Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

Not a fix.

A workaround that only works if used before you allready stressed out your AMD GPU.

And it degrages graphic performance substantially.

Is there any whay I can test if my mac suffers from this problem? Just runing a game will do It?

I have Apple Care coverage until April 2015, so there's still time to something go wrong.

One more, from Sweden, same case. MBP 15" (early 2011) stopped working today. Screen turns blue after the loading   Any solution so far?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9i3wxo4zfv2gnqk/20140121_205005.mp4

Does your unit lock up with playing the game?

Which MBP do you have?

Which GPU?

Cause if you have the issue, nothing works.

The only way to fix the problem momentanely and use The mac is to download Gfxcard status version 2.2.1 that's work fine with Maveriks.Here is the link to download:

http://mac.majorgeeks.com/files/details/gfxcardstatus.html

We're waiting what Apple doing......

danielcbit wrote:

 

Is there any whay I can test if my mac suffers from this problem? Just runing a game will do It?

 

I have Apple Care coverage until April 2015, so there's still time to something go wrong.

Posted this one before, try that maybe?

https://discussions.apple.com/message/24473343#24473343

Maxdrums  

 

Re: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

 

   Jan 21, 2014 1:55 PM    (in response to soldecobre) 

The only way to fix the problem momentanely and use The mac is to download Gfxcard status version 2.2.1 that's work fine with Maveriks.Here is the link to download:

http://mac.majorgeeks.com/files/details/gfxcardstatus.html

 

We're waiting what Apple doing......

Depending upon how progressed the problem is, this may work, but it will eventually NOT be enough.  Most Macbooks affected by this issue start out with occasional display issues which turn into constant display issues which become unsurmountable display issues which no amount of GfxCardStatus can circumvent. BTW - Removing/relocating the AMD/ATI kext files will get you into the system (use only as a last resort) should you need to back-up files before having your laptop serviced.

As mentioned a few times in this thread, the only permanent fix is to have the GPU replaced.  Not reballed or reflowed - replaced.  Even a new logic board is not a guaranteed fix (though it does work the first time for a lucky few) .  Logic board replacement, reflowing, reballing - those are all bandaid solutions that will likely have you back for support at some future point.  A NEW GPU.  And Apple will NOT do that for you. Even if you have Applecare.  Should Apple decide to step-up and treat their customers as such, I cannot see them replacing the GPUs ONLY in the affected machines.   I can see a logic board replacement program, similar to what they did with the 2009 Macbook Pro, but not a GPU replacement program - have they ever done somethig like that? Replaced a single chip on the logic board?  I don't think so, but I could be wrong.

I would, as a point of interest, like to know how many early 2011 Macbook pro owners have had their GPUs replaced (on their own, of course), and how those machines are faring.  However, if the GPU replacement is as successful as they say, I doubt those owners are following this discussion...

Are you possibly running an external display?  If so, the computer demands to use the discrete graphics subsystem (the integrated graphics won't drive an external display).

I have a 17'' early 2011 MBP and so far so good. That i can remember, I only had a graphical issue, like 1 year ago, and i suspect that it was software corruption (my icons got a glassy look for a brief moment). I've always took really great precautions with it (it costed me almost 3000€ sooo... ), incluiding trying to keep it cool all the time, even in graphic's demanding tasks.

But, is there anyway to see/test if a computer is/will be affected by this problem? I hate to be suffering in antecipation... Nowadays i'm always using my computer afraid that it will break anytime. :/

Anyone has any ideia of the % of MBP affected? Or is this problem global and every 2011MBP will, sooner or later, have this problem?

Sure that only AMD and Apple will know for sure, but what do you guys think?

I might be in the club, or I might not... here's what I've seen.  I have a MacBook Pro 17" Early 2011, AMD Radeon HD 6750M and Intel HD3000.  In the past few days I've noticed that when I run a discrete Radeon GPU-only application (Toast 8, in this case, under Snow Leopard) I get a light blue screen upon quitting the application.  At first I thought that the machine was locked up, but on a whim I tried typing cmd-space to bring up Spotlight (even though I couldn't see it), then 'Toast' and then hit Return key.  Voila! It switched me back to the discrete graphics subsystem when Toast launched, and the blue screen went away.  So at this time, for me at least, the problem is not that discrete doesn't work, but that entry back to integrated graphics doesn't work.

Somewhere earlier in this thread I read that someone thought that a bluish cast on re-entry to integrated graphics might be a timing issue due to an SSD being 'too fast.'  As it happens, I have an SSD (Sandisk Extreme II) in the laptop.  I set up a test; I cloned my SSD back to a rotating media disk (much slower than the SSD), booted from the clone via FireWire, and then started / quit Toast: no glitch!  So now I don't know quite what to think.

I put the SSD into the MacBook about two months ago.  I know that I've used Toast since then, so I'm puzzled why the problem wasn't evident right away with the SSD but now is evident.

So, I too was wondering just how many of these beasts have been provided to the public during their run.

After some quick research, it appears that almost all of the reporting/monitoring companies say that apple was shipping about 3 million MBP units a quarter - so we can safely assume that there are about 18M of these out there. Feb 2011-April2012.

If that is the case, you don't even hit noticable until somewhere around 1 million (5%) problems with the product out there. So for those of you who report that Apple doesn't pay attention, I'd submit that there is no indication in their minds that the problem is large enough to pay attention to.

Even this blog with over 250K hits, is still small-time whining according to the numbers. And, since many owners are under applecare, I suspect that most of them aren't even aware there is a global problem. They just walk into the store and say, "it doesn't work, fix it". No muss no fuss.

The obvious problem is that if you are one of the 1 in 18million who is affected, it's personal. I am. And, now I'm looking for any excuse to get my other MBP in the shop for a logic board replacement while it's still under applecare.

I was started looking last night for a high-end 17" PC. I need something that will run multiple VMs simultaneously. There are a couple under $2,000 US that would work fine. Brand loyalty only goes so far...

I think this will affect a LOT more than a couple thousand.

In fact, I think it will affect most.

Get over it. Electrical products out of warranty can't be fixed for free. He will have to think it over if there are one who bought $3,000ish products withougt extended warranty. It was silly decision. Especially who are using it for work. Onsite support is preferable if it is expensive workstation for business use.

This is on a consumer law website "Please read it" Its to protect from people who think like you.

If a product turns out to be defective, you may be entitled to a repair, replacement or refund (depending on whether the problem is major or cannot be fixed).

This applies regardless of whether the product is still under warranty.

Example:

Danny buys a plasma TV for $6000. It stops working after two years.

The store says they will not provide a repair or replacement as the TV only had a 12-month manufacturer’s warranty. They tell Danny he should have bought an extended warranty, which would have given five years’ cover.

However, it is reasonable for Danny to expect more than two years’ use from a $6000 TV. He is entitled to a repair, replacement or refund from the store.

Also a link to that content http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/shopping/warranties/warranty-has-expired