Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

I had the logicboard replaced in October last year, only got until the end of June under my warranty so starting to freak out. I've reset NVRAM earlier, not sure it had any effect, this better not become a routine procedure though.

Grummore wrote:

 

Did anybody had any trouble after got their mbp to Apple for the Repair extension program?

 

Did it solved the problem?

 

Did you have to pay for something afterward?

 

I just got my Late 2011 MBP back from the repair program. Prior to taking it in, the display had the typical stripes and was unable to boot in any mode. It failed the VST test in the store.

I immediately ran it through GPUtest and Heaven stress testing for about 30 mins with an external display and it passed both. I think the GPU reached 78°C.

I have to say, everything graphic related seems noticeably faster, more fluid, and cooler. The fans don't come on nearly as much when watching flash or HTML5 video (youtube, netflix, etc). Switching browser tabs or toggling between fullscreen and windowed views used to be much more laggy. I don't think they touched my OS (Mavericks 10.9.5), so is it possible the original Radeon HD 6770M was defective and Apple has replaced it with a working version?

Per System Info for late 2.4ghz 2011 MBP

AMD Radeon HD 6770M:

  Chipset Model: AMD Radeon HD 6770M

  Type: GPU

  Bus: PCIe

  PCIe Lane Width: x8

  VRAM (Total): 1024 MB

  Vendor: ATI (0x1002)

  Device ID: 0x6740

  Revision ID: 0x0000

  ROM Revision: 113-C0170L-573

  gMux Version: 1.9.23

  EFI Driver Version: 01.00.573

I don't remember the previous ROM, gMux or EFI Driver versions. Can anyone who hasn't taken their MBP in for replacement post their results from System Info?

To answer your questions: No trouble after 2 days and it appeared to solve the problem. $310 charge waived by Apple Store. Turnaround time was about 4 business days.

OK, sorry, I confused you with somebody else who has a "phrase" user name.  Was the logic board replacement performed to address the video issues that the repair extension program is supposed to fix (cf. https://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro-videoissues/)?  I assume the work was covered by the warranty that will expire at the end of June.

Your MBP does not seem to be experiencing any of the problems that would qualify it for the repair extension program, but if it does before the program expires, it would be repaired under the program, even after the end of June.  Perhaps the warranty that you still have covers the sleep problem.  If it's not too much trouble to take the machine to an Apple Store, you might have them look at it.  You could take that opportunity to have them tell you how much more life you can expect from the battery.  Play it by ear thereafter.  You could express first surprise ("Only that much?") and then understanding ("Well, on the other hand, that makes sense, given the necessity to run the fans to cool the overheating GPU") and see how far that gets you towards a free battery.

Good luck!

Sorry, my late 2011 MBP 17" was repaired.  The GPU info for mine is the same as yours, except I have gMux Version 1.9.24.  Is yours a 15" perhaps?  I heard the conjecture (perhaps in this thread, I can't remember) that perhaps the revised motherboards are using a revised version of the original chip that is more energy efficient and generates less heat.  I don't know whether that would be reflected in the System Info, though, even if it is true.

Yes. It is a 15" 2.4ghz 2011 MBP. Sorry for not pointing that out originally.

I did a little google-fu and it appears that the ROM version, etc is all the same as before. I can only guess that it's either a 1) new, non-defective gpu, or 2) replaced mobo that runs more efficiently. Everything seems to tax the computer much less now.

I used to get serious beach balls, unresponsiveness, memory swaps (when ram ran low) but now it seems to be much better managed.

I'd really like to know if anyone else is experiencing this; it's like a new computer!

My MBP began experiencing the video issues just about the time that the repair extension program was announced.  Thanks to the contributions of so many people this thread had reach 820 pages by that time and thus appeared near the top of the list of documents that Dr. Google found on the problem.  I can imagine that those who had the problem longer experienced more often than I situations in which the machine was devoting significant resources to cooling itself, perhaps even to the point of throttling the GPU and/or CPU.  That would explain the sluggishness that you describe.

I do not notice any increased responsiveness after the repair, but I definitely hear the fans much less frequently than before.  Typically, they rev up when I boot the machine and log in for the first time, then perhaps sometimes depending on what Safari is doing, and definitely when I backup the boot SSD to an external disk.  The GPU is always active because I use an external LED Cinema Display 24".

If you look back near the beginning of this thread, where many of the contributors were trying to identify the cause of the video issues, some found that the thermal paste was applied to the GPU so extravagantly that it was probably doing just the opposite of what it was supposed to.  Perhaps the new motherboards fix that.  There are also reports that one of the firmware updates to some of the affected models throttled back the CPU -- or was it the GPU?  If so, maybe the firmware on the new motherboards undoes that and prevents Software Update from reapplying the update.  Finally, as I said, I have heard that the GPU on the motherboard, although the same model as the original, is an improved and/or revised version that uses less energy and thus produces less heat.  As always, only Apple knows for sure.

