Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

Sorry,I read that on net,a web talk about BGA.if reballing is safety and not very difficult to do good,I will reball chip instead replace logic board in apple store.i can't afford 700$ for a logic board.apple genius just told me "the only way is replacing your logic board and pay 700$".  Sounds like something wrong with your bed but you should move to a new house.

There must have enough people,then apple will make a replacement program.if you replace your logic board by apple genius,you will be counted in.if you don't and just discuss this here,you will not.but no one wants to replace a logic  board with design problem.

I just had a call with Apple Support, they said exactly the same, there seems to be many users with this issue (like me) but only discussing here won't make it happen. So I think I'm going to replace it and hopefully when the program gets real we'll get a refund...

Sigh, I though I was buying a Mac, not a PC...

@tdlemonade

I had a hard time creating a bootable usb too.  I had to watch a youtube video to do it correctly.  And I successfully executed it on a 2005 iBook G4 (no intel) running leopard, so it should work for you.  You must use terminal to make it.  Here are some directions and a link to the video:

1)  Download image “ubuntu-13.10-desktop-amd64.iso” (I tried a variety of images/versions and this is the only one that works; put the image on your desktop)

2) Convert the image to .dmg by simply editing the “.iso” after the name to “.dmg”

3) Enter your usb drive into you computer

4) Open terminal and enter “diskutil list” (This is a list of disks on your mac – look for the one with the size of of your usb drive and remember it – for me it was disk1)

5) Enter “diskutil unmount/Disk /dev/disk1” (disk1 is my disk, enter your disk instead)

Now it's time to create the bootable drive

6) You are going to want to enter “sudo dd if=” then drag your newly converted disc image into the terminal after this code or simply enter its path.  You then want to add “of=/dev/rdisk1 bs=1m” after (Again, disk1 will be the location of where your usb drive is)

So it should look something like this:

“sudo dd if=/Users/kit/Desktop/ubuntu-13.10-desktop-amd64.dmg of=/dev/rdisk1 bs=1m” 

(My disc image was on my computer kit's desktop.)  Then hit enter and put in your password. The process takes about 5 minutes.

I hope that's not too confusing.  I have not had much success creating bootable drives on my mac, but this worked and I did it many times. 

This video has instructions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mndO508xq08. 

And here's another one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCdfUarlerA.  It's shorter but you are going to want to ignore the first minute or so because you created the dmg image without using terminal.

@Jokokoko

Yes, CatFisce gave excellent directions for that:

    When logged in to Ubuntu, open up a terminal and enter: sudo nano /boot/grub/grub.cfg

    Find the part of the config file where it's written:  menuentry 'Ubuntu' --class ubuntu.

    Look further down and you'll find insmod ext2, below insmod ext2, enter the outb commands:

        outb 0x728 1 # Switch select

         outb 0x710 2 # Switch display

         outb 0x740 2 # Switch DDC

         outb 0x750 0 # Power down discrete graphics

    further down, edit quiet splash by deleting it entirely and adding this):

        quiet splash i915.lvds_channel_mode=2 i915.modeset=1 i915.lvds_use_ssc=0

    CTRL+X and Y then enter. Now you should be able to reboot without any black screen.

* insmod ext2 is mentioned serveral times in the file.  Make sure it's the one after "menuentry 'Ubuntu' --class ubuntu."

Wow. Almost 400,000 views on this thread, almost 4,000 replies, 1500 signatures on the petition and still not a peep from Apple on this issue. They must be deliberately avoiding this problem in hopes that it just goes away. Makes me sick

corycable--I tried contacting a Senior Advisor and they have indicated that no such program exists.  I may have to try a few more times before I get someone to acknowledge the issue.

Same problem, same MBP, same everything. ( just like this guy here:

https://discussions.apple.com/message/25123399#25123399)

After a long struggle with those grey, white and blue screens I went to my local apple store the other day. Today they called to inform me that its some issue with the graphics card (it figures) and it would cost about 450€. I am not sure if this really is worth the money. The way I see it a replacement program would be absolutely necessary.

