Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

Soemthing like this:

http://breakfree.s3.amazonaws.com/images/167/original/gpu-incident.gif?140157773 2

same issue with a late 2011 15" macbook pro. had it reballed 45 days ago but showed signs of GPU errors again this morning.

I'm using the overheating method to make my mbp 15" late 2011 boot.
I am using gfxcardstatus to force it to work with the intel gpu.
With time the problem is occurring more frequently, I need to overheat the mbp up to 3 times a day to get it booting.

It works but it is slower than before, it hangs more, when I wake it up from sleep it is also slower. Of course it is impossible to use the discrete gpu or it would freeze. But I noticed a strange behaviour: sometimes the temperature goes up to 75-80° in a few seconds, after that I could only move the mouse but I cannot do anything else. So I must shutdown the mbp with the power button.
Is anyone having the same issue?

I would say that you have failing disk

Hmm, my last post was censored by Apple as it contained a link to the petition linked to our problem... That's a bit unfair.

marvin15 wrote:

 

same issue with a late 2011 15" macbook pro. had it reballed 45 days ago but showed signs of GPU errors again this morning.

Hmm "reballing" should fix it for good, are you sure "reball" is what you had done?

I ask because if the reball failed then it would lead one to believe that the GPU is at fault.  Many here have concluded that it is not the GPU that is at fault, rather the connection between GPU and Logicboard (aka, Motherboard in for other computers.)

I am not the expert but to be sure we're all talking the same thing:

"Reball" as mentioned in other posts is the removal of old solder that connects the graphics card and board and then re-solder with a better solder - this service is not generally provided by your Apple store. 

Reball has been the solution promoted by others as it resolves what appears to the real problem of the original solder on Early 2011's not being able to withstand the operating temperatures and causing distorted screen graphics, crashes, etc. For many including this writer, once the Mac was off for a while it would start up and run again without issue until it heated up again which could be within minutes or hours.

VS.

Heading to the Apple Store or other qualified Apple repair provider and having the Logic Board and Graphics card replaced for $310 (USD) plus taxes. My understanding from multiple communciation with Apple is that the Logic Board and GPU are so deeply intertwined that is easier to replace both vs replaing the GPU only.  One could also conclude that this makes sense since it is not the GPU of LB that is at fault, it is the connection between the two.

As mentioned in other posts this is a temporary solution since it simply replaces the original failing Logic Board and GPU combination with the exact same Logic Board and GPU combination...which means that eventually you will return to Apple repair facility and pay another $310(USD) plus taxes and hope that Apple eventually agrees that there is a problem and issues a recall.

Woaha wrote:

 

Hmm, my last post was censored by Apple as it contained a link to the petition linked to our problem... That's a bit unfair.

Same here.

I suspect that most graphic problems are due to failing solder and thermal paste.  HOWEVER, the more severe ones (perhaps yours) could COOK the GPU to the point to cause an internal failure of the GPU itself.

Hey guys I've got the same problem here. I'm from China and I bought MD322 exactly 2 years ago. Yesterday it got all wrong. The crazy vertical lines and gray screen and I just got so upset. Luckily, I found a solution , that is, if you actually don't wanna purchase another laptop but desperate to repair your Mac, you can replace the defect logic board with that of MD103' or MD104's. Unluckily that's not an inexpensive option. And I absolutely don't think we the customers should pay for Apple's bad quality or GPU arrangement or whatever you wanna call it. Apple gotta do something before it loses a large group of its hardcore fans.

My MacBook Pro 15" early 2011 also had a system failed last friday, just during a concert when we're playing power point presentation, and ever since it couldn't be open.

I went to a apple care store, not only they said this is very often, they even guessed my model, before i told them. So i thought this must not be rare, they said more then hundred of simular cases of people went the store for fix up, where they don't recommend of fixing, becaz even if you change a same MB(with their experiences), it will break down sooner or later. and also the price of "really fixing" upgrading the MB to 32,000(NT, around $1060 USD) one, which i could use that kind of money to buy a new MAc Air 30,300(NT). =(

I spent around 60,000(NT, somewhere of $2000 USD) buying it, and i take good care of it, by nothing wrong doing to the computer, but still the computer just break down out of nowhere. It's not even more then two years I bought it, even my MAC book lasted for 7 years without facing any MB breakdown problems. just becaz i didn't buy apple care for this computer, so i need to take responsible for apple's flaw of making the computer! no way.

