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 °(Ty)[L](eR)°,

    °(Ty)[L](eR)° °(Ty)[L](eR)° Mar 9, 2014 1:07 PM in response to bennyvdhoogen
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 9, 2014 1:07 PM in response to bennyvdhoogen

    To those who don't fully understand the commands it is they are executing, I would reccommend against using wildcards* to move files. It's much more tedious, but 'ls' the /Sys/Lib/Ext/ folder and make note of all the files relating to the GPU.  Mine looks like this;

     

    • AMDRadeonAccelerator.kext
    • AMDRadeonVADriver.bundle
    • AMDRadeonX3000GLDriver.bundle
    • AMDRadeonX4000GLDriver.bundle
    • ATI2400Controller.kext
    • ATI2600Controller.kext
    • ATI3800Controller.kext
    • ATI4600Controller.kext
    • ATI4800Controller.kext
    • ATI5000Controller.kext
    • ATI6000Controller.kext
    • ATI7000Controller.kext
    • ATIFramebuffer.kext
    • ATIRadeonx2000.kext
    • ATIRadeonx2000GA.plugin
    • ATIRadeonx2000GLDriver.bundle
    • ATIRadeonx2000VADriver.bundle
    • ATISupport.kext

     

    Move them one-by-one, verifying at each step if you need to.
    It's really hard to find these files again if you don't know where you move them to or which ones were moved...

  • by andreafromaosta,

    andreafromaosta andreafromaosta Mar 9, 2014 1:23 PM in response to jfthibeault
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 9, 2014 1:23 PM in response to jfthibeault

    /sbin/fsck -fy /

    /sbin/mount -uw /

    mkdir /Disabled_System_Library_Extensions

    cd /Disabled_System_Library_Extensions

    mv /System/Library/Extensions/ATI* .

    mv /System/Library/Extensions/AMD* .

    touch /System/Library/Extensions

    exit

     

    This trick is the only way to start my mbp2011, but obviousely it run very slow. Is there any way to exclude completely the ATI gpu and use at 100% the other one (integrated Intel)?

     

    I know it can not be considered a permanent solution, but in expectation and hope that Apple decides to take action at least allow you to use your laptop in a decent way.

  • by HelgeCPT,

    HelgeCPT HelgeCPT Mar 9, 2014 2:30 PM in response to jfthibeault
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 9, 2014 2:30 PM in response to jfthibeault

    Okay I'll try it again. As i said I'm not too familiar with console commands so im not completely sure what each command does. Does anyone know how to reverse this process once its done? When I get my gpu reballed i might need to undo this again.

  • by jokokoko,

    jokokoko jokokoko Mar 9, 2014 3:49 PM in response to HelgeCPT
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 9, 2014 3:49 PM in response to HelgeCPT

    I tried booting with removing the AMD/ATI-Drivers. Now my MacBook kind of works, which is nice. But Finder keeps crashing all the time and in System Information it says AMD Graphics instead of Intel 3000 Graphics. Also, I can't switch to integrated only with gfxCardStatus, because it now says that I'm using an external display. Additionally, it is slow. Does anybody have an idea what I can do about that?

  • by jfthibeault,

    jfthibeault jfthibeault Mar 9, 2014 4:05 PM in response to jokokoko
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 9, 2014 4:05 PM in response to jokokoko

    I get the exact same issue too. I can get into my mac and kind of work with it and on top of everything you described, I cannot go in Sleep mode..

  • by Archanium,

    Archanium Archanium Mar 9, 2014 4:56 PM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 9, 2014 4:56 PM in response to abelliveau

    I've gotten a Macbook Pro early 2011, which also suffers from these problems.. Sadly I can't think of anything else than a logic board replacement..

  • by KeithDSD,

    KeithDSD KeithDSD Mar 9, 2014 5:05 PM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 9, 2014 5:05 PM in response to abelliveau

    In my case (Early 2011, 15", 6750M, 10.8.5), I've narrowed it down to only 2 files that need to be removed in order to boot:

    • AMDRadeonAccelerator.kext
    • ATI6000Controller.kext

    ...which, like everyone else, allows me to boot to a very graphically-slow, but functional, system. I've tested all the AMD* and ATI* kext's one-by-one and found that it's just these two that prevent mine from booting.

