abelliveau
Level 1 (9 points)

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 CatFisce,

    CatFisce CatFisce Apr 25, 2014 8:43 AM in response to triffski
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 25, 2014 8:43 AM in response to triffski

    I would say it's a bad idea, as the repair guy probably put a (new) sticker from the battery to the logic board. If you break it you will probably loose your warranty on the repair. Hopefully the repair guy put a decent amount of thermal paste between the logic board and the heat sink, instead of the enormous blob they put during production.

  • by drombeck,

    drombeck drombeck Apr 25, 2014 9:09 AM in response to triffski
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 25, 2014 9:09 AM in response to triffski

    I got my Macbook back from a logic board replacement yesterday (total of 4 days for flat rate a depot repair – not bad).

     

    I've noticed it runs much, much cooler since I got it back. I don't have before/after numbers to compare, but it doesnt' get nearly at hot to the touch and I haven't heard the fans kick on high once (they used to do it nearly constantly). Hoping that means heat will not cause issues again for it.

  • by Richard ,

    Richard Richard Apr 25, 2014 9:40 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 25, 2014 9:40 AM in response to abelliveau

    Don't forget about the credit card you may have used to buy your Macbook. I just filed a claim with Visa since the card I used doubled the original warranty...

  • by DMD65,

    DMD65 DMD65 Apr 25, 2014 10:47 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Apr 25, 2014 10:47 AM in response to abelliveau

    This is the first time I discovered that the problem doesn't only conern my machine.

    My MacBook Pro 15 version 8.2, bought in November 2012, started to show the same problem with screen that freezes, glitches, stripes, blank screen. This happens on a daily basis. It requires two or three rebooting of the machine to get rid of it for some hours, so far, the whole day.

    During this week, I tried everything possible to trouble shoot this, including hardware test, resetting prm and smc. Nothing stops this problem. I will go to the Apple store to see what they have to say.

     

    As many of you, I have been using Mac  since long time (the first oen bought in 1987), I would like to consider Apple as a producer of computers and not only toys for kids.

    But if apple doesn't take any responsibility for a hardware construction failure, doesn't even issue an announcement and completely ignores its decreasing number of comuter users, I will definitely leave it behind. it is meaningless to pay 2000 plus Euros for a machine that can't hold longer than 14 months of usage. And I have been a very careful user of this machine.

     

    <Edited By Host>

  • by paigoomein,

    paigoomein paigoomein Apr 25, 2014 10:53 AM in response to DMD65
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 25, 2014 10:53 AM in response to DMD65

    Google "Replace or Fix All Early 2011 Macbook Pro with Graphics Failure" and you may find some other threads discussing the issue we are seeing with this particular laptop.

  • by Nishanth92,

    Nishanth92 Nishanth92 Apr 25, 2014 10:57 AM in response to paigoomein
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 25, 2014 10:57 AM in response to paigoomein

    I gave my MBP to Apple (Whitecity, London) last Saturday, they still havn't fixed it even though the logic board was in stock from the moment I have it to them.

  • by triffski,

    triffski triffski Apr 25, 2014 12:15 PM in response to Nishanth92
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apr 25, 2014 12:15 PM in response to Nishanth92

    Regent Street did mine and I picked it up the same day, about three hours later.

     

    Out of interest, as you're also London and assuming you didn't pay for it, did they put up a fight or just agree to it with a mild sprinkling of "Trades Descriptions Act" and "Executive Relations" over the Genius convo?

  • by Nishanth92,

    Nishanth92 Nishanth92 Apr 25, 2014 12:28 PM in response to triffski
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 25, 2014 12:28 PM in response to triffski

    I didn't talk about Acts but I did present her with lots of print outs of articles and discussions. She didn't care. I was quiet offended as I consider myself a very technical user being a Software Engineer. She treated me like a grandad. Why is it taking them over a week to repair a laptop they have the part for?

     

    What shall I do, I need it for my dissertation!

