Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

I had changed my RAM from 4GB to 8GB, they didn't mess with it and it came back with the same RAM.

Went into my local Apple store a couple days ago to get my macbook pro repaired under the repair program. My computer has been a brick since august and failed the video test almost immediately.

With the other test they ran, they noticed my optical drive and left fan wasn't working/being detected. After calling them to check in, they said the optical drive and fan were working, BUT....

apparently my optical drive doesn't eject properly. Never noticed this problem beforehand. They said that they needed to replace the top case for it to be repaired which I opted out on.

Anyone else have problems with the optical drive when sent in for repairs?

2011 bmp owner.  Experienced the infamous GPU problems last July.  In August I bought a new 2014 MBP knowing this was going to be a long running battle.

2 weeks ago, I received a notice from the class action law firm in DC telling me to take the MBP in to have it fixed for free.

A week ago Monday, I erased all data and passwords and took the MBP in to the local store for repair and documented it had 16GB RAM (I removed the SSD drive earlier).  The store didn't have a clue about the big issue.  I showed them the paperwork from the law firm and from Apple.

The store shipped the MBP to the local regional repair center 40 miles away.  Had to explain to them several times the entire story.

Yesterday, got a call from the local store that my MBP had returned and ready for pickup.

Picked up the MBP at the store.  Started it up, tested for 16GB RAM, tried a few websites to invoke the discrete GPU.  GFXcardstatus showed it was not switching to the discrete GPU card so I used GFXcardstatus to force the switch multiple times and without issue.  This was while several videos were playing.

No issues whatsoever so far.  I using it right now as I type.  Several boots, last night I installed Yosemite OS, etc.  Several more reboots and still no issues.

However,

I could have sworn this MBP was a 2011 2.3Ghz machine but now shows 2.0.  Even the paperwork when I dropped it off showed 2.0.  But still I'm 99% certain it was a 2.3Ghz MBP as I've owned it for the past 3 years and checked it numerous times.

BIG HOWEVER, while in the store last night I noticed that the serial number is completely different than the one I took in.  My paperwork and even their paperwork showed the old S/N.  Yet, about this mac clearly showed an entirely different number.

So different is this S/N that when I enter that number on Apple's website, it comes back as an invalid S/N.

Apple support is supposed to call me in 20 minutes so I can find out what happened and what needs to be done about this.

But otherwise, so far so very good.

What a nightmare it's been with this company.

hortonhearsaho wrote:

 

....

 

I could have sworn this MBP was a 2011 2.3Ghz machine but now shows 2.0.  Even the paperwork when I dropped it off showed 2.0.  But still I'm 99% certain it was a 2.3Ghz MBP as I've owned it for the past 3 years and checked it numerous times.

 

BIG HOWEVER, while in the store last night I noticed that the serial number is completely different than the one I took in.  My paperwork and even their paperwork showed the old S/N.  Yet, about this mac clearly showed an entirely different number.

 

So different is this S/N that when I enter that number on Apple's website, it comes back as an invalid S/N.

 

Apple support is supposed to call me in 20 minutes so I can find out what happened and what needs to be done about this.

 

But otherwise, so far so very good.

 

What a nightmare it's been with this company.

Do your own research.  My initial check shows the MacBook Pro with a 2.0ghz processor was built in 2006.

Anyone else have better information "Originally announced at 1.83GHz, this laptop's processor was bumped to 2.0GHz when it shipped in February 2006. A build-to-order option lets you bump the processor to 2.16GHz for $300 more."

http://www.macworld.com/article/1149055/15inch_macbook_pro20ghz.html

My own research show Early 2011 MBP's came with 2.0 and 2.2GHz i7 chips.  So as the owner of this MBP for over 3 years I could have sworn I purchased a 2.2GHz unit.

Just got off the phone with Apple support and here's the low down:

1.  This invalid S/N shows as valid with Apple's internal lookup software.  (their public facing website shows invalid S/N).  The new MBP S/N shows this MBP was registered to somebody 3000 miles away.

2.  That lookup shows this MBP as having a 2.2GHz CPU.  But the "about this mac" shows 2.0GHz.  ???

3.  The S/N on the bottom of this MBP matches the S/N in the "About this Mac" section.

Apple support and I agree that the local repair center simply replaced the entire MBP, logic board and case and simply transferred my RAM and HDD to it.  That was the fix.

Remaining concerns:

1.  Can Apple assign this S/N to me as the registered owner?  Answer is yes if need be.

2. Is this working Early 2011 MBP a properly fixed / corrected MBP?  Or is it waiting to brick on me somewhere in the next few years because it's never been fixed?

Got the Apple manager's phone and email contact (he emailed me to confirm) and in a few days he's going to research with the locals what happened and attempt to confirm if this unit is properly fixed.

