Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

Typing this on a phone because I dropped off my early 2011macbook. I had counted myself lucky because my Mac did not appear to have this problem. A few months ago, I noticed infrequent graphics quirks-- sometimes the edge of my browser window had slight artifacts that moved with the window. Then this past month I had several unexplained freezes and two that were preceded by severe graphics anomalies-- lines, image shifting, and some blocky glitches.

I took the machine in to the genius bar and it passed the VST (video system test). I left the computer with them for further testing. They said they would notify me if the repair would not be covered under the repair program. They said it might also be a display or CPU problem.

The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that this is a GPU problem. If the repair is not covered, I think I will take more pictures (I only have one pic so far). Anyone have any luck with repairs after "passing" the video system test?

The VST can't be a perfect test given this is an intermittent problem.

My 15" passed the VST twice after failing the first time (which led to a logic board replacement).

Initially the passed test led the Apple repairer guy to believe it was a software problem, so he insisted on a clean reinstall of OSX. That didn't help one bit, so even though it passed the VST yet again, they replaced the logic board. But I had heaps of images and some video of the problem, so they couldn't really deny it existed.

Update - After my Thunderbolt Display continued to randomly blackout, I decided to give Apple a call while I am still within the 90 limited warranty period after they replaced my logic board about a month ago. I spoke with a senior tech who stated he had seen similar issues with machines that have had their logic boards repaired. He walked me through a few troubleshooting steps that included changing the resolutions on both the TB display and my laptop display while in safe mode. While booting into safe mode, the displays showed some weird graphical glitches - mostly looked like gray window shades openin and closing.  He also had me do a PRAM reset, and thats when everything went south. After the reset, the computer would not boot. Progress bar made it about a third of the way before a gray "do not enter" logo appeared. Computer would not boot into safe mode. I was able to boot into recovery and ran disk utility to make sure my hard drive wasn't the issue. Verify / repair disk revealed no errors and there werent any permission errors either. the machine recognized the start up disk and I selected it from the pull down menu just to be sure. Didn't Matter. Machine still wouldn't boot. Did another PRAM reset and disconnected the battery, unplugged and reseated the hard drive, no luck. after reconnecting everything, it looks like the machine won't even power on without being hooked up a power source. Battery tester lights on the side light up just fine, but it won't power on now unless it's connected to the AC adapter.

Thoughts anyone? I've got a Genius Bar appointment next week. Really don't want to go through the refurbished logic board merry-go-round so many of you have had to deal with.

I have also an early 2011 with defect discret card.

rosa stripes on every white background.

I have also an early 2011 with defect discret card.

I bougth this model...long time ago: 2011 February.:

1st failure vst problem after 11 months  (February 2012) (logical board replaced) - under warranty

2st failure vst problem  11 Novemebre 2013  (logical board replaced) - under apple care
3st failure vst problem few days ago 15 May 2015 (...Apple are going to replace it for free...)

I hope are going to replace my logical board (with a good "corrected" logical board)

What do you know about this "new" logical board, is it fixed the problem with gpu?

thanks

I know that this discussion is very, very long; however, the MacBook Pro Repair Extension Program for Video Issues began on Feb. 20, 2015, so you can read about experience with the program from about page 820 on.

There have been reports of repaired machines developing the same video issues.  There have also been reports of repaired machines running without any problems.  Some of these machines are described as being more responsive, running cooler, etc.  Apple has not made an official statement about the boards being used in the repair extension program.  Some of us have been told that refurbished boards are being used.  In a nutshell:  Nobody can predict what your experience with the repair extension program will be.

However, you will also read in this discussions that Apple has been offering to exchange those machines that it has be unable to fix.  Generally, this has meant that, after attempting to solve the video issues a "few" times by exchanging the motherboard, Apple has concluded that it would be better to exchange the machine for a newer model.  The magic number of attempts seems to be three or four.  Sometimes Apple takes the initiative in offering the exchange.  Other times, the customer must politely enquire about an exchange.

ok, I just retired my macbook pro 15 (logic board replaced). Apple told to me: "we have replaced your Logical Board with a new LB without gpu glue problem"

... I hope... ;-)

Despite "passing" the VST, I guess my symptoms were similar enough to the expected GPU problems (unexpected crashing/restart and graphics glitches) that they went ahead and fixed the computer under the 2011 recall.

I was expecting it sometime later this week. I dropped it off on Friday and they called on Memorial day that it was ready for pick-up-- PDQ!

Everything appears OK so far. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Thank you Apple.

Thought I'd add my experience as well.

To start with, I experienced similar issues to most of you on my MacBook Pro 15 early 2011 (e.g. vertical/horizontal lines accross the screen, freezes, random reboots, the machine not shutting down etc.) since last October. Not having been aware of the whwole LB issue, I assumed it might be a software problem, since these problems only occured once I updated to Yosemite. So I went to an Apple Store and asked the staff if they had any idea if something like this might be because of software issues, and to my surprise the guy said it might happen because Yosemite has been known to cause issues on "older" MacBooks. But surely a 2011 MBP is hardly an outdated laptop, so even though he told me to downgrade to Mavericks he he proceeded to set up an appointment for me at the Genius bar. I backed up my data, downgraded to Mavericks and everything seemed fine (for the few days I've been using the laptop since then, at least), but decided to take the appointment anyway, just to make sure.

As soon as I told them about the issues I had, he assumed it was the well known issue with the logic board, so he did the diagnostics, which didn't show any result. They took the MBP in to do more tests and a couple of hours later sent me an email telling me they'd replace the logic board under the quality programme. I handed in my MBP yesterday, so I'm hoping ot get it back soon, having the problems solved.

I also experienced general issues before, similar to other users, like hig htemperatures or a seemingly slow workflow, compared to some of my friends ' MBP of the same generation. Fingers crossed, and I'll certainly report back if the repaired MBP works as expected or not.

