Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

I'm also affected by the same problem since yesterday evening. Macbook Pro 15" early 2011. Discrete GPU is the AMD Radeon HD 6750M.

This computer is not used for graphics intensive apps, at all. The problem first started when viewing photos in the Preview app.

Temporary fix, as suggested in previous replies:

- downloaded gfxCardStatus (v2.3)

- switching it to Integrated Only as soon as I log into the computer

It's preventing the problem so far.

Today I did a test and changed it to Discrete Only, and the problem appeared immediately.

<Edited by Host>

There's also a campaign about this issue

<Link Edited by Host>

You can use GFxCardstatus for two three months. After that mac won't allow you to switch the gpu. I got the same issue used gfx but it came to an end last week. I got only gray screen with apple logo.

Thanks for that Action group info. Suspect I should join similar in Brizzo, Oz. Or start one, if one doesn't exist here yet.

I've only just learnt of this thread, thanks to MacInTouch today. My warranty was terminated/cancelled no refund when I presented with various hard to define problems at about 15-16 months into the 3 years, because I had 'cleaned my fans' (to try to deal with the obvious overheating.) The MacBox is sitting dead in the corner right now. 'You' (youse?) have inspired me to get off my butt and get back into 'dealing' with the problem.

Thanks.

(Now I’m off to read the other 259 pages!)

Message was edited by: Sqidge, stupid typing overlooked at send time. All better now.

jgh- wrote:

 

Just got off the phone with Apple Customer Support.  The price they quoted me was US$330 to do the repair, since this was not caused by my actions I would not be paying for the logic board or gpu replacement - I just have to pay for the out-of-waranty repair fee.

That sounds like a typical depot repair offer - a roughly $300 flat-rate fee to fix whatever the depot techs diagnose as a problem, 90 day warranty after you get it back.  Unless you convince them to repair your unit for a discount or for free, it's about as good as you'll get... but it's still a steep price to pay if this is caused by an endemic issue with the logic boards and GPUs, especially if the problem recurs after the warranty ends. 

John Etnier wrote:

 

My unit has a 6770M graphics card: most of this discussion centers around the 6750M. Am I in the clear?

 

Also, what does it mean that this discussion has been 'branched' to a thread I am not permitted to read (see top of page)?

Unfortunately, there are affected users in these threads with the 6770M.  The late 2011 models haven't shown up as widely with these problems as the early 2011 models... but that's not too surprising, given that they're still a bit newer and these problems seem to occur as the machine ages and the GPU functionality degrades. 

And as for the branched thread issue... it's a mystery.  I don't think anyone can read those branched discussions, but there are many theads with links to them. 

degger wrote:

 

Anyways, it is working for now, today however i noticed that when opening InDesign (or any app that would call upon the 6750 gpu) the screen tints slightly blue which to my knowledge, is NOT normal.

I wouldn't worry about the tint. I also had the problem a while ago with Mountain Lion and I traced it back to incorrect calibration data in the lookup tables for the discrete GPU. I don't remember the exact steps to fix that, though.

Thanks for the reply degger. I really hope you're right. I can recall the tinting of the screen to happen alot just before my Macbook became unusuable, and thus my reason for concern. If its only the calibration data acting up I can live with it. Will report here if things become more serious.

Hi friends,

Call me crazy but yesterday, I switched on the laptop and It appeared the grey screen. The computer was totally frozen like always. I put it inside a blanket totally covered for 5-10min and it was really very hot after. I left it got back cool for 10-15min (ambient temperature) and I switched on later...It worked..¡¡¡¡¡. I remembered that I´ve got the smcFanControl so I switched on it and put the fans to 5000rpm. The temperature initially was on 25° Celsius. After I ran some apps like Safari or iPhoto, it raised to 30°-32° but it still works. After I ran Photoshop CS5, It raised to 45°C-48°C but still works. I´m going to try with Final Cut and some apps like DaVinci Resolte which needs a lot of RAM and GPU resources. The Mac runs slow but I think that if you need to recover information or files from your Mac, It can works. I´m doubting it can help us to do anything else but at least I can access to OX. Next steep will be replace the thermal paste on the CPU. Some users told something about reballing. Maybe reballing and one of this cheap tables with fans working together it can delay the problem again until Apple decides to launch a worldwide repair programme. I hope it helps. I keep on fighting to let Apple know they can´t ignore us and the issue.

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to give an update, I've posted in this forum a few times before and have some good news to report in my case.

If you don't want to read the rest, I've had my MBP2011 replaced with a new MBP2013 without AppleCare.

I had originally gone into the Brisbane AUS apple store with my busted MBP2011 and the usual symptoms listed here a thousand times, wouldn't boot no matter what. I've always taken very good care of my machine and had upgraded every non-user replaceable component I could when I brought it (video card + screen). I had spent more later to upgrade the HDD, RAM and repalced the optical drive with one of the data doublers. I explained the details to the genius and he said he had never heard of the issue before, but considering the amount of $ that I had spent, the condition of my machine, and - I don't know - his mood I guess, he offered to replace my 20 month old logic board even though there was no applecare, and provided 90 days warranty. They didn't have the part in stock, but 5 days later, I had my machine back ready to go.

