abelliveau

Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

I have an early 2011 MacBook Pro (2.2 GHz Intel Core i7, 8 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 memory) running OS 10.8.2.  It has two graphics components: an AMD Radeon HD 6750M and a built-in Intel HD Graphics 3000. Since I've had the computer, the screen would get a blue tint when the computer switched between them.

 

However, as of two days ago, the problem has become substantially more severe.  The computer was working fine, when all of a suddent the screen when completely blue.  I had to force restart the computer.  Since then, the screen has gone awry on numerous occassions - each time necessitating a hard reset.

 

I installed gfxCardStatus, and have discovered that the computer runs fine using the integrated card, but as soon as I switch to the discrete card - the screen goes .

 

I am just wondering what my options are (any input on any of these would be appreciated!):

 

1) Replace the logic board.  Would this necessarily fix the issue?

 

2) Is there any way to "fix" the graphics card? 

 

3) Keep using gfxCardStatus and only use the integrated graphics card.  This is definitely the easiest/cheapest option, but to have such a computer and not be able to use the graphics card seems like a real shame.

 

4) Is there any other alternative?

 


MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7, 8 GB memory

Posted on Feb 1, 2013 4:45 PM

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Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

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  • by luisfromoviedo,

    luisfromoviedo luisfromoviedo Feb 24, 2014 8:37 AM in response to coujin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 24, 2014 8:37 AM in response to coujin

    Wellcome.

    Come in !

  • by tdlemonade,

    tdlemonade tdlemonade Feb 24, 2014 9:07 AM in response to coujin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 24, 2014 9:07 AM in response to coujin

    Hi coujin, I don't think you are experiencing our same issue, your 13'' 2011 MacBook doesn't have a discrete ATI GPU ( the component causing the issue). Your laptop only hosts an Intel HD 3000, it must be a different kind of problem.

  • by degger,

    degger degger Feb 24, 2014 10:42 AM in response to akamyself
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 24, 2014 10:42 AM in response to akamyself

    as I said before, Apple is not saying/doing anything because they don't have any solution to fix this problem.

    Actually there is a solution to the problem. As part of the refurbishment process they could change the GPU thereby providing a permanent fix with a single swap. For Apple this probably wouldn't even be a big additional cost and has the potential for quite some savings for repeated swaps (and refurbishment runs) and of course satisfied customers.

  • by degger,

    degger degger Feb 24, 2014 10:52 AM in response to luisfromoviedo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 24, 2014 10:52 AM in response to luisfromoviedo

    Read about reflow (not recommended) and reballing (recommended). ( See Youtube).

    In my opinión, reballing is much more better, but must be done by technicians.

    Reballing is crap if not done correctly which is quite expensive. If your referring to the Spanish Youtube Video where they "reball" by moving an hot iron soaked in solder quickly over the GPU package -- there's about no worse way to do it. The much better way is to replace the GPU with a new one.

  • by coujin,

    coujin coujin Feb 24, 2014 10:53 AM in response to tdlemonade
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 24, 2014 10:53 AM in response to tdlemonade

    Okay thank you, still cant work it out though even after a clean install i still get problems.

  • by Lee Vickers,

    Lee Vickers Lee Vickers Feb 24, 2014 10:55 AM in response to luisfromoviedo
    Level 1 (84 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 24, 2014 10:55 AM in response to luisfromoviedo

    What does 'reballing' actually involve? Is it a permanent fix? Does it affect other components on the logic board? If I was selling the machine after should I advise the buyer I've had this work done?

     

    And if third party service providers can offer this work, why can't Apple?

  • by akamyself,

    akamyself akamyself Feb 24, 2014 10:57 AM in response to degger
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    Feb 24, 2014 10:57 AM in response to degger

    degger wrote:

     

    as I said before, Apple is not saying/doing anything because they don't have any solution to fix this problem.

    Actually there is a solution to the problem. As part of the refurbishment process they could change the GPU thereby providing a permanent fix with a single swap. For Apple this probably wouldn't even be a big additional cost and has the potential for quite some savings for repeated swaps (and refurbishment runs) and of course satisfied customers.

    probably, but since it is not what Apple is doing to the computers they get for repair but only change the logic board. They don't manufacture, they don't reball or reflow and I'm pretty sure they only remove/put parts and that is it..

     

    the real solution to the problem would be for Apple to get the correctly assembled parts, without defaults, and hopefully put it in place for a recall process.

     

    Until they can do it, there won't be any recall and I surely won't pay for that kinf of service either...

  • by degger,

    degger degger Feb 24, 2014 11:21 AM in response to akamyself
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 24, 2014 11:21 AM in response to akamyself

    probably, but since it is not what Apple is doing to the computers they get for repair but only change the logic board. They don't manufacture, they don't reball or reflow and I'm pretty sure they only remove/put parts and that is it..

    They obviously do have a refurbish process. The real question is whether they only run rudimentary test on returns and throw away obviously defect ones or they do repairs. When they already have the boards mounted on a typical testbed it would be a really small step to integrate an IR rework head and a solder station.

    the real solution to the problem would be for Apple to get the correctly assembled parts, without defaults, and hopefully put it in place for a recall process.

    Won't happen. Production is long done, they won't bring up a new production line for an outdated product and they certainly will not investigate what they will need to change in order to fix the problematic process.

     

    A new GPU on a refurbish board is a real fix.

  • by degger,

    degger degger Feb 24, 2014 11:40 AM in response to Lee Vickers
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 24, 2014 11:40 AM in response to Lee Vickers

    What does 'reballing' actually involve?

    Reballing involved removing all solder from the bottom of the chip package and creating new solder balls.

    Is it a permanent fix?

