Apple has just reimbursed me for the $299.99 third party repairs on my Macbook Pro.   All I had to do was submit proof of repair.   Meanwhile, my PowerPcMedic repair stands solid.  The Macbook is operating flawlessly, highly recommend those guys!

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Richard Liu wrote:

 

@jimoase,

 

Doesn't "d" stand for "discrete", I.e. The AMD GPU In gfxCard?  I believe the program gives you the option of forcing the laptop to use either the integrated or the discrete GPU, or to allow automatic switching.

 

Regarding Apple's continued use of a co-processor GPU on later models that apparently don't have the problems of the models that qualify for the repair program, I would assume therefore that those models don't have the same problems, not that the switching is taking place less often than considerations of energy consumption would dictate.  I don't know how long it took Apple to diagnose the cause of the problem, but thereafter the question of what to do about it remained.  Evident "solutions," I.e.,  changing the switching algorithm, or  throttling the GPU, might have appeared preferable to a total recall in light of estimates of the number of machines affected, even while engineering changes were made in future models.

Yah... The "i"  "a" and "d" thing is a puzzle to me. 

On my Yosemite system (internal drive) while using gfxCardStatus reports "i" or "a" never "d".

On my Maverick system )external drive) while using gfxCardStatus only reports "d"

Launching iPhoto will cause "a" while using Yosemite.

Trying the same process on Maverick always results "d"

On my Yosemite system I can force select integrated or discrete, still "d' is not displayed.

In a few minutes I will boot up off the external drive, download a fresh copy of gfxCardStatus and see what happens with the various combinations. 

....   any one else having a different experience?

Contacted apple about the logic board replacement refund - talked to a senior customer support personnel at apple care. They will only refund ONE logic board replacement. I had the second one replaced 6 months after (same video issue) and they refused to refund the second one (done Jan 2015). Anybody able to get a refund for more than one logic board replacement?

Just dropped off my laptop to get repaired. The Apple person didn't run any tests, he just asked me what the problem was, wrote down the serial number and took down my particulars. Then I had to sign a repair sheet form, and he said he would call me in 2 business days with more info and diagnostic results. He said if they have to order parts the repair will take 5 - 7 days.

There is a small dent/scratch on the upper left corner at the top of laptop, which he made a note of in the repair sheet. I guess this is so that everyone is clear that the scratch was already there before I sent the laptop for repairs. He also asked me if I had backed up my hard drive, which I did.

I asked the guy if he knew about the repair program and he said he did. Curious and eager to hear back from them. Will update everyone here as soon as I am able.

Took my MBP 15 2011 to be assessed and hopefully fixed 4 days ago.  I called them yesterday to get an update, and the employee told me they had ordered a new motherboard.  This afternoon the store (CityMac, Wilmington, NC) called me to let me know the repair was finished (new motherboard) and I could pick up my computer.  I had added more RAM and changed out the HD, but that did not seem to matter.  I asked the tech who replaced the motherboard if the new board was different than the original boards that were installed.  For what it is worth, he said that the boards looked different; he thought they were using a different soldering method, and these were not old boards.  I know others have been asking those of who have gone through the repair process to share our experience, and this was mine.  I hope this helps and encourages others who have yet to get their repairs to get started on the process.  I am still dissatisfied with this whole situation.  I was put in a difficult position when my computer went down because Apple neglected the appeal of faithful customers.  I had to purchase a new computer to replace the defective one, but at least with this repair I can recoup some of my money.  Good luck to everyone.

zionslamb wrote:

I asked the tech who replaced the motherboard if the new board was different than the original boards that were installed.  For what it is worth, he said that the boards looked different; he thought they were using a different soldering method, and these were not old boards.

This sounds very positive. I really hope he wasn't just making it all up. Thanks for your feedback!

I'll be dropping mine off on Monday.  Out of curiosity, did they do anything to the hard drive e.g. wipe it, install 10.2.2, anything?  I will attempt to back up mine - it currently doesn't boot, so hoping to use Target Disk Mode - but curious anyway.