Hmmm, I thought this unit was just a little more new-like than the one I sent in for repair.

I'm now convinced the federal government has their ducks in a row and is far easier to work with. 

BTW, my little story above is all about having my MBP 2011 with the defective discrete graphics card "fixed" and I picked it up yesterday at the local Apple store.

It's working at least for now but the saga continues.

So today, I'm up to 92ºc and the fans are running at 6200 RPM and the machine is very hot to the touch - painfully so. All I'm doing is running Chrome, Safari and Finder - haven't even connected to my external display yet; it doesn't seem as though much has changed, in terms of new parts.

Had my early 2010 17" MacbookPro repaired by Apple two months ago. Suposedly replaced the logic board, one fan, SSD and memory for $315 flat rate repair. I see no evidence they replaced anything other than they wipped my drive. Worked great until today, now it's back to vertical bars and failing to boot. Same crap it was doing before the repair. This is a waste of time, only way to fix it is to replace it with a new computer. Apple has a huge problem with these vintage MaBookPro, however it's such a small part of their bussiness it appears they aren't going to worry about it too much.

You will be contacted about a refund for the repair (if not, chase them for it!) and you can take the machine in for service at their cost, now that Apple have accepted this mess as a 'known issue'.

First, a request to all to somehow include the exact model of the MBP to which you refer, e.g., late 2011 MBP 17", early 2011 MBP 17", MacBookPro8,3, etc.  I suspect that, although the source of the problem is probably the same in all the models covered by the repair program, the changes to the motherboards might not be.

SuperD03,

Evidently two months ago the new motherboards were not available and you got an old one.  Your frustration is understandable, but your conclusion that the only way to fix the problem is to replace the computer, is not.  By all accounts, the new motherboards are working.  Please take have your computer repaired under the program and report your experience back here.  That would give us all another data point to determine whether Apple has finally solved this problem.

Lastly, a request to those familiar with engineering and quality assurance/control.  Can somebody explain how that works?  I imagine I'm building a computer.  For every part that goes in, a have some information on MTF (mean time to failure), etc.  I do some tests on the computer to determine such statistics for the various modules and for the computer as a whole and I communicate it to support.  Support probably has various reaction levels for carrying out repairs, depending on whether a failure rate is still within the experimentally and statistically determined bounds or not.  For example, as long as the failure rate does not exceed expectations, the failing module might simply be replaced without any follow-up investigation of the replaced part.  When expectations are exceeded, or when replacements also begin to fail, engineering might analyze the replaced parts, and so on.  I just wonder, if that's how the system works, how long it takes until engineering decides that the flaw is inherent to the design and starts looking for it?  I mean, just before the repair program kicked off, this thread was about 820 pages long, and lots of people had been p***ing against the wind for months, if not years.  It's easy to conclude that Apple doesn't care, but I'm wondering, what percent of the total number of these models sold are we talking about in these, now, 838 pages, and how the procedures can be improved so that it doesn't take so long before Cupertino decides that the patient is bleeding, and blowing on the wound and kissing it isn't the solution.  Does anyone suppose that it really might help if more of us didn't uncheck the box that allows our computers to send diagnostics and usage data to Apple?  Just curious.  Thanks.

They did! A few minutes ago came the message, that they will refund the 150 Euro I paid a third party firm, that resoldered the GPU in June 2014!

Ok, i got my MBP back on Thursday. The logic board is new and works.

let´s see the future.

greetings!

Hello! I have a macbook pro 15 late 2011 that I also repaired in another store than Apple how did you do to get your money back from Apple?

I followed the usual way: called the Apple team, got a case number after describing all (diagnostics, serial nr, etc..) , sent in my receipt from the third party store and gave them my bank account.

Important to say, that I first talked to a "normal" technical assistant, who led me to a second-level technical assistant. This one had the authority to order an exception and handed the case further to another level.

This guy was very friendly and not that kind of "apple-brainwashed-we-are-all-friends-and-I-know your probs, but I can't help you" kindergarden-guys.

Good luck!

sicilianu89 wrote:

 

Hello! I have a macbook pro 15 late 2011 that I also repaired in another store than Apple how did you do to get your money back from Apple?

Checks in the mail.   Like you I had my machine, a 2011 17", repaired by a third party. 

I called Apple, got a case number and was then referred to an AppleCare Senior Advisor after a brief conversation she sent me an email which included a link for sending a file, a copy of the repair invoice. 

I sent a pdf copy of the invoice which included my name, address, machine serial number, name, address, phone number of the repair company, description of the repair and cost. 

Did that on Monday.  Today, Friday, the AppleCare Senior Advisor called back to say the check will be sent within 3 weeks, that if not received by then call her.  She then gave me her direct phone number in Austin, TX.  Then she sent a followup email with the same information.  Very well done.