     

    I'm also having the phantom "external display" show up in gfxCardStatus, meaning I'm unable to switch to Integrated chip. And, like others, I can't put it to sleep.

     

    FWIW, this began about a month ago, at which point I cleaned the whole guts, 'cooked' the logic board, and reapplied thermal paste the way it should have been in the first place. After that surgery, it all ran perfectly (and very, very cool) for about a month and a half. This time around, I had noticed two graphics glitches in a couple days, so as a test I went to the Energy Saver preferences and turned off "Automatic Graphics Switching". The second I clicked that checkbox, the system froze, and wouldn't boot after restart until I removed those 2 kext's.

  • by wmage,

    wmage wmage Mar 10, 2014 1:14 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 10, 2014 1:14 AM in response to abelliveau

    For my understanding: concern the problem only MBPs Early 2011 or Late 2011 too?

     

    Because i can buy a late 2011 whats new and unused. think i can reballing my early2011 and then sell it

     

    Cheers,

    Tom

  • by clintonfrombirmingham,

    clintonfrombirmingham clintonfrombirmingham Mar 10, 2014 1:16 AM in response to wmage
    Level 7 (30,009 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 10, 2014 1:16 AM in response to wmage

    For my understanding: concern the problem only MBPs Early 2011 or Late 2011 too?

    Late 2011, too - at least in my case.

     

    Clinton

  • by Seller999,

    Seller999 Seller999 Mar 10, 2014 2:52 AM in response to wmage
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 10, 2014 2:52 AM in response to wmage

    It affects also Late 2011. (my case)

  • by wmage,

    wmage wmage Mar 10, 2014 3:01 AM in response to Seller999
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 10, 2014 3:01 AM in response to Seller999

    Ok - Thanks. Than the change to an (brandnew) Late 2011 don't solve my Problems. Than i have to repair my (lovely) Early 2011...

     

    Thanks Mr. Cook for wasting my time and money. This is the last product from apple (after many years and many devices...).

     

    Tom

  • by clintonfrombirmingham,

    clintonfrombirmingham clintonfrombirmingham Mar 10, 2014 3:13 AM in response to wmage
    Level 7 (30,009 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 10, 2014 3:13 AM in response to wmage

    wmage,

     

    No, although there's less chance, it seems, of having the problem with Late 2011 machines, a number of us here have had to have logic boards replaced on Late 2011 machines.

     

    The only real 'fix' seems to be to have a newly soldered GPU installed. Much less expensive than a new logic board and some companies guarantee their work for one year (much better than Apple's 90-day warranty).

     

    Good luck,

     

    Clinton

  • by D3us,

    D3us D3us Mar 10, 2014 3:53 AM in response to wmage
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 10, 2014 3:53 AM in response to wmage

    wmage wrote:

     

    For my understanding: concern the problem only MBPs Early 2011 or Late 2011 too?

     

    Because i can buy a late 2011 whats new and unused. think i can reballing my early2011 and then sell it

     

    Cheers,

    Tom

    You're probably better off reballing yours.

    Even the 2012 and 2013 models with an extra GPU might be senisitive fot this problem.

    Cramming more power in the same or even smaller cases is asking for problems.

     

    Let's hope it's not.

  • by @Rohan,

    @Rohan @Rohan Mar 10, 2014 3:59 AM in response to hsmiths
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 10, 2014 3:59 AM in response to hsmiths

    Thanks @hsmiths. Will check that Pune guy.. But would take me some time as I'm currently travelling. DO let me know if you get it fixed and whether its working perfectly fine after that

  • by wmage,

    wmage wmage Mar 10, 2014 4:15 AM in response to D3us
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 10, 2014 4:15 AM in response to D3us

    Think too that the reballing are the best way for me. With guarantee of 12 month i can reball the GPU here in Germany for 100-250Euro (seen three offers on ebay).

     

    Thanks,

    Tom

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