Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

My laptop (early-2011 15" MBP) was experiencing symptoms, brought into Apple store but they couldn't diagnose/reproduce, and then it was working again for several months.

It just started experiencing symptoms again - on a regular boot it freezes at a gray screen, on a safe boot it freezes at a blue screen. Can't get it to boot at all now.

Taking it into Apple genius bar tomorrow morning...sigh...

jhaile wrote:

Taking it into Apple genius bar tomorrow morning...sigh...

Where they will probably recommend a logic board replacement. Don't do it - have the GPU reballed instead: much less expensive and actually 'fixes' the root cause of the problem.

Clinton

Clinton - know anywhere in the Atlanta, GA area to have it reballed that is trustworthy?  I'm nervous to ship it off to people on eBay. I did see a guy in the Jupiter, FL area on ebay who seemed to be recommended by a lot of people.

I'm also a bit concerned that doing a reball may "void" any replacement program if Apple ever does offer one.

IF there were a recall or fix offered by apple, would reballing have any impact on one's ability to have a fix offered by Apple?

Not trying to discourage others, but I would like some clarity.  

joshT216,

I would suspect that if you've had the GPU reballed then you wouldn't be eligible for any 'recall' that Apple may have.

Having said that, it's late days for Apple to do anything - as I've pointed out before Apple simply does not have the resources to do a board-level repair and they're so unlikely to begin production of 'new' 2-3 year logic boards.

I don't think that Apple's going to admit fault on this one: if anything they might (and this is stretching it) offer a discount on a new machine.

Clinton

No (I should as I lived in Atlanta for over 30 years!), I don't know of a reball center in Atlanta. There MUST be one around. Frankly, I'll be shipping my machine off to ps3specialist when it bites the dust again...

Clinton

About RECALL and REBALLING

This really is pretty much how do you need your laptop right now? If you can live to put your laptop in your closet and wait hoping Apple will do a recall or something then DONT DO REBALLING.

Problem with waiting is you dont know when will it happen or will it happen.

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I agree, I'm off to my local Apple store on Sunday and tell them the situation, I don't want a repair I want a replacement machine I know that they will not do this but im near the store anyway so it's worth 5 mins of my time. I don't want it repairing due to the simple reason that everyone else who has had there's repaired by Apple have had the whole logic board replaced and the same issue has comeback not long later. If Apple deny a replacement MacBook (which they probably will) i'm going to send my machine off to a specialist on ebay that will remove the old GPU and replace it with a new one, new thermal paste and clean the heatsink and fans along with both UPS collection, delivery and a 6 month guarantee will cost £110 ($184) which in my opinion is a bargain as it apparently solves the issue permanantly or at least more permanantly that the complete logic board swapout as I've heard that the connections on the AMD GPU's are of bad quality because apple haven't soldered them properly so having an expert properly solder them and apply thermal paste plus the addition of a brand new GPU should solve the fault that the 2011 MBP's have.

This started happening. It did this before the repair for several months before it started acting out with lines and freezing. My screen appears to be flickers once in a while now too.

Add two more to the pile. My 15-E11 2.2 went to depot repair before I even saw this was a common issue. Haven't picked it up yet. Hoping Apple throws us a bone and doesn't charge me the $310. Then, my wife calls me yesterday and tells me her 15-E11 2.2 "has a hot pink screen". Seems like these GPUs had a self destruct timer on them set for 5/14. I've never seen such widespread failures in MBPs for one component for as long as I can remember - and I happen to own two of them. Yay...

Hi i'm going to go down the same route as you, I saw this company advertising on ebay and everything seems very promising from them, they also offer a 6 month warranty which is excellent. Have you sent your machine to them? Let me know what happens becuase I think reballing/new GPU is the way to go for a permanant fix.

I've never seen such widespread failures in MBPs for one component for as long as I can remember - and I happen to own two of them. Yay...

Yep, happening like clockwork all over the place and just getting more numerous as time goes.  It's time for Apple to do what's right here and address the issue and announce an official recall.  I had mine replaced just before my extended Applecare expired, but now I simply own a ticking timebomb until the defect rears its ugly head again and I've got an expensive brick.

I'm getting increasingly embarrassed for Apple and angry as they continue to cowardly duck this issue and I'm becoming increasingly embarrassed and humiliated for myself as a person that paid Apple a premium for this Early 2011 MacBook Pro that's shaping up to be more like a cheap PC laptop when it comes to reliability.

I have 2 iBooks from 2001 that still run flawlessly with OS X Panther on them.  What's happening to you, Apple?  I'm going to start telling people to think twice about purchasing Apple products at this point.  I'm not even honestly sure I can continue to justify Apple products for myself anymore, either.

Apple needs to speak up on this issue NOW.  I'm tired of waiting on them.  This is starting to feel like a scam.

Everyone needs to go to apple.com and send them feedback. Please, this is the only way to get them to move.

I'm going the reball route and buying a new chip just to make sure. The GPU chips are about $40.00.  Ill keep you guys updated. This will be the LAST apple product I buy if apple doesnt step up. So much for all those billions in cash they have lying around.