Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

Hi.

Same problem here with a MacBook Pro early 2011.

First symptom like abelliveau's image :http://imageshack.us/a/img26/9898/screenshot20130201at758.png

Same problem for me: late 2011 MBP 17". The issue began in December 2013 and got progressively worse until I couldn't even boot.

Apple had to replace the logic board to fix it. They first replaced the clamshell because they couldn't figure out what was going on (which meant additonal trips to the Genius bar to reopen the ticket). They came very close to installing the wrong logic board too.

The fan still seems to be working extra hard when nothing is really going on, so I'm not confident that the fix will last.

I'm having the reboot issues, I have a early 2011 MBP with intel 3000 with AMD Radeon 6490m. I called apple and they told me to bring it to a Apple store, which would be great if I dident live like 2 hours away from one...

Early 2011 MBP 17". Had this issue around October-November 2011. Computer went to service 4 (!!!) times. 3 logic boards replacements (first two lasted around 2 weeks). The third time they only reseted PRAM and computer got back non-working. The fourth visit and third logic board replacement lasted until now, but I'm getting worried :/

So is there a way to trigger the problem? I have had problems several times after using a projector for presentations. Not sure if it's related or not. I can't always get it to reproduce the issue, though, so it would be great to see if it could be manually triggered/tested somehow.

I'm having the same problems and just wanted to add my voice to the chorus.

Apple: Please issue a recall.

I had almost exactly the same problem as the OP. MY MBP is early 2011. After the blue screen a couple of times, broken vertical lines and then complete failure to restart. My local Apple place replaced the logic board (luckily under extended warranty). Seems AOK now.

Now Ars Technica. Hopefully this newfound attention will prompt some action. (~$600 to replace my logic board through Apple in the spring, and now it is acting up again..)

http://arstechnica.com/apple/2014/01/report-some-2011-macbook-pros-with-amd-gpus -experiencing-hardware-failures/

Yup, me too.  Had glitchy screen issues, then the grey.  Replaced Memory, hd, battery trying to fix.  Now I am at three beeps.

Until today, Ive been able to continue using my mbp by switching it to 'integrated only' mode and reboot whenever the system froze (which was/is multiple times per day).

But today, attempts to switch to integrated mode using gfxcardstatus after reboot causes the system immediately feezes!?

Is this what happens before the computer completely bricks? Why is switching to integrated only causing the system to freeze? Is there anything I can do to at least get gfx working again??

Ugh.

I had the same problem also back in Nov 13. Initially it was making my second screen disappear and I could switch to macpro display and continue. What I noticed also it was getting hot and the fans keep working w/ noticable noise.

After a while it started to happen more and eventually died and did not reboot. Took to Apple Store and they told me my best option is to pick the option of paying $310 which covers everything, i.e. whatever they have to replace, it will be in the price. (I think this is USA price)

So I got a new logic board and it worked fine for a month or so. Then it went bad again. I get suspicous, they probably used an old motherboard with the same problem they think they fixed it.

So I took in again since it was in 90 day warranty period, and they replaced logic board again. Now it works (last 2 weeks) but this is scary.

This is 15" mac pro and I am not sure if there will be decent fix if they install reused logic boards. The problem does not show up unless you do graphic intensive stuff (I was watching movies while working on XCode etc) both screens running... So if they do a simple test it might not show up.

I had an early 2011 17" MBP. The same issue started late April 2013. I did a ton of testing and at first I thought it was a software issue. Anytime it would happen I would run a permissions scan and found a directory tied to the discrete graphics card corrupt. I would repair the directory and it would be ok for a whie. So, I installed Cocktail and set it to automatically repair permissions daily.

However, the issue was never fully resolved. The next work around (used until I sold it) was installing gfxCardStatus. Then setting it to integrated at all times. Doing this made it possible for me until I rebooted. Then I would spend 30 minutes to 1 1/2 hours trying to reboot. I just had to continue to reboot until it booted on the integrated card.

So, I only rebooted when it was absolutely necessary which was every 30 days or so.

The integrated work around made it manageable but the biggest issue was I couldn't use an external monitor since it requires the discrete card.

It may be a coincidence but this issue seemed to occur more frequently with Lion and Mountain Liion and less frequently with Snow Leopard.

I ended up selling the 17" MBP for what I could get for it and purchased a lightly used 15" MBPr and immediately purchased AppleCare.

I learned a valuble lesson with this laptop, buying AppleCare is a must not optional. And I probably won't keep a Mac after the AppleCare has runout.

I have been a very happy Mac user since 2010 but this is very frustraiting.

Best of luck to you all with this issue.

One other note: APPLE THIS IS WHY YOU NEED TO ALLOW US TO CHANGE CODE IN THE OS OR SYSTEM FIRMWARE TO COMPLETLY SHUTOFF THE DISCRETE CARD ALLOWING US TO WORK ON INTEGRATED ONLY!!!

That wAs my issue! I didnot get the logic board replace! but had the first half

I wonder if I am starting to develop symptoms as well.  In the past week or so, I've had several blue screen reboots.  Mine were simply from web browsing with chrome.