Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

Darkelipse04 wrote:

 

Has anyone that encountered this issue have their Macbook Pro running on a cool pad/cooling station when doing heavy tasks?

 

I am hoping the use of a cooling pad will delay or prevent the degradation.

My opinion I wrote before on it:

Imo, one doing graphics, video or other heavy load application should never go for a laptop.

Be it an Apple or standard PC, laptops are made for PORTABILITY, not for beeing used as work horses or gaming.

A desktop will allways perform much better with lesser chance of failing on this.

Add to that easy expandabilty, much better cooling...

Not sure a cooling pad will prevent it failing in the long run.

But allways good to give extra cooling.

On a side note, if I weren't able to get it fixed, I did manage to install Ubuntu 13.04 on it working perfectly, with just the built in intel graphics.  If you have no other option, can't get it replaced for free or at a cost you can/want to afford, and want to try that route, I used the information out of help.ubuntu.com/community/MacBookPro8-2/Raring and the "booting from usb pen via efi" to try it out,

Matt_jd - I tried this with Linux Mint (64-bit, 32-bit, versions 14 & 16) without success.  I would run into the same graphics glitches when attempting to boot to, well, ANY mode, really.  My closest success was running version 14, 32-bit from the live CD - it would load, but one cannot run from the live CD all the time, and the graphics were all wonky/stretched out horizontally.   Mint is based on Ubuntu, so one would figure the installs would be very similar...

Just my experience, but glad to know that it does work.    BTW -  I had my GPU replaced two weeks ago and all is well so far, but I monitor this discussion for if/when my early 2011 macbook goes belly-up again (hopefully it won't, but my confidence in this laptop is sorely shaken, to say the least).

Add me to the list. My MBP 15'' early 2011 has the following specs:

MacBookPro8,2, Intel Core i7, 2,2 GHz, 16 GB

Boot ROM-version:          MBP81.0047.B27

SMC-version (system):          1.69f4

Three days ago, the scanner lines, deep blue screens and black screens of death started appearing, as well as the hard locks during startup. I have disabled the AMD chipset and all is well for now. A very expensive design flaw indeed. I have left feedback to Apple. Hopefully they will give us grace, since my warranty has ended since years back.

Hmmm. My MBP is back tomorrow with a new logic board. But Mint is my favourite Linux distro AND I have 2 physical internal disks AND my current assignment ends in two weeks. Maybe - just maybe ...

Took my MBP into the apple store to get it looked at by the genius. The guys ran some diagnostic tests which all returned posistive, inclduing the GPU test, which was interesting. On further analysis they confirmed it was in fact the GPU which had failed, which was no surprise to myself having spent the good part of a day researching the problem.

The genius' recommendation was not to get the logic board replaced as the cost would be AU$600, which in his opinion was close to the cost of a replacement.

So after 3 years of moderate use, I am left with a worthless laptop with no likelyhood of a solution. I really don't have the time or energy to try the suggestions put forward on this thread, baking my logic board in the oven for 8 minutes at 200 degrees is a little insane, although I'm sure people have had sucess. Running linux, using the Intel GPU could work but the discrete GPU is required to use my thunderbold display.

I'm not really sure what my next steps will be, but I reasonably sure Apple won't be a part of that plan.

mokies,

I had the same experience - all tests were good but, ultimately, the source of the problem was dianosed to be a faulty GPU. Since I've AppleCare, my logic board was replaced for free, however. Will it last? Who knows? A number of folks on here have had 3-4 board replacements.

When my AppleCare runs out in April of 2015, if the machine is still running and if I run into this problem again, I'm simply going to have someone install a new GPU. I've seen prices right around $200US for a new installed GPU. Sounds a lot better than a $600AU output.

Sorry you're one of the victims, too...

Clinton

at the end after more than 200 pages of thread I brought the mac book pro to a repair center.

90 € the reballing of the GPU, I do not know how much the repair will last but definitely I will not give € 600 for the replacement of the logic board to Apple for a problem that plagues many users and that they pretend does not exist.

mokies wrote:

 

 

I really don't have the time or energy to try the suggestions put forward on this thread, baking my logic board in the oven for 8 minutes at 200 degrees is a little insane, although I'm sure people have had sucess. Running linux, using the Intel GPU could work but the discrete GPU is required to use my thunderbold display.

 

I'm not really sure what my next steps will be, but I reasonably sure Apple won't be a part of that plan.

200C Is in fact not even enough.

Gave my opinion on oven baking here:

https://discussions.apple.com/message/24476742#24476742

If you want it repaired, look for a repairshop for reflow/reball/chip replacement.

Mostly it's no fix no pay, so, what you have to loose?

Unless you wait/hope for something from Apple of course.

same gpu problem here (early 2011 mbp bought on refurb store on december 2011), logic board was changed 1 month ago (for free due to the 2 years european guaranty), but the problem came back 2 weeks ago...

hi Everyone, It seems I'm not the only one facing this issue. I have MacBook Pro - late 2011 with AMD video card. My Mac freezed and I had to Force Shutdown and start again and since thn I'm getting that Grey and blue screen.

