Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

Personally I never upgraded to maverick ... The temp fix mentioned here a half dozen times is to get gfxcardstatus and only use integrated gfx chip. Crashes should stop when you bypass discrete.

Ahh I'm having a nightmarish time. Now for some strange reason the camera did not work after the 2nd logicboard replacement (like I mentioned), and they tried changing the logic board again, but it still did not work so they said it is a display issue, and the 90 day warranty is only for the logic board. You can imagine my frustration at this point at the prospect of having to pay for another part, so I contacted a senior advisor in Apple and spoke to him regarding this.

However I digress, I apologise. Coming back to the GPU issue, I brought this thread to the senior advisor's attention and compared it to the 27-inch iMac and how the symptoms are startlingly similar. He said he would look into it. I really hope Apple takes a serious note of this, the whole process for me has been very stressful.

Wil report back to you guys in case of any progress.

I'm having similar issues, Macbook Pro early 2011, Radeon 6490M. I saw flickering some times ago then couple of days back, upon opening google maps, the screen moved a bit to the right and laptop crashed, I restarted and it was fine afterwards. Later in the evening laptop crashed when I was just using Messages.

Shutdown, and after that the laptop doesn't boot up anymore and it shows Blue Screen! I tried eveything, from safe mode to internet recovery to booting from USB, all showing blue screen with black lines inside it.

I called apple today, told them about the issue, this thread and some news article, he said they don't have an exchange program for such issue.

I'm not gonna replace the logic board because I don't have the money to and I don't wanna get the same board which works only for max two years again and fail.

I hope apple fix this.

MacBook Pro Late 2011 15″

Model: MacBookPro8,2, BootROM MBP81.0047.B27, 4 processors, Intel Core i7, 2.2 GHz, 16 GB, SMC 1.69f4

Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 3000, AMD Radeon HD 6750M

I have problems with it from last week. Most curious for me is that I am using it almost two years, without any problem.

Details:

Sometimes system goes completely irresponsive with lots of messages in system log, like

kernel[0]: GPU hang:

kernel[0]: Trying restart GPU …

kernel[0]: GPU Hang State = 0×00000000

Also, I have troubles at boot – I see horizontal distortion of apple logo and progress indicator, after that I have gray screen on which loading stops(once I waited near 20minutes – nothing happened, only notebook get really hot)…

For now the only way to boot into OS is to reboot it right on grey screen – sometimes after it, OS boots without any graphic glitches.

On my MBP early 2011 I got the same problem with distortion lines (red) on bootup, but I cant get to log on because I get a whitescreen where normally should be the login screen. If I boot in safe mode, i get a blue screen.

Took it to apple: 600 euro repair cost (replace motherboard)... So now I'm looking for someone who can reball my GPU in Belgium... contact me if you know someone who can do it or who wants to do it himself

As far as I know reballing is not a solution, it can be fix but in most cases temporary, to definitely fix it - you need completely replace gpu chip( Ati Radeon HD6750(216-0810005)

Actually there is two ball sets - beetwean chip and logic board, and beetwean chip and crystal inside of it.

Reballing is fix for a first one, but in most cases problem is in second one. But, reballing can also help with second one - it is because of heating whole chip while doing reball. So instead of doing reballing you can do just reflow(by heating gpu chip), also there is some people who are doing this in oven(personaly, I do not advise to do it, this way).

Yes I would agree totally. This is the work we are carrying out day to day. No returns so far and certainly covers all aspects.

This is a Chipset replacement on a Macbook Pro 2011 6490m with GPU Failure we have recently repaired. Here are some pictures if anyone is interested.

1. Old GPU

GPU has now been removed and old lead free solder removed.

Old and New GPU side by side.

We reball the new GPU in lead solder.

Below: New GPU fitted and Logic board cleaned of flux residue.

This is the repair you need done if you get one. Brand New GPU in lead With picture proof...

Did it happen after updating your firmware?

Early 2011 MacBook Pro 15", AMD Radeon HD 6490M

Here's my story. Two weeks ago my GPU died and I couldn't boot anymore. The system hung up and showed a grey screen. So I went to the next Apple Store in Germany. They run several tests but couldn't boot even from their system. Because the Mac is out of warranty they told me that a repair would cost around 500 € ($700). The Genius told me to try calling Apple Care and ask for a cost transfer, but they refused because there's no exchange program. After another couple of days I had my second Genius Bar appointment. After a lot of discussion I hadn't a chance to get the repair done for free. So I payed 500 € for the logic board replacement. He told me that it's unusual that Apple starts an exchange program for such an "old" Mac, but it's better to write directly to Apple instead of disussing in the forum here.

If you would like the possibilities of a recall or repair program to begin simply fill out a feedback request which I am providing the link for below.

http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbookpro.html

I used this message. Feel free to copy or adjust it.

Subject: MacBook Pro Early 2011 GPU failure

 

I would like to draw your attention to a very grave hardware fault that is currently being experience by many owners of a MacBook Pro Early 2011. I feel that my just over two year old computer has suffered from a failure related to a latent defect of manufacture. (Serial Number: XXX)

 

My machine's GPU began malfunctioning rendering the machine almost useless. A two year useful life for such a high end product is not acceptable. It is clear from this thread on the Apple Support Community this is a common problem and points to a design issue with this model for which I would like Apple to investigate and provide a formal response.

 

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4766577

https://discussions.apple.com/message/22613129#22613129

 

Thank you in advance.

problem now is - I can't even change my gpu to integrated on gfxcardstatus. When I selected integrated it goes to discrete...and the rest is history. any help?

He told me that it's unusual that Apple starts an exchange program for such an "old" Mac, but it's better to write directly to Apple instead of disussing in the forum here.

Well, it's not exactly that people waited to the device to be considered old before experiencing and complaining about sudden hardware failure... Also that's not quite true, there were a number of "warranty extension" plans announced like the "iMac 1TB Seagate Hard Drive Replacement Program" up to three years after the first model shipped or the "MacBook Bottom Case Replacement" plan 18 months after the first model shipped, not to mention the 1gen iPod Nano replacement and those are only the ones publicly announced and still mentioned on the Apple homepage: http://www.apple.com/support/exchange_repair/

Had the same problem.

Need to restart many times before gFxCardStatus let me switch correctly.

Last time it took about 2-3 hours of constant freezes and glitches.

any idea why? It was working normally until it froze this morning, and everytime I managed to get it restarted and switch to integrated it goes immediately to discrete. I already closed all apps and everything too.

Hi.

I have downloaded several files (OCH. Rars) with Safari. Meanwhile, some symbols have been scratched in the dock. (Stripes)

Have you noticed also graphics problems while downloading of files with Safari? (zip, rars, etc?) (Macbook Pro late 2011 15,4 mbp8,2, 6750m)

Sorry to break you hearts guys but a GRAPHICS CHIP REPLACEMENT is the only feasible repair for the units if you need to get back to work asap. i don't think i'll get a reply from apple soon that's why i went through with the repair. no software hack can get it back to fighting form. if there is, then good for you.