I hope a massive recall program be immediatly order,  before apple loses "a large group of its hardcore fans." especiall people who are willing to spent a lot of money buying this computer, comparing the other cheaper models.

btw i'm from Taiwan

paigoomein wrote:

 

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

They have to give far longer warranty in Europe (where we cannot get those cheap $310 depot repairs). However due to the incompentency of Apple Shops and AASPs you will not get that easily. I found the easiest way to get another replacement is through an email to CEO/executive customer relations because they actually do care a little and are halfway competent.

For professional users this trial-and-error is still unbearable.

<Edited By Host>

A few days ago I was confident Apple would start a recall, but I've been thinking and now I'm certain it won't.

Why? Because all my Apple laptops from the last 7 years have failed in one way or another.

- 2007 late MBP: GPU melt (which Apple fixed for free no warranty when Jobs was CEO) and dead superdrive after 3 years

- 2010 Macbook Air: dead LB after 2.5 years, Apple Mexico asked for 1500$ to fix it, we bought a mini instead.
- 2011 Macbook pro: dead GPU...

Also I've heard countless of stories around me of failing components in Apple's laptops. For example some family member bought a 3500$ retina MBP, and after less than 2 years the screen shows ghosting defects.

You see the trend here? If Apple made recalls of every failling piece of crappy hardware they sell it would mean no profit for them. Apple sold more macs in 2011 than any other year in their history, and since then their mac selling number have slowly fallen. It's quite clear to me their products didn't live up to the expections.

Nobody deserves an expensive piece of hardware to fail like this. It takes effort to buy a MBP, and I'm sure most of use rely on our MBPs to generate income to feed ourselves and our families. Apple laptops are unreliable tools.

I've got bunches of old mac laptops (all the way back to a Wall Street, which still runs) and they're all still going fine, though many have eventually needed some repair.  The Wall Street hinges failed and I had to get them fixed, but I think all the rest of the failures have been spindles-- I've replaced the optical drive in just about every mac laptop model ever at least once (usually with an upgraded one that I got third party- they're cheap and not difficult to do) and I think had to replace one fan with a bad bearing.  Optical drives are pretty delicate parts, and I don't really expect them to survive hard use.  Most of the machines are still in use in one way or another as servers.

My late 2011 MBP is the first that had a major non-moving part fail.  I started getting the GPU problem a few weeks ago, found this thread, and bit the bullet and sent it to PS3Specialist for repair.  Round trip it was 3 days and less than $200, including shipping (I live about an hour away from him, but it was easier to ship it Fedex Ground because he's in an inconvenient direction).  So far, so good- it switches back and forth between the video processors just fine and can run for extended periods without the GPU failing.  It also seems to run the fans slower (new heat sink compound plus he probably removed pet hair from inside the body).  It's certainly frustrating that it's a known problem and apple doesn't even reball the replacement boards, but if the reballing lasts (as it seems to from reports) then it's well worth it.

lindensmith wrote:

 

I've got bunches of old mac laptops (all the way back to a Wall Street, which still runs) and they're all still going fine, though many have eventually needed some repair.  The Wall Street hinges failed and I had to get them fixed, but I think all the rest of the failures have been spindles-- I've replaced the optical drive in just about every mac laptop model ever at least once (usually with an upgraded one that I got third party- they're cheap and not difficult to do) and I think had to replace one fan with a bad bearing.  Optical drives are pretty delicate parts, and I don't really expect them to survive hard use.  Most of the machines are still in use in one way or another as servers.

 

My late 2011 MBP is the first that had a major non-moving part fail.  I started getting the GPU problem a few weeks ago, found this thread, and bit the bullet and sent it to PS3Specialist for repair.  Round trip it was 3 days and less than $200, including shipping (I live about an hour away from him, but it was easier to ship it Fedex Ground because he's in an inconvenient direction).  So far, so good- it switches back and forth between the video processors just fine and can run for extended periods without the GPU failing.  It also seems to run the fans slower (new heat sink compound plus he probably removed pet hair from inside the body).  It's certainly frustrating that it's a known problem and apple doesn't even reball the replacement boards, but if the reballing lasts (as it seems to from reports) then it's well worth it.

What years are those old laptops?

Some members of my family still use 2006 old white macbooks just fine. Those were used by adults and then donated to children to abuse and still work. My hypothesis is that Apple's quality standards have lowered in the last 5 or so years for computer builds.

I have 8+ years old optical desktop units laying around that still work fine. The only laptop component I believe should be excused for having a 2-3 year lifetime are batteries.