I tried all the 3 steps:

1. RESET RAM
2. SAFE mode boot
3. Fsck -fy

and nothing is working - I even tried to install fresh OS and whenever  I boot the machine from the bootable USB, i see APPLE logo and Loader indicator thn boooom "BLUE SCREEN"

I hope that Apple look at this issue and help us exchange the board with no cost.

Thanks

For those who have been into an Apple store and had a genius look at your problem, email Tim Cook with information about your problem.  It will be handled by Executive Relations who will give you a call to go through your issue with you.  I did this and recieved a call from his team to let me know that my concerns have been noted and they will investigate further internally and be in contact with you.

Please do this! It is the only way to get this taken seriously and the underlying cause corrected.

As an added incentive if you are in the UK they will fix it - and in some parts of the EU depending on its age and local consumer laws.

I got mine back today with a logic board replacement - but I would still like to know they are looking at the underlying problem because I don't wish to keep having it replaced, or fail unexpectedly.

I have modified and updated from my last posting. I hope this helps and saves others time in getting to the conclusion, which is… NO FIX! :-

I thought I should add my two pennies’ worth to the great dGPU debate or what I have become accustomed to calling my macLife crisis (the stress and anxiety my early 2011 MBP has caused me is not quantifiable). I am a struggling self-employed designer from the UK currently residing in Sweden and I am exclusively dependent on my early 2011 17” MBP for my livelihood.

I should start by saying I've been an ardent Mac customer for 20 years (I’ve spent small personal fortune on Apple products in that time) and I am writing this from my trusted 2003 PowerBook G4 17" running OS X 10.5.8, slow but it works. Up until 2011 I used this PowerBook as my workhorse from morning to night 7 days a week (running CAD and modeling software). I have owned various Macs since 1994 and all outlived their functionality (that is why I have never bothered with Applecare), hence my decision to part with large wad of cash in my next investment, which I purchased from the Swedish online Apple Store with the following spec:

• Model Name: MacBookPro
• Model no: A1297
• Currently running: OS X Mavericks (Supplied with OS X 10.6.7, this version was installed when first logic board failed)
• Processor: 2.3GHz quadcore intel core i7
• Memory: 8GB
• Hard drive: 750GB @ 5400
• Disp: 17" with antiglare
• SMC Version (system)
• iGPU: Intel HD Graphics 3000 graphics processor
• dGPU: AMD Radeon HD 6750M, 1 GB dedicated GDDR5 memory
• Keyboard: Swedish
• Purchase date: 26th March 2011 (or 34months old, less 1 month repair time)
• Paid: 27,545SEK (4,317USD or 127USD a month)

At this point it is import for me to highlight that I am a very cautious individual. I have been very meticulous with the administration of and general upkeep of all my Macs to help eliminate any mishaps. Since the first day I received my MBP I have had it propped up on a cooling pad (purchased from Apple store) to ensure adequate air circulation to prevent overheating and plugged it into a surge protector. In fact, I move this machine maybe twice a year (when traveling to and from summerhouse an hour away), it has remained stationary (akin to desktop) for most of its life. All of which only compounds my frustration. Also, as work has been scarce (lack of Swedish) I have never really had a chance to work this machine the way I did my PowerBook. I would say I use around 15hrs a week (even less still post logic board replacement) for mostly admin stuff (nothing that I can think of that has pushed the graphics performance).

From day one this MBP crashed at least once a week, compare this to my 17”PB which crashed 3 times in 7 years, amazing. Then the first major incident, on starting the MBP one morning the apple logo came up and then suddenly disappeared as if going into sleep mode. As the keyboard lights were still on and I could still hear the processor cooling fans I assumed it might be a display problem, so I shone a LED lamp through the apple logo (behind display) and I could see the login window. I managed to connect an external monitor and the innards worked fine. As I live on an island (5 hrs by ferry and coach from Stockholm, 1 direction), an Apple Genius Bar was not an option (I don't think we have one yet in Sweden anyway), but luckily I found an Apple Authorised Service Provider 20mins away. They ran some diagnostic tests and found some faulty fuses that had something to do with the displays background lighting (‘Felet ligger i backgrundsbelysningens säkring på moderkortet’, make of that what you will). After some haggling they managed to convince Apple that these repairs had to be carried out at their expense due to Swedish Consumer Laws, which requires 2 years guarantee on all electrical components. This resulted in the following:

• Logic board replaced: 25th Aug 2012
• Display assembly replaced: 25th Aug 2012 (or after 17months) 7550SEK or 1183USD

Incidently, I was told that if I had to pay for this it would have cost me 20000SEK or 3135USD. Since this repair I have been even more cautious with it (I hardly switched it on between Dec 2012 and Aug 2013) . Seven months later my hard disk died (hence the crashing):

• Hard disk replaced: 19th March 2013

I had read about the AMD GPU problems a week or two ago and thought to myself ‘luckily I have a new Logic board in mine, this won’t affect me’. How foolish do I feel now? On the 25^th January ‘14, having 'shared to file' a 10min home movie (low res) in iMovies, it suddenly appeared, the dreaded black screen. I then forced shutdown and got the grey screen on restart. I tried booting from the recovery disk but got a deep blue screen instead. I then shutdown and tried a number startup functions which I have learnt over the years. These included the following:

• Boot from Disk2. I have my disk partitioned [700-50GB] so that I can run a copy of OS X 10.6.8 for old software) Grey screen also!
• Reset NVRAM.
• Reset the System Management Controller.
• Start up in Safe Mode (Press Shift during startup, temporarily disable login items) resulting in deep blue screen.
• Start up in Verbose mode (Press Command-V during startup).

