Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

This is happening to mine.

Ordered on release day in Feb. of 2011.

2.2 Ghz i7 8,2 Macbook Pro with Intel 3000 onboard and AMD HD 6750M -

Upgraded to 16gb DDR3 Ram and running SSD Samsung HD in primary slot with 750gb 7200rpm secondary drive in the DVD spot with the OWC adapter.

Started happening to me just this week - full shut downs with gray screens & freeze ups. Difficult to restart computer and get it going again. For now, it appears that gfx status keeps it running if I keep it on "Integrated Only" and don't try to run any intensive software at all...

Local Apple Certified tech says needs new logic board -- even though his apple diagnostic check says the board "checks out". He coudln't find any repair/replacement order yet.

Terrible. Just terrible. So lame. Can't believe I paid $3000 for this and it hasn't even lasted 3 years.

I wonder how long it will limp along before it'll be done for good?

Took my 17" MBP early 2011 in to get cured. According to the quick diagnose it needs a new logicboard. Will take a few days. Keep u posted.

Just adding my complaint to show this is an epidemic. You better make this right soon Apple!

Early 2011 15 inch macbook pro: 2.2 i7, Radeon 6750, etc.

3 days ago I opened a powerpoint file and the computer locked up. When it locks up I have to reboot several times before the desktop loads.  I need the graphical capabilities for work/school, but I don't have the money right now to replace the logic board or buy a new machine. SOL I guess, huh Apple?

yes, i have a 17'' i7 early 2011 with anti glare, and i do see the issue.

it has ocurred even when performing non-GPU intensive tasks, and even with gfxcard status set to integrated only

Same problem with mine. I have a MBP 15" Late 2011 model. It was working perfectly fine and I'm using an external 3rd party monitor LG. I have experience several horizontal lines probably 4days before it crashed and all I have to do was restart and the problem was gone. But suddenly the last time it crashed, it went straight to either a gray or blue screen on restart and I cannot do anything.

I've already tried all sorts of things like clear pram, log as single user, boot usb, boot dvd drive but all fails.

If you are in the same scenario and want to recover your files you can still do so by pressing command + s, and mounting your USB, then you can transfer your files.

But this is really a big problem for me, as I'm not that rich to buy a new unit in an instant :-( I hope apple would do something with this issue.

Hi from Panama.

Same history.  Three days ago my mbp early 2011 15" started doing blue and grey screens. I'm so sad about this.  Hope Apple co something about it soon because I dont have the money to get a new one and its seens that there aren't a fix since those logic board when out of stock.

Same problem here, just to tack one more onto this thread.  Started off only happening with graphics-intensive applications but now I can count on a crash about once every hour, regardless of what I'm doing.

Please make this right, Apple!

I also have this problem with an Early 2011 15" MacBook Pro.

On Monday, while attempting to watch a YouTube video, the screen began to flicker and distort and I had to power down the machine.

After restarting I was met with a blue screen and vertical lines and since then my machine has been unusable. I haven't even been able to boot into Safe Mode.

I was able to boot into Target Disk mode so I have retrieved almost everything off my hard disk using a Thunderbolt cable and an iMac.

If you are experiencing this problem, I recommend you send a polite e-mail with your serial number and contact details to Tim Cook describing your situation and referencing this thread. You should receive a call and follow up e-mail from someone at Executive Relations.

The person I spoke to said they would flag the issue with the engineering team which is a small first step towards making Apple formally aware of the issue.

Will report back when I hear from Apple again.

those who received a response after emailing Tim, in what region are you guys at?

US? Europe? Asia?

I'm in Malaysia and haven't received any response yet.

To all,  just finished writing to about 10 big electronic/computer coverage news writers and publications regarding this situation.  Asking them to please give us some publicity on this situation by doing stories on this problem.  Others might want to consider doing the same thing? 

Some minority seem to suggest that for every macbook we purchase, we should generally expect to have a "free" visit to the geniuses after a year of usage. So buy Applecare. Personally, i do not prefer an experience like that.

Additionally, to another post, i did not install windows, or use any virtual machine throughout the last two years. It had also never left my house more than twenty times last two years, always been on my desk. (Its a heavy 15' ain't it.)

What i did was to be security-wise prudent, and updated to the latest patches just days before it happens. If you had upgraded recently, i am not sure if the affected patch had been removed from circulation or from Maverick perhaps.

I don't think apple is anywhere close to admitting the problem. I just brought my second logic board into apple yesterday, which failed just after one week of replacing it. I told the genius that there are thousands of people affected with my same kind of problem and pointed him to this thread and the many other articles from around the world. He told me to be honest, there are hundred of thousands of this model that are sold and only few thousands of people got affected, so it's not consider a factory defect at all.

When I spent HKD4500 to replace my logic board, they told me if it breaks within three month I have the right to change aother logic board or ask for a refund. So I though a refund will be a better option for me as I clearly know this batch of logic board are defected and to run into other system lock up is just a matter of time. As I have read in this article, there are many people that replace their logic board and only to run into the same problem again after the warranty has run out. But the "genius" now said a refund is not an option. and they have to bring in my machine for further check up and only if the next logic board failed they will consider a refund.

Great job APPLE!! Your intention is clear. Ripping people off by selling them a premium machine which only work for 2 years. When it breaks, you will charge aother premium from them by replacing the logic board  which is designed to just work till the warranty wears off so we will have no choice but to pay for a third and fourth logic board and so on....

I don't know how did you become the world's number one brand, but I surely know now how you become the richest!! 

tysonChen wrote:

 

He told me to be honest, there are hundred of thousands of this model that are sold and only few thousands of people got affected, so it's not consider a factory defect at all.

It's common that manufactures treat users like that way especially for the case that never risk users life. If it were a battery problem the course of things would have been different.

i've the same problem with MBP early 2011 15"... Just hv this problem few months ago, and can't fix... Apple Genius said need to change the logicboard.

Update on my repair earlier this month for just heating up the IC to reseat the GPU.

Fast forward to today and the issue is starting up again:

From yesterday where the display started having "vibrations" and pixelizations to today where the monitor blanked out with the MBP still running. Only could be rebooted with a SMC reset (and only after two tries this morning with once where it hung at the apple and spinner.).

Yes. so the issue comes back again and is slowly creeping up. Looks a replacement of the GPU is mandatory.