Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

For now I am coping with the gfxCardStatus. I downloaded it after the symptoms started to happen again to force the macbook to always run on the integrated intel card. But I cannot connect an external display because the mac switches to the discrete card and the issue eventually comes up. I haven't run by any application that bypasses the gfxCardStatus and forces the mac to run on the discrete card yet, we'll see.

I just saw something I have never seen before on my MacBook. My computer froze while I was opening up my email and this showed right before it shutdown. I barely managed to take a picture of it before it went black but is this evidence of graphic card failure?

Again, it just showed up right before the shutdown, so I don't know if it's enough evidence. I've been trying to see if there are any other distortions that I have seen other people posted but I can't get my MacBook to turn on right now.

video card glitch

What you saw was a panic message. It usually clears the screen, puts up a grey background and then shows that bubble in about 10 languages saying that the Mac died and you have to restart it.

This may be the result of a GPU failure, but it's also almost anything that OSX has a hard time with.

Since you are in this forum, it's probably time to take it in, provide them that picture (and any other screenshots, photos, etc. that indicate you've got a problem. I had mine replaced today. My store said that it really helps if you can document the freezes with photos and videos. It makes it real simple to justify putting in another logic board.

Now I'm holding my breath on this board. It appears that 2x is the point they just give up and give you a new computer...

Note: this is all hearsay and may not be the results you get.

If it were not for my taking pictures and videos of my 2011 17" MBP's malfunctions, every time a new logic board was replaced, I would not be sitting here on my brand new 15" Retina MBP.  I had logic boards fail within 2 days - 2 weeks, and when I brought the laptop in the final time...the videos said it all.  I am grateful that my local Apple Store in a Chicago suburb didn't even question me, or test the ill-fated machine on it's transfer to death row.  They had seen my pictures and videos over and over again, and after 3 board replacements, they knew what the right thing was to do. One bit of advice I can add, is that if at all possible, being able to work with the same Genius Bar employee really helps.  They see their notes on previous visits, and it helps not having to your story over and over again to new staff members.  

I realize I was very lucky in getting my machine replaced, and encourage others to continue to document with pictures, and videos. If it were not for this discussion thread that I stumbled upon last year, I would not have had the information I needed to advocate for myself for Apple to do the the thing by replacing my machine.  From time of first contact with the Apple store, to replacement with new laptop, was only 6 months.  If I can be of any other help to anyone...please don't hesitate to let me know. 

Took my 15" 2011 to our local support shop in Nairobi with the same issue of system lock up, blue screen,grey screen. I've been charged $230 as shipping costs for a new logic board and I'm told it will take around 14 or so days to have it back :-/ . This is the second logic board so I don't know whether they will ship in a new MBP as from the threads that seems to be the trend

MY 2011 just crashed today, won't boot (goes to apple logo then gets about 25 percent then stuck on grey screen)

im deployed in afghanville, I'm screwed

Scrapplejoejoe,

Try repairing your hard drive using the disk utility (either from the recovery disk or your install disk).  I have been doing this for several weeks now.  (replacing the HD with SSD soon).

When starting up, press the Option key as soon as you hear the startup tone.  Hold down on it until you see the available drives show up.  You should see the recovery drive and the Install disk (if you have it inserted).  Start with choosing the install disk.  Run the disk utility from the menu bar.  You will highlight the operating drive  (Mine is "Macintosh HD") then click "Repair disk" in the lower right corner.  Let it do it's thing then restart.

Hope it helps.

Got my mac repaired through the repair extension program a few months back, but now it is showing some of the symptoms that it showed before it crashed like overheating a lot and the fans going crazy for no apparent reason. What happens if my mac crashes again? Will they repair it cost free? Even worse, what if that happens after the extension program ends in Februrary?

My early 15" mbp died on me last weekend.   See my post about it here MacBook Pro won't boot at all

i called apple support on wed and was quickly sent a FedEx box to send to apple for repair.  apple said as long as my problems qualified for the replacement program I wouldn't be billed for the repair.   fedex picked it up yesterday and it is now in Memphis for diagnostics and repair.  i used this machine fairly lightly doing video and photo editing for the first couple years, purchased new in October '11, and light use 'til last weekend. 

IVe read read through most of this thread over the last couple days.  I guess we'll see how long the replacement board lasts.

apple says the repair is complete and have shipped it back already!  impressive turnaround if nothing else to say!

to follow up, apple replaced the logic board and the mag connect board.  very quick and painless turn around.  we'll see how long the logic board lasts for

My Macbook Pro has just died on me for the 2nd time (about 30 mins ago). It had previously been repaired by PC World/Currys back in November (if I remember correctly), so I am already on my second logic board. I'd been experiencing major slow downs, and general glitchiness for some time. I had gfxCardStatus installed, and noticed that it would usually freeze when switching from integrated to discrete GPU. I had a few isolated incidents of graphical glitches, so I recognised the symptoms and made sure I made a backup of my data, preparing for the imminent doomsday. Well it finally happened - (also under the same circumstances as before). I was editing HD video in iMovie, when all of a sudden 'boom'. - I got a black screen, no video, and fans whirring etc. I've tried rebooting to no avail. I've also tried booting in safe mode, and now get a blue screen with red stripes.

Time to put the MacBook Pro Repair/Extension programme through it's paces...

Please add my MacBookPro11,5 ( 2011 release 17" ) to this long list.  I experienced months of inexplicable restarts for no discernible reason.  I tried troubleshooting, etc. but was totally unaware of the possibility of a potential video card problem.  Unless you know the specific keywords to type into AppleSupport search, this particular thread and issue does not come up in search results.  About 10 days ago, my machine would not boot up completely, but rather hung with a black-and-dark-blue pinstripe pattern onscreen instead.  Eventually I researched this model more including the words "will not boot", Applecare support web page indicated that my Serial Number fell within the right "sales window" to qualify for free repair.  HOWEVER, when I spoke to Applecare Support via phone I was told it did NOT qualify, but I should nevertheless take it into Genius Bar or Certified Repair facility so they could diagnose the hardware.  I opted for Genius Bar, and was quickly informed that either YES, IT DOES qualify, OR those in power at the Genius Bar would waive the repair fee.

I dropped it off at a brick-and-mortar Apple Store 7/31/15 and was told I would receive an e-mail on order status in 4-5 days.  Today, 8/4/15 FedEx attempted a delivery from Apple.  No e-mail, nothing.  After some digging, I found my Apple Case Repair Status Report online.  If this report is to be believed, my MBP was received and repaired the same day.  That is certainly the fastest repair turnaround I've ever heard of.  Color me skeptical.  I'm half-expecting to get a 15" MBP replacement in lieu of the return of my original laptop.  (Genius Bar had warned me this was a possibility; in order to take advantage of the free repair program, I had to sign a release waiving Apple responsibility of any lost data .)

My MacBook Pros have all been amazingly-complex, wondrous tools.  Glitches are to be expected.  That being said, Apple's handling of this known product defect leaves much to be desired.