Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

Mine started with #2, limping along for an extended period of time with random freezes (perhaps not so random after all), cooling fans start to engage more and more, performance issues abounding with jerky mouse pointers and scrolling, having to terminate Firefox, etc. routinely.  This went on for months and months slowly making its way to #1 when I hit my first split screen.  Interesting that this was a very, very gradual degradation in performance over many months and perhaps over a year, before hitting my first split screen and freeze several weeks ago.

Within 2 weeks of encountering the first split screen and then more rapidly getting eventually nearly every other type of screen and freeze, I was at #1, but the reboots would take me immediately to a login prompt again, until the next screen and/or freeze.

Within 1 day of being at #1 (dead in the water) and reboots not working, and after many resets and reboots I was somehow able to launch into internet recovery at start up, (option + cmd + r), while there I was able to launch the upgrade to Mavericks function (I was at OS 10.7.2??) and the upgrade was successful. Afterwards, Ibacked everything up well.

Since that upgrade, or perhaps since the reboot that allowed me to get to the internet recovery function (I tried many resets, reboots, etc), some flag or file was rest and since then my mbp is operating as new or #3.  So long as it does not attempt to engage the discreet AMD graphics card.  This happened twice this past weekend and went back to #1.  Once was an unintentional launch of the AMD card via Firefox launching a webpage, and the second was a deliberate attempt to engage the AMD card by playing 3 movies simultaneously.  Both times, it was a bear trying to get a login prompt, rebooting many times and sundry ways.  But both times, once I was logged back in, I was at #3 again, running normally.  I downloaded the gfxcard tool to try to keep the cpu from forever engaging the AMD card.

I'm typing on it now, dead silent, quick enough, cool to the touch, no screen issues, has the appearance of complete stability.  But appearances can be deceiving.

I pity da' foo' who engages the AMD card.

I have downloaded and am using the gfx. I haven't shut it down since it crashed, just keep it on sleep when not using it. I fear what happens if and when I have to restart.

The external monitor went squiggly, then the split weird screen on the last day of June, and then it turned black, so after trying to reboot I disconnected it. I continued to use my MBP thinking it was just a bad monitor, and about  three days later the computer   screen did the same thing.  It then froze solid and I couldn't get it to shut down, so I had to use the power button. When I tried a reboot, it would not go past the gray screen. I can't remember now if I got the sound or the logo, but it never went to login. So I again used the power button to shut it down and restart. The second time, I used the option key and got the hard disc and the recovery mode, and clicked on the hard disc. It went to log in, slowly, and I logged in. I think it crashed one more time and I finally booted it using the same way and then let it sit while using my old PowerMac G4 to research. I came here, and it was the first I'd heard of the problems the mac books have been having. I used the old slow powermac for several days, till I read about the gfx solution and decided to download the program.

So, to sum up, since then I have been usinthat's gfx  to keep the AMD from kicking in. I am not using my external monitor either which is a pain. I also dumped Flash software from my computer after reading about the conflicts. I am afraid to shut it down because I don't know if it will boot again. I contacted our local mac shop and they quoted me a price of $429.95 to send it to apple and have it fixed. I  told him I'd think about it. When my computer does crazy things, I usually avoid stressing it till I research a solution.

i have the early 2011 MBP. 8,3. 2.3 with 4 Gb RAM.  The  computer didnt give me any trouble except it has this blurb that comes from the speakers every hour or so. its been doing that for the last few monts and i have no idea why. then a few days before this problem started it started dinging, the warning sound you get when you attempt something the computer says no to. i shut down programs till it quit and may have rebooted. after that It ran fine till the monitor went out. I was not doing intensely graphic things, just researching with Safari and using preview and grab a lot checking and saving pics for my project.

I've had the MBP for two years, bought it in June of 2012, it cost me over 2300 dollars and since I have two old iMacs and a PPC G4 and an iPad mini, with no troubles, I didn't get the apple care. I also have the 750 Gb Toshiba hard disk and only 4Gb memory. It is just like it came to me, with a few added downloaded things, like Dropbox and other small programs.

