Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

I had my late 2011 17 MBP repaired recently. It has been running without incident. Have some anecdotal information that this logic board is new. I went to make a purchase on iTunes on my MBP. I have purchased using this computer in the past.

This is the message I received....

Your Apple ID, *********, was just used to make a purchase from the App Store on a computer or device that had not previously been associated with that Apple ID.

If you made this purchase, you can disregard this email. It was only sent to alert you in case you did not make the purchase yourself.

So iTunes thinks this is a new computer....

Are USB ports part of the logic board?

Yes.

https://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/GaOngAbgMUATyXYS.huge

I had my logic board replaced about a year ago through best buys geek squad.
It failed about a month ago and I took it in to get it repaired a few days ago to an apple store. The technician ran the video test and it failed. They said it would be repaired for free and would save me the $310 it would cost to repair it and that it would be ready in 3-5 days.

I get a call and an email yesterday saying,

Dear Carlos R.,

Your MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011) has been received by the AppleCare Repair Center under repair # R14*****06. Our technicians have found significant tampering and are unable to complete your repair request. Due to the extent of the tampering we are considering the computer to be beyond economical repair.

The unit was found to have tampering to the following component(s):

Part: Main Logic Board
Part: Optical Drive
Part: Hard Drive

They now are saying the can not repair it.

Anyone have a similar issue? any suggestions?

<Personal Information Edited By Host>

Got my repaired Late 2011 MBP last week. Everything seems fine. The computer is cooler at around 32 degrees in normal situations. Most of the time I am running on integrated to get most out of the battery. Only Logicboard was replaced as other things were ok. Let's see how long it's going.

Those who are getting problems with USB, reset the PRAM to get it back to normal state.

Crev333,

Regarding the logic board, that is just not an acceptable response from Apple, as long as the reason you replaced it was for graphics issues. That should be doubly covered: first because it failed, second because you paid for a replacement. You should have it replaced for free and have your previous replacement costs reimbursed. (I assume Best Buy is an Apple Authorized Repair Center). I can't comment on the hard drive and optical drive, but they are not germane to the issue at hand. My own computer's hard drive was one I installed and is failing and got red flagged during my logic board replacement, but they went ahead with the free logic board program, regardless. These issues should be independent as this replacement program is not about the economic value of the computer, but about a design/hardware flaw. What did you do to the hard drive and optical drive, anyway? Was it Best Buy that did those repairs? If so, and Apple rejects what they've done, you may have to go after Best Buy for "tampering" with your computer.

I encourage you to clarify with Apple and try again.

redon2, that's great news! Not sure who's at fault, but some good person turned the tide and they're making things right. Hope it all goes well!

buddaauthor,

buddhaauthor wrote:

 

Crev333,

 

[...] I can't comment on the hard drive and optical drive, but they are not germane to the issue at hand. My own computer's hard drive was one I installed and is failing and got red flagged during my logic board replacement, but they went ahead with the free logic board program, regardless. [...]

 

I encourage you to clarify with Apple and try again.

On page 835 there's another report that exchanging the optical drive is a no-no.  Don't forget that there are two phases to repairing anything, the last being to check the repair.  When removing the old logic board, I doubt that a qualified technician would have any problem removing a different hard disk drive or a different optical drive.  But what about when reinstalling them on the new logic board and then checking that they function correctly?  I can definitely understand Apple's reluctance to deal with a replaced optical drive, since (a) unlike RAM and the hard disk drive it was not intended to be user-replaceable, and (b) depending on what replaced it, it is difficult to check that is functioning correctly with the new logic board.  Regarding the hard disk drive, I find it difficult to judge how similar or dissimilar the new one is to the original.  Perhaps it's just that, once the incompatible optical disc replacement is discovered, everything else that is not original is listed.

Summing up:  When Apple rejects a machine because some components were "tampered with," I don't think Apple is necessarily contending that the "tampering" might have caused the video issues.  It could be that the "tampering" makes it difficult to check that the new board is functioning correctly.

So, if Crev333 still has the original optical drive, I would recommend that it be reinstalled.  And if there are any evident differences to the original hard disk (dimensions, the way the new drive is seated, the way cables pass around it), it might be prudent to (properly) reinstall the original drive as well.

Richard Liu wrote:

 

buddaauthor,

 

buddhaauthor wrote:

 

Crev333,

 

[...] I can't comment on the hard drive and optical drive, but they are not germane to the issue at hand. My own computer's hard drive was one I installed and is failing and got red flagged during my logic board replacement, but they went ahead with the free logic board program, regardless. [...]

 

I encourage you to clarify with Apple and try again.