My Story and a question:

I brought my late 2011 Macbook Pro in to the Apple store on February 14 - They offered me the $310 flat fee repair (which was better than a new machine, which I was ready to purchase) Thankfully I have a Mac Min as well - so I was able to continue to work. I was double backed up and told them to do whatever they had to do to get it running.

They called me on the 20th and told me "good news and bad news". Your laptop is in, but when we ran tests, it failed, so we are sending it back out. (I believe it was close to the day the repair program came out - so I'm guessing that's why it went back to Apple)

They called yesterday to say it was ready. I show up and of course tested it before I left and here's what I found:

• They replaced my (2) 8g of ram with (2) 4g of ram (with no mention of it whatsoever)

• They didn't re-install software - my hard drive was exactly as it was.

• I couldn't get the system preferences open in under 2 minutes!

• No Adobe software would open

• It was running like molasses!!!

When I mentioned that it was running slow, his comment was "Yeah, we noticed that" "Your system software is kind of messed up" He said they don't like to re-install system software, "in case you aren't backed up and don't have copies of your Adobe or Microsoft software - we don't want to have to buy you new software"

Seriously???? So you would rather give me back a computer that is virtually unusable? (I was backed up and made that clear to the original tech - AND If they even looked at it, they would seen that I have Creative Cloud!!) What kind of customer service is that? This is certainly not the Apple that I used to know!

(I made them re-install the system software - even after the tech stated "Don't you just want to do this at home where you would be more comfortable?")

I'll be picking it up today, so I'll give an update.

My question is about the RAM: The tech stated that the 2011 Macbook Pro was not rated to run more than 8g and that higher would cause it to overheat.

Does anyone know if this is true? (my problems with the computer started WAY BEFORE I upgraded the RAM)

Sorry for the rant - Any insight into the RAM would be appreciated! Thanks!

I just posted about my experience - they left my hard drive exactly as is. I think it depends on who works on it.

My laptop repair was done at a similar time, $310 flat repair dropped off before the repair program was announced, I received it back 5 days later, a couple days after the repair program started.

I told them I had everything backed up.  They wiped the hard drive and reinstalled the same version of OS I had: Mavericks 10.9.5.

I had 16GB RAM installed.  They did not touch it. 

tammyrojas wrote:

 

My question is about the RAM: The tech stated that the 2011 Macbook Pro was not rated to run more than 8g and that higher would cause it to overheat.

Does anyone know if this is true? (my problems with the computer started WAY BEFORE I upgraded the RAM)

 

Sorry for the rant - Any insight into the RAM would be appreciated! Thanks!

In theory, yes, everything you add will draw some current.

16GB = more chips = more current = more heat.

In practice, NO.

If it does at all, will only be a fraction of a degree, totally negligible

It's a stupid excuse.

tammyrojas wrote:

 

My Story and a question:

I brought my late 2011 Macbook Pro in to the Apple store on February 14 - They offered me the $310 flat fee repair

...........

 

My question is about the RAM: The tech stated that the 2011 Macbook Pro was not rated to run more than 8g and that higher would cause it to overheat.

Does anyone know if this is true? (my problems with the computer started WAY BEFORE I upgraded the RAM)

 

Sorry for the rant - Any insight into the RAM would be appreciated! Thanks!

The RAM excuse is garbage..  I have used 16gigs of RAM for over a 2 years, no such thing as overheating.  GPU has failed and recently been replaced, no such thing as overheating even while looping 11 movies concurrently.   Does run the battery down even with the MagSafe in place.

RAM escuse is garbage

jimoase wrote:

 

tammyrojas wrote:

 

My Story and a question:

I brought my late 2011 Macbook Pro in to the Apple store on February 14 - They offered me the $310 flat fee repair

...........

 

My question is about the RAM: The tech stated that the 2011 Macbook Pro was not rated to run more than 8g and that higher would cause it to overheat.

