Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

And yet, after all this wonderful process, these motherboards are still defective. Something does not work. Or it does, but only to generate income...

javiroces wrote:

 

Something does not work. Or it does, but only to generate income...

Yup, selling defective product is always a good way to generate income wonder why it is restricted to just one model, surely Apple could make more money if all models did it.

Let them know here: Feedback Line

Some models have consistently failed in the last 6-7 years; other models have not failed YET-'ll see-; perhaps even other faults have not been reported, or have not been so massive. (I have a iMac: when he was 2 years and ran out of warranty, an official update messed up the operation of the graphics card, and after two years of blackouts, just back to the old drivers "solved" the problem.

  A machine = 1 error. Now: 2 machines, = 2 errors .. I think, indeed, an important source of Apple is saving on quality. Another important source of income is the posh people change computers every year, and no known faults in obsolescence. And so on. Do not worry about me, I've sent feedback enough to write a book. Thank you.

5 MBP's ranging from 2009 to 2013, all work fine (including a 2011) (plus 2 iMacs and 7 mini's of varying age)

I must have got lucky.

Average usage time please ?

Because according to yourself, you at least use 7 time less or maybe you work with all theses computer at the same time ?

Now I understand why you refuse the widespread issue concept, your 2011 mbp is working fine!

guess it doesn't prove anything, still.

we don't know your use of it anyway.

But your overall arrogance could be explained by you being such a lucky fella...

Or it's simply fake to bring somethin nobody can verify.

How many people have 7 similar computers ?

But as I say ... Average usage please

Went to Apple store yesterday, complaining my macbook has been running slow after the replacement of the logic board. Raising the issue of so many people having the same problem with same model, asking if Apple is going to do anything with it. The staff told me they've not received many of this model laptops having problems with the graphic cards... So my opinions towards this is I don't think they thinks it's the graphic cards causing the problems, simply because when they repair laptops they would go through different assumptions of what parts would cause the problems (first the hard-drive, then hard-drive cables etc. then finally all fails then they assume is the logic board failing), once they replace the logic board, the computer would work again... It's really hard to tell if they agree that it's the manufactured faulty or we're all here just being unlucky... anyway... I have paid a very expensive fee to replace my logic board and i'm not having good hope that they're gonna do anything to fix this issue, only hopes that this computer is gonna still run for another few years before I could afford another one...

It's really sad because I love Apple's products and not yet found of any other brand's computers would be the same, it's so annoying cuz I love it so much but they're not that durable...

carl wolf wrote:

 

"Manufacture don't repair because it's totally not worth the money."

 

Just to be sure that I understand what you're trying to articulate:

Clearly you don't.  Nice techno-babble by the way.  Can I ask, when you and CSound aren't getting yourselves off posting here, annoying everyone and contributing nothing, what you do for a day job?

Atheryl wrote:

 

Or it's simply fake to bring somethin nobody can verify.

 

How many people have 7 similar computers ?

 

But as I say ... Average usage please

I have 2 offices and 2 homes and I hate carrying things around, so they multiply quite quickly.

I also use Mac's as production machines, when in use they are on for 24 hours a day, usually jammed in tight spaces with lots of other electronics. They are mainly Mac Mini's, and I have over 20 of them.

I get a lot of practice with Macs.

While that approval process in manufacturing does sound nice and logical, it's still disturbing to me that when I took my MBP to the Apple store with the obvious issue, every diagnostic test they ran came back as passed.  So something in their testing process could be enhanced to try and catch some of these issues.

I'm also a bit confused by much of the conversation here though... everyone says the issue is a failed Gpx card, and I'll agree with the theory/fact that the solder is failing for one reason or another - I'm not a computer scientist and didn't tear the machine apart enough to determine whether that's the true cause or not, so I'll go with what others have said as a solid theory.  But everyone is upset about that one particular part, and claims that it'll fail again - and it may.  I'm honestly concerned about that as well.  But just like the rest of the American society that goes to the doctor and says "I'm sick, give me a pill", the conversation here are asking for the pill.  But no one seems to be focusing on the root problem.

What is the root problem?  I don't know.  But I have speculations that there are more issues than just solder.  Why is the solder failing?  It appears to be from heat.  But why is it only failing on one part?  I don't know, but my speculation is a poor airflow situation.  People have said that a cheap PC can outlast their MBP in lifespan.  Listen to a cheap PC - do you hear the fan noise?  Do you see the multiple air vents?  Where is that on the MBP?  I know Apple has attempted other design methods of airflow and cooling components, but I often question it's effectiveness.  I know in my early days of building PC towers I didn't have the air flow set up correctly and the temp was out of this world, and I fried parts that way - including CPU's.

