Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card
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Jul 28, 2014 9:36 AMby kgm1976,Apple has not acknowledged that this is a problem and therefore there is no recall. Getting your logic board replaced will most likely be a short term fix, because of the lead free solder holding the GPU in place. With the heating issue, if you get your Logic board hot enough over a period of time you will see the same issue again later down the road. Hence, why some users 'bake' their logic boards at ~390F or send it to someone to be reballed, which basically means, heat the chip off the board and re-solder it.
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Jul 28, 2014 2:03 PMby wmikulic,Thanks for your comments - if the problem is so widespread why isn't there an "official" response to the problem?
I can't believe I am lucky enough to own the MacBook Pro that has the defect:
Product Information
Warranty Status: Out of Warranty(OW)
Model: MACBOOK PRO (15-INCH, EARLY 2011)
Date of Purchase: 27-Feb-11
Serial No: C0*******F8Y
<Edited By Host>
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Jul 28, 2014 11:14 AMby Csound1,wmikulic wrote: (in response to kgm1976)
Thanks for your comments - if the problem is so widespread why isn't there an "official" response to the problem?
Help me out, I keep reading kgm1976's post but for the life of me I can't see where it mentions 'widespread' could you take a screenshot of what you are seeing?
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Jul 28, 2014 1:54 PMby odedias,TODAY IS CONTACT APPLE DAY. If you can - please call Apple support by phone.
If you can - please go to an Apple store.
If you can't do the above - at least send a feedback TODAY. Here's the link:
https://www.apple.com/feedback/macbookpro.html
Thanks.
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Jul 28, 2014 4:14 PMby Farazlarik,count me in. I have macbook pro 17" early 2011 model. Turned on the laptop yesterday and stuck at grey screen. Can't get into safe mode, can't go to local or internet recovery mode. Removed AMD drivers via single user mode and got access to the OS. But the colors have all gone dull and system is reeeaaaallllyyyy slugish. Going to genius tomorrow with not much hope. Might go for reballing if they asked me to pay for fixing it. My apple care just got expired 3 months ago
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Jul 28, 2014 5:33 PMby Steven Bytnar,After a few days of working every day, my MacBookPro8,3 has started to fail again when the GPU is activated. I have tried several combinations of component swaps to attempt to resolve the problem without success... original RAM (4GB), upgraded RAM (16GB), OWC SSD vs original HDD vs a second brand new Samsung EVO 840 SSD), Lion vs Mavericks.
So, just a few more rounds of troubleshooting and off to an Apple Store I'll go, to get it on the record before it turns 3 years old.
If anyone's keeping count, MacBookPro8,3 models from early 2011 and late 2011 are affected. It's interesting and almost suspicious that this was the last year for the 17" MacBook Pros and that they are all failing around 3 years of age plus or minus a few months.
By the way, I don't have AppleCare. All of my other computers and extended family have never needed it or used it when it was purchased. That's 13 computers for 6 people since about 1998, of which 8 are still in active service (5 were retired, but were still working). I suppose my family has been lucky or really gentle with the products... or maybe these MacBook Pros are just the bad Apples in the bunch! Beware eBay buyers!
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Jul 28, 2014 7:53 PMby thailee,Csound1 lives under a bridge.
If you install gfxCardStatus v2.2.1, then unplug your mains lead so it runs on battery, gfx will default to 'Integrated Only'. Then go to gfx Preferences and check 'Load gfx at Startup' and Advanced tab check 'Use power sourced-based switching' and choose Integrated tabs for Battery and Plugged In
Go to System Preferences > Energy Saver > and check 'Better battery life'.
Do this and you will have a working mbp until you shutdown and have to start again - so ALWAYS put to sleep and NEVER turn off. It took me 3 days of constant restarts / reinstalls to get it back to this state.
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Jul 28, 2014 8:49 PMby KimoMansour,Guys I think the only way to really get this ball rolling is to all setup a date where we will use all social media to give light to the matter. I suggest Saturday 2nd of august, we all go to social media and get the #AppleFailedUs to trend globally. If this doesn't grab apple's attention at least it will grab their customers'. So August 2nd?
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Jul 28, 2014 9:59 PMby Thomas.Fuller,Hi guys,
I have just had this happen to me with my late 2011 15" macbook pro which I bought through a third party retailer 2 and half years ago. I have just been notified by the retailer who I bought the macbook from that they "Cannot repair the machine as the damage caused is too severe" which to me sounds like they cant get their hands on a replacement logic board. Their resolution is to give the the cost of the machine $2999NZD (I live in New Zealand) (about $2564USD) in cash to buy a new machine which I am chuffed about. The only issue is the current 15" macbook is a retina and I had dual SSD's and 16GB ram in my late 2011 15" macbook which will not be transferable. So they have offered to chuck in free MS-office, a 3 year apple care plan, a bag and all of the crap as a resolution.
I did however find it quite interesting that the MacBooks brightness controls (SMC-related apparently) started to play up along with the battery which where both "Replaced" only a few months ago in February/March.
So the $300NZD extended warranty I paid for has cost the retailer a new battery (I don't know what they do about replacing the SMC as its on the logic board?) and now a brand new machine plus a pile of other stuff to keep me happy... this is a lesson to always buy extended warranties for computers over a certain price point.
I managed to get a video of the last time it ever booted about two weeks ago before i sent it in:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFPdahyU9Os&feature=youtu.be
So it looks like i'll be getting a new retina macbook and a bunch of "Hope you are happy, we are sorry crap" in the next few days.
Cheers guys,
Thomas Fuller
