Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card
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Aug 17, 2014 6:34 AMby akamyself,oshioshi
be sure to leave feedback on Apple's site, have a case number so it gets counted, at least let's hope it does.
and consider having a reballing job on your gpu, that is so far the best and cheaper option available to fix this issue, at least for longer than a logic board replacement by Apple at such an high price.
good luck
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Aug 17, 2014 9:18 AMby waterhouse_melons,WOW! This is the exact problem I have had with my Macbook Pro Early 2011 model for the last 4 or so months! I thought it was just me! It was just as my AppleCare was expiring but thankfully the support team allowed me to have an exception and replaced my Logic Board! This didn't fix the problem and the Macbook Pro 15" model still crashes constantly. I have no idea that it crashes when it switches between graphics cards and I'm still unsure that this is the cause for me? However, I'm just saying that the logic board replacement didn't fix the problem, it still crashes and I have another appointment to fix the problem.
Also, getting it back from the logic board replacement, I had the Macbook come back with a battery charging problem (doesn't charge at all, maglight thing is very dim). Probably totally unrelated to anyone on this thread and possibly only specific to their repair on my device. Thought I'd add it just in case though!
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Aug 17, 2014 11:40 AMby TheSpinDoctor,I now have a similar issues. Occasionally the screen will tint green and the fan will make an extremely odd noise, before then freezing up. Holding down the power button fixes the issue for now, but the problem is getting worse. I bought Applecare but I am 6 months outside of the term and it looks like I'll have to go back to Windows. I'm a student and can't afford a new machine. Thanks a bunch, Apple.
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Aug 17, 2014 1:47 PMby Bourius,Thank you so much for the reddit link. I started having this problem about 3 weeks ago and I thought I was screwed. I didnt realize how widespread the issue was. I have an Early 2011 17" pro. I have all the erorrs described in this thread. I reboot several times a day. As long as I try to avoid, and it's very hard, any medium/heavy graphics it stays stable but as soon as the card has anything run on it BOOM wonky graphcs, and 10 reboots later the system comes back.
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Aug 17, 2014 3:06 PMby St.Sc,Wow finally.....on the one hand I am glad I found, with the help of this thread, the problem that was haunting me for the last couple of weeks, on the other I am really annoyed that after countless reboots/running disk repairs/install osx new several time, the only solution will be to pay a crazy amount of money for something that not guarantees to take care of the problem....
<Edited by Host>
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Aug 17, 2014 9:10 PMby actionman99,register my early 2011 mbp with this problem too!
Have had mine for 3 years and it only gave up over the last week.
Had to delete my AMD drivers to get working again (temporarily)
Why would I buy a new MacBook laptop if Apple is creating bad machines?
Why spend money on this laptop, just to have it bake again?
Thank you to all users who have commiserated and offered suggestions.
I use my Mbp to generate my income, so sending it off for a few days is really expensive!
I have complained to Apple, maybe mine will be the straw that breaks the camel's back?
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Aug 17, 2014 10:59 PMby MacMusician81,Add mine to the roster as well.
Late 2011 MBP 15" i7 2.2 GHz. 16GB RAM*. 480GB SSD* with 240GB SSD* in the optical drive bay.
*3rd party upgrades (mostly from OWC).
At first, I thought it was Yosemite beta, as the issues started shortly after installing. But after reverting back to Mavericks, it's still here.
The problem starts when I am using a graphic heavy app, like iPhoto or Photoshop. The screen goes on the fritz, and eventually gets to the point that I can't use it.
So I force it to shut down, and restart, and immediately there are horizontal reddish lines on the startup screen. The apple logo appears, then freezes on a clean gray screen. The fans kick in pretty hard after about 20 seconds. I try starting it up in recovery mode - the apple logo appears, then jumps to a blue screen with black lines.
My "I not sure why this works" workaround is to let the fans get going for a bit, then force it to shut down, and immediately restart. After about 5 attempts, it manages to start up normally. Although, a new issue now is that when I close my laptop, and reopen it. It doesn't come out of sleep (or the display just doesn't turn on). I then have to restart, and try the process all over again. In the meantime, I'm just avoiding the programs that seem to initiate the issue.
A minor observation is that the icons on my desktop occasionally disappear and reappear - not sure if it's related.
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Aug 17, 2014 11:33 PMby DMC440,MacMusician81 wrote:
My "I not sure why this works" workaround is to let the fans get going for a bit, then force it to shut down, and immediately restart.
Somewhere in the dim, distant past of this thread someone did mention a technique for overheating their machines thereby invoking a kind of reflow. Perhaps something like that is happening. I guess I'd be a bit worried about other stuff getting fried. But, desperate times call for desperate measures.
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Aug 17, 2014 11:36 PMby aaronfromsanta clara,Chalk up another one ... thank you to Reddit and this thread for confirming that I am not alone. When running an external monitor after a bit, complete distortion and lockup requiring a power down to reboot. Seems like the cooler I keeps it (and the less I have running, using only the screen and non-discrete graphics) lessens the likelihood of the issue occurring.
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Aug 17, 2014 11:45 PMby Denisism,There's been some people saying the size and scope of this thread means very little. I think most of us with a bit of common sense disagree with that assessment. Here's an interesting development that supports the latter.
From a ComputerWorld article called 'Microsoft urges customers to uninstall 'Blue Screen of Death' update' ............
MS is now recalling a software product update because it's defective for many users. ComputerWorld notes, " ... As of Sunday, the thread contained nearly 380 messages and had been viewed almost 50,000 times. The latter is a large number even for Microsoft's support forum, and hints at the scope of the problem."
Meanwhile, this thread (one of several) that's dedicated to an Apple product defect is currently at nearly 8,000 messages with well over a whopping 1.1 million views even though Apple's PC market share is only a small fraction of Microsoft's.
This is very embarrassing, Apple. Where's our recall? Where's our replacement program? How much longer do you think you can push your customers around like this?
On a related note, more and more of the media is picking up on this issue. There's an article last week by MacIssues called, 'Apple not acknowledging 2011 MacBook Pro graphics errors' .............. Another article last week from Cheap Laptops called, 'Apple blanks 2011 MacBook Pro failure complaints'............. Another article last week from AppleInsider called, 'Apple ignores calls to fix 2011 MacBook Pro failures as problem grows'................
If you have a moment, contact ComputerWorld and direct them to your issues and this thread. If Apple won't do the right thing, then let's put on the pressure to get them to do the right thing and issue a recall for this defective product. I can't believe I'm saying this about Apple. I honestly never thought they'd put me in this kind of position with a glaring, obvious defect that affects so many.
This is heartbreaking, Apple. You've caused my family and myself a lot of anxiety and financial stress with all these multiple repairs on the same, defective products that breaks again and again. Now I'm under tremendous duress worried my Mac will fail again at any moment and I'll be put out in yet another financial lurch where I lose clients and jobs.
What happened to the Apple I used to know and trust for nearly 20 years? This isn't the Apple I used to deal with and recommend to all my family, friends and business associates. This is the Apple I tell people I no longer trust and that's a horrible shame.