 

On page 835 there's another report that exchanging the optical drive is a no-no.  Don't forget that there are two phases to repairing anything, the last being to check the repair.  When removing the old logic board, I doubt that a qualified technician would have any problem removing a different hard disk drive or a different optical drive.  But what about when reinstalling them on the new logic board and then checking that they function correctly?  I can definitely understand Apple's reluctance to deal with a replaced optical drive, since (a) unlike RAM and the hard disk drive it was not intended to be user-replaceable, and (b) depending on what replaced it, it is difficult to check that is functioning correctly with the new logic board.  Regarding the hard disk drive, I find it difficult to judge how similar or dissimilar the new one is to the original.  Perhaps it's just that, once the incompatible optical disc replacement is discovered, everything else that is not original is listed.

 

Summing up:  When Apple rejects a machine because some components were "tampered with," I don't think Apple is necessarily contending that the "tampering" might have caused the video issues.  It could be that the "tampering" makes it difficult to check that the new board is functioning correctly.

 

So, if Crev333 still has the original optical drive, I would recommend that it be reinstalled.  And if there are any evident differences to the original hard disk (dimensions, the way the new drive is seated, the way cables pass around it), it might be prudent to (properly) reinstall the original drive as well.

Apple does not assemble products to test the individual components.  Assemblies are tested individually as part of the production process.  The boards Apple is using as replacements are tested assemblies.  When a complete product is tested the main function is to insure all previously tested cables are connected properly.

What difference does it make if an owner selects a specification compatible device different from the device shipped with the product?   Both use exactly the same bus communication signals and functions, the same connectors and same power source.  The operating system is designed to recognize and properly service the device.  Unless that system is flawed any device meeting specification will operate correctly.

jimoase wrote:

Apple does not assemble products to test the individual components.  Assemblies are tested individually as part of the production process.  The boards Apple is using as replacements are tested assemblies.  When a complete product is tested the main function is to insure all previously tested cables are connected properly.

 

What difference does it make if an owner selects a specification compatible device different from the device shipped with the product?   Both use exactly the same bus communication signals and functions, the same connectors and same power source.  The operating system is designed to recognize and properly service the device.  Unless that system is flawed any device meeting specification will operate correctly.

That seems like a rather simplistic, if not naive point of view to me

Many drives, optical, ssd and standard hard drives have NOT worked in machines in the past. Some problems were solved by firmware or software updates - some were never solved at all, and had to be swapped out.

I agree that most SHOULD work, but does Apple have to take responsibility for something that they haven't fitted ? I think not !

If you replaced the motor in your washing machine with one that happened to have the same mounting and connectors and appeared to have the same specifications, would you expect the manufacturer to take responsibility if it didn't work ?

jimoase wrote:

[...]

Apple does not assemble products to test the individual components.  Assemblies are tested individually as part of the production process.  The boards Apple is using as replacements are tested assemblies.  When a complete product is tested the main function is to insure all previously tested cables are connected properly.

 

What difference does it make if an owner selects a specification compatible device different from the device shipped with the product?   Both use exactly the same bus communication signals and functions, the same connectors and same power source.  The operating system is designed to recognize and properly service the device.  Unless that system is flawed any device meeting specification will operate correctly.

Yes, that's the theory.  And nevertheless, when the end product is assembled and, theoretically, everything should work because all the individual components were tested, random samples are tested after assembly, because theory and reality sometimes diverge.  I think it's fair to assume that Apple is testing every machine repaired under this program both before and after repair to ensure that everything functions as it should.  There's nothing worse than a customer who brings back a repaired machine because something that allegedly used to work no longer does.  Testing an SSD or a larger HDD, or more RAM that wasn't originally in the machine is one thing.  These don't change functionality.  But what about an optical disc that purportedly supports Blu Ray, or an HDD or SSD in the optical drive bay?

I believe that Apple is within its rights to draw the line somewhere, and it seems to be drawing it where warranties would be voided:  optical drives, wireless/Bluetooth cards, etc., things that users typically replace to increase functionality (Blu Ray, Continuity/Handoff).

Charles Houghton-Webb wrote:

 

jimoase wrote:

Apple does not assemble products to test the individual components.  Assemblies are tested individually as part of the production process.  The boards Apple is using as replacements are tested assemblies.  When a complete product is tested the main function is to insure all previously tested cables are connected properly.

 

What difference does it make if an owner selects a specification compatible device different from the device shipped with the product?   Both use exactly the same bus communication signals and functions, the same connectors and same power source.  The operating system is designed to recognize and properly service the device.  Unless that system is flawed any device meeting specification will operate correctly.

That seems like a rather simplistic, if not naive point of view to me

Many drives, optical, ssd and standard hard drives have NOT worked in machines in the past. Some problems were solved by firmware or software updates - some were never solved at all, and had to be swapped out.

