Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

I'm new to this forum so I'll apologise for anything stupid I might say.

I have a Macbook Pro (late 2011). Last week the computer wouldn't boot. The screen showed a green apple with horizontal lines during startup and it would not progress past a blank gray screen with the fans going nuts for some time. Restarted several times and nothing. Reseted the NVRAM/PRAM and also nothing happened.

I took the MBP to a AASP (TSI Informatica) in Sao Paulo (Brazil) and after a couple of days they called me reporting that the laptop had a problem in the logic board and it needed to be replaced. They also said this issue wasn't related to "video" and therefore was not eligible for the repair program announced by Apple on February 19th this year. Since the computer was not in the program the cost of the repair would be 700 usd.

I'm not convinced with the AASP response. The same problem was extensively discussed in this thread, with dozens of users reporting the same issue suggesting this might be a graphics card issue. 

Does anyone know if this is in fact a video issue? Has anyone with the same problem as mine that has gotten their MTB repaired by Apple in the repair program?

Thanks for reading.

The thread I mentioned earlier:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5958077?start=0&tstart=0

I had given my MBP to ASP last week in China. Originally it was bought in India. They accepted the computer without any tests, just by it's SN. Yesterday the technician called and said that it has been repaired. I have asked for the GPU number. I will update as soon as I get it.

Well, they aren't entirely lying.  basically the graphics card and logic board are connected and the way to fix the issue is to replace the logic board. I just turned mine in today to have it done and the service is free. If you go to a real apple store, they will test the video capabilities and when they see the problem they should replace it for free.  I live in the US and they might have different employee protocol but Apple should pay for it Because it is covered by the replacement program.

redon2 wrote:

 

I'm new to this forum so I'll apologise for anything stupid I might say.

 

I have a Macbook Pro (late 2011). Last week the computer wouldn't boot. The screen showed a green apple with horizontal lines during startup and it would not progress past a blank gray screen with the fans going nuts for some time. Restarted several times and nothing. Reseted the NVRAM/PRAM and also nothing happened.

I took the MBP to a AASP (TSI Informatica) in Sao Paulo (Brazil) and after a couple of days they called me reporting that the laptop had a problem in the logic board and it needed to be replaced. They also said this issue wasn't related to "video" and therefore was not eligible for the repair program announced by Apple on February 19th this year. Since the computer was not in the program the cost of the repair would be 700 usd.

I'm not convinced with the AASP response. The same problem was extensively discussed in this thread, with dozens of users reporting the same issue suggesting this might be a graphics card issue. 

Does anyone know if this is in fact a video issue? Has anyone with the same problem as mine that has gotten their MTB repaired by Apple in the repair program?

Thanks for reading.

Your description of symptoms has been repeated many times on this discussion and fits with my experience.  Prior to this free repair program I sent my MBP to a third party repair shop.  They replaced the discrete GPU.

I sent the invoice to Apple and according to an email from Apple my cost will be fully reimbursed, the check will arrive within 30 days.

If the GPU is not the problem, ask what is the failing part?  If the solution is to replace the motherboard there is no difference in repairs.  One possible difference is if the AASP replaces the board as part of the warranty program and collects on the repair besides.

Do you have other choices?     One possibility is to call Apple, get a case number and ask for a shipping box.

They are ripping you off!

The symptoms as you describe them (green distorted Apple logo when booting, grey screen, ...) is exactly how my mbp looked like 2 weeks ago.

You can chop my head off if this is not the video problem! Go back to that place and raise your voice a bit. If that doesn't help, get in contact with Apple Customer Relations in your country. They should correct for this embarrassing situation, or is it a criminal one?

I'm traveling right now so I thought the best thing I could do from where I am was to call Apple Support (also there are no Apple Stores in Sao Paulo).

I just spoke on the phone with a guy from Apple Support in Brazil. He basically said that if the tests the AASP ran on my computer did not show any defect in the graphics processor, the macbook is not in the repair program and therefore they would not replace the logic board. However, he said he would call tomorrow to the AASP to learn what kind of tests they did and understand what is happening (and maybe tell them to ran new tests on the MBP).

I'll have some news tomorrow night when he's going to call me with new information.

I'm curious if part of the reboot problem (after experiencing the defective discrete GPU issue) may have to do with people who've installed non-APPLE certified SSD's and using TRIM.

Apparently a successful reboot after a zapping the PRAM can make a successful reboot near impossible when using an SSD and TRIM.

After receiving my macbook pro back from getting it repaired under the repair program, I noticed that I was getting the stage light effect (evenly spaced white lights on the bottom of the screen), which I had not noticed prior to getting it repaired. I was wondering if anyone else had the same issues? I plan on going back within the week to see if I can get it fixed.

