Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

I just got my computer back; it only took 2 days to repair and $0 out of pocket.  It seems that they backed up my info, wiped and reformatted the hard drive and put the info back on because a couple settings are defaulted but everything else is the same as how it used to be, other than the fact its fixed .  No more video issues so far and the computer runs a lot cooler, easily 10 - 15 degrees Fahrenheit cooler.  I took pictures of my system stats before and after and most everything is the same except the BOOT ROM Version, Hardware UUID, and SMC Version (system) numbers are now slightly different. My fingers are crossed but I do believe the problem is fixed, for now at least.

I asked the guy that was there and he said they started using a different logic board for replacements when the replacement program started, so as long as he isn't just feeding me BS then my worries should be over.

Finally took my early 2011 MB Pro in to the genius bar after a friend had hers fixed for free. I had called support and was originally quoted $900 for a logic board, then some months later a flat rate of $310. The Genius bar told me that since I had replaced my RAM and hard drive, I was most likely not going to be covered for the issue. Add to that many years ago my son spilled a tiny bit of water in the corner of the keyboard and killed the delete key. 3 strikes against me.

BUT, I got a call and to come pick it up after THREE days. They not only replaced the logic board for FREE, but the bottom case, top case and a new keyboard. That delete key...working.

Awesome. I think they changed their tune. Maybe because I have bought a dozen Apple products, but whatever the case, it's like new AND has a 90 day warranty on the entire machine.

Took my early 2011 15" MBP to the Apple Store this past Sunday. No appointment needed; they just logged me into the queue, and I waited for someone to see me. The Genius ran tests, and it failed the graphics test, of course. By that point, it wasn't even getting to the login screen. He offered to ship it to me, free of charge (covered by the repair program, he said). Since the store is an hour drive from my home, I took him up on it. He said 5 days, but I got it Wednesday--quick turnaround!

Everything seems to be working. The Product Repair Summary they provided says they replaced the logic board (Item # 605-2699, in case that means anything). System Profiler shows the same model GPU as the original specs: AMD Radeon HD 6750M. They did a fresh install of Mavericks, but I had stripped it down to the bare system beforehand, so that was okay.

There have been a few quirks though. I reformatted the drive and reinstalled Snow Leopard from the original DVD (10.6.6). After it restarted, the system preferences didn't recognize the trackpad; the preference panel looked for a Bluetooth trackpad. I could move the pointer with the trackpad and physically click, but that was it. Also, the function keys weren't recognized--I couldn't adjust the keyboard backlighting, screen brightness, or speaker volume. However, after downloading the 10.6.8 update, the trackpad and keyboard started behaving properly. In fact, I have more trackpad gestures available now than I remember having under Snow Leopard before.

There are still a couple of other quirks: If I plug my third-pary mouse into the front USB port (the one near the SD card slot) before startup, the system won't recognize it until I unplug and replug it. However, if I plug it into the rear USB port, it's recognized right away. And if I plug my Apple extended keyboard into the front port and plug the mouse into the keyboard (also before startup), the mouse works right away.

Also, when I attach my external screen (a 10-year-old Dell 2005FPW that's still plugging away) via the DVI-to-Mini DisplayPort adapter, it shows this message during bootup:

2: DVI-D

Cannot Display this Mode

It stays until the login screen appears. The "2" is the number for the display's DVI mode. Otherwise, the Dell screen works fine. Actually, it did the same thing after I had the MacBook's logic board replaced last year, also for the GPU problem.

Can anyone offer any insight about these quirks, especially the USB and external display? Anything I should be worried about?

And has anyone gotten any word on exactly what Apple is doing differently on the replacement logic boards? Different solder? Firmware?

Addressing the issues described from the third paragraph (inclusive) and on, I believe that versions of OS X that were distributed on DVD were hardware specific.  I recall -- perhaps erroneously -- warnings never to use installation DVD's that came with one model on another.  I could imagine that some of the components, firmware, or whatever on the replacement boards are not exactly the same as on the original and need versions of drivers that only became available after your machine (and its installation DVD) was produced.

What version of OS X was on the MBP when it went in for repair?  Why not reinstall Mavericks and see whether the quirks are still there.  They might be due to one of the device's energy-saving strategy, i.e., the MBP's, the mouse's or the DELL display's.