I am running the lion, 8.7.5. When the apple repair quoted me$429.95 he said they would guarantee it for 30 days. I told him Most people were getting 90 and he said I'd have to talk to apple. He also said he'd never heard of the problem before.

Sorry about the goofs and bad punctuation. I'm using my iPad mini and hate one finger typing.

ella70,

Did you go to an Apple Store or an Apple Authorised Service Provider? If so, then the warranty should be for 90 days. However... I don't recommend purchasing a new logic board. Instead, find a nearby repair shop that can do a BGA reball on your machine. This should be about half the price you were quoted and will actually solve the problem (some warranty their work for one year, some for only six months - it's really too early to tell just how long a reball will last - but everyone that I've seen here and on other boards have had some great results with reballing).

Good luck,

Clinton

MacBook Pro (15-inch Late 2011), OS Mavericks 10.9.4, 16GB Crucial RAM, Crucial M500 960GB SSD, 27” Apple Thunderbolt Display

I think he is authorized apple dealer. I Asked him if he was a genius and he saiid he was the closest thing to one I would find around here. They sell and repair. He said they would have to send mine to apple  for repair. I decided to wait to see whether apple will stand behind their products before I do anything.

I Have been using my MBP more and more each day and its stable using the integrated graphics. But no large monitor and no flash.

I Meant to add I guess I'm a #3.

thanks for the response.

#3

I've had a stable mac with disabled dGPU for nearly a month now without any issues (check my first post for 'fix').

Using Lion 10.7.5 / gfxCardStatus v2.2.1 / smcFanControl and latest OSX Security Update.

You can change preferences in Adobe CS apps so as to not use enhanced graphic chip, no problems with latest Flash or VLC or YouTube, etc.

Also playing Skyrim (cider version) for hours at a time on low settings (1024x640 screen res) without any problem. The fans spin at over 6000 rpm and the case gets hot (+60C) but it still uses only the iGPU without any glitches.

The Energy Saver pref sometimes highlights 'Higher performance' but says you must log out for it to take effect, so just switch back to 'Better battery performance' (the enhanced graphics option button doesn't appear when using this version of gfx)

Put to sleep, don't shut down but if it does crash just do an Internet Recovery or use an external boot disk.

I highly recommend doing this - back up / wipe your drive and install Lion etc. and you will have you're mac back in working condition without the iGPU messing it up.

Let me know if this works for you, good luck!

I am facing the same issues with the GPU 15-inch, Late 2011. Apple need to do something as after paying a premium for a laptop u don't expect a manufacturing defect

yep! what's the difference?

My machine has been back at Apple for a few days now and is still showing as "Repair In Progress".  In the past the repairs were done within one day.  I am wondering what would require the extended time if they are just replacing parts/components.

Well that program doesn't apply to the 2011 Macbook Pro.

I've had it. I'm a professional user, keyboardist, my super high end MBP early 2011 crashed live on stage. I bought an extremely expensive high end laptop that did last exactly 3 years and 1 month. Last year my imac broke down in the studio. Apple remains mum indeed about this MBP issue, let alone they will fix it. Well, my wallet remains mum as well. I'm migrating to windows both in my studio (cancelled the order on the new Mac Pro) and on stage.

The arrogance is really beyond proportion. Money is not the issue here, but if you want to screw your most loyal customers, well, you'll lose them. Goodbye Apple, guess I won't be seeing you around anymore.

Another one bites the dust. I used to recommend apple computers to people. NEVER AGAIN. Thanks for stealing our money apple and then pretending there is not a problem. This behavior is despicable, absolutely revolting.

I feel like I was just burnt by a used car salesmen. I feel violated.

Bye Apple. I will never by an apple again nor will anybody that talks to me

Hey, Apple!!  

<Edited By Host>

Another CBP.

CracBook Pro