I'm not saying I have all of the right answers; but the point I'm trying to make is that we are really harping on the symptom and how to "cure" the symptoms - we aren't focusing on the root issue of why the symptoms occur.  You can throw pills into your machine all day long (replace / reball the Gpx/logic card), but of course the symptoms will come back because you never addressed the root issue that caused the symptom.  Think differently - as Apple Computers always says....

And I think it's interesting that people are asking in this forum if anyone has found a "solution that works".  Well, in my case it took 3 years and 3 months for it to fail the first time.  I did go through the Apple Store and had the Logic Board replaced - and I haven't had an issue in the 1 month or so that I've had it back.  So I'll report back in 3 years and 2 months when I have given it a valid test as to if the "solution works".  With that said, I could have had it reballed, but I think the only way to truly answer whether or not there was success was to give it a valid test - of TIME.  In addition, everyones usage is different and thus everyone will have different results.  What software are you using?  Are you in an air conditioned environment or working outside in the sun with your machine every day?  How many hours a day is your machine running?  Do you shut down your MBP often as opposed to just putting it to sleep?  There are so many factors that go into what causes heat in the MBP that there isn't an easy way to determine success from one machine to another.

Despite me now joining the crew of ranters on this forum, one of the other root issues is that there are an uncountable number of failed machines, yet none of us uncountable number of failed machine owners are taking active action to get Apple's attention.  A petition that is never sent to Apple, blindly bombarding employees of Apple with hate mail on one day, ******* and moaning on a forum that the decision makers of Apple rarely read...  What is any of this going to do?  Nothing.  If we really feel that Apple owes us something, larger action needs to be taken.

I have an office, a home, three recording studios and a daily train trip which altogether involve around 15 Macs in daily use whose vintages range from 2004 to last year. There are also numerous other older machines that are occasionally fired up without issue. My early-2011 17" MBP, which would have close to the lowest usage of all those computers, is the only machine to have a problem of this nature or magnitude.  I must have got lucky.

hey guys, So instead of all attacking one another. Let's focus on the main issue, Which is MBPs failing.

My update on this is: Called Apple support yesterday and informed them of my Previous complaint. the Lady said that apple is aware Of the Problem and the engineering team is currently studying the data they are receiving from different sources. They recieved an increasing number of complaints in the last few months from 14 different countries. Also, She said that they don't really look at forums for technical issues and they rely on Customer Calls / complaints and service center data.

So my suggestion is call your Apple tech support hotline and Complain with your MBP's Serial number

number are below

Contact Apple for support and service

javiroces wrote:

 

Some models have consistently failed in the last 6-7 years; other models have not failed YET-'ll see-; perhaps even other faults have not been reported, or have not been so massive. (I have a iMac: when he was 2 years and ran out of warranty, an official update messed up the operation of the graphics card, and after two years of blackouts, just back to the old drivers "solved" the problem.

 

 

  A machine = 1 error. Now: 2 machines, = 2 errors .. I think, indeed, an important source of Apple is saving on quality. Another important source of income is the posh people change computers every year, and no known faults in obsolescence. And so on. Do not worry about me, I've sent feedback enough to write a book. Thank you.

I've been fixing macs for over 20 years and I've noticed the spike in GPU failures in the 2011 models from my clients easily.

Two engineers who work for major Apple repair agents have said exactly the same off the record about these 2011 models as well as a manager off the record at Apple UK. I know, we know and they know.

I expect a Macbook Pro to last longer than 3 years, more like double.  Got Intel Macs of all types out there still going strong, Core2Duo models with SSD upgrades still a very usable Mac.

Not as big a problem as Nvidiagate was, but that was Nvidia's insurance not Apple who footed the bill for that excellent repair program. This problem would be at Apple's bill to pay so I'm not surprised they have stuck their fingers in their ears, caving in on case by case basis according to the buyers consumer laws and keeping a silent as possible.

A shabby way to behave.  Pity a celebrity with millions of followers on twitter doesn't have a busted GPU on their 2011 Macbook Pro, now that really would be a good thing.

 

KimoMansour wrote:

 

hey guys, So instead of all attacking one another. Let's focus on the main issue, Which is MBPs failing.

 

Probalby best. 

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