Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

THANKS!!!!  I HATE HAVING THESE NOTIFICATIONS!!!!

<Edited by Host>

Brought my 2011 MBP 17" into my local Apple Store in a suburb outside of Chicago, this past Sunday.  The 3rd logic board had been replaced less than a month before...the 3rd one in in a six month period.  I showed the Genius Bar employee a video of my graphic distortion, and he immediately called for a manager.  I was immediately offered a replacement MBP Retina 15" which I gratefully agreed to. 

So my fellow MBP 2011 sufferers, don't give up, there is hope. 

Hey Guys (just wanted to contribute to this thread)!

My Macbook Pro (Late 2011) that I bought in March 2012 finally started showing signs of graphical errors (purple lines, blue screen, random crashes) last week. Sadly my 3 year Apple Care warranty expired a short while ago so here's hoping that its covered under that extension program.

I am going into the Apple Store tomorrow and am able to replicate the issue in store using gfsCardStatus encase it passes the apple test.

Also the online Apple Hardware Test was useless for me, as the extended test was running, purple lines were across the screen... and yet it detected 'no problems'...

I'll update this post on how it goes for me (hopefully someone is interested).

FWI I am Australian

which model did you get of the 15"? the one with the discrete graphics card or the one with integrated intel iris pro graphics? i just got mine back from the 3rd repair, and i'm getting tired of not having my computer with me. had the first repair in april, so its been crashing really quick all the times just by using a normal graphics application (pixelmator) too bad it can't handle that with all those repairs in mind.

Thanks.  Here's the updated table info on 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.

Can't seem to edit my post... ohh well.

Okay, so I took my Macbook Pro into the Apple Store today. After describing the issue and showing the 'Genius' some pictures that I took on my phone he plugged in the Ethernet cable and ran apples diagnostics/graphics test.

Now here's the annoying part... It Passed ... I was kindly informed that it could be my RAM (which doesn't really make sense how that could cause graphical glitches AND that my RAM passed the extended apple hardware test (AHT) 3 times) so I've left my MacBook with them to enable them to run further tests with new RAM.

Though I was informed that they will try to run extensive stress tests to 'force' it to fail.

Assuming that the pictures show the graphic issues described in the announcement of the repair extension program, what did the "Genius" have to say about that?  Did you get a chance to provoke the problem in the Apple Store using gfsCardStatus?  Finally, was it the original RAM that was in the machine when you experienced the problems at home and the machine was tested in the Apple Store (i.e., you didn't reinstall the original RAM just before you took it in)?

Sadly no, after showing the pictures the 'Genius' jumped straight into jotting down my MacBook details and then performed the graphics test.

The month after buying my MacBook (so April 2012) I had swapped in an 8GB Corsair Kit (2x4GB) over the 4GB (2x2GB) that came with it. My MacBook has been running problem free for 3 years until last week when these issues started popping up. I did bring the original RAM with me when I went into the store and when the Genius tolled me that they would put in new RAM I did mention that I had it in my bag ready to put back in... soooo hopefully I don't get charged for RAM.

When this issue happened last week I had worked backwards (I reset PRAM and SMC as well)... I had not installed any new software for over a year so what was left was updates. I uninstalled Flash, Java, Firefox, VLC, Safari and iTunes and I was still encountering problems. After finally getting to the point of frustration I grabbed an SSD and installed a fresh copy of Mavericks onto it and again problems... Here I am now, I booked a session at the Apple Store and made the post above.

Here's some images:

1. VLC Player, 1080P Video

2.Safari, HTML5, Youtube

3. Extended AHT 1st Try, Purple Lines

Chesus98 wrote:

 

Can't seem to edit my post... ohh well.

 

Okay, so I took my Macbook Pro into the Apple Store today. After describing the issue and showing the 'Genius' some pictures that I took on my phone he plugged in the Ethernet cable and ran apples diagnostics/graphics test.

 

Now here's the annoying part... It Passed ... I was kindly informed that it could be my RAM (which doesn't really make sense how that could cause graphical glitches AND that my RAM passed the extended apple hardware test (AHT) 3 times) so I've left my MacBook with them to enable them to run further tests with new RAM.

 

Though I was informed that they will try to run extensive stress tests to 'force' it to fail.

I found this to be very fishy. The exact same thing happened to me. I think apple has found a work around so they don't have to replace any more logic boards. Why would my mac not work and then all of the sudden be fine after the guy at the apple store hooks into it. I smell a rat.

<Edited by Host>

I took my Macbook Pro 15" 2011 to the nearby Apple Store who took it in. They phoned back saying that not only was my logic board trashed, but also the screen connections were damaged, meaning I'd have to fork out loads of money for a new screen, which I refused to do. I expect if the connectores were damaged it would be due to the Macbook running extremely hot after the first time the logic board was replaced. At least they showed me how to use it in clam shell mode (plug in charger, switch on, connect to external monitor then close lid. It works!). Infuriatingly gfxCardStatus will not allow the graphics card to be disabled when in clam shell mode, so no chance of checking if the monitor connections really are fried or not.

Does anyone know if we can perform the same VST test at home they do at the Apple Store to test the graphics card?

