Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

.dennis wrote:

 

It shows 1333 installed as one would expect but it also says it will take 1333 with no mention of 1600. Is there any way to verify this without me purchasing ram that I may not be able to use?

I also had a (second) logic board replacement at the end of January, so four weeks before the replacement program started in Europe.

My machine says (apple -> about this mac -> memory tab):

"Your Mac contains 2 memory slots, each of which accepts a 1333 MHz DDR3 memory module. All memory slots are currently in use."

It accepts 1333 MHz, it does not say they are filled with 1333 MHz modules.

So, my old logic board has been replaced with an old series logic board, three/four weeks before the replacement program has started.

Interesting. I also have a Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014 MacBook Pro with 16GB 1600 Mhz DDR3 Memory installed. I currently have the 'old' logic board in my 15-inch, Late 2011 MacBook Pro with 4GB 1333 Mhz DDR3 memory. I might do a test (if the RAM modules are compatible) and take out the RAM from my 2014 machine and install them in my 2011 machine to see what speed it runs. As it's been showing signs of GPU failure with it's current logic board, I could conduct the same test again once I go through the repair programme to see if the RAM will run at 1600 Mhz or if there are any other differences. Come to think of it, I wonder if there are any other tests I can run on my current logic board, vs a new logic board to see what the difference is.

I'm getting an odd occasional graphical glitches on my 2011 MBP. It only happens for a split second and only glitches one or two windows but not the entire screen. I wonder if I qualify for the new motherboard considering the machine works most of the time?

Below is a pick of the type of glitches I get. In the background window. The problem only started after I upgraded to Yosemite from Snow Leopard.

I picked up my repaired late 2011 MacBook Pro 17" today.

Recall:  I brought it to the Apple Store in Basel, Switzerland, on Monday, Feb. 23, four days after the MacBook Pro Repair Extension Program for Video Issues kicked off in the US and Canada and five days before it was supposed to begin elsewhere worldwide.  I brought it in before the program officially began in Switzerland because it still has Apple Care and I hoped it could be fixed while I was taking a few days off to ski.

I was surprised to receive an e-mail on Feb. 24 informing me that the repairs had been completed.  The genius with whom I discussed on Feb. 20 had warned me that the parts needed might not arrive until Feb. 27.

What Work Was Done:  Apple told me that the motherboard had been replaced.  About This Mac displayed a 2.4 GHz Intel Core i7 processor, 16 GB of 1333 MHz DDR3 memory, an AMD Radeon HD 6770M 1024 MB GPU, OS X 10.9.5, 1 TB SSD drive, i.e., exactly the same specifications as before.

Guarantee:  The replacement is guaranteed for ninety days.  However, should the repaired laptop experience the same video problems during the lifetime of the  MacBook Pro Repair Extension Program for Video Issues, it would be covered by the program.

Original Motherboard vs. Replacement:  Despite the fact that my MBP was repaired before the program officially kicked off in Switzerland, it is certainly possible that a motherboard manufactured for the program was used, not one that might have been used, say, a year ago; however, only Apple knows for sure.

The machine has been running for about five hours now with the same Apple LED Cinema Display attached in non-mirroring mode as previously.  gfxCard shows that the MBP is dynamically switching between the AMD and the Intel video cards, but presently using the AMD card due to the external monitor and JSplashScreen, which Wuala left running after starting up during login.  I do not plan to perform any stress tests, as these would probably stress me more than the GPU; however, I also do not plan to operate the machine any differently that before.  As far as I am concerned, even after my Apple Care expires in July 2015 I am still covered until February 27, 2016.

miscend,

Why not just take it to a Genius Bar and have Apple run its diagnostics on your MBP?  They really do their best to encourage the machine to fail the test.  In my case, the tech even rubbed the hinge between the body and the screen.  I had to leave before the test actually failed, so I can't say whether he escalated and performed some incantations, but eventually my 17-inch late 2011 MBP failed.  Others have reported that their machines were accepted into the program even when they did not fail the test, just because they happened to be one of the models covered and had experienced video problems.

I took my early 2011 2.2Ghz 17"MB(P) into the "Genius" bar in Regents Street ,London today.

To recap:  This machine was diagnosed with faulty AMD chip by Apple service centre in Nov 2014 but I refused the 500 Uk pound repair ask. 

"Oh yes" said the tech when i mentioned why i was there.Failed the VST test they run and is booked for repair under the program.  The tech didn't know if the replacement board was newly manufactured or not.

I double checked the fact that I had a new hard drive and 16GB of memory was not an issue which he confirmed was not.

This will be its third logic board

I will report back in 7-10 days when the repair should be completed

I dropped my early 2011 15" MacBook Pro yesterday at Telcoland, Osterstraße Hamburg.

They made a short test with an external display and sent it to apple repair. They told me apple needs 7 days.

Next weekend i will report.

miscend wrote:

 

I'm getting an odd occasional graphical glitches on my 2011 MBP. It only happens for a split second and only glitches one or two windows but not the entire screen. I wonder if I qualify for the new motherboard considering the machine works most of the time?

 

 

Below is a pick of the type of glitches I get. In the background window. The problem only started after I upgraded to Yosemite from Snow Leopard.

 

I had exactly the same thing, both only showing up on Firefox and Thunderbird windows, after upgrade to Yosemite. In the mean time, my logic board also seriously failed and has been replaced. I just checked on my 2011 machine and it happens even now with the new logic board (from before the start of the replacement program, so one of the old batch).

miscend wrote:

 

I'm getting an odd occasional graphical glitches on my 2011 MBP. It only happens for a split second and only glitches one or two windows but not the entire screen. I wonder if I qualify for the new motherboard considering the machine works most of the time?

 

 

Below is a pick of the type of glitches I get. In the background window. The problem only started after I upgraded to Yosemite from Snow Leopard.

 

I reproduce:

Had brought my mbp to authorized service centre they say they would provide a 90 days warranty after the repair after that it will be on your own expenses!

repair gpu without warranty cost SGD $988 at A.lab Plaza Singapura!

Your 2014 rMBP does not have RAM modules. It has 1600MHz DDR3L SDRAM which is soldered onto the logic board and so cannot be replaced or upgraded after purchase.

You're joking right? - I knew Apple had decided to solder the RAM on the logic board of the new Mac Minis, but had no idea they'd crippled the MacBook Pro's in the same way. It should be made illegal.

obwianMacobi wrote:

 

You're joking right? - I knew Apple had decided to solder the RAM on the logic board of the new Mac Minis, but had no idea they'd crippled the MacBook Pro's in the same way. It should be made illegal.

No he is not. Apple is turning all their computers into non upgradeable machines. Just like iPhones and iPads.

I've highlighted the soldered SDRAM in the red rectangle in the image below.

Swiss_G wrote:

 

I've highlighted the soldered SDRAM in the red rectangle in the image below.

Deception... as a  sales tool.

This revelation has increased the resale value of the last MBP with upgradable memory and decreased the resale value of those with soldered in memory.

This revelation could affect the evolution of OS X and associated software if prospective owners decide freedom of choice is more important than joining the herd with the shiniest new toy.

What is the last year of valuable MBPs?