19/15, for which they opened a case.

Refund email states, to expect a check within 30 days. Consumer has to absorb the sales tax (if any).

Just a day old program seems to be working expeditiously!

Apple, why it took you so long to acknowledge the issue and waste so many people's so much time ???

vsingha2k wrote:

 

Apple agreed to refund my MBP-2011 repair charges ($310) y'day, 2/20/15. I'm in USA.

I paid for logic board repair in Jan '15, contacted Apple for refund on Thurs, 2/19/15, for which they opened a case.

Refund email states, to expect a check within 30 days. Consumer has to absorb the sales tax (if any).

 

Just a day old program seems to be working expeditiously!

Apple, why it took you so long to acknowledge the issue and waste so many people's so much time ???

Did you get the same performance and operation demonstrated at time of sale restored to your MBP-2011? 

Was the change in performance stolen via a firmware "update", released soon after the MBP-2011 was released to the public, was the effects of that firmware update reversed or do you have a clever counterfeit MBP-2011?

jimoase wrote:

 

Was the change in performance stolen via a firmware "update", released soon after the MBP-2011 was released to the public, was the effects of that firmware update reversed or do you have a clever counterfeit MBP-2011?

Unless you had one of each in order to compare I am not sure how you would know.

What's your suggestion?

Csound1 wrote:

 

jimoase wrote:

 

Was the change in performance stolen via a firmware "update", released soon after the MBP-2011 was released to the public, was the effects of that firmware update reversed or do you have a clever counterfeit MBP-2011?

Unless you had one of each in order to compare I am not sure how you would know.

 

What's your suggestion?

Are you suggesting that a counterfeit is not a counterfeit unless its recognized?

Are you suggesting that breaking the law/into your house is not breaking the law unless your caught?

Are you suggesting that Apple is suddenly trustworthy because they admitted that a small percentage of the 2011 MBP production was produced using a faulty manufacturing process after years of customer complaints?  Apple has a "golden standard" from each production run, they know.  Its Apple's virtues, extensive or not, that are at the center of this entire effort.

Apple knows there are a significant number of test reports on the web showing the initial products performance.  Then later in time preformance reports post firmware update.  Those tests are the source of the claim of 30% loss of graphic performance.  We have the data and can generate comparison data post this repair cycle.

jimoase wrote:

 

vsingha2k wrote:

 

Apple agreed to refund my MBP-2011 repair charges ($310) y'day, 2/20/15. I'm in USA.

Just a day old program seems to be working expeditiously!

Apple, why it took you so long to acknowledge the issue and waste so many people's so much time ???

Did you get the same performance and operation demonstrated at time of sale restored to your MBP-2011?

 

Was the change in performance stolen via a firmware "update", released soon after the MBP-2011 was released to the public, was the effects of that firmware update reversed or do you have a clever counterfeit MBP-2011?

biggest issue for me, at the time of repair was, getting past the gray screen, as it as sort of stuck - repair/board change did fix that. Can't say if it is giving the same exact performance - as didn't benchmark it, before the problem.

For your 2nd question - I never personally benchmarked "change in performance" before and after the firmware upgrade, so can't comment specifically. And don't know if repair reversed the firmware downgrade (again I don't have prior reference data to compare with). Though I'll doubt it very much i.e. IMO Apple likely didn't/wouldn't reverse the firmware performance downgrade change.

jimoase wrote:

 

Csound1 wrote:

 

jimoase wrote:

 

Was the change in performance stolen via a firmware "update", released soon after the MBP-2011 was released to the public, was the effects of that firmware update reversed or do you have a clever counterfeit MBP-2011?

Unless you had one of each in order to compare I am not sure how you would know.

 

What's your suggestion?

Are you suggesting that a counterfeit is not a counterfeit unless its recognized?

 

Are you suggesting that breaking the law/into your house is not breaking the law unless your caught?

 

Are you suggesting that Apple is suddenly trustworthy because they admitted that a small percentage of the 2011 MBP production was produced using a faulty manufacturing process after years of customer complaints?  Apple has a "golden standard" from each production run, they know.  Its Apple's virtues, extensive or not, that are at the center of this entire effort.

 

Apple knows there are a significant number of test reports on the web showing the initial products performance.  Then later in time preformance reports post firmware update.  Those tests are the source of the claim of 30% loss of graphic performance.  We have the data and can generate comparison data post this repair cycle.

I am simply asking if you have a suggestion as to how to follow your suggestion. How can you tell if the Mac has or has not had a firmware patch installed to limit the graphics performance. You suggested it, and it's a good suggestion. Now tell us how?

I have no idea what the rest of that "breaking the law" is not a crime if not caught is about, I'll leave that to you.

I went in yesterday to pick up my repaired MBP, which I had dropped off last week, prior to the announcement of the repair program.  I was curious if they were going to just replace the Logic Board (per the video issue program), or also repair all the other issues they may find which they usually do on a flat $310 repair job, which would be outside of the video issue program, and perhaps I'd end up having to pay for.

They replaced the Logic Board and a clutch barrel on the enclosure.  They did not remove my aftermarket 16GB RAM.  I did not have to pay for the repair, though they did email me a repair summary which stated $310 for the repair.  I see no charge against my CC.

I spoke with the Genius Bar tech, nice guy and very helpful, and through a few semi-indirect questions, he acknowledged that he was fully aware of the GPU issues with this model MBP.  He said that he had no way of knowing whether they merely replaced the Logic Board with the same old stock, or if they did anything different.  He did iterate that basically instead of a 90day warranty on the work, I now have a 1 year warranty.  He also made an interesting comment, which I may have not heard right, or he didn't mean it that way, but that the whole MBP now has a 90day warranty since they worked on it.  I'll see if I get to test that out or not.

Thanks to everyone on this thread and on others that raised this issue, reported your problems, and pushed it forward.  While it took a bit longer than we all wanted, Apple did finally step up.  Life's too short to dwell on negativity, time to go enjoy my repaired MBP.

@Jimoase - btw, my logic board was changed in 2nd half of Jan, so before this flaw acknowledgement / repair program announcement by Apple. So likely I don;t have the "officially prescribed repair, under this program - whatever that may be". I likely have, "charge $310, change the logic board and pray" repair ;-) hence, I fully suspect it to fail again in due course.

If someone has pre-firmware performance downgrade reference/benchmarks and associated #s, I'll be happy to run the benchmarks and post results here.

Original Benchmarks for Macs (2008 to 2014) These don't separate the tests so can't really shed much light on one area, so..

Try this

http://macperformanceguide.com/Reviews-MacBookProFeb2011.html

cool

running out to attend the day's activities, will try these within a day or so.

Csound1 wrote:

 

jimoase wrote:

 

 

I have no idea what the rest of that "breaking the law" is not a crime if not caught is about, I'll leave that to you.

Yah, I know.  With forty kazillion laws on the books it's difficult for anyone to know if they are breaking the law.  Like adding currency to the monetary system dilutes the buying power of everyone's money, adding a thousand of laws a year dilutes the power of laws in general.

Is it a law if no one knows about it?

Apple is acknowledging the issue, contact them accordingly.

http://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro-videoissues/

You haven't answered my question, do you have a method for people to follow your suggestion?