I have the following problem: My MBP 15 "Late 2011 has clearly the problem with the video card. With the internal everything works without any problems, the discrete shows graphical glitches. Now I took it today at one Apple service provider to the exchange program to complete and this has run a test. During the boot process and test all the time were displayed graphical errors. at the end of the test was on the screen the graphics card would be ok and passed the test. Thus, Apple refused to replace the logic board. The error is but right on device comprehensible without problems. Does anyone have an idea how this test (VSP or something like that) can get them to see the error I fear for an appointment at the Genius bar repair would also be rejected because the test finds no errors ... (sorry for my bad english, tried to use gt)

You have glitches, but you don't get freezes or a shutdown. Your GPU somehow still works, but it is on the line.

With extensive overheating like blanket method you can damage your hardware further.

I would use it until it dies and trust me, it will die soon

When you will not be able to boot to system, you know you are ready for repair.

Yes no freezes or shutdown because I can use "integrated only" with gfxcardstatus... Ok I'll try to kill it not happy... Worst case some other Hardware will die, too... RAM, SSD, Harddisk

You seem to have the same problem as "redon2" (read his story thus far beginning at the top of pg. 843):  the Apple Service Provider.  Are they using the same tests as the Apple stores?  And just what are Apple's tests determining that makes one "affected product" (see https://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro-videoissues/) that is displaying the "symptoms" named in the announcement of the repair program eligible for the motherboard exchange and eliminates another?  Why not follow the steps in the announcement for the mail-in repair process, the first of which is to contact Apple?  Ask Apple about the test that will be made when the repair center receives your MBP, specifically, whether it is possible for an affected model that displays the described symptoms to pass it, and if so, whether that might not merely mean that the test is not very good at detecting the problem until it occurs so regularly that working with the machine becomes impossible, not just inconvenient-

Instead of trying to destroy the MBP by stress testing it while wrapped in a blanket, why not use it normally and document what you do with it and how long it takes before the video issues appear?  When they do, take photos of them.  When you talk to Apple, be sure to mention that you have photos and, in your opinion, they and the fact that your MBP is one of the models "affected" qualify it for free repairs under the program, regardless of what the diagnostic tests say.  If Apple disagrees, let them try to convince you that  something else could cause the problems that you are experiencing in a model that is known to be affected, other than the cause addressed by exchanging the motherboard, as is done in the program.

As "rdbrwn" pointed out, by trying suffocate your MBP while stress testing it, you could damage something else.  Don't forget two things:

1. Although officially Apple does not monitor these discussions, in fact that does not mean that they do not occasionally "lurk".
2. If there are indeed other causes of video issues similar to those being addressed by the repair program, and if one those is the root of your machine's problems, then by stress testing it in a blanket until it not longer turns on you may just cause other problems in addition to the one you already have.  I also seem to recall that someone reported taking his MBP that would not boot to an Apple store, where it booted without any problem repeatedly ... and also failed to fail the diagnostic test.

Good luck.

Had the same problem as many (thousands?) in this thread. Brought to Apple Store in November 2014, paid significant amount to get the repair.

Earlier this week I was informed about the "recall", calle the friendly folks at the helpdesk and just received the news that I will be reimbursed for the full repair costs.

Happy that this is resolved (for now), a bit disappointed that it took so long for Apple to recognize.

Redon2 and MoritzSN et al.,

I strongly endorse what rdbrwn and Richard Liu have just written. I think Richard might have been remembering my case: despite being practically bricked, my early 2011 15" MBP passed the video test the first time I went to my local repair shop Monday. It was freaky. It started its usual issues again, right after, and I took it back while they were happening Tuesday. The store plugged it into the test and it failed in less than 10 seconds. Here it is, Thursday, and I have it back. Thank you Los Feliz Hi-Tech! Beat the heck out of Apple Stores week long wait for an appointment and then shipping time roundtrip to Texas; they also fixed a loose latch that kept the computer from fully closing. Happy.

Of course your situations are different. Redon2, you're in a difficult position of having no Apple Store nearby, but do you have an Apple Authorized Service Provider? There must be one in Sao Paulo. Go there and they will test your computer and you'll know without having to pay anything if you're eligible for the replacement service. MoritzSN, the program lasts until February 2016. There's no hurry. In my case, my MBP went from odd graphics artifacts to very seldom able to boot in just a month. So, use your computer normally and, as rdbrwn says, it is very likely to completely fail long before the replacement program ends.

For me the next step is applying for the rebate for the reball I had done. We'll see, but I'm already happy with Apple's belated but nevertheless correct response to the situation. (And my daughter who now has a pretty nice laptop as her own computer [since I had to buy a replacement this fall] is even happier.)