I am happy with the repair, especially since I have the last 17" laptop that Apple made and still cannot imagine developing software on a machine with a smaller screen.  Driving a 15" Retina laptop at the equivalent resolution makes the text too small for comfort.  Maxing out the RAM, replacing the HDD with an SDD and now the new motherboard have given my MBP a new lease on life.

they still use too much thermal paste, at least in a repair centre that was replacing my LB. Check this official service guide:

I would suggest everybody to reapply thermal compound in a proper way. I have read somewhere that some people were reapplying thermal compound when they found out their new 2011 MBP getting abnormal hot. And I can not remember single post in this 860 pages thread, that someone had reapplied thermal compound and had graphics issues. People were reporting things like: I have been using my MBP always on a cooling stand and I also got graphic issues. or  I have been taking care for my MBP since day one to not use it on a bed or  sofa or a lap and I also got graphic issues. etc. But not a single one posted that even that he/ she reapplied thermal compound also got graphic issues. This are just my speculations, but worth to try, since you got nothing to lose.

Don't be scared to void your warranty by doing this. You can always reapply too much thermal compound, just use grey th. compound

I'm not sure that I agree.  The repair extension program is supposed to fix certain problems.  Whoever is experiencing those problems should have them repaired under the program -- if it's broken, get it fixed.  Whoever is not experiencing those problems should continue to use the machine normally -- if it ain't broken, don't fix it.  This advice applies to original motherboards as well as to those being used in the repair extension program.  The situation would be different if the repair extension program did not exist.

Proof: Re: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

I'n sorry.  Could you please explain what those two photos are showing.  Is one an original motherboard and the other a replacement motherboard being used in the repair extension program?  What is different between the old and the new boards?  To which does your recommendation for "everybody" to reapply thermal paste "in the proper way" apply?  If it applies to the new boards, why, in your opinion, is the way that Apple is or is not applying thermal paste not right?

I'm just trying to understand why anybody should do anything that low-level now that the repair extension program is in effect.

• Someone who is experiencing the video issues that the program aims to fix should have Apple fix his machine, even if Apple has already tried to fix it under the program.  Either the problem will be fixed, or eventually the machine will have to be replaced.
• Someone who is not experiencing the video issues has no reason to do anything.

Thanks

even with new repair program, apple technicians still use too much thermal compound. That is because they are following their internal Technician Guide.

rdbrwn wrote:

 

even with new repair program, apple technicians still use too much thermal compound. That is because they are following their internal Technician Guide.

Look back through this discussion.  There were occassional reports of fixes, some paid for and some under warranty, that didn't cause the unit to be fixed. Then one day Apple declares a warranty extension program and suddenly, via rumors, there is suppose to be a better mother board being used by Apple.  What's the odds that on Monday it was chancy that Apple could change mother boards and fix the problem and on Tuesday Apple had better mother boards that would permantly fix the problem? 

Its still early in this warranty extension program and we are still hearing about the occassional "non-repair" repair.

Apple has never published a report saying they know what the problem is and have done something to fix it.  Apple has just moved the goal post again.  People/companies tend to do what they have done before unless they have a significant event happen to them.  Apple has skated one more time.

In time this problem will burn out because Apple software will stop supporting this machine, its alread at least two significant evolutions old.

Check your junk mail lately.  Who's deciding what is junk for you?

I am following this discussion since november 2013... and I can say that I have read almost every post in this thread.

All I wanted to say is:

1. Apple still use too much thermal compound also on replaced LBs under repair program.

2. I have found some posts (not in this discussion) from people that when they bought MBP 2011 in year 2011 they found their MBPs running extremely hot and they replied thermal compound in a proper way.

3. In this discussion people were posting different usage experience (always using it on a table, always using it on a cool stand, etc) and they all got graphic issues.

4. When I got back my MBP 2011 with replaced LB under repair program I removed heat sink and found too much thermal compound, so I reapplied it in a proper way.

5. I can not remember people posting in this thread or anywhere else about reapplying thermal paste from very beginning and having graphic issues. That is why I found this as a worth trying and suggesting it here.

Hope I was clear enough this time.

Richard Liu wrote:

 

Sorry, my late 2011 MBP 17" was repaired.  The GPU info for mine is the same as yours, except I have gMux Version 1.9.24.  Is yours a 15" perhaps?  I heard the conjecture (perhaps in this thread, I can't remember) that perhaps the revised motherboards are using a revised version of the original chip that is more energy efficient and generates less heat.  I don't know whether that would be reflected in the System Info, though, even if it is true.

What is the big deal with gMux version 1.9.24?  My hardware is original and that is the reported gMux version.

My machine was repaired by a third party who:

1) Replaced the Radeon HD 6750M GPU which means new solder

2) Then using ceramic based thermal paste rather than silver because his experience is that ceramic paste is stable longer.

I have loaded the machince to a significant level without problems.  Significant means discharged the battery while the MagSafe was plugged in and suppose to charge the battery.  Which it did when the load was lowered.

What is the big deal with gMux version 1.9.24?  My hardware is original and that is the reported gMux version.

I don't recall claiming that it was a big deal.  LA_slacker posted post repair system info for his GPU and asked whether anybody whose machine still had the original motherboard in it could spot any differences.  I merely offered the information that most, but not all my post repair system info was the same as his and left it up to him to decide whether it was a "big deal" or not.  He apparently didn't think it was, and I certainly didn't intend it to be.