Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

And bam! Since I got my macbook pro back, i noticed a lag when opening apps and scrolling through web page, as the technician informed me that my HDD has a bad blocks but I didn't believe that so I run AHT - normal test, but i got nothing. But I just finished running AHT in extended mode and got 4hdd/11/40000000:sata error.

Does this mean really that my HDD is dying?

4hdd/11/40000000:sata

Not necessarily: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203648

But if the tech found some bad blocks, he may have tested with something more appropriate than the Apple Hardware Test.

In the same vein was what jimoase suggested, try the Activity Monitor and select the Memory tab.  The last column is labeled "Requires High Perf GPU".  I don't know whether that is determined just when the process starts, or whether it is constantly monitored and updated.  I launched Photo Booth and Activity Monitor says it requires the high performance GPU.  (By the way, I'm running OS X 10.9.5).

Well, wise guy , the only difference is screen cable/ connector. But probably because failing AMD chips (I still can not believe that all AMD chips 6750, 6490, 6770 were failing) were replaced with new revision chips, that was covered by AMD.

If this revised LB will fail I will try to get 2012 LB 2.6 GHz

Seriously, I heard that the problem wasn't the chip itself, but the soldering, in particular, the way the lead-free solder reacted to high temperatures.  It turns out that working with lead-free solder is a bit tricky, and if the soldering isn't done exactly right, then at high temperatures the solder points will be stressed.  I'm no expert.  I imagine that lead-free solder is composed of different metals with different expansion rates.  I suppose it's a bit like the principle of the thermostat.  This is why the problem could be solved sometimes by "reballing," essentially resoldering.

If I'm not mistaken, someone reported that Apple might be using revised versions of the GPU that operate cooler.  So more care soldering a cooler running GPU to the motherboard might be what differentiates the boards being used in the repair extension program and the original boards.  Sheer speculation, I know.  At any rate, I don't think normal foreseen usage of the computer destroyed the chip.

Anybody who knows more about this should feel free to correct what I wrote.

If the revised motherboard fails, i.e., if the video issues return after repair, take the machine back.  And continue to do so until either the issues disappear, or Apple offers to replace your machine.  I suspect that a replacement machine might be newer than 2012. (broad Cheshire cat-like grin)

Richard Liu wrote:

 

If the revised motherboard fails, i.e., if the video issues return after repair, take the machine back.  And continue to do so until either the issues disappear, or Apple offers to replace your machine.  I suspect that a replacement machine might be newer than 2012. (broad Cheshire cat-like grin)

I think I might have to do just this. Had the issue a few weeks ago, brought it to authorised Apple repair centre, got it back on Saturday with the logicboard replaced. It seemed to be working great, and I've taken this chance to install a new Samsung 850 EVO SSD and do a clean OS install as well. However, today I opened up iMovie for the first time since I got the laptop back and this happened:

As you can see, the graphic issues have returned, screen is shifted to the left, etc. I restarted the computer and it's currently working, but I'm reluctant to use iMovie or the like again in case it will crash completely. When it broke the first time, I was streaming football from my laptop to my TV (also graphics intensive). I suppose I should just send it back to Apple again, as it's bad that the issue reoccured days after getting it back 'repaired'? There's no Apple store where I live (Brussels), I'm not sure if giving it back for authorised third party repair is a good idea either...

I wouldn't pamper the machine.  Use iMovie if you need or want to.

If it's not too much trouble, clone your SSD back to the original HDD, exchange them, and see whether the issue arises  with the HDD.  Be prepared to take photos or make videos.

Have you reported the recurrence of the problem to the ASP who repaired it?  What did they say?

As an alternative to giving it back to the Apple ASP you could call Apple and see what they recommend.  Specifically, ask whether service rendered by an ASP is fully equivalent to the repair you would receive by sending it to an Apple Repair Center:

1. Is the ASP using the same revised  boards?  [Apple Stores are evidently using revised motherboards.]
2. What happens if, after he attempts to repair it three times, the video issues still occur?  [People have reported in this thread that, after three unsuccessful attempts to repair their machine Apple has offered them a new one.]

