Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

Richard Liu wrote:

 

This is my modest attempt to focus a thread that has become 820 page long on February 20, 2015 and thereafter.  Since February 20, 2015 Apple has been repairing "qualifying" MacBook Pro's in the US and Canada.  From February 27, 2015 that program will extend to (all?) other countries.  I believe that these are the issues that interest especially -- but not only -- those who have not followed this thread from the beginning:

 

........

 

Few of us will ever know why it took Apple so long to admit that there is a problem and then to do something about it.  Threads that focus on narrowing down the possible causes instead of degenerating into accusations and mudslinging almost certainly don't hurt.

Thanks... well said.  I think the last line contains a typo.... "instead of degenerating into accusations and mudslinging almost certainly don't hurt."  I think you meant to say "does hurt" in lieu of "....certainly don't hurt."   I have a feeling Apple's spell corrector went nuts.

Again ... thanks for a well stated message.

jimoase wrote:

 

Richard Liu wrote:

 

This is my modest attempt to focus a thread that has become 820 page long on February 20, 2015 and thereafter.  Since February 20, 2015 Apple has been repairing "qualifying" MacBook Pro's in the US and Canada.  From February 27, 2015 that program will extend to (all?) other countries.  I believe that these are the issues that interest especially -- but not only -- those who have not followed this thread from the beginning:

 

........

 

Few of us will ever know why it took Apple so long to admit that there is a problem and then to do something about it.  Threads that focus on narrowing down the possible causes instead of degenerating into accusations and mudslinging almost certainly don't hurt.

 

Thanks... well said.  I think the last line contains a typo.... "instead of degenerating into accusations and mudslinging almost certainly don't hurt."  I think you meant to say "does hurt" in lieu of "....certainly don't hurt."   I have a feeling Apple's spell corrector went nuts.

 

Again ... thanks for a well stated message.

I just re-read the original wording.  Being "well focused" doesn't hurt the discussion.  My initial reading focused on the "accusations and mudslinging" which does hurt the discussion.

If your not confused by what I have written, you're probably not paying attention.  Good on you.

No, I think it's OK.  Threads don't hurt.  Which threads don't hurt?  The ones that focus on ... Instead of ... .  It probably could have been formulated to better effect more simply, though.  Thanks for the tip.

Our replies seem to have crossed.  Apologies to those who think the thread has been hijacked by English grammarians.

Richard Liu wrote:

 

• What does "qualifying" mean?
• How iron-clad is the policy to only repair those models that fail the test?
• What if the model is "right" but the machine is not experiencing any of those problems?  Should one really have to wait until it does?  Shouldn't Apple have to explain why it probably won't if it doesn't before February 27, 2016, when the program ends?
• The announcement says that owners who have had their machines repaired at their own cost will be reimbursed.  It seems that this only applies to machines repaired by Apple Retail Stores or Applies Authorized Service Providers.  Possible grey areas on which personal experience could shed some light:
• How iron-clad is the policy?
• People tend to take laptops where they need to use them, not where they can get them repaired.  Some have had evidently competent technicians replace just the outboard GPU.  Even if Apple will not refund the costs in such cases, is there a possibility to have the machine tested to determine whether it qualifies for repair under the program?
• The same question applies to machines that have been repaired by Apple or Apple Service Providers.  Isn't it possible that, in the meantime, other aspects of the problem have come to light that those repairs did not address?

It is all quite simple, really.

1. You "qualify" if:

a. You own one of the machines listed on the announcement page.

b. You are having issues as described on the announcement page.

It is actually written on that announcement page that if you aren't experiencing any issues, you don't participate in the program. Basically, you don't qualify.

2. I have actually shared my friend's experience (here on the forum) when he went to the Apple Store to see if he would qualify for repairs. A little background info: he did the reflow thing. His machine passed all the diagnostic tests and he was told that he did not qualify for repairs. So in a nutshell, if you bring your machine to Apple and it passes all the tests, they will not repair your machine under this new program, even if you tell them that you've had problems in the past.

If you aren't experiencing any problems but you're worried about potential ones, try doing some stress tests on your machine. Or Install Yosemite and then try the stress tests. There have been numerous reports where people have reported that Yosemite made the graphics issues even worse.

3. Reimbursement policy: Several people here have reported to have already been issued FULL refunds of whatever they paid to Apple in repairs.

4. To answer some of your questions specifically:

"Even if Apple will not refund the costs in such cases, is there a possibility to have the machine tested to determine whether it qualifies for repair under the program?"

ALL machines brought are tested regardless. It's the first thing they do when you bring your laptop in. And everything boils down to one thing thereafter: whether your machine passes or fails the diagnostic tests. If you pass, no repairs. If you fail, your machine gets repaired.