Good news. Earlier today I got a call from Apple Support. The guy didn't wanna give me much information, only that the people from the AASP reviewed my case and that someone from the AASP would call me later today. Someone from TSI Informatica (the AASP) called me, he basically apologized for te misunderstood, blamed Apple network being down (not sure what that means), so they couldn't update my computer problem status and Apple could authorize the repair on my computer. I should get the MacBook with the logic board replaced by the end of the next week with no charges.

Thanks for the comunity help. Next week I'll post new info.

My Macbook Pro 17 was displaying the typical logic board failure symptoms.  So, I brought it into the Apple Store and amazingly, the display suddenly appeared normal for the first time in two weeks.  So I couldn't replicate the problem for the tech.  HOWEVER…he asked if I had a picture of the display, and he said that he was allowed to submit a photograph of the screen displaying the messed up graphics if unable to witness the problem himself.  Luckily, I had taken a pic of the display the previous night and he allowed me to email it to him.  They replaced the logic board and I just picked it up today.

So, take a pic of your screen while it is displaying the failure and that might suffice as evidence of logic board failure if yours seems to be an intermittent issue that won't replicate for the tech.

I'm taking my laptop in tomorrow for the same Blue screen, video glitches and restarts tomorrow. Hopefully everything will be fixed asap.

Thanks for the update.

Hi friends,

Seems that I'm not a lucky guy, I brought my MB 2011 Early 2011 15" to the nearest Apple Service Provider in my country - Viet Nam. And I put it there and went to work, after running the Hardware test they called me and told me the device passed the test and reject it.

Currently I cannot boot into login screen, only see a grey screen (I recorded this video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laoTI5cD6X8).

If anyone have advice for me in this situation, please comment, I feel really tired with this Apple device.

Thank you!

AlexanderTN wrote:

 

Hi friends,

 

Seems that I'm not a lucky guy, I brought my MB 2011 Early 2011 15" to the nearest Apple Service Provider in my country - Viet Nam. And I put it there and went to work, after running the Hardware test they called me and told me the device passed the test and reject it.

Currently I cannot boot into login screen, only see a grey screen (I recorded this video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laoTI5cD6X8).

 

If anyone have advice for me in this situation, please comment, I feel really tired with this Apple device.

 

Thank you!

Your situation is not unique.  Take a picture of the computer failing to boot.  Then take the computer and the picture back to the shop and show them the picture.

Someone a few pages back had an experience very similar to yours and that is how they solved it.

Good luck

hortonhearsaho wrote:

 

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.

I have an SSD hybrid and reseting PRAM has not cause a booting problem.  I have read several reports from people with SSD's none have mentioned booting problems related to reseting PRAM.  Every booting problem reported to date has been caused by the discrete GPU problem.

I second jimoase's recommendation to take pictures of your machine experiencing the video issues, BUT with one reservation.  It was modevelour who reported that the technician who examined his MBP said he could accept pictures as evidence of the problem if the machine failed to fail the diagnostic test, but that was at an Apple Store, not at an Apple Service Provider.  If reports in this thread are a reliable indication, Apple Stores are a bit more accommodating than Apple Service Providers.

Why don't you call Apple, verify that pictures are OK, and ask them to then talk to your ASP?

Good luck!

I noticed that one of my USB ports aren't working. I'm on my 3rd logic board replacement. Are USB ports part of the logic board?

I'm confused.  Was your MBP just repaired under the MacBook Pro Repair Extension Program for Video Issues and now you notice that one of the USB ports is not working?

What makes you think that it is not working?  Somebody reported in this thread that a third-party mouse connected to his just repaired MBP before login couldn't be used until it was reconnected after login, for example.  If he hadn't thought to disconnect the mouse and reconnect it, he might have concluded that the USB port was not working.

I do not know whether the USB ports are part of the logic board.  As you evidently suspect the most recent repair, why not ask Apple whether the problem could be related to the repair?

Good luck!

i had same problem with your mac. But when apple service ran a test my mac got error code so I got repair for free.

Just try to go back service or go to another service in where you live and ask them for a test.

After LB replacement, MacsFanControl is not showing GPU diode. But iStats is showing. Anybody else?