Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

jedi'master wrote:

 

Yeah, you choose the right repair shop for sure.

From listening to how he repairs on YouTube videos Rossman defintely knows what he's doing.

It's very rare now days shops like Rossman who is on customer side and try to provide permanant solution.

 

Though low 150s sounds bit too high right repair proves the machine is holding up.

Keep up your 17" MBP!

If you look back a few dozen pages their is a description of how I got the low 150s.  Basically it was running so many videos and editing processes (with 16gRAM, page swap off) that the MagSafe could not keep the battery charged.  With the MagSafe on I discharged the battery down to about 50%.  The fans were turning.  Only did that once.  My normal, for me, loading gets the cpu in the 130s and the GPU slightly lower.

Hello Folks,

I faced this issue on Thursday night (3 Sep 2015) and went to Genius Bar on the following day.

They ran a video test and luckily my macbook pro early 2011 2.2 i7 showed a failure.

They replaced my logic board which I don't know and forgot to ask if it a new redesigned one or just the new one.

Hope you guys know and answer me this.

I picked up my Mac this afternoon. Let's see how long it lasts. I don't trust my mac anymore.

I also installed gfxcardstatus to switch to integrated only on Mac but I also have to use Windows 7 via bootcamp which I don't really know which graphic card is in use. Can anyone suggest a program (free program is preferred) for switching graphic card in Windows.

Unfortunately, I sometimes have to use external monitor which mac must use discrete graphic card. Bad luck.

In addition, my macbook pro was upgraded. 240SSD + original 750HHD in optical bay and 10GB of ram. All of this upgrades made no problem in the extension warranty program. This laptop was bought in Thailand and repaired once for Wifi issue under Apple care in Bangkok. This time, the reparation was made in Tokyo.

Finally, I read some of you faced this trouble twice or more. Has anyone found the problem reoccur after changing logic board under extension warranty program.

Cheers

Shane

Shane,

I think it is the same design.  My own laptop failed over the weekend.  I had already replaced out the MB once already.  (It was luckily covered under Applecare at the time.)  The machine lasted another 1.5 years, and now I have the same symptoms.  I'm going back into the Apple store today, but I'm going to be demanding answers because I don't want to go through this issue every 1 to 1.5 years.  

Oops... im on vacation until 13.10. regards.

Ohhh, if it's the same design, I would expect this to happen again in the future, hopefully before extension warranty program ends.

Sorry to hear about your Mac. Hope it's all going well for you.

How i can rely on this s*** aluminium lol.

My Macbook Pro's graphic card failed for the THIRD time on Saturday night.  I brought it in on Sunday and they're one again replacing the motherboard.  I'm told that they'll replace the computer with a new one after 4 major failures. At this point, I hope it'll fail again as I hate having a computer I can't rely on.  I'll be getting the system back either today or tomorrow.

So, during the MB repair process, the Apple 'genius' ruined my display.  The display is now constantly showing upper and lower horizontal bands.  The Apple person who I spoke to tried to say that this was a preexisting condition even though, when I turned the laptop in, they ran extensive tests with me and the display itself was fine.  They also tried to blame my GPU issues on the display. I asked them - How does a display issue cause my laptop to lock up, restart intermittently and behave exactly the way it did in the past when my GPU was the issue???  And my display was fine when I brought it in, and now it isn't - and you (Apple) want to blame me for that?!?!  Now my laptop has been sent to a depot for repair.  I told the Apple store that I was not going to pay for a single thing and I'll escalate it if I have to.  I'm just amazed.

Supposedly, the new mother board has been 'fixed' as to not have the GPU issue happen anymore, but I don't have much faith at this point.

Same here, after GPU repair for two times, I was told my display has some problem and need to pay 300 or 400 hundred dollars to get it "fixed".

they did not fix my laptop they said they changed logic board already in the past.  what to do?

they did not fix my laptop they said that they already changed logic board in the past. what to do?

Hello,

I checked the serial number online and the MACPro we own is part of the batch of defects.

But...because we bought the Mac from a dealer as is...Apple will not let us repair under the program.

It just seems wrong and really grimey that they built and sold defective products. Why are they hassling us about a warranty for something that we don't need a warranty to fix?????

They extend me an out of warranty repair to fix a defect they admit to for $350!!

We've been loyal MAC customers for years!!

Not cool Apple....not cool!

question: when the LB failure re-occurs, have there been restart messages when the machine resumes? aka, "Your computer restarted because of a problem."

Got a crash and now I fear (like many who've had the board replaced) that it's failing again. Machine seems to have been fine since the repair in March, although I do see twitches with the display while browsing. They're very quick, and hard for me to determine if it's just a browser glitch or if the entire screen is twitching. No lines, or other display concerns (at the moment).

The restart did take 2 tries to come back up, which makes me worry more. That whole cyclical restart is not a fun flashback.

(at)SaffsDad,

I think it's standard operating procedure to document the condition of the machine as it was received from the customer before doing anything else.  Any pre-exsiting problems should be noted on the work order that you sign.  When my MBP was repaired for the GPU problem, the Apple Store even noted its cosmetic condition ("well used, few scratches on the case").  I think you're well within your rights to ask why those supposedly pre-existing problems were not noted on the work order.  And since any problems with the GPU (G = graphics) are bound to show up on the screen, how does your "genius" propose to absolve the GPU of any blame for those constant bands?  He is essentially claiming that there's nothing wrong with the GPU, it's the screen.

Is he sure enough to perform the following experiment?  He should find another MBP of the same model as yours which has neither screen nor GPU problems.  He should then exchange the screens of the two machines.  If he's right, your machine with the other's screen will have no problems _and_ the other machine with your screen should have the same problems.  On the other hand ...

Good luck

Richard Liu wrote:

 

(at)SaffsDad,

 

I think it's standard operating procedure to document the condition of the machine as it was received from the customer before doing anything else.  Any pre-exsiting problems should be noted on the work order that you sign.  When my MBP was repaired for the GPU problem, the Apple Store even noted its cosmetic condition ("well used, few scratches on the case").  I think you're well within your rights to ask why those supposedly pre-existing problems were not noted on the work order.  And since any problems with the GPU (G = graphics) are bound to show up on the screen, how does your "genius" propose to absolve the GPU of any blame for those constant bands?  He is essentially claiming that there's nothing wrong with the GPU, it's the screen.

 

Is he sure enough to perform the following experiment?  He should find another MBP of the same model as yours which has neither screen nor GPU problems.  He should then exchange the screens of the two machines.  If he's right, your machine with the other's screen will have no problems _and_ the other machine with your screen should have the same problems.  On the other hand ...

 

Good luck

Or he could hook it up to an external screen.

If it gives the same faults = GPU.

If picture ok = internal screen (most likely) .

So, the Apple depot replaced my logic board as well as my screen.  Apple covered all the costs as the issue with my screen was not a pre-existing issue.  (And I argued this with them.)

The computer is now back with me and working fine.  (They did replace out my 1333 16GB memory w/ 8GB 1600 memory; no explanation was provided, but they did return my original SIMMs.)

What I'm wondering now is how long will this new logic board last until it fails again???? I'm hoping to get at least another 1.5 years from the Macbook.

Does anyone know if the new logic boards actually are 'fixed' to correct the GPU failure issue?  Thanks.