Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

I ordered a new MBPr. It does not make sense to me trying to revive this MBP and be scared that in a few months it will be the same trouble all over again. Of course I am spening more money than I would like to  but in the long run it is the best solution. If you did not do so, I would suggest that you order a new MBP after having explained the problem and try to negotiate a discount. Apple will be happy with your proposal and I am sure that this is the best option for both parties.

Same issue with late 2011 Mac Book Pro 17".

OS 10.9.4 / 2.4 Ghz I7 / 16Gb 1333 DDR3 / 1Tb SSD

GPU: ATI Radeon 6770m

Memory updated in 2012

HD changed for SSD in beginning of 2014.

This computer has been heavily used over the past three years and has worked perfectly until about a month ago when it first started showing signs of a graphic hardware issue.

The symptoms:

Strange patterns followed by a computer crash.

Flickering, colour issues and graphical artefacts.

Eventually the computer was unusable with the discrete GPU with failures both at booting and running any serious graphic tasks.

After forcing the computer to use the integrated graphic card it worked fine - and runs much cooler.

Unfortunately this means I can't use the main second display DELL 3011 so I turned the discrete GPU on but deliberately kept the CPU tasks low moving high CPU tasks to the office server - the mac book pro is running normally no issues. But if I run CPU intensive only applications (not graphical) the CPU rapidly increases to 75C and Fans run at full speed - over this I start to see issues with the GPU as soon as I do a graphic intensive task - so it kind of points to a heat issue.

So I believe the issue is caused by overheating particularly when both CPU and discrete GPU are loaded heavily - this may be damaging/causing issues with components causing failures in the hardware.

I will phone Apple to see if there is anything that can be done - I'm assuming the computer logic board will need to be replaced to fix the issue.

The other option is looking into whether the thermal paste should be re-applied - it is possible that the paste has become degraded and not providing the heat conductivity it once did - this would kind of explain the issues but I'm not holding out much hope that this will fix the issue.

Any further suggestions would be welcome.

Why isn't Apple doing something about this?

My MB (15' inch early 2011) just went haywire with the same problems.
I tought I was buying a really good pc that would endure at least 5 or 6 years. (The time I'm in University). AT LEAST!
Finding that my MB just got to the 3rd 1/2 year is really disappointing.  And the problem wasn't me! tt.

Apple please do something about it. I paid almost 2000€ for my laptop and now the repair is gonna cost me at least 600€.

That's just too much...

I have just the same problem!

Started with little graphics issues and then led to a complete breakdown with stripes all over the screen. Sometimes, system, even does not even boot up. Blue colored apple logo, then grey screen and it gets stuck there!

I have an appointment at my apple store on tuesday, i'll post here what came out ...

I contacted NPR through their contact page on their site. 

<Email Edited By Host>

Has anyone used magneto327 on ebay for reballing ? ?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MacBook-Pro-Logic-Board-GPU-REBALL-Repair-ALL-MODELS-/16 1322187506?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item258f8d3a

Same happened here, went to apple and they replaced the main board in September 2013, a couple of days ago the issue started happening again and today it already happened 5 times, talked to Apple Care and even tho the warranty expired if the issue is exactly the same as before then they will fix it without any cost. Will backup everything tonight and go tomorrow to the store and see how this story continues but clearly offering me to replace the main board again won't be an option for me cause I don't want this to happen again in a year from now.

Who ever does the logic board replacement, perform the stress test using gputest or heaven. Chances are that the problem will be reproduced within a few days.

Had my motherboard replaced out of warranty ($300) in Feb 2014. Now August, 6 months later, and same problems have returned. At this point, I will just run using integrated graphics only and turn off discrete graphics using gfxCardStatus. Tired of this whole issue.

Does the 2012 macbook pro unibody model have the same problem? or its just an issue with 2011?

debito wrote:

 

Had my motherboard replaced out of warranty ($300) in Feb 2014. Now August, 6 months later, and same problems have returned. At this point, I will just run using integrated graphics only and turn off discrete graphics using gfxCardStatus. Tired of this whole issue.

File it to Apple.

Try to get a free repair on it again.

Like jasoprano 2 posts above you....

Hi MBP users,

Anyone with the same GPU issue, appreciate if you can add value to your complaints by doing the following. Unfortunately, Apple does not monitor this forum.

1. Call Apple Care Contact Apple for support and service
2. Point them to this thread. Ask them why Apple is keeping quiet on this known issue?
3. Get a case number and inform them to follow up with the on-site/certified Apple service provider.

They "should" offer a sound/amicable solution.

cheers

jasoprano wrote:

 

Does the 2012 macbook pro unibody model have the same problem? or its just an issue with 2011?

Didn't get one in yet.

But might be most are still in warranty, 2 years overhere. Or Applecare.

If you search, some are failing but there seem to be both a driver and on some a hardware problem.

Cramming more power in the same body... Hope they revised the cooling system.

Only time will tell....

I have early 2011 MBP 17 inch and from yesterday i started getting light blue stripes when i start the machine. When i try to boot from recovery partition and then try the main partition it works for a while and after some time i get strange black stripe patterns. In the past 3 years the computer was working fine and all of sudden i am getting this issue.

I tried smc reset and pram reset and it does not help.

i get strange black stripe patterns

If what you see in this picture looks like the problem you have reballing the GPU will fix it.