    If done right, yes. However doing it right is very expensive and thus usually only done if it is absolutely necessary to use the same chip again (mostly done for incorrect behaving samples which need to be put in a special test environment). Check out youtube, they've various videos showing how this can be done from cheap-*** to high-end. For this common GPU it's probably much cheaper and more reliable to just use a brand new one instead of a reball.

    And if third party service providers can offer this work, why can't Apple?

    I think they haven't accepted the fact that there is a problem and thus are not looking into solutions.

  • by luisfromoviedo,

    luisfromoviedo luisfromoviedo Feb 24, 2014 11:54 AM in response to degger
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 24, 2014 11:54 AM in response to degger

    youtu.be/RaJTHhK0Etc

  • by akmjolnir,

    akmjolnir akmjolnir Feb 24, 2014 12:29 PM in response to abelliveau
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    Feb 24, 2014 12:29 PM in response to abelliveau

    Update: http://www.reddit.com/r/applehelp/comments/1ysq8r/update_early2011_mbp_logic_boa rd_failure/

     

    tl;dr - I decided to pay the flat rate fee ($310.00USD) and have my MBP sent off to a repair depot, where it would have a complete test of all components, and if anything was inoperable, it would be replaced.  When I sent it off, the only issue was the failed logic board... everything else worked fine. 

     

    Three days later I received my laptop back with a new logic board, new HDD, two new OEM 2GB sticks of RAM, and a new top case/keyboard.  Basically, I have a halfway new computer.  I know that the HDD, RAM, and keyboard worked 100% before sending it in.  I had aftermarked RAM 2x8GB Corsair sticks, and one of the two sticks returned to me is dead.  So now I'm running 10GB RAM (2GB + 8GB installed).  It's fairly new RAM, so I'm writing Corsair after work to see if it's covered. 

     

    It's nice to have my machine back, and I hope that if there is an eventual recall, I can request a refund towards the logic board.

  • by Fl-ex,

    Fl-ex Fl-ex Feb 24, 2014 1:32 PM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 24, 2014 1:32 PM in response to abelliveau

    Same issue, I must pay 730€ to have a new logic board, apple (after many hours on phone) don't wanna do something.

    How hangry I feel to pay 1800€ to have a food and safe computer for my job (music) and now it's just unuseable, 3 years after...only 3 years after?!? This make apple macbook the coast/quality. I have had better no name pc in my life...

  • by D3us,

    D3us D3us Feb 24, 2014 1:46 PM in response to Aguleo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 24, 2014 1:46 PM in response to Aguleo

    bakachu wrote:

    With nothing else to lose, I have fixed my graphics issue by reflowing the GPU solder.

    This involved a $22 heat gun, new thermal compound, disassembling the MBP, removing the heat sink, and then heating the GPU with the gun set to 1000f for 4 minutes (plenty of vids on youtube demonstrate this process for other hardware and vendors).

    Afterwards, I reapplied new thermal compound, and put it all back together, and the machine is no longer unstable.

    I'm disappointed with Apple for failing to acknowledge this widespread manufacturing defect.

     

    Aguleo wrote:

     

    I am interested in doing this. Do you have any tips? Like did you apply heat to the whole circuit board or just the gpu chips?

     

    It might work, but will it last? They often fail again later.

    There are some rules to follow doing this which you can't using just a heatgun.

    If you fail on it, can destroy your gpu or motherboard making it unrepairable.

    If it works a few months, fails again, you try again but can't fix it anymore.

    Then bring it to a repair shop, won't tell them you tried a diy, they might have the most skilled reworkers failing on it.

    Taking of the bga using the best equipment can result in lifted pads as it has been heated to much before with your heatgun.

    If you tell them you tried a diy repair on it, they might even not take it in anymore. Or ask a fixed fee in advance without warranty for success.

    If you want to risk that...

     

    You also have to realise that many of those youtube videos are not their first attempts but oftenm made after destroying some boards before having success.

    Even people like me, using special machines for it had to sacrifice some pcbs to create a correct workflow

     

    Some discussion about it here too:

    https://discussions.apple.com/message/24130742#24130742

     

    Of course, it's up to the owner to risk it, but most repair shops ask a fair price and usually "no cure no pay".

    If you want to try, good luck with it.

  • by Alex.To,

    Alex.To Alex.To Feb 25, 2014 7:22 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 25, 2014 7:22 AM in response to abelliveau

    Hi all,

    I've posted a message because my MBP late 2011 is done with blue or grey screen since yesterday. I called Apple to explain the problem. They don't recognize there is a GPU issue with MPB 2011. Fortunatly, while my MPB is not under warrantly since junary 2014, they accept to replace the logic board... I've a meeting tomorow at a APR, hope it will be well with them...wait and see.

     

    <Link Edited By Host>

  • by ChristianMartinez,

    ChristianMartinez ChristianMartinez Feb 25, 2014 12:01 AM in response to Alex.To
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 25, 2014 12:01 AM in response to Alex.To

    Thanks Alex.  Just signed that petition.  My 17' MBP just started exhibiting the same issues.  Haven't gone to the local Apple store to see how much they would charge to fix it.  If $310 then it's not too bad.  This is my 3rd MBP since they moved to Intel.  The first one (2008) is still working albeit slow like a snail, I sold the 2nd one (2010) so I don't know if it's still working.  I upgraded to this one and I decided it should last me awhile since I paid $2400 for it.  It's only been 2.5 years and it's already a paper weight.  If I don't get this fix, I'll be one of those unhappy ex-Apple customers.   And I will be influencing other people to stay away from Apple as I did when I switched from PC.  If going through the proper channels to get our machines fix at a reasonable cost or signing that petition won't work to get Apples attention, I'm sure word of mouth and the power of social networks will do the job.

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