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

Close

Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

first Previous Page 292 of 891 last Next
  • by Mark Armstrong1,

    Mark Armstrong1 Mark Armstrong1 Apr 17, 2014 4:40 PM in response to 8InaD8
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apr 17, 2014 4:40 PM in response to 8InaD8

    This is why after a failed reball, (this was 2013 when Apple store was quoting 800 to 1600 to repair outside of AC) that I just bought a new mbp. Retina.

     

    So as I mentioned a few pages back, it costs about $900 USD a year to own a MacBOok pro due to apple care (AC) only covering 3 years. So simple math, $2,700/3 years. This is the cost of current laptops from apple for the cutting edge.

     

    I wonder if I can "rebuy" an AC before this one expires to get the price down to $450 a year to own these things?

  • by paigoomein,

    paigoomein paigoomein Apr 17, 2014 8:29 PM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 17, 2014 8:29 PM in response to abelliveau

    MBP returned after the $310 depot repair, MLB replaced.

     

    Tried running Unigine Heaven and this is what I see.

     

    Screen Shot 2014-04-17 at 8.25.35 PM.JPGScreen Shot 2014-04-17 at 8.26.42 PM.JPG

  • by Calvinogood,

    Calvinogood Calvinogood Apr 18, 2014 12:51 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 18, 2014 12:51 AM in response to abelliveau

    My MBP 15" 2011 model was having the same issue back in Nov, 2013. After liased with reseller & supports from authorised resellers, they informed the failure of the graphic card caused the major issue here. I had no choice but need to get the logic board changed, it costed $700 as my Apple Care was expired. Weeks after collection, the same issue came back, it's under 90 days warranty for the new board luckily managed to get it fixed with another new board. 4 months later (April, 2014), the same issue again, I'm wondering how many times shall we change it or does Apple put any effort to helps, I'm believe it's defective issue that Apple.inc should be responsible!

  • by JamesMoyna,

    JamesMoyna JamesMoyna Apr 18, 2014 3:20 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 18, 2014 3:20 AM in response to abelliveau

    UPDATE:

     

    I wrote earlier about the same issue everyone is having with the MBP 2011. I was not ready to pay 500-900USD for the logic board to be replaced... Being that I am in Europe currently, I searched and found a bunch of companies in Germany that offer the service of replacing the graphic chip. I was quoted anything from 140 to 275 euros, I opted for a company in Furt, Germany (Wit Comp) @ 165,- being that they offer 12 mo. warranty.

     

    The MBP is back, it has a VOID sticker on one of the backpanes screws, 12mo. warranty, it works perfect up until now... I will write an update as time goes by if any issues arrise.

     

    I hope this helps someone.

     

    Regards,

  • by Calvinogood,

    Calvinogood Calvinogood Apr 18, 2014 4:21 AM in response to JamesMoyna
    Level 1 (0 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 18, 2014 4:21 AM in response to JamesMoyna

    Hi James,

     

    I'm glad to heard that you got the replacement from Furt.

     

    Regards,

    Calvin

  • by bilogic,

    bilogic bilogic Apr 18, 2014 5:01 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Apr 18, 2014 5:01 AM in response to abelliveau

    Well you can add me also to the endless list of user victim of a bad functioning discrete video card... My MacBook Pro Late 2011 is out of warrenty and the miseralble state of service in the Netherlands don't give me much hope, it will ever be solved in a decent way. If somebody have different experiences with serivice in the Netherlands, please contact me here. I don't have the money for a 800 EUR repair job. I can do it myself alot better anyway, if I could get the parts myself. Looking back I had that problem really from the beginning, but I was always able to solve it by SMC resets and restarts. Applying the Apple Hardware Test never discovered the problem. Now it is impossible to resolve the problem. This time I managed after many efforts to get my MacBook Pro started by just using Intel HD Graphics 384 MB. I try to keep it in this graphic mode with gfx GraphicCard Status 2.3 (http://gfx.io). I say some affordable options of reballing the discrete video card on ebay, already mentioned here in the forum. Another solution is the do it yourself option of iFixit, setting me back 900 USD plus repair tools/thermal paste. Still glad that the USD is low against the EUR. As I mentioned before I am not afraid to do my own repairs. I think like many others that Apple should take responsibility and replace/repair the affected Macbooks Pro, but that has to come from Apple Cupertino USA. Any other ideas?

  • by clintonfrombirmingham,

    clintonfrombirmingham clintonfrombirmingham Apr 18, 2014 5:13 AM in response to bilogic
    Level 7 (30,009 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 18, 2014 5:13 AM in response to bilogic

    bilogic,

     

    Apple is never going to own up to this defective soldering of the GPU.

     

    Your best bet is to find a computer service center in the Netherlands that can reball a new GPU for you. Many places, both here and in the EU, offer one-year warranties. Yes, it will cost you but far less than a new logic board.

     

    Clinton

  • by missionarymac,

    missionarymac missionarymac Apr 18, 2014 5:31 AM in response to clintonfrombirmingham
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 18, 2014 5:31 AM in response to clintonfrombirmingham

    Is there any difference in this problem between the 6750m with 512 vram and the same with 1024 vram?

