Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

No you can request a case for replacement with the new macbook after the third repair. It's in their policy anyway.

I have reballed my macbook 2008, my HP pavilion dv5, my xbox 360. Luckily, I know a guy that does this for a living. I haven't had a trouble with any of them since.

People are confusing simple reflowing with reballing (which of course includes reflowing) here it seems, simple reflow is a temporary fix while reballing is a definitive fix if done right.  Reballing is not some cheap trick like overheating your computer, it gets to the source of the problem and resolves it. Make sure you get a trained professional to do it though.

In your case Helge, they might've just reflowed your board.

Thank you both @jinfromgarland and @CatFisce for the reply. I asked a company here in Cape Town that claims to be professionals/specialists when it comes to repairing Apple products and they did quote and i did pay for a reball, not a reflow. When I picked it up and asked what they did to get it to work again, one of the technicians mentioned that they applied new thermal paste...what else, I dont know. Thermal paste I could have done myself. Since it worked however I didnt argue with em. Will go back there as I have 3 months warranty on the repair.

hi scawtee,

Call the Apple Support from AU, http://support.apple.com/kb/HE57.

Greetings from poland guys! my wonderfull MacBook which i truly loved before broke down last week. How big was my suprise when I found out that its this graphic card problem and the only solution is to replace it and even after that it can broke again. It happens exactly like on a pics u posted. My model is DV8V bought in Miami around march 2011.

The problematic part is that beeing from Poland but living now in Spain 600 km from closest Apple Store there is almost nothing i can do. Apple Poland Care is working only in Poland (number is not working here), Apple Care Spain is paid u cant talk to them if ur device is out of warranty they just disconect you and im not that fluent in spanish anyway. I called Apple USA, Apple AU. But it didnt help too much. Mainly they r advicing me to go to Apple Store. Brilliant! And pay for plain tickets just to go there. this is an ABSURD. I will never ever suspect that Apple as a comapny have such a terrible attitude to people. I ll never trust you again Apple. U just lost a faitfhull consumer and all bunch of its friends and familly :/ i havent feel that helpless and frustreted from a loong time.

I bough a crazy expensive computer which broke 3 years later because of MANUFACTURE mistake of APPLE and nothing no replacement program, not even a slightly try of helping me.

Hi Rapsi,

I did experienced the same feeling 6 months ago, do you think Apple customer service will care? They just asked me to changed it, what should I say or do after that? Begging doesn't helps at all.

The lawsuit is to protect the enterprise not users.

I'm just guessing all depend on who you talk to.

Hi jinfromgarland,

Any names that we can refer to?

Sorry, best not to give out name. Since I don't want to screw other people chances.

People are confusing simple reflowing with reballing (which of course includes reflowing) here it seems, simple reflow is a temporary fix while reballing is a definitive fix if done right.  Reballing is not some cheap trick like overheating your computer, it gets to the source of the problem and resolves it. Make sure you get a trained professional to do it though.

Actually reballing is quite tricky without proper machines (and chip dependent masks) which cost a lot of money. While the hand-crafted reballing some people do in videos on YouTube is entertaining to watch I really wouldn't trust any specialist doing it that way... The most reliable solution would be to replace the GPU with a brand new one...

degger wrote:

 

People are confusing simple reflowing with reballing (which of course includes reflowing) here it seems, simple reflow is a temporary fix while reballing is a definitive fix if done right.  Reballing is not some cheap trick like overheating your computer, it gets to the source of the problem and resolves it. Make sure you get a trained professional to do it though.

Actually reballing is quite tricky without proper machines (and chip dependent masks) which cost a lot of money. While the hand-crafted reballing some people do in videos on YouTube is entertaining to watch I really wouldn't trust any specialist doing it that way... The most reliable solution would be to replace the GPU with a brand new one...

If the problem is only solder related, there really is no need to replace the chip.

Reballing can be a perfect solution.

Even reflow can. If done correctly of course.

Another one down.  My university ITS department said the board died and to just replace the whole machine.  I may try to take it to the apple store to see if I have any luck. 

Count me in. My 2011 MBP has just started showing the symptoms described here. Am able to restart in safe mode but screen is all garbbled. It also started avec graphic intensive tasks. This REALLY, REALLY *****!

(Mac user since 1987)

You may be in luck being from AU. according to many of the posts here, AU is most likely to help you. Call the hotline, explain your case, and tell them that your research suggests it's a widespread case for the model. Sometimes they will do free repairs, sometimes not. Good luck! Some of the other posts mention that Apple will give you a new machine if you go through 3 repairs.

AS I mentioned before Reballing result is different from one place to another , one can last one month, other six month  or one year or even more, Its all about the thermal profile which doesn't come with the machine, every Reballer has to make his own thermal profile and that what makes all the difference, Also the material, leadfree solder is the right material that has to be used , if leaded solder is used it won't last for too long.