All of the above had no impact. The next morning I tried booting again and it worked. I quickly did a time machine backup and then, having read this now infamous discussion group (2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card, https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4766577?start=0&tstart=0), I downloaded and installed the ‘gfxCardStatus’ app and set it to integrated only. I also deactivated the Automatic graphics switching option in the energy settings for both Battery and Power Adapter (switching seems to be the instigator here). Later in the day the problem reappeared, this time instigated by the Display sleep option, which I later set to ‘Never’.

By Tuesday I was permanently stuck in the dreaded grey screen (in my case things have deteriorated very quickly). I had by then discovered the following options:

• Booted in Single-user mode to check for possible file system issues (/sbin/fsck -fy). All seemed fine and still no joy!
• Booted in Single-user mode again

/sbin/fsck –fy (repeat if modified until OK)

mount -uw /

cd /System/Library/Extensions/

mkdir DisabledExtensions

mv AMD* DisabledExtensions/

            (I am no programmer and have never done this before)

This managed to devolve my Ferrari into a Trabant, it thought I had an external screen connected (blue tint to everything) and I couldn’t change this in the system preferences but I was finally able to zero my private files, music, photos, etc so that I can eventually hand it in to the same Apple Authorised Service Provider.

Having done this I now decided to delete the ATI extensions from Disk2 (running OS X 10.6.8) and hey-presto! I could now boot from Disk 2 with much better graphics performance. My guess is by preventing switching between the 2 GPUs the system is much more stable.

Yesterday I decided to try and reinstall Mavericks (OS X 10.9.1) on Disk1. After 20 or so blue screens (repeatedly force-shutdown/reboot) I managed to boot from the recovery disk. After a successful install I did the same with Disk 2 (OS X 10.6.7). Logged into Mavericks installed gfxCardStatus again and prevented switching in sys pref, I left it running for an hour or so, then clicked on the Safari icon and BLACK SCREEN! Today I installed Maxon’s CINEBENCH R15 (precision performance testing of processors and graphics cards) and got a OpenGL reading of 35fps. Repeated this test and… DARK GREY SCREEN! 

I have now spent the best part of a week perusing the web and trying things out to find a feasible solution, preferably endorsed by Apple, but nothing, not a dickey-bird. I have found plenty who have paid a lot of money for a new logic board only for the problem to reoccur either immediately or progressively, but return it does. This would make sense as, I am guessing, the logic boards they are installing were manufactured at the same time as the ones in our MBPs. Other clever individuals have managed to bake their AMD Radeon Chip with a hairdryer (I guess this closes fractures in the solder), resolving the problem for the short-term (pushing owners out of guarantee/ Applecare time), but this is way beyond something I would dare.

I am a layperson when it comes to the complexities of computers but the following questions need to be answered by Apple:

• Has the performance of the AMD Radeon Chip been tweaked through the various OS X revisions causing it to generate higher temperatures? This may be why some feel the lead-free solder is failing (if it is). Hence some Uber techies who are reballing. I’ve certainly noticed a lot more animated gestures, such as when you log in.
• Is there a problem with the performance of the lead-free solder. I also wonder if great temperature shifts would exacerbate such a problem.
• And my last question may be really stupid, but would it be possible to reduce the performance rates of the dGPU so that it generates less heat? This might help before the logic board is replaced.

I’m not really expecting Apple to answer these because doing so would admit fault, but I am hoping an old-timer at Cupertino may advise us anonymously. One thing that is very evident is that Apple Inc has been very quiet! I am really none the wiser as what to do. We really need Apple to look in to this and come up with a viable economic solution (they’ve had over a year to do this). Changing the logic board prior to this would be futile.

I was hoping next year to invest in a Mac Pro but now I am just paranoid it will end up being a very expensive waste paper bin (might go well with my new expensive paperweight).

Sent from my 2003 PowerBook G4

(Because it works and my very expensive 2011 17” MacBook Pro doesn’t)

For me it worked to reinstall the original OSX (Snow Leopard 10.6.7) - no issues anymore, no gfxcard-status.

//

The BAD thing is, that now the connection between Logic-Board and HDD (I tried several devices) won't work anymore. Maybe I have to replace the Logic-Board, too. SO annoying!

panemua1 wrote:

 

The BAD thing is, that now the connection between Logic-Board and HDD (I tried several devices) won't work anymore. Maybe I have to replace the Logic-Board, too. SO annoying!

Now that may be a problem with your main bay SATA cable - they seem to fail frequently.

Clinton