Does anyone know if this is true? (my problems with the computer started WAY BEFORE I upgraded the RAM)

 

Sorry for the rant - Any insight into the RAM would be appreciated! Thanks!

The RAM excuse is garbage..  I have used 16gigs of RAM for over a 2 years, no such thing as overheating.  GPU has failed and recently been replaced, no such thing as overheating even while looping 11 movies concurrently.   Does run the battery down even with the MagSafe in place.

 

RAM escuse is garbage

Well, the RAM EXCUSE may well be garbage, but the fact is that Apple only ever "approved" 8GB on these machines, even though they do seem to accept 16GB.

Anyway, my MBP 17" early 2011 went in for repair today, on opening day for the repair programme for the "rest of the world".

I have to wait a week for my machine to be returned. They gave me a written "Estimate for repairs" for a 2.2 GHz Board, Logic (quote), part number 661-5965 @ €381.00 and Labour charge (ref S1490LL/A) @ €29.00 (cheap!) - amount due : €0.00.

I wiped the HD and installed a fresh Yosemite on it during a moment of grace, after an SMC reset with a twist. I therefore have no data a risk… they can do their worst Wait and see…

This

"MacBook Pro Repair Extension Program for Video Issues"

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

Really Annoys me.

You can get a replacement machine. This is as simple as I can put it for everyone, I feel terrible for anyone that had to pay and now is going through the motions of the logic board patch (cuz it aint a repair for long believe me).

I got 3 replacement logic boards for free, then a replacement machine before this "MacBook Pro Repair Extension Program for Video Issues", just be aware of consumer law in your country. (6 years cover for faulty machines in the UK).

I use my mbp for a lot of graphic heavy work so it would break again within a month of "repair"(logic board replacement). Please note replacing the logic board does not solve this issue, it simply patches it until the parts ware down again.

From what we have ascertained, (laymans terms) the type of solder used to connect the logic board to the GPU heats up and disintegrates, a logic board replacement doesn't solve the issue for good.

Apples policy on replacement machines is "3 major part replacements then a new machine" (after wasting your time and their money) is what I got. late 2011 mbp, replaced with brand new one, they even added the extra GB storage that the machines don't come with any more. Thanks x.

I did have to keep on them with photos of the graphics distortion, email tim cook/ apple executive relations and get it sorted out.

I feel bad for anyone who had to go through this nonsense of paying for parts after spending over £1500 on a faulty laptop, so don't put up with it, get your machines "repaired" then REPLACED, know consumer law. The "repair extension program" is to appease you with a patch that doesnt last. Get your new machine, you can with persistence, I did. Good luck.

Charles Houghton-Webb wrote:

 

jimoase wrote:

...

 

My question is about the RAM: The tech stated that the 2011 Macbook Pro was not rated to run more than 8g and that higher would cause it to overheat.

Does anyone know if this is true? (my problems with the computer started WAY BEFORE I upgraded the RAM)

 

Sorry for the rant - Any insight into the RAM would be appreciated! Thanks!

The RAM excuse is garbage..  I have used 16gigs of RAM for over a 2 years, no such thing as overheating.  GPU has failed and recently been replaced, no such thing as overheating even while looping 11 movies concurrently.   Does run the battery down even with the MagSafe in place.

 

RAM escuse is garbage

Well, the RAM EXCUSE may well be garbage, but the fact is that Apple only ever "approved" 8GB on these machines, even though they do seem to accept 16GB.

The RAM EXCUSE is aimed at the use of "overheat" as part of this comment "the 2011 Macbook Pro was not rated to run more than 8g and that higher would cause it to overheat."   There is no significant heat difference between 4 gig sticks and 8 gig sticks. 

For the moment I will defer to your comment about only being specified to run a max of 8 gig of RAM.  I have read that my MBP (early 2011) was specified to recognize and access 16 gigs so I installed 16 gigs of RAM a couple years ago.  Today the is no indication of increased operating temps when compared to other reports during this discussion.

I will do additional research and report back.