Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

I say! sneaking it in with no publicity, with that class action lawsuit pending, coincidence much!!

OK, just to make sure that I understood.  You called Apple, the agent asked a few questions, then decided on the basis of your answers that your machine is covered by the program.  Finito!  Nobdoy from Apple ran the tests that some people's machines have been failing to fail?  Just a description of the symptoms and serial number (or, equivalently, model) were sufficient for the agent to commit to a free repair?!  Of course, I'm being a bit facetious.  I really think that's great -- that's how it should be! -- and I wonder why in other parts of the Apple kingdom the same decision depends exclusively on the outcome of the test.

Exactly Richard. However, I can't rule out the possibility that they didn't run any tests when they received it in the mail before they fixed it. I suppose they very well could have ran tests to determine if I was actually experiencing the issue that I claimed. And yes I did have to provide my serial number as well.

Actually I didn't even call them, I set up an appointment online for them to call me. When they did, I made sure to mention that I knew it was a discrete graphics card issue, that I'd been following this thread for months, that I have to use gfx cardstatus to even use my macbook, etc. They apologized repeatedly for my inconveniences.

Only thing I didn't mention was how many times I had to wrap the thing in a blanket to overheat it just so it would start. Was afraid that would constitute some sort of abuse.

Now my only question is if this is a "new" type of logic board and not the same type that will just fail again in the near future. Regardless, at least I know it's covered and would be repaired in a timely manner if it happens.

I was told today that the logic board used for the repair is the same, but the soldering has lead in it.

Who told you that, if I may ask?

Strange!  I understood that the decision to use lead-free solder in the first place was based on EU legislation called RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances). As of July of 2006, RoHS legislation precludes the use of lead in electronic products destined for sale in Europe with few exceptions. It applies to component lead plating as well as to solder and solder paste. So if the new motherboards use SnPb solder, wouldn't they be illegal in the EU, and wouldn't two different types of board, one with lead in the solder and the other without, be more of a logistic headache than it's worth?

Well, I wanted to write what I hope to be my FINAL post on this matter.

As many of you know, I have a 2011 17" MBP that had been in for multiple repairs, tests and logic boards over a nine month period. Just two weeks before the repair program was announced, Executive Relations (whom I had been working with during most of the 9 months) told me "Apple will no longer repair or support your machine. It is un-repairable and you should "consider recycling it and buying a new one."

I essentially was forced to buy another Mac at that point so as not to hobble my business. I chose an iMac 5k.  It is amazing.

I also chose not to recycle the MBP or give up the fight. Eventually, Apple caved and asked me to send my MBP direct to Cupertino for senior level diagnostics. In fact, Apple had my MBP on the day the repair program was announced.

Just yesterday, Executive Relations called and informed me that Apple would replace my MBP.

I am satisfied with the end result, but wish Apple hadn't put me (and them) through 9 months of this ordeal.  I do hope everyone else has a satisfactory resolution to their issues. Best of luck to all...especially those who were persistent, respectful and diligent in using this forum and their dialog with Apple to help them see the light.

Peace.

devarshi108 wrote:

 

Who told you that, if I may ask?

The authorized dealer I took my MBP to today. They seemed to not really know what they were doing tho. I ended up leaving the shop and going elsewhere.

absolutsti wrote:

 

devarshi108 wrote:

 

Who told you that, if I may ask?

The authorized dealer I took my MBP to today. They seemed to not really know what they were doing tho. I ended up leaving the shop and going elsewhere.

In fairness to the authorised dealers, I think they often get screwed by Apple too. I once had an Airport Extreme power adaptor replaced by an authorised dealer. They begrudgingly replaced it - (even though I paid for it) because they actually got charged by Apple for having the replacement part shipped out to them, but they were not allowed to pass this charge on to me. So in a nutshell, the authorised dealer were making a loss by replacing my faulty power adaptor. Yet again, Apple profit from both the customer (me) and the Authorised Dealer who carried out the replacement. I'm not sure whether this is still the case, but ever since the Apple Store has opened in my town, the Authorised Dealers no longer exist.