Per the Apple Care Senior Advisor and my 4:30PM appointment...YES...The test are performed at an Apple Store or Authorized reseller. In my case, it will be an Apple Store.

The Apple Care rep created my appointment. I assume they will be keeping my Macbook for the weekend, so do not expect an update tonight. Possibly Monday.

And just a lesson learned for myself and hopefully others on this thread...

2006 Macbook - Bought used from a friend

2008 Macbook Pro - With Apple Care

2009 Macbook Pro - With Apple Care

2011 Macbook Pro - DID NOT BUY Apple Care

5 iPhones - All Warranted through Verizon

3 iPads - With Apple Care

New 2013 Mac Mini - With Apple Care

Guess which one decided to break??????

If you can afford a $2000+ Laptop....Buy the **** warranty. From what I have read the best warranty for Apple computers is from Squaretrade. Google it. I am hoping my 2011 is fixed and last through the summer. I am waiting for the 2014 Macbook Pro's...I just do not like the 2012 or 2013.

Paig,

I was told the same thing by the first 2-3 reps. Even after refering to this forum. I was about to go and buy  new Macbook Pro yesterday and I was very sad about it. So I made a last move and called the 4th time and made a solid case that Apple cannot pretend this issue does not exist. I instructed the first-line rep to Google "2011 Macbook Pro GPU problem" and he did. After 60 second he came back on the phone and said.."WOW, It's everywhere"....I agreed with him. He put me back on hold and 2-3 minutes later came back and said he was transferring me to a Senior Advisor. The supervisor was very tough and almost would not listen. He reminded me I was out of warranty. I told him.."LOOK..I am not wanting a free product. But it seems this is a known defect with the AMD GPU and Apple has known it for a while. If the problem IS NOT with the GPU then I will pay the price for it. But if it is the GPU, then I expect Apple to DO RIGHT BY ME and fix it due to the thousands of dollars I have spent with Apple". He put me on hold and came back 3-4 minutes later. He said he searched the internal "Extended Support" programs and looked for  2011 AMD GPU and Discrete video adapters. He said there is a program that deals with a Discrete video adapter that matched my symptoms. He said it was not something he could share details with. I asked him if my computer and AMD GPU was on the list. He confirmed my serial number and said my "Configuration" matches the program. He setup my appt and made it clear...IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE GPU....I own it...

So unless this guy is a complete liar and wasting my time..Not sure why he would. I am out of warranty and he could easily have told me to F-Off and hung up the phone, but he did not. He said he was VERY familiar with this program and spent 5-10 minutes opening these case and checking the program for details and explaining very clearly to me how the program worked and what the next steps were. He says either way, he will be involved. He said Apple is tracking this problem, so after the Store runs the test and should it fail the test, he will get involved and let me know what will happen. He said if it is the GPU, then the support program will fix it..If not...It will cost me money.

Again..I will know soon....Wish me luck...

Well, I tried to post my support case for you so you can refer to it when calling Apple, but they pulled it down...5 seconds later..I got an e-mail saying they removed it...

OK....Sorry guys..tried to help...

Thanks Corycable for all your efforts trying to help the rest of us in the same boat. Apple is making sure they stifle us as much as possible so they don't have to pay for their mistake. It'll come back to haunt them. This is how a company goes the way of the dodo like blackberry did--by ignoring its customers.

corycable wrote:

 

Paig,

 

