Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

Yes of course I know.

But all these chips (except maybe the 6790) were available either on early or late 2011. So it should be compatible.

Any feedback on this ?

If someone ask for it I will do it and post the result, if it works it will be good for everyone, at least people can grantee that a reballing was really done to their boards from the people who claim to do.

Yes you're right, that's an excellent proof a good job done !

Had mine reballed 4 months ago, and I've just had the same issue again, would this be the fault of the guy who did it? It was very expensive, about £200

There are 2 techniques, reflow or reball...you need to get guaranteed that would be reballed (with lead-solder)....plus it is advisable to change the thermo-paste

Ryan Connolly,

You did get at least a six-month warranty on the reball, I hope? Yours is the first case that I've heard of a reball to fail...

Keep us abreast...

Clinton

Unfortunately another previously-happy owner reporting issues here (from the Netherlands). Started few months ago when suddenly out of the blue my early 2011 crashed (few weeks before turning 3y, no apple care). I was just watching a video and switched to safari to look something up when I heard a beep and everything went black. It tried to start up and failed a few times, beep&crash. When it finally succeeded getting through the grey screen and starting again it seemed not to be able to work without charger connected. Went to a local apple reseller and they gave me a few possible reasons: battery, HD or software.

As I didn't have the time to miss it for sending it in for diagnose I took it home again as I found out as long as it was on charger it functioned. After some time I miraculously was also able to keep it alive when removing the charger. Weird, but ruled out the battery.

I was able to use the mbp for two stable months till few days ago, out of the blue it started crashing again. Went back to the store where the did some testing and checks; probably graphics card as it said something troublesome.

I called Apple and found myself having a nasty conversation with a rude apple dude; as a customer I should be aware of the fact that with apple you also (mainly?) pay for the name and the life expectancy of these laptops would be 3 years so I was advised to reset my expectations. Very disappointing and I'm not willing to accept that customer-strategy. You buy Apple for what it can do and how long, not for some fun throw-away money thing.

btw, the first year I had it I had to send it in due to some nasty heating issues and weird noises. Got it back; nothing wrong we can't find anything (I did find the youtube clips they used to 'test' that).

I think we're all very reasonable in our expectations of Apple products (my friend has his 17" mbp for about 7 years, not a single problem ever) and Apple cannot ignore there's something wrong. And I don't even blame them for what's happening, but I do think it's their responsibility to take action as they sold us their (otherwise awesome) products.

@lisaMBP, misschien moet je dit eens lezen:

http://www.onemorething.nl/2011/10/tros-radar-apple-sjoemelt-met-garantie/

Zelfs al is de garantie verlopen, je kan toch een redelijke levensduur verwachten.

Met al die falende hier gepost zijn,  heb je misschien wel een kans?

In UK hebben ze vergelijkbare regels. Sommigen krgen hem daar zelfs buiten de garantieperiode gratis hersteld.

Ook dit nog, eerste lijn lezen, en dan voetnoot 2.

http://www.apple.com/nl/legal/statutory-warranty/

Volgens Nederlands recht en met al die falende macbooks hier gemeld, denk ik je je wel recht hebt op "iets" volgens dit:

http://www.consuwijzer.nl/elektronica/garantie/soorten-garantie

"Is de garantieperiode voorbij? Is uw product kapot en is de fabrieksgarantie of bijgekochte garantie voorbij? Dan hebt u nog steeds rechten."  en verder natuurlijk.

Ben geen Nederlander, dit waren dingen ik me nog herinnerde en even snel terug kon vinden.

Zou misschien toch wat meer proberen te pushen. Hij is al eens stuk gegaan tgv warmte.

Al die meldingen hier zijn ook falende soldeerverbindingn tgv van warmte.

Het apparaat wordt warm, de GPU kan echt heet worden, +90c en zelfs meer.

Hierdoor zet alles uit. Bij minder belasting of uitzetten koelt alles af = krimpen.

Tgv van het vaak opwarmen/afkoelen = uitzetten/krimpen laten de soldeerverbinding los.

Dit tgv slecht soldeer of soldeerprocess.

Zoal je in die artikels ook leest, het is de VERKOPER waarmee je 't regelt.

Enkel hij is verantwoordelijk voor jouw kapotte toestel.

Ze moeten niet afkomen met smoesjes van Apple dit of Apple dat....

Voila, hoop je hier iets aan hebt en hopelijk iets gergeld krijgt.

Mocht er niks uit te bus komen, kan hem eventueel ook herstellen.

Oh en nog iets. Hardwarematig/electronisch gezien zijn hun producten echt niet zo "awesome"  hoor.

Het is allemaal dezelfd hardware/componenten zoals in andere laptops/computers.

Door dezelfd Chinese fabrikanten gebouwd. Met dezelfde Chinese arbeiders, machines etc...

Je betaalt enkel 2-3x meer.... Neem je Applecare betaal je nog eens voor slechts een jaar extra boven de wettelijke garantie....

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Translated:

Maybe read this: (Dutch link)

Even if the warranty is over, you can still exprect a reasonable life cyvle.

With all these posts about failing laptops, maybe you have a chance?

In the UK comparable rules apply. Some even git repaired for free after warranty was expired.

Other comments are typycal for Dutch consumers. You can allways use a translater if interested.

ps3specialist wrote:

 

You need both the CPU and GPU reballed, the integrated graphics controller is built into the i7 processor so itf it doesn't work it means the the CPU needs to be reballed as well.

Integrated works or we wouldn't see anything I guess…

It's just that trying to switch to Integrated Only in gfx freeze everything.

Maybe gfx tries to access the discrete controller when switching or something.

I arranged rebaling of GPU tommorow and hope all will be ok.

However, last three days I noticed there are no graphic problems (  no wierd lines, crazy resarts, everything seems normal), but my mini display port DIED- not giving any signal to HDMI adapter on TV or another monitor ( maybe HDMI-mini displayport cable fried, cant test it further).

Is it normal for a problem to stop for some time and then comes back again? Like I said all is fine atm, except dead minidisplay port.

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4044

Utilities with the ability to force the use of either the integrated or discrete graphics may not always allow for better battery life and are not recommend by Apple.

And what do they remocommend?! Throw away your MBPs that are not working and get a new one from the Apple store?

exactly.   sighh....

I had the same situation after installing latest security update. Mac freezes every time when I choose Integrated Only in gFxCardStatus. Before this update all was fine. So I entered system preferences -> power settings.

And tried to turn auto-switching graphics mode off. My Mac froze immediately. When I was able to boot MacBook Pro again when I choose Integrated only it locks again. So I leaved it for couple of days and then I opened power settings and turned auto-switching mode again. MacBook locks again.

But when I turn it on again (after some tries) I was able to turn Integrated Only status again.

I think after security update this switch was turned on by the system.

Dank voor je uitgebreide antwoord D3us!

Ik ben op de hoogte van (Europees) consumentenrecht en van wat je in alle redelijkheid mag verwachten qua levensduur en bijbehorende rechten als consument. Ik zal eens onderzoeken of ik er wat mee kan doen.