Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

I really appreciate educated replies like this. Thank you.

neolancer07 wrote:

 

For everyone here with this problem, what was the general purpose of their MacBook Pro? Keeping up with this thread, I noticed for many their MBP was primiarily used for video editing, which fully utilizes the GPU.  Majoriry of those here perform GPU extensive-tasks on their MBP daily?

Mainly VMWare Fusion labs with a bit of music thrown in on the side (Native Instruments Traktor and Maschine) almost always running dual screens using the official Thunderbolt/Displayport -> Vga adapter.

Fans and radiator cleaned every 4-5 months, laptop sitting on a coolermaster cooling pad (for elevation) with fans turned off as they don't make a difference other than noise :/

Fault started after about 1.5 years, visible at first only on cold boots or when the GPU would change between integrated and discrete gpu. After approx 2 years couldn't run discrete without artefacts.

No artefacts seen on integrated gpu, however when running quite cpu/ram heavy Fusion labs I would get system lockups.

For everyone here with this problem, what was the general purpose of their MacBook Pro? Keeping up with this thread, I noticed for many their MBP was primiarily used for video editing, which fully utilizes the GPU.  Majoriry of those here perform GPU extensive-tasks on their MBP daily?

No, I'm a software developer. Most of the time when the dGPU is in use that would be just for driving the external display. Heavy duty work for the dGPU e.g. for games is rare, maybe 2% of the overall runtime of the system.

Same thing happens to me, a week ago my computer will not start and remains a blue screen,its the grafic card ... I'm desperate

@neolancer07

Normal basic use...I play flash games on facebook extensively and that is where I first experienced the issue.  I also from time to time run chrome and safari at the same time multitasking.   I also use iphoto a few times a week to upload photos from events that attend.

For years I have been a PC user and was convinced to get a MBP by friends and family because of my extensive photo use.  This current Late 2011 is my first ever one and my other laptops have frustrated me less.

Bottom line is this is a design issue of MBP 2011, Thermal operation of ATI chip specially the 6750M cannot handle by MBP pro.

is it normal to toast your lap while using your MBP???

overheating is the reason why the GPU break in a long run... Apple should recall this unit as a whole,

and offer the rMBP by adding 30%(just a suggestion) or release a new logicboard design, removing ATI to resolve this issue.

common apple! please take care of your costumers and be resposible on this matter. im getting overheated now like the ATI !

we are serious in investing on your product to satisfy our demands in our works and all of a suuden only 2yrs already deffective.

after trying apple_power's suggestion of disabling the ATI drivers, which did nothing but diabled the integrated divers, does anyone have any suggestions on getting my intergrated drivers working again?

The easiest way to get them working again is to reinstall the OS - you don't have to do a clean install though.

After you reinstall the OS the drivers will be loaded again.

If you experience the grey or blue screen problem when booting you can try this method to be able to reboot successfully.

- Boot the system like normal - when the boot process hangs on the grey or blue screen close the lid of the notebook. Wrap it in a carrycase and a blanket to force the system to overheat which will kill the power before doing damage. Your next boot should be successful. Once you boot up shut the system down and remove the drivers as apple_power suggested. Now the next boot will load the Intel card and the system wont ever switch to the discrete card.

I used this method an have been running my system without a problem for 3 weeks straight.

I would love to use the discrete card but I need to use the computer for the time being more then i need the extra power.

I did the command+r combo to access the recovery install after I click reinstall the screen blacked out..I'm thinking that's when the integrated graphics kick in which I no longer have so I can complete the install. I'll try it again..

odarellmc wrote:

 

I did the command+r combo to access the recovery install after I click reinstall the screen blacked out..I'm thinking that's when the integrated graphics kick in which I no longer have so I can complete the install. I'll try it again..

Hi odarellmc,

after you posted your nice comments, I think I gonna invest a lot more time in you.

So  you should do now this:

1. Run Hardware Diagnostic in the extended mode, so it will heavily check your RAM.
2. If you pass,  check the HardDisk
3. And finally, reinstall your OS

But frankly, I guess you have a RAM problem…

And by the way, isn't it nice if there is always someone else to blame…

Enjoy your 

reinstall my OS got it......

thanks for the respose PCJ-

Two days ago the MacBook Pro Early 2011 15" died. I can’t boot (grey screen) unless I remove all AMD*.kext from /System/Library/Extensions. Now I don’t have OpenGL enabled and can’t open any application that require it. I get the following message in the log:

WindowServer[110]: update_gl_acceleration: device (0x7f9238f27800) is unsuitable for gl – disabling OpenGL

I have to work with image distortion and screen blurring.

i guess apple didnt want anyone to see this, dont know why:

Re: Solve a MacBookPro 2011 Graphics Issue

created by Linc Davis in MacBook Pro - View the full discussion

To anyone finding this thread, never follow any advice to remove or change built-in system componentsunless it comes directly from Apple Engineering.

Ok, looks like I'm the latest member, 12/11/2013 my 2011 17" macbook pro AMD Radeon HD 6750M, running Mavericks, latest firmware etc, started doing exactly the same. Sudden black screen, came back on with a distorted display, wouldnt boot, boot up with a striped screen, stuck on grey screen. All the same symptons. The mac certainly hasnt been abused overclocked or damaged at all.

I've found if you boot with a low battery, power lead unpluged, clear the NVRAM / PRAM first seems to ensure the mac uses the Intel GPU as a result of the default power saving options. I've then installed gfxCardStatus v2.3 to force graphics mode onto the Intel GPU and everything is stable now. Obviously as soon as I switch back to the AMD, it will crash. This is literally a work around to get me by as I need to work using the mac, luckily I dont need to utilise any intensive graphics processes at the moment.

This is a blatent engineering defect based on the quantities expressed to date. Not sure how Apple are going to handle this but they certainly do need to with no expense to us customers. My macbook pro at the time of purchase was in excess of £2000 direct from a UK Apple Store, I've had it approximatley 2 years so its out of the standard Apple warranty. As far as I am concerned albeit I have a working mac of sorts, this is significantly substandard to the product I purchased 2 years ago and is not through any misdoing on my behalf. No high end electronics manufacturer should be expecting to have its products fail in this quantity with the same issue in this time frame without having to address the issue fully.

I have a genius bar appointment on Sunday @ 13:20 in the Metro Center branch UK, shall keep you all informed as to how I get on.