I was told the same thing by the first 2-3 reps. Even after refering to this forum. I was about to go and buy  new Macbook Pro yesterday and I was very sad about it. So I made a last move and called the 4th time and made a solid case that Apple cannot pretend this issue does not exist. I instructed the first-line rep to Google "2011 Macbook Pro GPU problem" and he did. After 60 second he came back on the phone and said.."WOW, It's everywhere"....I agreed with him. He put me back on hold and 2-3 minutes later came back and said he was transferring me to a Senior Advisor. The supervisor was very tough and almost would not listen. He reminded me I was out of warranty. I told him.."LOOK..I am not wanting a free product. But it seems this is a known defect with the AMD GPU and Apple has known it for a while. If the problem IS NOT with the GPU then I will pay the price for it. But if it is the GPU, then I expect Apple to DO RIGHT BY ME and fix it due to the thousands of dollars I have spent with Apple". He put me on hold and came back 3-4 minutes later. He said he searched the internal "Extended Support" programs and looked for  2011 AMD GPU and Discrete video adapters. He said there is a program that deals with a Discrete video adapter that matched my symptoms. He said it was not something he could share details with. I asked him if my computer and AMD GPU was on the list. He confirmed my serial number and said my "Configuration" matches the program. He setup my appt and made it clear...IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE GPU....I own it...

 

So unless this guy is a complete liar and wasting my time..Not sure why he would. I am out of warranty and he could easily have told me to F-Off and hung up the phone, but he did not. He said he was VERY familiar with this program and spent 5-10 minutes opening these case and checking the program for details and explaining very clearly to me how the program worked and what the next steps were. He says either way, he will be involved. He said Apple is tracking this problem, so after the Store runs the test and should it fail the test, he will get involved and let me know what will happen. He said if it is the GPU, then the support program will fix it..If not...It will cost me money.

 

Again..I will know soon....Wish me luck...

I just got off the phone with one of Apple's Corporate Executive Relations people. She said "Apple's position has not changed: this issue is still not recognized as a manufacturing defect" and "There is no internal-only support programs list. If it's not on https://www.apple.com/support/exchange_repair it doesn't exist"

LeVeL5,

Worst case is this guy is a GOOD LIAR...I will waste my time and either pay for repair or buy new computer.

Best case is this is something Apple is "TRACKING" and they have not opened a public exchange/repair program for it AND they are not prepared to speak openly/publicly about it. Given that the Apple store is only running the test and they will need to send me back to the Advisor who opened the case after they get the results of that test and he did say, 'This is something we are "tracking". Those comment lead me to believe Apple is still deciding what they want to do. He did say this is only affecting a small amount of customers.

I hope to get mine fixed and I hope everyone gets the same, but the time I am spending on this so far is worth not spending anther $2000+ dollars right now. I just upgraded my SSD drive 4-6 months ago and had planned to wait for the 2014 models. So this is not about saving money or getting something free from Apple. I just needed my 2011 to last another 4-6 months.Either way..Apple is going to take some of my cash this year. Afterall, I have had 15 or so Apple products over the last 7-8 years and this is the first one to break.

Hello,

Late last night (March 13th), I started experiencing similar issues to those posted here, but in my case, instead of the screen flickering or turning blue, it goes straight to the grey reboot screen after a kernel panic. It happens when switching GPUs, be it integrated to discrete or vice-versa.

I have a Late-2011 15" MBP, running OS X 10.9.2, and didn't know how widespread this issue appears to be until after I started researching the specific error message I received. I first tried a Time Machine restore to see if the error was software based, but even when I tried using a week-old backup, the problem persists.

I live in Puerto Rico, so we don't have any Apple stores, just Apple-authorized service centers (including BestBuy), so right now I'm not sure how to proceed, if I should try to contact Apple (I don't have AppleCare) and pay the $19 single-incident charge, or if I should just take it directly to one of the repair centers.

RIght now I'm trying to complete a clean install to see if somehow the issue resolves itself, but it's been stuck on "About a second remaining" for the last 10 minutes.

Thanks!

For your sake (and everyone else's) I hope the senior advisor you worked with is not a good liar.

I just had a converation with a senior advisor and he said no such internal-only extended support program exists.  All he would say is that he understands the frustration and then proceeded to end the conversation.

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