Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card
-
Jul 7, 2014 10:27 AMby Cheets,I'm considering setting up a group action to present against apple with this, cant believe they are just ignoring this inferior product they sold us, and for quite a price, I got the 17 inch 2011 macbook and its just stopped working due to the bad quality graphics card. If anyone has an relevant email to send a group action/ complaint to please reply to my comment with the details.
-
Jul 7, 2014 1:14 PMby SameMacDifferentDay,When it fails to boot and goes to gray screen, close the lid, wrap it in a blanket or between your couch cushions or in a laptop sleeve or anywhere it'll overheat. It'll then shut down on its own. Its been said that it usually boots easily after that. Leave the power cord unattached and it may be in integrated mode when it boots (maybe that helps it boot).
It’s been attested to on the web, including here:http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/70283/how-to-permanently-disable-defect ive-graphics-card-in-macbook-pro
It worked for me after my computer started with the non-booting, teal and purple stripe screen loading to gray screen thing. I wrapped it in a blanket and it shut down by itself in like 5 minutes and then loaded right away. I was able to put gfxCardStatus on integrated mode when it booted too without my computer freezing. My MacBook Pro has been pretty stable since doing this.
You can also try what I was doing before that, but the results were less appealing because my Mac was still freezing and failing to boot:
- Cmd-R into recovery mode then clicking on the menu to startup from the startup disk booted the machine successfully a lot
- Powering up over and over again (my record is 45 times).
-
Jul 7, 2014 1:22 PMby SameMacDifferentDay,Yeah...I started a doc called New Mac Hardware and Software Complaints a week into owning my Mac and notated every anomalous activity. Its still a living document. So yeah I remember but luckily I don't have to :-)...Freezes, kernel panics, blue screens, flickering screens, weird glitch white line when you shut it down, over fanning...it goes on and on. I never did much video, any gaming, or any photo stuff until about two months ago when it started GPU issues.There is a issue with these cards alright.
-
Jul 7, 2014 1:25 PMby SameMacDifferentDay,Yeah thanks. I've heard this so, I think I'll have them do that when I go to the Apple Store. Seems like one way they try to get out of paying for this stuff is by saying you violated their TOU by doing stuff to your Mac yourself. Not sure they could prove it but...
-
Jul 7, 2014 3:22 PMby supergrafx,So just wondering, is there some consensus as to an actual fix?
Have people who have had there logic boards gpu "reballed," from a third party tech facility, had any issues prior to the procedure?
Is solder the actual cause of all these units going bad at once or is it the heated enclosure design in conjunction with running Maverick?
Also, how much is Apple now charging for the replacement of the logic board in the United States for a unit past warranty? I've heard from anywhere from $310 (hear this amount the most) and in a few cases, double that? When I had a spill situation 2 yrs, 2 months ago, I automatically got clocked at tier III repair which was around $1200.
My logic board has been supposedly replaced once already, but having much experience with pcbs;electronic boards myself, my logic board looks refurbished as there is what looks like a bit of corrosion around a few of the screw mount holes on the logic board and I've kept the machine in immaculate condition since it was serviced. I was told by the apple genius that my logic board was replaced 2yrs. and 2 months ago, but have read that Apple is using refurbished logic boards as well as new ones. I guess it is also possible that my logic board was never faulty to begin with and never changed out, although the Mac Genius said so, perhaps to make me feel better about the $1200 charge for perhaps just a faulty shorted keyboard? I guess I'll never truly know the answer to that question.
Since the 2011 17" MBP is now an older model, it makes sense that more refurbished logic boards will be used in switching out the logic boards (unfortunately). Thus, the 2-2.5 yr. estimate lifespan of the logic board being new, will be significantly less with refurbished faulty boards being used that have already to much extent, extended their GPU lifecycle. I'm reading people's replaced logic boards going bad in even a month or so which would be within the 90 day warranty in the United States, but what if it is a day or more after the 90 days?