"The same question applies to machines that have been repaired by Apple or Apple Service Providers.  Isn't it possible that, in the meantime, other aspects of the problem have come to light that those repairs did not address?"

Yes, of course it is possible. But again, everything depends on whether your machine passes or fails the diagnostic tests WHEN YOU BRING IT IN TO THE APPLE STORE.

"After a machine has been repaired, in what condition was the machine returned?

• What exactly was done?
• Were the contents of the internal hard disk intact, incl. the OS?
• First impressions regarding the problem?
• Recommendable stress tests?
• Recurrence of the problem, or occurrence of other problems that might be related?

I've read at least one report here that third party upgrades were left intact. But I've also read numerous reports where the hard disk/OS was wiped out. There was at least one person here who had several repairs/upgrades done (this was prior to the newly launched repair program): new Logic board, new display, new battery. Your milage may vary. There is no general answer for this.

Csound1 wrote:

 

vsingha2k wrote:

 

difficult/impractical to do so given there are 820 pages now, in the interest of community and benefit of recent joinees, can you pl point to specific messages, answering questions:

1. But are your responses/actions of defending Apple here, a source of income for you?? If it is, power to you, but will be good to know, as this forum member.

2. do you know if Apple firmware upgrade (referred many times earlier in this forum) reduced the graphics performance?? preciseness of the alleged 30% reduction doesn't matter.

3. What graphics programs do you use and have you seen a performance reduction?

4. Do/have you own(ed) a 15" MBP-2011, which suffered from some of the issues, many of us have suffered from and reported here?

 

Other members here, please feel free to throw light as well. I'm really tired of his derailing, diversion attempts.

thanks!

You are not speaking for other members, you speak for yourself. And why should I do the research again for you. Google it.

I for sure want to know, and suspect many others do too.

So go ahead and answer - imo it doesn't require research but mostly simple Yes/No answers, that you can type in no time.

good to see

You can use Google, can't you?

I didn't consider, but quite possible ;-)

googling won't be definitive, what are you trying to really avoid?? And don't simply answer?  doesn't seem time is an issue for you.

Questions again:

1. But are your responses/actions of defending Apple here, a source of income for you?? If it is, power to you, but will be good to know, as this forum member.

2. do you know if Apple firmware upgrade (referred many times earlier in this forum) reduced the graphics performance?? preciseness of the alleged 30% reduction doesn't matter.

3. What graphics programs do you use and have you seen a performance reduction?

4. Do/have you own(ed) a 15" MBP-2011, which suffered from some of the issues, many of us have suffered from and reported here?

Csound1, please stay on topic according to the ToU which you agreed to when you posted, vsingha2k's ability to use Google is irrelevant to the thread.

You are asking me to repeat what is already posted here because you can't be bothered to look.

really?

do it yourself.

csytsma wrote:

 

Csound1, please stay on topic according to the ToU which you agreed to when you posted, vsingha2k's ability to use Google is irrelevant to the thread.

Not when searching for benchmarks.

Csound1 wrote:

 

You are asking me to repeat what is already posted here because you can't be bothered to look.

 

really?

 

YES, cause I don't know how to google this sort of answer/info, definitively:

So please simply answer:

- do u have a 2011 mbp 15" which is adversely affected by the graphics card/heat/malfunction issue being discussed here??

If YES, how did you solve/repair it?

If NOT, what is your motivation in engaging in this thread

Csound1 wrote:

 

csytsma wrote:

 

Csound1, please stay on topic according to the ToU which you agreed to when you posted, vsingha2k's ability to use Google is irrelevant to the thread.

Not when searching for benchmarks.

I'm not asking for benchmarks. Let me repeat questions again:

1. But are your responses/actions of defending Apple here, a source of income for you?? If it is, power to you, but will be good to know, as this forum member.

2. do you know if Apple firmware upgrade (referred many times earlier in this forum) reduced the graphics performance?? preciseness of the alleged 30% reduction doesn't matter.

3. What graphics programs do you use and have you seen a performance reduction?

4. Do/have you own(ed) a 15" MBP-2011, which suffered from some of the issues, many of us have suffered from and reported here?

vsingha2k wrote:

 

Csound1 wrote:

 

You are asking me to repeat what is already posted here because you can't be bothered to look.

 

really?

 

YES, cause I don't know how to google this sort of answer/info, definitively:

So please simply answer:

- do u have a 2011 mbp 15" which is adversely affected by the graphics card/heat/malfunction issue being discussed here??

 

If YES, how did you solve/repair it?

If NOT, what is your motivation in engaging in this thread

You can read my Mac list straight from my site profile, yet you can't even be bothered to make one click.

It is clear that you actually are not interested in even the lightest of tasks, and as they are unimportant to you, so they are to me.

Carry on