Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

>Install GFXcardstatus 2.2.1. Do not download the 2.3 version. Search for the version 2.2.1 somewhere

What's wrong with 2.3?

> Is it Mavericks?

No, it happens on other OS as well including Snow Leopard.  It's a defective GPU and Apple is hoping people will simply keep paying to replace the same, defective GPU with a logic board repair or give up and buy a new MacBook Pro.  Apple is obviously not doing the right thing here and is spreading ill will among a lot of longtime Mac users, including me.

Not so.  It's a failure in the way it's attached.

CharlesMarhowl wrote:

 

. It's the faulty GPU which is the root of the problem. The problem may come back at any time until the GPU is replaced

Again - it's not actually the GPU that is defective. It's the method of attachment.  "Faulty GPU" is a useful shorthand but misrepresents the issue. But, yes, the replacement boards will be no better.

Denisism wrote:

 

.  It's a defective GPU and Apple is hoping people will simply keep paying to replace the same, defective GPU with a logic board repair or give up and buy a new MacBook Pro.

Faulty GPU won't last with you for three years , not even three minutes, even if we have to replace it we still have to use the same model with the same exact number so there is no need to keep repeating that wrong conclusion. Its not the chip itself, it is the solder that attaches the chip or the dirt that gets under the solder and cause bad connections which results in the graphics failure. The GPU chip is just fine and 99% of the time the same chip will work perfect when reballed and reattached.

July of last year I had the $310 Motherboard replaced in my Early 2011 Macbook Pro. After about 90 days the system started to fail again. Out of warranty, and not wanting to pay another $310 I was stuck with a $2600 paper weight. I tried all of the ideas mentioned above and the computer was totally unresponsive. I thought I would try one last try. I paid to get this thing reballed. I have had it back for about 24 hours and so far so good. I've gotten it hot and the graphics have been switching between integrated and discreet with no issues. I will continue to test it for a couple more days but so far this has been the best $150 I've spent in a while.  Good look all. 

I got my Early 2011 MBP 17 back from Apple Depot repair....I opened up photoshop and now get this Error...see attached image.

Did they disable something so my computer wouldn't work so hard and heat up?

Yeah so I had this issue with my Late 2011 MBP a few months ago now. I'm from the UK, but emigrated to NZ and only a few weeks in, the machine died. Since I wasn't in the country of purchase, I wasn't covered by consumer law in either country.

The local repair centre quoted me between $1500-$2000 NZD (!!!) for a logic board replacement and I already knew from the lengthy thread here (now much, much longer!) about the issues with replacements failing; it's a design fault, so there'd be little point replacing like-with-like. If I ever wanted to sell the machine on, I could hardly do so with a clear conscience knowing it was going to fail sooner rather than later.

Due to needing the machine for work at the time, I was forced to buy a Retina MBP to replace the 2011 model while I got the old one fixed. The old one had been upgraded to 16GB RAM, 960GB SSD; thus the absolute fastest highest end machine Apple make right now (since they are no longer user-upgradable - "pro" my arse!) was only capable of just barely exceeding that specification, CPU aside. 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD at huge cost. It does have a higher res screen, but glossy not antiglare; there's no CD drive; yes it's got a more efficient CPU and the battery lasts longer which is nice... But it looks like it's a lemon. A Thunderbolt dock that my 2011 machine worked with fine doesn't operate properly with the new machine and I've had countless mysterious lockups. Apple are now pointing the finger at the dock people, the dock people at Apple. Yet another hardware disaster. I won't be buying Apple again.

In the mean time I had a UK company (BGA Repairs, eBay, recommended from this thread) do the resoldering of the GPU with leaded solder, taking advantage of an upgrade to the 6770M while I was at it. Machine disassembly was very fiddly and I managed to damage a fan connector while I was doing it, but the UK company fixed that as well. The cost with shipping in NZ dollars has been about $400. Compare that to Apple's $1500-$2000 which wouldn't even properly fix the machine. The 2011 laptop is now reassembled and running cooler than before, which again is a damning indication of poor build quality in the original machine - the well-known and frankly inexcusable issue with thermal paste application in the factory.

