abelliveau
Level 1 (9 points)

Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

I have an early 2011 MacBook Pro (2.2 GHz Intel Core i7, 8 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 memory) running OS 10.8.2.  It has two graphics components: an AMD Radeon HD 6750M and a built-in Intel HD Graphics 3000. Since I've had the computer, the screen would get a blue tint when the computer switched between them.

 

However, as of two days ago, the problem has become substantially more severe.  The computer was working fine, when all of a suddent the screen when completely blue.  I had to force restart the computer.  Since then, the screen has gone awry on numerous occassions - each time necessitating a hard reset.

 

I installed gfxCardStatus, and have discovered that the computer runs fine using the integrated card, but as soon as I switch to the discrete card - the screen goes .

 

I am just wondering what my options are (any input on any of these would be appreciated!):

 

1) Replace the logic board.  Would this necessarily fix the issue?

 

2) Is there any way to "fix" the graphics card? 

 

3) Keep using gfxCardStatus and only use the integrated graphics card.  This is definitely the easiest/cheapest option, but to have such a computer and not be able to use the graphics card seems like a real shame.

 

4) Is there any other alternative?

 


MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7, 8 GB memory

Posted on Feb 1, 2013 4:45 PM

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Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

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  • by stanton119,

    stanton119 stanton119 Jun 9, 2014 9:40 AM in response to Hal Feldman
    Level 1 (2 points)
    Jun 9, 2014 9:40 AM in response to Hal Feldman

    Are you running smcFanControl?

  • by paigoomein,

    paigoomein paigoomein Jun 9, 2014 9:41 AM in response to Hal Feldman
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 9, 2014 9:41 AM in response to Hal Feldman

    Not only are the fans running full speed most of the time, but  you may also notice that the system is automatically underclocking (not sure if that is the right term) your CPU/GPU.

  • by lowder.chris,

    lowder.chris lowder.chris Jun 9, 2014 10:51 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 9, 2014 10:51 AM in response to abelliveau

    Hi,

     

    I have a late MacBook Pro 2011 with discrete graphics, and after finding out about this issue I've gotten a bit worried. I've noticed some slight graphical glitches (image attached) from time to time, and always thought it was just a software bug. Now I'm worried that this laptop, my main working machine, will suddenly die on me. I have multiple backups, but I really don't want my thesis work to be sidetracked by this problem. Is this sort of glitch the type of thing I should be worried about? I haven't noticed any glitches larger than this. They usually appear in the titlebar of terminal windows, if that helps to diagnose the problem.

     

    I'm just curious if Apple is doing anything about this problem without requiring the user to pay for the repair?

     

    IMG_0549.jpg

  • by andreafromaosta,

    andreafromaosta andreafromaosta Jun 9, 2014 10:59 AM in response to abelliveau
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 9, 2014 10:59 AM in response to abelliveau

    I withdrew my macbook pro from the replacement and now I want to put it to the testbecause the warranty is only 3 months. What software can I use to stress the gpu?

  • by Pier11,

    Pier11 Pier11 Jun 9, 2014 11:06 AM in response to lowder.chris
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jun 9, 2014 11:06 AM in response to lowder.chris

    lowder.chris wrote:

     

    Is this sort of glitch the type of thing I should be worried about? I haven't noticed any glitches larger than this. They usually appear in the titlebar of terminal windows, if that helps to diagnose the problem.

     

    I'm just curious if Apple is doing anything about this problem without requiring the user to pay for the repair?

     

     

    Yes you should be worried. Here's a video of my failing GPU, a day before becoming a brick.

     

    And no, Apple is not doing a thing about this problem. If you have Apple Care, you will get a "new" logic board for free, but most users report it fails after some time between days and months. If you pay for the repair, and the "new" logic board fails after the 90 days warranty that Apple offers for their repairs, you will have to pay again.