  • by paigoomein,

    paigoomein paigoomein Apr 25, 2014 1:32 PM in response to Nishanth92
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 25, 2014 1:32 PM in response to Nishanth92

    Have you contacted the store to get an updated status and ETA for your laptop?

  • by Nishanth92,

    Nishanth92 Nishanth92 Apr 25, 2014 1:39 PM in response to paigoomein
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 25, 2014 1:39 PM in response to paigoomein

    Just rang them 30 minutes ago. They said they would start working on it now and they should finish it tommorow. I should be able to pick it up tommorow. A week is still unacceptable.

  • by sidarta_buda,

    sidarta_buda sidarta_buda Apr 25, 2014 3:13 PM in response to DMC440
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 25, 2014 3:13 PM in response to DMC440

    Yes, it is not the answer.

    My system again is useless. The frequency of failed boots increased quickly and now it is practically nonfunctional.

    The answer is a replacement program from Apple!

  • by Icarri,

    Icarri Icarri Apr 25, 2014 5:03 PM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 25, 2014 5:03 PM in response to abelliveau

    Just had this issue on an early 2011 MacBook Pro (Intel Core i7 Quad Core 2.2GHz, 4GB RAM, 750GB HDD) purchsed in April 2011.

     

    I was surfing the web on it, then launched a game that switched to the dedicated gpu and my screen turned blue with vertical black thin stripes.

     

    I turned it off, on again, and after login in, the same.

     

    Now it doesn't even boot up. The apple logo appears, then dissapears and the screen stays grey with the ventilators starting to run at full.

     

    If i boot into windows 7 in the bootcamp partition, sometimes it boots, sometimes it just shows a blue screen with text talking about ati driver failure.

     

    For what i have read here and at other forums, this is a common issue and the only solution is to pay 600€ to apple to change the logic board, that would be aceptable if the new one would last at least 3 more years, but for what i have read, it doesn't need to be that way.

     

    Quick question, when they change the logic board, aren't they also changing the ATI gfx card as it should be soldered to it? If so, if the first one lasted 3 years on me, why is it lasting just a few months on others?

     

    Anyway Apple should give us a solution because this is not an issue just caused by the normal use and tear of hardware, but because a design or ensambling error. We need to spread the word and to make sure this ends in the news and in places where it affects Apple reputation so they will be foreced to recognice their issue and fix it or free.

  • by Calvinogood,

    Calvinogood Calvinogood Apr 25, 2014 9:38 PM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 25, 2014 9:38 PM in response to abelliveau

    Anything related to 'sensitive' or so called 'unconstructive' comments were removed... Is this the way they handling complaints?

  • by SaintesMaries,

    SaintesMaries SaintesMaries Apr 26, 2014 2:09 AM in response to Calvinogood
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 26, 2014 2:09 AM in response to Calvinogood

    Here is another MB early 2011 having this problem. Sample problems as here already reported.

    Unfortunately, the battery is also damaged, the hard drive died. Super drive dead. Problem with the screen as well.

    Did anybody suffer a similar fate? What did Apple do?

     

    I am sincerely disappointed from this MB. It was expensive and it did not even last 2 years before the first inccident appeared. Instead my PB is still running. It is almost 10 years old. This is quality. I want Apple to bring back their quality instead of selling just good looking products.

     

    In the meantime, Apple launched a project to protect the environment. I don't understand the point producing products that don't last long (>5 years). Buying a MB every two year, is not only way to expensive for my bank account but also a disaster for our environment and our resources.

  • by DMC440,

    DMC440 DMC440 Apr 26, 2014 2:22 AM in response to Icarri
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 26, 2014 2:22 AM in response to Icarri

    "Quick question, when they change the logic board, aren't they also changing the ATI gfx card as it should be soldered to it? If so, if the first one lasted 3 years on me, why is it lasting just a few months on others?"

     

    I wonder if the boards from this series of machines were all manufactured around the same time (including the stock of spares) and the failures are a result of their age rather (or as well as) their use?

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