Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

thanks, GavMackem, I was considering this option too but closest would be neitherlands or germany.

they do replace the gpu for every reballing job?

do you know how long they need for the operation?

thanks

i had expected when I first started posting on this topic that apple would have done something but that was 6 months ago. Nothing. Instead when mine fails I will get it reballed correctly and send my invoice demanding reimbursement or I will file a claim at small claims court. I am fortunate here in the uk to have strong consumer law regarding defective goods, but I feel it is very unjust for those that live in countries that do not!

yes new gpu. Use lead solder. referred 6 clients 100% success rate. I will be sending mine there!

It works a complete treat

Many of you know I've got the same issue and now I have a new one.

The replacement logic board I received has a faulty USB chip.  Starting my conversation with repair options Monday. I don't want YET ANOTHER logic board swap.  Apple has truly tarnished themselves in my eye.

I have an open letter to Tim Cook that I will likely post here soon. I want to see what response I get from Executive Relations first...

I do hope we all find an acceptable resolution to this issue. PLEASE continue to create an open case with Apple and keep them up-to-date with your issue. They DON'T monitor here (for troubleshooting, that is) but they DO take extreme care if you can get the ear of the Executive Relations team.

HEllo

i have been using using gfxcardstatus bult unfortunately I left my mbp without power so I had to restart. Reult: infinite glitch. I eretitel the pram and one time I was able to load but when I arrivés at the desktop, thee was no mouse to be seen and the colors loofde washed out. Does anyone have an idea what is happening?

My Pro just started having this issue, here's to hoping Apple gets it together and fixes these laptops. It is unacceptable for a company as large as Apple to remain silent on this matter.

Just got back from my Genius Bar appt. they told me that they are seeing an increase in complaints. But nothing had been communicated from apple about covering the repair or recall of units.

i guess to make a change we have to create a social media group with everyone affected by it and simply give out flyers in front of their stores to make an impact.I hope it doesn't have to go to that since I am a loyal apple customer. But simply saying tough luck for a 3 year laptop is not fair.

GavMackem wrote:

 

yes new gpu. Use lead solder. referred 6 clients 100% success rate. I will be sending mine there!

You can NOT buy NEW chips with LEAD SOLDER.

New ones are only sold with lead ffree solder. Only the bumps (internal) may be lead.

If they replace it with lead solder balls means they take a new chip, clean of lead free and put lead solder balls on it.

For that reason a reball is a good enough, or even the same fix as the chips are not bad, only the soldering is/was.

Mostly no need to spend extra money on a new chip.

If they claim to buy new chips with lead solder balls, not true.

Then they buy recycled and reballed with lead solder chips most likely.

Sellers mostly have different prices.

With lead solder balls are cheapes as they are recycled ones.

Then you have new ones with lead free balls where datecode or revision defines price mostly

That's unfortunate, but perhaps the increase in complaints will force Apple into action.

It's not a MacBook 2011 preference, I've always known they take the lead free balls off. I have found by experiment years ago that leaded solder with a new GPU is the way to go for reliability.  The defence, medical, essential infrastructure industries are exempt from lead free for that exact reason. Plus much lower temperature soldering at 185c that doesn't affect the pcb surface after it's had  thousands of heat cycles whereas lead free it's 210-215c I think. It's been so long since I've used lead free as I solely do repairs so I'm not 100% sure. OSX with the automatic graphics switching turns the GPU on and off a lot.

Finally after seeing the reballing work and overall condition of the Apple 'depot' 'refurbished' logic boards, including two of clients 2011 boards that are still under AppleCare there is no convincing me that I would get my MBP 2011 done by Apple at this time.  I would frankly rather take my own good board with just a GPU fault and get it done by through experiment the way I've found best to last.

Which isn't the way Apple are doing it!

Yes, I know you know about reballing and prefer lead solder.

Was only explaining the story when buying new/reballed chips .

Like when putting a new chip with lead solder balls, you in fact get a new chip that has been reballed by the one swapping it..

You pay more as it is a new chip.

While reballing the old chip is in fact the same solution amd usually cheaper.

I talk about macbook pro and AMD/ATI GPUs.

The old nVidia ones mostly need replacement with later date codes.

If you don't believe me about the condition of the apple depot boards pictures of the condition are contained in this thread. I think some notable ones are in the first 1000 pages somewhere. pictures of light surface rust   and visible scorch marks on the edges of pcb round the GPU and CPU where it has been reballed.

Shocking for those who haven't seen it before but I'm used to it. I think there was at least half a dozen that made me laugh going all the way through this monster topic, they really were that bad.  I wouldn't pay the bill to a repair agent if I got a refurb board back like that!

Oh, they are often in worse condition then laptops running 5 times longer.

The problem I think is the Aluminium body.

When heating/cooling, or booting after a nights rest you can get condensation attacking the moisture indicators voiding your warranty.

Humidimity damage is sometimes cause by the design in stead of wrong use or spilling on it.

Like taking your macbook on a camping trip using it in a tent can be enough to loose warranty on it.

It happened to a friends daughter and her friends.

It is ment to be portable but you can not use it everywhere as it might void your warranty when used in bad weather conditions or humid environments....

Ah, you're on about about nvidia and bump gate in 2008. I know all about the date codes, I was repairing macs all though it. And HP's, dells, Toshiba's etc. Sorry but as it was a reply to me I assumed it wasn't for the attention of others!