@Chesus98  - They told me my brand new RAM sticks were causing a problem with my MBP so they wouldn't repair my computer via the repair program because of it. Thankfully I had the original Apple/Samsung sticks at home so I put them back in and they took the computer in for repair after I brought it back. If you still have the originals, just put them in and they'll probably fix your MBP.

@cyrusfromlas rozas,

So your qualifying (for the repair extension program) MacBook Pro was already repaired once for the GPU problem.  Did you have to pay for the repair?  If so, the repair extension program entitles you to a refund for previous repairs that did not fix the problem.

You didn't tell us what kind of damage the connectors sustained.  You surmise that overheating caused the damage.  What did the person who called you say?

What was the problem with the logic board?  "Trashed" implies physical abuse.  Is that what you were told?  Or were they trying to tell you that, if the screen connections had been alright, the board would have been replaced under the repair extension program, but since the connections are damaged, that problem would have to be corrected before determining whether the video issues persist that would warrant replacing the logic board?

@PainNTheMac,

Unless your purpose is to work yourself up into a lather, maybe it would be better to try to work with one Apple employee to get what you want than trying to scare Apple into behaving as you wish.  The employee performed a test on your machine, the outcome of which you did not expect and cannot explain.  Did you ask him/her for an explanation?  As I recall, nobody said you lied about having problems with your machine.  In fact, others, not just you and Chesus98, have reported that their laptops failed to fail one or more of Apple's tests.  I believe that, in almost all cases (very careful interpretation of possibly inadequately remembered reports) photos of the problem sufficed to qualify the laptop for the repair extension program.  In your case, if I remember correctly, Apple is running more extensive tests.  So just wait for the results.  I believe your initial report indicated that you are expecting the worst.  I hope you will be disappointed, but if you aren't just ask the harbinger of the "good" news for an explanation, how the problems that you photographed and easily reproduced at home could suddenly disappear.  Keep your theories about Apple installing Magic Dust in your laptop over the Cloud to yourself, just discuss facts ... and formulate your questions to emphasize that you are trying to understand.  Do not interrogate the employee.  That won't motivate him to go out of his way to please you.  In your position I might try to motivate myself to keep calm by recalling how many people have reported in this discussion alone that Apple has replaced their machines after concluding that they could not be repaired.  In almost every case, an Apple employee was involved who escalated the case to a superior.  Had that employee had any reason to feel verbally abused by the customer, would he have done that?  Maybe -- to get the customer of his back, or maybe because that's what the SOP stipulates -- but maybe not.  At any rate, if I were playing the odds ...

Apple actually repaired my 2011 MBP. The power was out at the store, so I couldn't get detailed info on what they actually did. I put my SSD back in the MBK and inspected the Logic board. It was dirty from a hack solder job, so I decided to take a close look with some macro video. It looks horrible. This looks like a second hand logic board that has been butchered by an ammeter tech.

Take a look: https://youtu.be/MpWFUj2_3Ik

Hey mamihlapinatapai,

Forgive me that this may sound rough around the edges I did some quick research last night.

Okay so at home (the end user) you can have access to Apples Hardware Test (AHT) sadly it doesn't do a **** (h.e.l.l. is a swear word... ) of allot. All it does is check to see if all of the components are plugged in and working (so extremely basic) but when you check 'extended test' its meant to perform an extensive memory test (similar to MemTest86+ http://www.memtest.org/)... And since it passed 3 times for me I'm puzzled how it could be my RAM that caused my issues.

Unfortunately that's all you have access to... To be able to access the software that you see in the Apple Store you will need to become either a 'Registered Apple Service-Person' OR an 'Registered Apple Service-Centre' (i.e. a repair shop or school/company managing over 200 Mac's). If you do become either of those then you'll have access to the "Apple Service Toolkit" and the "Apple Service Diagnostic" software.

The Apple Service Toolkit (AST) is what you see when they plug in the Ethernet cord at the Apple Store. It allows them to collect data, see information on your computer (see if anything is modified) and allows them to perform an overall test and individual tests for each component. Slight deviation... thinking about it that video test that was performed at the Apple Store for me was appalling. Like I held my hand over the vents and the fans weren't blowing at full and the heat coming out was warm not hot. So I really don't think it was performing a proper test of my GPU. More info: http://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-service-toolkit.1549458/

Now onto the Apple Service Diagnostic (ASD) the image for this software is built differently for each Mac product (http://www.dannydullin.com/apple-service-diagnostic-asd-reference-list/) so its not one ASD for all Mac products (each year there is a new version out). Its meant to be stored on a USB, so it has two parts. A boot side, a more stripped down version of the AST. And the actual software that gets installed on your Mac and performs a 'proper' diagnostic and stress tests each component... Here's hoping that my MacBook fails with the ASD .

Granted, the board in your video is not going to win any beauty contests, but why not ask Apple about it?  And, while you are at it, ask them what happens if the same video issues occur after the ninety-day warranty on the repair, i.e., whether your machine would qualify again for the repair extension program.

People have reported cases like yours in this thread, i.e., that the replacement board does not appear to be new.  At least one person received the answer that the boards are refurbished, thus not all the components on the them are new; however, a refurbished board as a whole has never been installed in another machine.  I assume therefore that your board has passed all the tests that a new board would have to pass.

But, as I say, ask Apple.  The more replies from Apple to questions like yours that we can document here, the more we will know.