-
Jul 7, 2014 3:30 PMby paigoomein,The $310 option is for the depot repair. Apple will repair/replace any parts (could be new or refurb) of the machine that are defective or not functioning per the design specs. I believe this requires that the machine was not abused or damaged (i.e., dropped with dents, water exposure, etc).
If you choose to have the Apple Store repair just the parts required, then they will charge you per part and labor--for this particular issue which would require the MLB (main logic board replacement), the cost of that part alone is typically much more than the $310 repair option.
-
Jul 7, 2014 6:12 PMby carl wolf,"Have people who have had there logic boards gpu "reballed," from a third party tech facility, had any issues prior to the procedure?"
Why would someone go to the expense of having a computer fixed if it wasn't broken?
"how much is Apple now charging for the replacement of the logic board in the United States for a unit past warranty?"
Approximately $300.
" When I had a spill situation 2 yrs, 2 months ago, I automatically got clocked at tier III repair which was around $1200."
You were charged more because you spilled water onto your computer.
"My logic board has been supposedly replaced once already"
Yes, you already mentioned that you paid $1200, supposedly.
"I was told by the apple genius that my logic board was replaced 2yrs. and 2 months ago..."
Supposedly, you've already told us that, supposedly, you paid $1200.
"I guess I'll never truly know the answer to that question."
Supposedly, not.
"Since the 2011 17" MBP is now an older model..."
We're all getting older, by the day, supposedly.
"I'm reading people's replaced logic boards going bad in even a month or so which would be within the 90 day warranty in the United States, but what if it is a day or more after the 90 days?"
What if, what? Are you trying to ask: "if the replacement board fails one or two days after the warranty expires, will Apple repair the MBP free?"
-
Jul 7, 2014 7:01 PMby supergrafx,Carl:
First of all, thanks for your responses.
I was not implying that Apple will fix a problem regarding faulty logic boards, past the US limited 90 day warranty, but rather inferring that 90 days may not be enough of a warranty time to cover an inevitable failure of a newly installed logic board that will soon enough reoccur. I should have asked if one could extend this warranty on a MBP that has been processed through "the depot." So, more specifically, I ask:
Do you know once sending off the MBP to the depot, if you can purchase the extended Apple Care plan, which I believe extends the warranty to 3 years?
It seems Europeans would not need this Apple Care extended coverage since their consumer protection laws seem to enforce corporations to fix for free, electronics with faulty components within a 3 year period. But for us American citizens, purchasing an extended Apple Care plan would be a better option than the minimum 3 month warranty since the logic board will fail again. There's no doubt in my mind my about that. Getting three more years coverage and usage for $350 AppleCare + the additional $300 depot fee, seems IMO, better than trashing a $3000 laptop.
If this is indeed a possibility to purchase the extra coverage, had I purchased the Apple Care plan (pending it was viable for 3 years) when I initially through my own fault damaged my machine 2 yrs. ago, I would have still been in the time frame for warranty coverage like my European comrades. I tend to be a very careful person and have never purchased warranties. But I would do so in this case, if it is at all possible, since I am aware that these logic boards inevitably fail on their own.
-
Jul 7, 2014 7:38 PMby DrTedko,Hey...
Why should us pay for Apple's fault?
An Ordinary PC can run robustly at least for several years... This time this problem it is definitely caused by Apple.
So why should us pay for it?
But I recommend those who are in Apple Care or warranted ...Go to replace your logic board now! once you met some problems about Graphic card,go and replace it!
-
Jul 7, 2014 8:25 PMby jmc53,Does anyone know how to retrieve the original AMD Radeon .kext extensions?
Like many of you, I had moved them to a folder to trick the macbook to use the integrated card. I moved them back to the original location and deleted my backup folder containing them (bad mistake) and now they do not appear to be showing in the Library/Extensions folder.
Here's my Library/Extensions folder:
