Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

(at)StaffsDad,

As they say, those who know don't tell, and those who tell don't know.  You aren't the first to pose the question, even to Apple.  I asked when I got my repaired MBP back, and the Apple Store employee who was serving me went to the back room -- where they keep the technicians locked up, I suppose -- and returned with the answer that the board was "revidiert" in German, which means anywhere from "revised" to "refurbished".  Others have reported here that the boards installed in their repaired MBP's looked very ... ahem! -- used, and they were told that the board as such has never been in any other machine, but it may contain used components that have been tested and found to be good.  Apple has never said what the difference between the original and the refurbished boards is, and without this information it's very difficult to predict whether the problem will recur.  Some customers who have a theory about what caused the problem on the original boards have found that, in that respect, the replacement boards are no different.  You get the idea.

Look at it this way:

• In the announcement of the repair extension program Apple said it was going to repair the affected machines.  It didn't say the logic boards would be replaced, and that's  good, because we customers really don't care how Apple does it, we just want the problem fixed.  If that can be accomplished by performing incantations over the sick machine, that's fine with me, and maybe with you, too.
• Every failed attempt to repair the machine brings you one step closer to a new machine.

So enjoy the machine as long it enjoys its new lease on life, and if it suffers a relapse, just give Apple another chance to fix it.  Whatever you do:

• Be polite -- the employee is also a victim of circumstances --, but ...
• Don't accept answers that amount to, "A machine qualifies at most once (or twice, or three times) for the repair extension program."  This is contradicted by the wording of the announcement of the program, which says that Apple will fix  machines that have certain problems and mentions no limit to how often they can be brought in with said problems.  A significant number of affected customers have also reported multiple repair attempts here.

Good luck.

Hey guys!

I had the same issue. I live outside the US so I couldn't get it to Genius bar. I went to other local services, and they reballed my Macbook pro, and after that everything works fine. They charged me 40$ for that. Hope that will help.

Actually, the repair extension program (https://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro-videoissues/) covers your situation.  You would only have had to call Apple Support.  They would have sent you packing material for sending them your machine.  I believe Apple paid all the shipping costs.  That said, I think the consensus in this thread is, if done properly reballing is best.  Under the repair extension program Apple refunds repairs for the described video issues made before the start of the program.  You might ask whether they'll refund your USD 40, as you evidently didn't know about the program (or didn't read the description of the program carefully ) before having the work done.

Had my logic board replaced by apple about 2 months ago. Just failed again. 1.5 years seems very optimistic as my "fix" has lasted 2 months.

Thanks Richard - appreciate your response!!

(at)djmooredo,

You probably meant to reply to SaffsDad.  Those who have had their MBP's repaired under the repair extension program should keep a watchful eye on their machines, as the program expires on February 27, 2016.  At this point, if your machine begins exhibiting some of the symptoms that qualified it for the program once, don't hesitate to take it back, with photographic evidence, if possible.  As I pointed out above, the announcement of the program says that Apple will fix the affected machines, and, as is well documented in this thread, fixing includes replacing a machine that refuses to be fixed any other way.  Unfortunately, qualifying for a replacement means giving Apple a few chances (three? four?) to fix it and the machine time to fail, and in that respect time is running out.  So you really don't want to "baby" the machine at this point.  But don't try to "fry" it either.  Use it the way you intended to when you bought it.

Sorry for wrong reply Destination . Was just being lazy and replying to last Post..... **** done it again!!!!!

Tried to restart to safe mode etc etc its clearly fried Already and fails after about 30 seconds so it's going back for second time. I got this machine as replacement for  a 2008 model which had screen and logic board failure. I've used mac since the lovely little grey boxes of 1987-88 but I am not impressed with quality of MacBook Pro. Rolls Royce prices....... Yugo quality( look up this car.....Known as the yugo by bus as it's always broken down! No yugo lover hate mail please.

i'll update on whether and how they intent to "fix" again. On the bright side it's cold in scotland and the heat generated by the machine can keep me warm...

Just had my pro back after getting the board replaced.. I'll keep monitoring

My MBP 15 late '11 stopped working with huge vertical lines just suddenly while working, restarted and now there is horizontal lines everywhere. The apple shop took it in to repair, said it was the graphics card, i can expect to get it back 22/10/15. Will keep you updated.

On october 6 my MBP 15" late 2011 just went off suddenly while I was working and couldn't turn it on again. Got horizontal lines all over the screen and the color got light blue. After a few tries a day after got it to finally start and installed the gfx tool, then made a full backup. Took me two days to do this.

On october 9 I took it to an authorized service centre (iShop Centro Magno, Guadalajara. Jalisco, México). After explaining the problem to the technician and telling him about the repair program he took my MBP for testing. I'm told that the test shows a GPU problem, so they'll take care of the problem. I add that if is there any problem if I put some custom SSD and RAM to the MBP, the technician reply is that there is no problem at all about that, as they will replace the logic board and no other component will be exchanged. I'm told that on october 14 my MBP will be ready... I was happy. But then...

On october 14 I get a call... The same technician calls to tell me that they already exchanged the logic board and the issue is still there, and as I mentioned the custom RAM before, she asked to the Apple "contact" if that could be an issue... She tells me that they think is my custom RAM that can cause the issue. So, as they already replaced the logic board now the MBP must be kept overnight to further testing using brand certified RAM, and if the test are clear then I'll get my MBP back as is.

My custom RAM is Corsair 2x8GB... But I doubt the RAM is the issue...

I'm not so happy now but a little scared about my MBP.

Sorry to hear that.  A few suggestions:

1. You say that when you brought your MBP to Shop Centro Magno they tested it, and the test showed a GPU problem.  Did they perform the same test on the new board, and it did not show a GPU problem, therefore they began looking for other causes, or did they just concluded that the GPU could not be the problem because the board is new without testing that assumption?  If they did not test the GPU before replacing your RAM, ask them to put your RAM back into the MBP and test the GPU.  Have them ensure that the RAM is properly seated in the MBP.
2. If they did test the GPU before looking for other explanations for the persistence of the video issues, did they ensure that your RAM was properly seated i the MBP and, for that matter, that the SSD was connected properly?
3. If the problem with the new board is the Corsair RAM, in the worst case they'll want you to pay for the RAM.  Is there some kind of guarantee on the Corsair RAM?
4. If you have any reason not to trust the Shop Centro Magno, have them show you your MBP having the video issues with the Corsair RAM installed.  While they do that, examine the certified RAM to ensure that it is from Apple.
5. If you end up paying for Apple RAM, enquire about the guarantee.  The guarantee on the board will probably be 90 days on parts and labor, but I would argue that the RAM is a new item and should carry a standard guarantee (1 year?), as it undoubtedly would had you bought it separately.

Good luck!

I was told yesterday, by phone, that they already replaced the logic board and the issue was still there. They noticed it after re-running the tests with the new logic board, so now the RAM is the suspect. The technician sounded surprised about this, I think didn't expected that after a replacement it will fail again, maybe that's why she then asked the Apple "contact" about the RAM as possible cause for the issue.

1. As far as I was told, they already mounted and tested the replacement logic board sent by a Apple. Didn't pass the GPU test with my custom RAM, they'll test with their own RAM then.

2. Can't be sure about the testing procedures, as they're done at closed doors on their locale. But maybe I can ask for a review of the test on site.

3. I'm afraid this is a posibility, paying for their RAM replacement. And as the Corsair RAM I have is imported. Doubt it will have any sort of warranty in my country (the only bad thing about importing stuff).

4. I trust the guys there. They're nice and helped me in other issues before.

5. Something I'm afraid about is the warranty period. They're strict about this: 90 days on repairs. Sadly as they're not the "brand" can't do much, and our consumer defense is sometimes for show only.

I'll wait for their call now. Will keep this updated.

Only the CPU GPU (Intel 3000) uses the system RAM to display graphics. The discrete card has it's own RAM.

They have sticks and sticks of certified RAM (for testing) lying about. why didn't they plug it in to eliminate that as a root cause?

Got a call on october 15, my MBP is not working with my custom RAM and must bring to the store my old RAM to be able to get my MBP to run the proper tests and still be covered by warranty, if I refuse I can take my MBP from the store but I'll have no cover if it fails again.

On october 16 I bring the old RAM sticks and they run tests overnight.

On october 17 I get another call. My MBP is ready for pick up and now is back and running fine so far (writing this from it). I'll keep testing it as I just got some other RAM sticks (CT51264BF160B * 2) just in case the other sticks are really faulty.

Haven't had a problem with my computer since purchase, but 2day something happened. Was on a Huffington Post article when the screen went 2 the left, displayed two side by side images & then went blank. Restarted in safe mode & was online about 45 minutes & then the screen just went black. Was still powered on (could see vague backlight) but after about 5 minutes blank black screen still existed. Powered down & rebooted in safe mode again only 2 get blue screen/black vertical lines. No further boot. Powered down. Rebooted 2 Apple Hardware test (d on boot) test results showed no trouble. Online troubleshooting points 2 graphics card & possible problems already known 2 Apple. Need help fixing it, as there's a known problem that should have been alerted 2 customers & fixed uunder warranty. Thanks