I know I'm adding nothing new, but I thought it couldn't hurt to get my experience in anyway.

Been lurking on this thread for a while, here's goes my experience.

2011 17" MBP had the "vertical bars of death" on the display about a month ago. I took it into the apple store and was granted a "new logic board" repair for free, without any questions. Got it back in a week. They also downgraded my RAM from 16GB of Crucial (apple certified) to 8GB of "official Apple RAM", because "the techs found that your RAM was causing issues". Never caused me any issues, seems odd.

After reading a good chunk of this disccussion here I was unable to come to a conclusion of the most heated debate we have: is Apple replacing the Logic Boards with newly designed ones or not (and/or using non-lead free solder, as was also a culprit in the GPU failure). I was really happy when I found a Tom's Hardware article that showed that the new replacement motherboards actually allowed 1600MHz RAM, where supposedly the original ones were only rated up to 1333. This lead me to believe that these were in-fact newly designed boards and I was content, for a while. I reset the SMC because the fans now spun at max if I watched a 1080p MKV, whereas they never did that before, but it didn't change the new fans behavior. The temp has only gotten in the low 90's once now, where it used to reach this threshold often on my "old board". This could also be evidence that something was changed, design-wise.

On a whim I decided to rerun and compare some benchmarks to when I got it in 2011 and was dissatisfied with one finding; The motherboard on my geek bench results from 2011 is "Mac-942459F5819B171B" and the bios is "MBP81.88Z.0047.B27.1201241646". I reran the test now and IT HAS THE EXACT SAME MOTHERBOARD AND BIOS LISTED. Not sure if this is concrete proof that they DIDNT change the mobo design, but it sure feels fishy. I was originally against stress testing it to death but now don't know what to do. If this is the same faulty designed board as before than a failure is futile and destined to be.

TL;DR - I was happy with the "repair" originally because I saw things that made me think it was a redesigned board, but looking at the details in benchmarking tools leads me to believe that they didn't change a thing, just threw in a "new" old, poorly engineered board.

Did you ask the technicians at the Apple Store for an explanation about the serial numbers?  As you are aware from perusing this discussion, some people have reported being told that the boards used in the program have been "refurbished" to address the problem, while others are taking an "I'll believe it when I see it" position.  My late 2011 MBP 17" was repaired on Feb. 25, 2015 at the Apple Store in Basel, Switzerland.  Apple removed neither the 1 TB SSD nor the 16GB RAM.  I was informed that the replacement motherboard is a "refurbished" one and that recurrence of the video issues qualifies the machine for repair under the program as long as the program is in effect, regardless of whether the 90-day warranty has expired.  I have not bothered to try to determine the difference between the refurbished board and the original, nor do I intend to stress test the machine.  I am simply using it as I always did.

My recommendation:

• Ask Apple about the serial numbers.  Please post the answer here.
• Enjoy trouble-free operation as long as it lasts.  Every new attempt by Apple to fix the same video issues on the same machine brings you one step closer to an exchange.

Good luck!

Have been reading this thread since last november when my Macbook Pro 15 late 2011 started to have issues(screen turning stripey or restarting or crashing and not starting again at all). I finally got the logic board replaced in the beginning of january 2015. It took forever because of christmas and I had to use a borrowed mac in the mean time. All in all it took a huge amount of time since your backup doesn't recognise the new logic board as the old computer.

Now, I am having the same problem again. In its initial stages but it is exactly the same. I am told they will replace the logic board again but how long will that last? This one barely lasted 5 months! When I asked about the logic board when I got the replacement in january, I was told that it was the same type as the one that was in the macbook before.....

I finally got the logic board replaced in the beginning of january 2015. [...] When I asked about the logic board when I got the replacement in january, I was told that it was the same type as the one that was in the macbook before

The Repair Extension Program wasn't announced until about Feb. 17, 2015, and didn't begin in the US and Canada until Feb. 20 (and in the rest of the world until Feb. 27).  As you might know from this discussion, some of us have reported being told that the replacement boards being used in the Repair Extension Program are "refurbished".

If you paid for the repair that didn't (repair the problem), you can apply for a refund under the Repair Extension Program.  Regardless of that, I would

• Take photos of the problems occurring, just in case your machine refuses to fail the tests that will be performed to determine whether it is eligible for the Repair Extension Program.
• Take the machine to an Apple Store.  Be sure to mention that it was already repaired once for the problem, and ask whether the replacement board will be different from the last one.  If not -- which would surprise me --, you might want to -- gently -- pose the question of an exchange, although, as you know from this discussion, that usually happens only after three or four failed attempts to fix the problem.

I know it's a real pain, but in some sense satisfaction is guaranteed.  Either the problem will be fixed or the machine will be replaced.

Good luck!

I did in fact turn to apple when the repair program was in place and will be reimbursed. Talked to Apple here in Sweden and they did confirm that most likely it will be an exchange of logic board again. I will most definitely ask and ask again what they are going to put in now. I was looking for other peoples experiences with multiple replacements and I thought I would record my experience with it so far for further reference.

Thank you for your reply!

I was looking for other peoples experiences with multiple replacements

I joined this discussion on page 819.  Since then, these people have reported receiving new machines from Apple after repeated replacement of the motherboard failed to fix the video problems:

In addition

• josephchisunka reported reaching a satisfactory agreement with Apple, the details of which he is legally bound not to disclose (pg. 852).
• hortonhearsaho's MBP was replaced with a reconditioned machine of the same model without his prior knowledge (pg. 840).
• devarshi108 had had three motherboard replacements up to January 2015 and was on his first replacement under the Repair Extension Program (pg. 823),  I assume all is well, or I missed a follow-up posting.