If you decide to send it to the Apple Repair Center, be sure to send the photographic evidence along.

Good luck!

I don't actually need iMovie right now, I only opened it as I was doing this fresh install on my new SSD. After iMovie caused the glitch, I manually powered off the MacBook, restarted, and it seems to be working ok. However, this was also what happened when it first crashed two weeks ago - graphics-intensive use caused screen glitch, I was able to restart the machine a few times, more glitches, and then complete crash & inability to restart at all.

I'd consider doing what you said and clone this SSD onto the old HDD but I really doubt that's it. The problem first occurred when using the native HDD, and the SSD is high quality and brand new. Besides, as other users have noted, it's hard to actually 'make' this glitch happen, it tends to occur sporadically and some users even struggle to get photos etc. I contacted Apple Support today via chat and one suggestion they made was to troubleshoot by turning it on in safe mode, use iMovie a few times, and see if it glitched. I told them the same thing: to me, running iMovie safely a few times proves nothing, as the glitch doesn't occur like clockwork and comes and goes. It's far from conclusive diagnostics.

In terms of your questions, Apple support told me today:

• ASP repair is the same as via Apple Repair Centre - the ASP only sends it to the ARC to be fixed, they should not fix the logicboards themselves. They confirmed in my case the repair was done in the Apple Repair Centre, Belgium, not by the ASP. The only role the ASP seemed to have was taking the laptop, boxing it up, sending it off, and returning it to me when the ARC had 'fixed' it.
• As such, since ASP's just send the machines to repair centres, we're all supposed to be receiving the same revised logicboards.

I ended the support chat today by saying I might send it back to the ARC centre (via my local ASP) to be checked again. No mention of what happens if it keeps failing. I really wish I had a genius bar near me, as I feel that if I went in a few times about this, I might get lucky like some others and get a new machine.

As an aside, I think it's fair to say thanks to Richard Liu for your replies - I've found your posts in this thread incredibly helpful in terms of gathering all the relevant information and understanding the issue. So thanks!

Thanks for the compliment.

About trying it with the HDD, I, too, doubt that it will make any difference; however, some people have reported that their machines were refused for repair under the program due to RAM and HDD upgrades.  So, if the problem happens with the HDD, then I would just leave it in and send the machine back to Apple, either directly or via the ASP.

Good luck!

Hi peeps, Just collected my mbp 15" back from service centre last mth and now this is happening intermittently around 3 times in a minute each lasting a few seconds. Any one experience this before ? any advice ?

Does it just happen on the external monitor, or on the MBP as well?  Do I assume correctly that this did not happen prior to repair?  Might there be a firmware update for the DELL?

I would be inclined to take the MBP back to where it was repaired, with the external monitor if that's not too much trouble, but definitely with the photographic evidence.

It happens to me when I have connected external monitor. But just if I want to connect external USB HDD that runs on its own power supply. It makes this when I touch the top case around USB/ fireWire connectors with USB connector from external HDD. Actually it makes a spark from HDD USB cable to top case of MBP. I can see a little spark in complete dark.

And it happened twice, and that was very strange, when I had connected ext HDD and ext display and my mobile phone got incoming call. Phone was very near HDMI adapter.

You need to record video of that happening, then take it into the Apple Store so they can see your video proof, and they can fix the issues!

Keep taking pictures and video of this happening, then take it to Apple so they can 1. see your proof, and 2. they can fix it or replace your Mac with a new one.

I went back to the Apple Store and after about 45 minutes of tinkering with my slow MBP and running a bunch of diagnostics that the genius ran the last time I was there, the genius (including the "head genius" who was watching) determined the logic board I was given from the repair program in February was defective, but in a totally different way than the GPU issue that most people here had with their 2011 MBP.

So they took the MBP back and will repair it. Hopefully I'll get it back in a few days after the new (?) logic board arrives and is installed. From then, I'll have an additional 90 day warranty, voiding the original warranty with the replaced board, which expired in late May. Honestly, after all the trips I've made to the Apple Store, I just want them to fix it once and for all.

But from what I'm reading here from users like Marvinz911 and others, the replacement boards may not eventually solve the issue. I guess only time will tell?