GavMackem wrote:

 

And my iPhone 6's CPU has about the same horsepower as a PowerMac G4 and runs rather cooler.

 

You just don't have the hardware and software to test it, or are you trying to tell that you have a large screen attached, a couple of drives, and are rendering 3D animation on it? Your iPhone is basically sitting on its lazy behind most of the time, so you shouldn't be surprised it runs cool...

eezacque wrote:

 

GavMackem wrote:

 

And my iPhone 6's CPU has about the same horsepower as a PowerMac G4 and runs rather cooler.

 

You just don't have the hardware and software to test it, or are you trying to tell that you have a large screen attached, a couple of drives, and are rendering 3D animation on it? Your iPhone is basically sitting on its lazy behind most of the time, so you shouldn't be surprised it runs cool...

Most of the time it's totally bone idle with only playing Real Racing 3 or AG Drive (Playstation Wipeout for iOS) showing just how far progress has come in not even a decade and a half. The only pre Intel Mac I have left is the G4 Cube which gets resurrected on the odd occasion I need to help a PPC client, usually with Tiger as it has 10.4.11 installed.  Though I suppose I could install the PPC version of handbrake and see how it compares to the MBP 2011 or my 12 core Mac Pro, but I like having it still functional and not blowing like a hair dryer overheating and broken, though I did lap the heatsink and fresh thermal paste a while back like I've done to mine and clients MBP 2011's.

Going back to pure topic - has anyone taken photos of these 'new' replacement logic boards and heatsink assemblies from this repair program yet?

Good for you ! It has been long but it was worth it !

all the best

Really ! ... your faith seems to come easily to you (no offense)

Leaving customers stranded for two years with this issue (this thread started Feb 1 2013) while all the time denying any problem and offering no resolution,  then two years later issuing a repair programme which "might" get you a fixed MB(P) because there are 3+class action suits out there ... how exactly has that restored your faith in Apple ???

Personally I have a early 2011 MB(P) which is finally being fixed after being unreliable for a year and beyond any use for 5 months.  in the time I have been asking Apple to fix it they seem to be plain unhelpful to the point of rudeness.

All corporations suck  in reality and Apple is just another corporation

<Edited By Host>

Well, this is only from my perspective. I've only been experiencing the issue for a few months, so I imagine people who have been dealing with it for 2 years probably still aren't happy about it. But from my experience the repair program was not half-assed, not only did they fix it in such a fast time frame but also they went above and beyond just fixing the logic board as they fixed cosmetic issues that I was responsible for. So to me their service made up for my inconvenience.

Hi, there,

I brought mine to an Apple Store in Paris today and got the free repair without any problem.

I have been having the issue for about a year and managed to keep it "alive" by avoiding any restart and using the "overheat" trick quite a few time when i had to. (Lately it was becoming more and more unstable so I suspect this was not harmless to do this repeatedly ... I hope it didn't damage anything outside the motherboard ...)

At the Apple Store I just started to say "I have a late 2011 MBP with a graphic card problem which is apparently a known issue ..." and the guy immediately mentioned the replacement program. No need to explain all the gfxcardstatus stuff to the technician, he performed only one test which failed with the following error: "Video test failed see TP585 In GSX" in about 30 seconds, and they accepted the free repair, that's it.

(So they seem to have a dedicated test for it)

He didn't know what's different on the replacement board and confirmed that if I have the same problem with the new board, it will be covered the same way. I'll ask again when the repair is done in case of I can get more information about the new board.

He also mentioned that they won't wipe the HDD or touch anything else than the motherboard.

I didn't took any risk and put back all original components (HDD, RAM) in place before bringing it in, so I can't say what they do if they see you changed something inside (I would imagine upgraded HDD and RAM might be fine, not sure about a second HDD replacing the superdrive though

Waiting for the repair, ETA 3 to 5 days, but smooth and easy so far.

Thanks a lot to every people who fought to make this issue acknowledged by Apple.

Laurent