I suppose it's time to go for many reasons. I've used the 2011 machine as the "fall guy" to test out Yosemite, and to be honest I can't see I'm going to miss Mac OS. iOS and OS X are both heading in visual directions I dislike strongly (the spidery, minuscule new font on these discussion forums is another example of poor choices), with a lot of usability issues from my perspective - that's a very personal thing though. The mounting iOS and OS X bug count isn't quite so subjective, however; and since Apple seem to now be exceeding Microsoft for one-off weirdo crashes and hiccups, I may as well save my money and go mainstream with some box shifter PC laptop. It might only last a year or two, but I'll be able to buy five of them for the price of one Macbook and each year's model will be better than the last.

A really sad tale all in all. I wonder if they'll realise they have a very serious hardware and software quality problem and rectify it before it's too late?

Just wait for another 30 to 60 days and let us know if it is still working, one day or one week is not enough to make a conclusion and compare it to the original manufacturer quality that lasted with you for three years.

Mac Book Pro 2011 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7

16GB Memory , Samsung Evo 840 ssd.

I have exactly same problem with you guys... I 'm over 12 years Mac User and this is totally disaster for me.

Mine still restarts but I know this will be end for this machine soon.

Hope apple can do something about this issue.,,, for their valuable computer users.

This is computer is most important working machine for my pays. Without this I get nothing for living.

Unfortunately, I have no money to pay another $3000 for new one now...

Apple is originally the computer company ... not a celluar or mp3 player. Plz... do something APPLE.

Now my GFX switcher isn't working, I was getting by using the HD 3000 but now when I try to switch over from dynamic switching when I start up it just freezes and the fans start cranking (no display issues). Weirdly, it restarts fine currently, it used to have the green lines and take up to 30 restarts. Also I posted earlier but haven't gone to an Apple store to fix the issue yet, have any Aussies had experience with taking their Macbook in?

Cook1e wrote:

have any Aussies had experience with taking their Macbook in?

Yep.  New logic board five weeks ago.  No Apple Care - but no charge.  Granted, it's still a board which will probably fail but I am treating it gingerly and trying to stay on integrated and running a mighty three-fan cooling stand.  Tips at the Genius Bar:  Be nice.  Let them run tests and offer an explanation before you politely point out the extensive online references to the issue (I took my iPad so I could show them this thread and a number of online journals with articles about the problem). Listen patiently as they may tell you a bunch of things that don't really reflect reality (in my case it was that the problem didn't affect 17" machines). When they indicate that the only option is a logic board replacement at $XXX tell them you really don't want to pay that, you would expect a bit more from a premium machine and that you'll look into your options under Australian Consumer Law.  Continue to listen patiently as they may assert that ACL only gives you another year beyond the standard warranty (I think actually each case is taken on its merits). Say thanks but you'll make your own investigations. Hopefully at this point they will say they are going to speak to their supervisor to "see what they can do" and will return with an offer to replace the logic board at their own cost.  That's what happened to me.  Be surprised and grateful, sign the forms, leave the machine and pick it up a few days later in working condition.

If all that works, it's then up to you whether you treat the machine with kid gloves or stress test until it fails and then take it back.  Good luck.

Cook1e wrote:

 

Now my GFX switcher isn't working, I was getting by using the HD 3000 but now when I try to switch over from dynamic switching when I start up it just freezes and the fans start cranking (no display issues).

I've also had gfxCardStatus freeze my computer when changing to Integrated only (10.6.8 Snow Leopard with gfxCardStatus 2.2.1). I read somewhere that it happens when you try use gfx immediately after the computer startup. Maybe sometimes something is happening in the background and you have to let it finish –I don't know, just guessing... Try letting it stay for 10 minutes without any activity before forcing it to use Integrated.

Ok thanks for the advice I will give it a go!

This used to happen to me and I did as you said, waited ten minutes and all was good. But now I've given it extended periods of time and it's still freezing.