Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

My only wish is for Apple to man up and admit there is a manufacturing/design defect of the e2011 MBP and provide a free fix for the customers who have the issue like what happened with the 27inch iMac with the AMD 6970M graphics: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS5167

<Link Edited By Host>

Another one here, Freezing issues, have been in touch with Apple, no luck yet

orcinus mate please help me i moved ATI and AMD files out after facing problems with the discrete graphic

u specified this should be there

com.apple.kext.AMDSupport (1.1.4)

com.apple.kext.AMD6000Controller (1.1.4)

com.apple.AMDRadeonX3000 (1.1.4)

com.apple.kext.AMDFramebuffer (1.1.4)

but now its not there when i check it please can u help me getting it back ?

as my macbook has started working now but its has horizontal blue lines and the brightness keys are not working n it shows using external monitor....

sorry for the trouble

... add one more dead early 2011 17" Macbook pro to the list.

One that I had briefly not so long ago ...  bum'd out after a few days with similar symptoms.

An OS reinstallation did not help. I returned it under a shop warranty . They were quite puzzled.... unfamiliar with the problem.

Only more recently I read about these problems on the forums.

Quite glad now that I have hopefully saved myself lots of heartache!

A couple weeks ago I experienced this GPU problem.

I decided to send email to Tim Cook expressing my disapointment with this product. I explained how my MBP froze with a black screen and blue lines while rendering a Davinci Resolve project, and never booted properly after that, it just freezes on the grey screen. I sent him the Macbook Pro Genius Bar diagnostic for Logic Board replacement (496€ repair cost) and also links to this and other threads where hundreds (if not thousands) of people are having the exact same roblem with this computer.

Apple Executive Relations called the next day me to ask me about it and to investigate further my case. I was very impressed by how quickly they got back to me and how friendly and apologetic they were about the problem. I really had hope that Apple would keep up with their reputation of quality products and service by recognizing this fault and extending the warranty of my faulty Macbook Pro Early 2011 i7 Quad 2.3Ghz.

They sent my case up to the engineering department, and they gave me the answer a few days ago, wich is as follows:

There is no known issue with GPU failure for this partucular Macbook Pro model, so unfortunately at this time Apple cannot recall your machine for a free repair.

So folks, I would not have much hope on getting a free repair for this problem if you are out of warranty. All we can do is keep calling Customer Relations and letting them know that there are a LOT of Macbook Pro early 2011 laptops with this problem. Hopefully they will accept these machines as faulty and do a recall and/or refund those like me who payed for the repair.

noplug, would be helpful if you could give dates instead of a couple of weeks ago.

I had a similar call two days ago, feb 10th and was told Apple is aware of this problem and is currently investigating.

While it does not mean they will come with a solution, at least they now don't deny it's happening to too many customers.

Yesterday, feb 11th I had my appointment at the Apple Store in Paris France, got the same kind of answer from the guy who welcomed me and then from the genius dude in charge of my case.

Either I pay for a logic board replacement or I wait for some action from Apple that may never happen.

I chose the later.

So to all newcomers, just be sure to let Apple know your machine is down and get a case number in the first place.

<Edited By Host>

Well, you are lucky

I did it for mine, and the Genius I saw (a very efficient one) confirm I need to replace the Motherboard.

And he also tells me he was not the first he see with this issu. That is to say Apple is aware about this problem, and we can expect a programm for our Macbooks. For now, there is nothing. I am asked 492 € to change the motherboard ($667,50).

He also tells me to call Apple Care.

This is the good way to be heard for this issu. Let's be patient. I think we should see something after the 28th february.

the same problem for me, with my MBP 15, here in Portugal Customer service told me to replace the logic board for 567 euros. After reading all the post , I am a bit worried it is a faulty of model, and this will happen again even if I replace the logic board. I would rather wait for Apple to take an acation on this isssue rather than risk the graph card failling again and pay for another logic board,

Just got off the phone to Apple Executive relations, all they are suggesting is taking mac in to see a "genius", going by others experience here, don't relish that thought.

They are also stating it is not a manufacturing issue which is kinda beyond belief when you read through this thread.

Time to increase the pressure me thinks!!!

My MBP logic board was changes by Apple a few days back. Today I saw horrific information again in console that showed the GPU hung up multiple times in a short span of time. The machine was frozen during this timeframe, however it recovered automatically in a few minutes.

If this issue happens again, what is the path forward? Should I ask Apple for a replacement machine or would they do another logic board replacement? FWIW, my machine is under Applecare.

I had the same problem - just got another logic board replacement. So bad the next AASP is 150km. Nobody asks, who pays driving there a thousand times, but Apple Care said, MBPros cannot be sent in to them.

And mine is a minimum 300 Kms which takes me ~6 hours. So sad if Apple just decides to replace another logic board that is bound to fail again.

Inspirationally if your machine is under apple care then ask for another machine, that is a manufactoring issue, also ask for a machine that has just the integrate video chip, ask for a new machine that does not have the extended video chip that is most of the cases is an AMD Radeom 6750M who is causing this issues.

Yes, I have AppleCare till June - so still time for around 20 GPU replacements ;-)

But well, what Computer should I run my Architecture programs with then? I bought the better, more expensive, MBP with 1GB GPU because I needed a good graphic card. OK, currently not (full time mum), but I will very soon again.