Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

http://photofocus.com/2013/06/10/about-my-switch-from-mac-to-windows/

Its how we all feel.

Sums up whats happening now.

Macbook is usable with internal display, as long as it stays cool (installed smc fancontrol, running default by 3000rpm). Connecting an external displays crashes the Book imediately, freezing the system.

My MBP lasted 3 days using only the integrated graphics until I couldn't boot anymore.

Prepare for the worst...

Just bit the bullet and took it in to an apple store. $630.00 to have the logic board replaced, plus side is I get it back tomorrow. Apple employees were nice and sympathetic, but they were pretty adament that the chance of a program/recall is next to none because the mb pro 2011 has been out 3 years. I'm no longer a fan of apple, this is ridiculous. And if this thing craps out in 3 or 4 months when I'm back in classes, I'm screwed. Regrettably, I would not buy another apple laptop.

I'll give an update when I get it back. I'm curious to see if the heating issues persist with a brand new motherboard.

One more thing. The genius said that this was considered to be a consequence of normal wear and tear on an aging system (ie. As new software and whatnot comes out). That comment didn't impress me too much, it certainly speaks volumes about apple's attitude towards the quality of their products!..

@KevJbradley,

It is a refurbished motherboard. It will normally die after 3 months.

KevJbradley wrote:

 

One more thing. The genius said that this was considered to be a consequence of normal wear and tear on an aging system (ie. As new software and whatnot comes out). That comment didn't impress me too much, it certainly speaks volumes about apple's attitude towards the quality of their products!..

That's complete and utter rubbish. They are either lying to you or utterly incompetant. Either scenairo means they should get fired.

It makes me incredibly angry when I hear stories like this...

If you fall from Apple's "REMARKABLE" advice to replace the logic board, you are simply giving them money.

What a bully.

It's like a bully at school getting some kid's lunch box in exchange of garbage.

This is just my opinion.

But what other choice do we have? I can't afford to replace my laptop with another MB pro, and I can't switch to windows due to requirements for my work. The geniuses assured me that it would hold out, and they would give some leeway beyond the 90 day warranty. They also said that if a program did come out (very unlikely), any past GPU repairs would be reimbursed. To be honest, I just wanted it working ASAP, willing to take the risk.

With Apple's actions thus far, I have no confidence that they will provide any leeway for the 90-day warranty on the repair.

KevJbradley, you can use a reballing service with 1 year of warranty.

Someone recommended me this guy: http://www.ps3specialist.com/

Oh lovely. Well I guess I know what to do in 3 or so months... Or maybe its time for a hackintosh... Screw all of this.. (But thanks for your suggestion! I'll definitely look into reballing if this happens again..)

As I wrote before, I have this issue as well.

I have mainly been running OSX 10.7.5.

With this GPU error, it takes around 3-5 reboots until I can login and then use gfxCardStatus to switch to integrated graphics. Once the GPU is switched, the machine will run until next reboot. Hence I just close the lid and never reboot.

Testing Maverics, it needs around 10 booting attempts and then it will fail at least the same amount of time to switch graphics card ( getting bluescreen ).

Once you success dooing it, it kind of runs OK.

Hence, the conclusion is that 10.7.5 is performing better in this very frustating situation.

( I saved the old harddrive when I switched to maverics before this happened.

Time to act!

All:

As one who has been monitoring this thread since my machine started having these symptoims, I must submit the following:

1)  Apple has procedures in place to take care of their customers. IMHO, their policies are still some of the best in the business.

2)  Although I have now spoken to  9 people about my issue, I was treated with respect and dignity each time.  Sure, I didn't get them to admit to anything (yet), but they have taken careful notes and haven't gone silent.

3)  The only way to engage someone in a meaningful dialog is to respect their position as well. Apple may well own up to this as a recall issue, but it will take a preponderance of evidence before they do so. This takes careful analysis and since computers have so many variables, it may be a while down the road. I suggest you submit Capture Data files as soon and as often as they ask.

4)  I appreciate the fact that there is a change.org petition, multiple websites and Facebook pages for our issue. It is important that we stay on topic and cite these resources to Apple so they can investigate.

5) As a Mac owner and an Apple shareholder, I appreciate THEIR discovery process. Like any company, they'll own up to it if they can get 100% confident as to the root cause (a defect of some kind).

Until then, I am running gfxCardStatus and NOT REBOOTING!  This has made my machine totally workable.

I am also contacting Apple with carefully written notes on any testing I am doing. I am hopeful they will work this out with me.  I've had trouble before (machines that eventually had recalls) and they always solved the issue to my satisfaction.

Overall, PLEASE keep this great discussion thread going by providing QUALITY information and DO NOT RANT.  Together, we may tip the scales...

One sour note for me is that I am looking at what my replacement Mac might me. I am TOTALLY depressed that the MacBookPro lineup has integrated RAM and storage (SSD). This means no upgrades and if any component fails, no way to swap out and continue to operate.

The iMac is nearly the same, with only the 27" unit having accessible RAM.  Yuck!

Hi Hal

I totally respect your wisdom and what you are saying, but then again you can't know other people's circumstances. Some people really depended on their macs and financially they can't afford much at the moment. I know thats not Apple's fault, but they are accountable for the product they manufactured. And most of us are frustrated by the fact that MBP 2011 are dropping like flies and no response is being issued or like anything.

I mean the least they could do is say "we are currently testing the LBs to determine whether or not this is a manufacturing error and what it is causing numerous failures." This will calm the storm a bit.

Anyway my mbp is bricked and I can't do much at the moment.