Within 48hours the machine had the same issues. I booked another appointment and a few days later I was back in there going over the details to someone else. A few things, my mac had not has it's serial number set last repair, which means that the unit testing could not have been performed as it prompted the genius to set this before the quick test could be run - pretty disappointing but not the last surprise with my first repair...

This time, they said they would investigate further but only if I removed the data doubler - not an issue the first time round. The genius said that the RAM and HDD was fine to remain as they were 'user upgradeabe components', but the original optical drive had to come back. I also wanted to double check all of my backups, so I took the machine away.

A few days later when I had grabbed the optical drive, I went to reinstall it and I found that during the original repair, the tech had changed one of the philips head screws to a T5(?) and I couldn't open my machine. I wasn't happy, took it all in and the geniuses themselves removed my data doubler, installed the optical drive and took my machine for further testing.

A couple of days later they came back and said it was definately one of the RAM sticks I had installed that was causing the problems. They could test with one - everything OK, test with the other - the diagnotics tool said there was a problem. So I collected my MBP2011 and one stick of RAM in a bag and left.

Within 48 hours the machine had the same issues. Didn't bother with an appointment and went straight back in. I couldn't replicate the issue but the crash logs had shown something was going on. The genius this time told me that it was a software conflict issue with VMWare Fusion, and they wanted to resintalled everything - even though I had performed a clean install only a few months before. I took my machine away to triple check my backups, and while I was checking it showed the graphics problems with no VMWare in sight. I carried my powered on machine down the street to show the geniuses and I could replicate the issue a few more times without VM running. They then told me it was a display problem, becuase they could take a screenshot whilst the glitches were occuring and the screenshot looked fine. When I showed them that swapping back to the integrated graphics made the screen go back to normal and they changed their tune and said another logic board was in order. They said because I had been in before and the part was in stock, it would be a priority job... 5 days later (priority?) I was able to pickup my machine, correct screws underneath, serial set, ready to go.

Within 48 hours the machine had the same issues. Went in and said that I was over this machine. I wasn't rude, or didn't demand anything, just went through the repair notes again and let the genius talk it over with the manager. The manager then offered to replace my machine with a new 2013MBP. They said it would take a few weeks to get in and that it's pretty rare to offer this kind of thing. I was grateful but a little concerned that the new MBP2013 had no user upgradeable parts (and I'd have to pay the apple markup for regular old RAM and SDD's).

All along the geniuses said they had not heard of the issue which I don't expect every single person associated with apple to know it like the back of their hand, but surely these incidents have to be forming some problem / known issue trends with some inteligent thinking happening on how to solve the issue. Hopefully...

I can't really offer any an easy solution to others, just keep at it and hope you get the random genius who listens to people and doesn't read the script word for word. Always remember to keep calm and always take notes that you can refer back to later if you need. If you don't get anywhere, check your countries consumer protection laws. Here in Australia, a product has warranty coverage for normal operation for the expected life of the product, not just the manufacturers warranty (remember that next time anyone offers to sell you extended warranty!). From what I understand, a laptop with a 3 year tax depreciation is expected to also have a 3 year life without defect from manufacturing issues.

I don't know if I'll ever really trust the new MBP when it arrives. The MBP2011 was my first ever apple product (besides a few itunes songs), and considering the money I had spent, it was the shortest living laptop I had ever owned.

Good luck everyone!

Thanks for the reply degger. I really hope you're right. I can recall the tinting of the screen to happen alot just before my Macbook became unusuable, and thus my reason for concern. If its only the calibration data acting up I can live with it. Will report here if things become more serious.

You might want to try removing your Display Color Profiles and redoing them if necessary.

I tried for a long time to fix the tint be redoing the calibration using the ColorSync Utility but to no avail so I created two profiles, one for discrete GPU and one for internal GPU and switched between them when needed. That was a long time (a year or so) before the GPU broke and also it was fixed before the first logic board replacement so I don't think that it was related.

Hello all, unfortunately I have two of these Early 2011 macbook pros, one just started to manifest the same problem, first a blue streeked screen and then now the graphics chopped up on the screen with alots of flicker, I am not sure what to do...

The other MBP Early 2011 has manifested problems with the network card, it just does not work...

Is there a point to call apple?

Just talked to apple care for an hour or so, the senior tech. rep. tried his best to help me out, apparantly there is not enough reports by users about this issue, he said it is not flagged yet as it was on the imac. Perhaps you guys should start calling and reporting this issue so it rings a bell at apple.

Considering it costs $19 to even call Apple services without Applecare, might be a hinderence.

I absolutely agree--rather than just posting the issue here, contact Apple to let them know, either through their feedback for MacBook Pro, or through the chat support (you can request an exception so that the chat will be free of cost if you are out of warranty).  Heck, do both--it doesn't take too much time.  The more Apple hears officially from users who are experiencing this dreaded issue, the more traction we will get.

https://www.apple.com/feedback/macbookpro.html

When you call Apple Care, a voice-detection computer answers. If you mumble into the phone, the computer cannot understand you. It will then forward you on to a real person. Once you have that person on the phone, you can generally complain for as long as you need to, as long as you aren't asking them to troubleshoot the problem. This is how I got past paying their fees.

Same Problem here...