I agree that most SHOULD work, but does Apple have to take responsibility for something that they haven't fitted ? I think not !

If you replaced the motor in your washing machine with one that happened to have the same mounting and connectors and appeared to have the same specifications, would you expect the manufacturer to take responsibility if it didn't work ?

Having designed test equipment, diagnostic software as a profession for a few decades I am quite sure about how electronic products are tested.  Theory and practicality differences are not allowed to differ for extended periods of time.  We can improve anything to the degree we can measure it.  Products that can not be measured can not have consistent  quality.

We can improve testing accuracy by understanding and correcting for previous failures to correctly diagnose the problem should theory and actual results ever differ.  To diagnose the mother board in an after sales situation by doing  a limited variability systems test, such as is used during the production process, is foolish.  The diagnostic needs to be more capable than the operation system, which recognizes and operates the customer installed device, because it must do what the operating system does and then distinguish variations that do not fall within specification set.

Apple intentionally builds flexibility into their products so customers can have their system configured to meet their needs. This is the premise for engineering standards.  When Apple has an after sale production problem Apple is burdened with testing customer configuration that meet Apple's specifications because the customer reasonably expected Apple's product to operate as advertised and sold.   For Apple to deny the customer the choice to customize their Apple computer only after a production problem is discovered is not operating in good faith.

My MacBook Pro 17" Late 2011 has been successfully repaired and my Logic Board already replaced... does anyone have successfully replaced too? Can  you tell us? Does the problem still appear? or with New Logic Board already fixed all the problem?

Regards

I've been following this thread since Apple announced the repair program extension.  If memory serves me correctly, everyone whose machine was repaired under the program has reported that the video issues no longer occur.  It's difficult to say how permanent the cure is.  After all, the program is barely one month old, and one month after we purchased our machines many of us were not yet experiencing any video problems.  If I am not mistaken, Apple has never published an official statement on how the new motherboards address the cause of those problems.  Some people have reported comparing the original and the revised boards, but the results were either inconclusive or I didn't understand them.  At any rate, I can't recall a succinct summary of what is different on the new board.

Only time will tell how permanent the repair is.  I note, however, a fair number of the reports concerning 17" MBPs, and I suspect that owners of these machines are inclined to hang on to them longer than owners of models with smaller screens, because Apple no longer makes 17" MBPs.  For them, the problems that led to the motherboard exchange might be a blessing in disguise.

I just ran a software update on my late 2011 MacBook Pro and noticed that this popped up in my updates list: MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 2.7.

https://support.apple.com/kb/dl1499?locale=en_GB

From the update info:

This update fixes several issues to improve the stability of MacBook Pro (Early 2011) and MacBook Pro (Late 2011) computers and is recommended for all users.

This update improves the reliability of booting from the network, addresses an issue that can prevent HDCP authentication after a reboot, and resolves an issue with boot device selection when a USB storage device is hot-plugged.

Boot ROM or SMC Version Information: MBP81.0047.27

I just wondered whether this is a new firmware update for 2011 MacBook Pro's or whether it's the old one Apple released before that had the CPU/GPU throttling built in to stop them potentially overheating. (It may be that I previously installed this before my logic board was replaced, and now I have a replacement board, this EFI firmware had never been installed on it - hence I get the update notification.)

Either way, I'm cautious over whether I should install it or not. - Anyone know?

obwianMacobi wrote:

 

I just ran a software update on my late 2011 MacBook Pro and noticed that this popped up in my updates list: MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 2.7.

https://support.apple.com/kb/dl1499?locale=en_GB

 

From the update info:

This update fixes several issues to improve the stability of MacBook Pro (Early 2011) and MacBook Pro (Late 2011) computers and is recommended for all users.

 

This update improves the reliability of booting from the network, addresses an issue that can prevent HDCP authentication after a reboot, and resolves an issue with boot device selection when a USB storage device is hot-plugged.

 

Boot ROM or SMC Version Information: MBP81.0047.27

 

I just wondered whether this is a new firmware update for 2011 MacBook Pro's or whether it's the old one Apple released before that had the CPU/GPU throttling built in to stop them potentially overheating. (It may be that I previously installed this before my logic board was replaced, and now I have a replacement board, this EFI firmware had never been installed on it - hence I get the update notification.)

 

Either way, I'm cautious over whether I should install it or not. - Anyone know?

If you look at the date on the link provided in your post the update originates from February 2012.

The Boot ROM Version of my, yet to be repaired, Early 2011 MBP is MBP81.0047.27 which is the same version that the software update is offering you. It woukd appear that this is not a new firmware update. Whether or not you choose to install the update is up to you!