Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

I have a late 2011 macbook pro and got the same issue in July 2013. Because of out of warranty, I went to a 3rd party laptop repair shop and replaced a new graphics card which cost me ￥600 RMB （about $100 USD).

But now the issue comes again. Now I just hope it can keep alive until next gen mac mini release. After that I will try to sell this dead body at a very low price.

ultragtx wrote:

 

I went to a 3rd party laptop repair shop and replaced a new graphics card 

 

Do you know exactly what kind of intervention was performed on your laptop by the 3rd party shop??

@usernametaken75

re: unreasonable

It would be unreasonable to expect apple to repair a computer which had some random fault out of warranty but this is entirely different.

There are thousands of people - and growing daily - with this problem.

The is a basic design flaw. The machine is not fit for it's advertised purpose. It is perfectly reasonable to expect apple to at least acknowledge the problem and offer some sort of solution.

A Semi-related animation which might describe our situation here..

*Watch till the end*

http://vimeo.com/m/79695097

@tdlemonade

They use a similar machine as this http://www.ebay.com/itm/271139379677?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m142 3.l2649 (@balikpinoy provided) to replace the chip

Now I'm wondering whether the graphics chip (GPU) or the graphics memory chips fail. I cannot wait for the official repair program of Apple release, and so I questioned a couple of local notebook repair stores about this problem. They admited that there were a lot of cases of our MBP models, but to my suprise, they also told me that not all the costoms have the same issue. Some of them had a GPU failure but others had graphics memeory failure. This is why I ask the above question here. Can anybody here who had done a repair provides us any information about graphics memeory chips?

ultragtx wrote:

 

@tdlemonade

They use a similar machine as this http://www.ebay.com/itm/271139379677?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m142 3.l2649 (@balikpinoy provided) to replace the chip

It's not only about the used machine/equipment.

Knowledge and skills are more important.

h4x3rotab wrote:

 

Now I'm wondering whether the graphics chip (GPU) or the graphics memory chips fail.

Not booting It's the GPU mostly,

It can be the graphics memory, but seldom. That would be more related to artifacts.

However, artifacts are ofthen GPU only related too.

If you have still artifacts after replacing chips, then most likely memory.

My update: I took the MBP the repair centre yesterday morning and this morning I got the diagnosis by phone call. They're going to replace the logic board. The cost is roughly 600€, VAT included, and the MBP perhaps could be ready by next tuesday. I'll keep you informed.

And 3 months later - here comes another - already 4th logic board replacement.

This time not working even on integrated graphics card.

Great job MacBook Pro Early 2011...

<Edited By Host>

Another MBP 15" early 2011 owner here (2ghz i7, AMD Radeon HD 6490M 256mb)

I've been having the same crazy graphics problems I've been reading about, and after 2 days of safe-booting, RAM reseating, extension disabling, HD swapping, and Apple Hardware Testing ad naseum, I'm beginning to realise I'm another victim. I'll be visiting the local Apple store in Glasgow tomorrow.

This first sign something was wrong was the dreaded '3 beeps' while I was working (hence checking the RAM), then the screen started going haywire. Booting would sometimes fail after the Apple logo with a grey screen, even in safe mode.

Has anyone else had the 3 beeps prior to the graphics problems? Most annoying of all is the Apple Hardware Test (booting with alt+d) didn't show any hardware faults...

I've had 3 beeps, but within all the graphic problems, not prior. Inmidst while working - graphic problems with stripes and black and then 3 beeps, pause, 3 beeps, pause, 3 beeps...and so on. And one more time when starting.

Wow, my third LogicBoard is now living 2 weeks already!! Maybe it is a good one this time.

Had same problem as each and one of you, but last week i went to iTech Store after i found this tread with a problem solution (and since i live in Sweden).

They made a reflow/reball on both CPU/GPU for a resonably price and now im in business again (after three months of total blue death) yesterday i went back with my iPhone and got my broken glass and greymarked wifi on the go again (with an reflow of phone wifi cirquit) since my iPhone 4s wouldn`t connect to wifi (also a another known bad issue i found out). Tnx to all of you for educating me, could`nt manage my life without my computer.

For you swedish guys out there (don´t know if they help other countries), a tip: try them! Nice store who seem to have right knowledge and nice prices. Both Phone and computer running the same day i visited them, and still working (actually also got warranty on repair)! Pretty good businessidea, clean up after all mayor Apple-fails. Even tough, i hope i not have to visit them again in a while!

You could have said:

hi guys, I own a shop in Sweden, we do a lot of cool stuff here, like CPU/GPU reballing and we also work on iPhones for those who are interested.

Since apple is not giving any reasonable solution to your GPU glitches, I thought it could be useful, for those of you based in Sweden, to know there is a professional shop offering a possible solution for your issue... even in your country.

Our prices are reasonable, please visit our site for further inquiries!!

I Wouldn't have blamed you, apple is offering no reasonable solution.

tdlemonade,

You may want to post the url for your website.

Just be sure and mention that you include with your url info that you may receive compensation for your services - I think that will satisfy the Hosts.

Clinton