  • by D3us,

    D3us D3us Apr 18, 2014 6:47 AM in response to missionarymac
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 18, 2014 6:47 AM in response to missionarymac

    missionarymac wrote:

     

    Is there any difference in this problem between the 6750m with 512 vram and the same with 1024 vram?

    Nope. The problem is not the GPU itself but the used solder/soldering process most likely.

  • by gdjgarcia,

    gdjgarcia gdjgarcia Apr 18, 2014 6:50 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 18, 2014 6:50 AM in response to abelliveau

    I am going to write this in hopes of it not getting taken down. For US customers effected by this issue I might suggest that you contact your states' AG for help. Each state should have a consumer protection division that you can submit an issue to. I went through a similar thing when trying to get Apple to acknowledge an issue with an iPhone. All they would do is exchange the phone with a service replacement and I could replicate the problem every time. I took video's, screenshots, etc. and showed them to 'Genius' bar employees, 'Senior Advisors' who supposedly showed them to engineers and they would never budge. I was asking them to take the phone back because for me, it was never going to work. They said they couldn't because I had exchanged the original phone for a service replacement! I got nowhere until I contacted my state AG. I sent them a detailed letter with my videos, screenshots, links to the support communities, email correspondence with 'Senior Advisor,' etc. As soon as the AG contacted Apple, their cooperation suddenly changed. They were now willing to do what I had been asking for. I have been following this thread for months because I have a 2011 MBP that is displaying symptoms of eminent failure. I am days away from Applecare expiring too. Good luck to everybody. After my iPhone incident I started my move away from Apple. I might be bummed if my MBP dies prematurely but it is my last product in my Windows/Android switch. I was bummed at first but haven't looked back. I hope this might help and doesn't get taken down.

  • by stanton119,

    stanton119 stanton119 Apr 18, 2014 7:06 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (2 points)
    Apr 18, 2014 7:06 AM in response to abelliveau

    Just had a trip to the Genius Bar.

     

    Standard result: £408 repair job.

    I was in contact with Executive relations. I tried the EU consumer law and UK Sales of Goods Act and got no where with it.

     

    Here are some interesting points that others may find useful

    • I got confirmation that I have a 2 year warranty, not the 90 days. EU consumer law gives me that and Apple will honor it.
    • Reflowing yourself: you might as well try. If there is no major indication that the logic board has been tampered with; then the repair will cost the same. And it could save you a lot of money.
    • UK Sale of Goods Act: if its after 6 months, you have to prove that the fault was there at the time of purchase. As such Apple will not acknowledge the fault, and so they will not repair it under the act.
  • by Calvinogood,

    Calvinogood Calvinogood Apr 18, 2014 7:17 AM in response to stanton119
    Level 1 (0 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 18, 2014 7:17 AM in response to stanton119

    Hi Stanton,

     

    Too bad my replacement has only 90 days warranty from the printed invoice, I wish to move away from Mac OS too. I have no confident to purchase Apple products in near future.

     

    Regards,

    Calvin

  • by LeVeL5,

    LeVeL5 LeVeL5 Apr 18, 2014 8:20 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Apr 18, 2014 8:20 AM in response to abelliveau

    I went to the Aventura Apple Store and took my MBP 2011 there. I took a lot of printed web pages as proof and he said "In these papers there must be 200, or 500 cases. I know there's even more: I've been working here for four years and have seen this hundreds of times, but Apple has sold tens of thousands of these laptops and there aren't still enough to warrant a repair program or a recall"

     

    The Genius quoted me the flat depot rate and I decided to take it. I'm still in touch with the Apple Executive Relations person and I figure they're ignoring me since I've suffered the GPU issue only once. I know they didn't mean it as dare, but CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! I'm taking a HUGE bet on this since I'm repairing my laptop while on vacation and when I come back, it will be to a state without Apple Stores nor Apple Authorized Repair shops.

     

    I'll keep you posted on my experience.

  • by Nishanth92,

    Nishanth92 Nishanth92 Apr 18, 2014 8:27 AM in response to LeVeL5
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 18, 2014 8:27 AM in response to LeVeL5

    How many is enough to warrant a repair program or recall then? They arn't exactly transparent with the numbers, how do we know how many have suffered this same problem. What if your logic board breaks after 90 days?

  • by andyBall_uk,

    andyBall_uk andyBall_uk Apr 18, 2014 8:44 AM in response to stanton119
    Level 7 (20,495 points)
    Apr 18, 2014 8:44 AM in response to stanton119

    The UK SOGA also mentions reasonable quality & fitness for purpose (or similar phrasing); and while Apple may turn down your request, a small claim is reasonably cheap (especially if done online); & sometimes the mention of it in writing gets results before the action. If not, pay & try afterwards. Some may consider that an expensive & major failure in a high quailty device is reasonable proof enough that a fault existed when it was made, even if there were no obvious signs.

first Previous Page 292 of 891 last Next