  • by Pier11,

    Pier11 Pier11 Jun 9, 2014 11:08 AM in response to andreafromaosta
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jun 9, 2014 11:08 AM in response to andreafromaosta

    andreafromaosta wrote:

     

    I withdrew my macbook pro from the replacement and now I want to put it to the testbecause the warranty is only 3 months. What software can I use to stress the gpu?

     

    You use this software to stress test the GPU: http://www.geeks3d.com/gputest/

  • by Evil8Beezle,

    Evil8Beezle Evil8Beezle Jun 9, 2014 11:10 AM in response to lowder.chris
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 9, 2014 11:10 AM in response to lowder.chris

    Be aware that when Pier11 says "new"and uses quotes. He/she is being sarcastic, and your probably going to get a second hand/reconditioned logic board that just buys Apple another few months in fobbing you off...

     

    Sorry but the news is not good (and neither are Apple anymore!)

  • by SpectralHuman,

    SpectralHuman SpectralHuman Jun 9, 2014 11:12 AM in response to andreafromaosta
    Level 1 (21 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 9, 2014 11:12 AM in response to andreafromaosta

    Mining dogecoin is a good way to stress a gpu...

  • by Evil8Beezle,

    Evil8Beezle Evil8Beezle Jun 9, 2014 11:16 AM in response to Evil8Beezle
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 9, 2014 11:16 AM in response to Evil8Beezle

    I'd still like to know where Apple are finding these replacment logic boards? Are they reflowing the damaged ones that are being taken out of sufferers machines (along with the hundreds of pounds from their wallets/purses)

  • by Pier11,

    Pier11 Pier11 Jun 9, 2014 11:16 AM in response to Hal Feldman
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jun 9, 2014 11:16 AM in response to Hal Feldman

    Hal Feldman wrote:

     

    This is not normal behavior of a healthy MacBook Pro and is indicative of excessive heat inside the case.

     

    Is it possible your fans are dirty?

     

    Apple shoudl have cleaned them during the repair, but if not, you can do it yourself.

  • by nudoru,

    nudoru nudoru Jun 9, 2014 11:22 AM in response to Evil8Beezle
    Level 1 (34 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 9, 2014 11:22 AM in response to Evil8Beezle

    I asked the Genius today and he confirmed they're "remanufactured" - so refurbished from other system.

     

    He wanted to sent mine to the depot for a test/repair and thinks it may be a display/video cable issue. There doing it for free so I let him. I confirmed that the store and the depot gets their replacment boards from the same source. I do not expect this replacment board to last long either. It'll be the 4th logic board this computer has seen.

  • by Hal Feldman,

    Hal Feldman Hal Feldman Jun 9, 2014 11:47 AM in response to Pier11
    Level 1 (125 points)
    Jun 9, 2014 11:47 AM in response to Pier11

    Fans are clean and only started this behavior right after replacement logic board.

  • by Hal Feldman,

    Hal Feldman Hal Feldman Jun 9, 2014 11:48 AM in response to stanton119
    Level 1 (125 points)
    Jun 9, 2014 11:48 AM in response to stanton119

    Yes, but not modifying the speed control, just for monitoring them.

  • by Hal Feldman,

    Hal Feldman Hal Feldman Jun 9, 2014 11:49 AM in response to paigoomein
    Level 1 (125 points)
    Jun 9, 2014 11:49 AM in response to paigoomein

    How do you know the underclocking is happening?  That worries me if it left Apple repair with the wrong settings.

  • by paigoomein,

    paigoomein paigoomein Jun 9, 2014 11:54 AM in response to Hal Feldman
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 9, 2014 11:54 AM in response to Hal Feldman

    I have Bootcamp setup to run Windows 7 on my machine.  I was told to install OCCT to view the clockspeeds--not sure if there is an equivalent program for OSX.  When I did, I saw that the clockspeeds were reduced once the computer started to heat up and the fans start o spin at max speed.

     

    I have a very basic understanding of this so I may be incorrect here.

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