Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

Mine just had the same problem last night.

I have a 17in MacBook Pro. I bought it in March 2011 the day it came out. It would almost be 3.5 years by now.

Now when I turn it on, it has light blue stripes when the Apple logo comes up, and after a few minutes it turns into a white / light gray screen and the fan goes crazy.

I'll try the "let the machine overheat a bit, power down, and then power up immediately trick" tonight...

Exactly the same thing I had last night on a MacBook Pro 17" Early 2011.

This is unbelievable... One pay 2,500 Euros for the "pro" computer and it dies after 3 years of mostly programming work.

Apple shame on you!!!

Same problem here in Darmstadt/Germany as described to often in this thread. MacBook Pro 15'' from 2011 shows a blue, grey, or white screen. Was at a Apple Reseller: Replacement of the card would cost € 500. This is really unbelievable.

APPLE: Are you interested in your customers?

Here's another one! (Netherlands) Macbook pro from early 2011 shows a grey screen, it won't even start up any more. Did a clean install and got it running again, but after a day it died on me. Please apple do something about it, as a photographer it's hard to work without it.

Like Stankool I'm also from the Netherlands. Been having problems since I bought my laptop. Got my logic board replaced already 11 months after I bought it back in 2011 due to Wi-Fi trouble. In December last year it had to be replaced again because of the GPU problem. They repaired it for free because of our European consumer laws. Unfortunately, the GPU problem resurfaced earlier this month, so I had to send it back in for repair. I'm still waiting for their diagnosis.

And an another one (from France).... Same problem for me : grey and blue strips, grey screen.

A shame for this kind of expensive machine..

I'm also a photographer, and I confirm that it' hard to work without....Moreover, I have an exhibition planed  in 7 weeks and i don't know how i can be ready without my computer.

After a genius bar diagnostic and a call with Apple Customer Department, the only elution is to pay around 500 Euros .... Best to buy a PC machine and change it every year !

I'm so disappointed !

Same for me (Canary Islands, Spain). Last night my Macbook Pro 15" (early 2011) died because of the GPU issue.

I always had an Apple, since 1995: Mac LC, Centris 610, Quadra 7500, G3, iMac, iBook, MacBook and MacBook Pro. Also iPhones and iPads.

I can't believe that after 3 years a 2.400€ MacBook Pro no longer works because of a known issue and Apple doesn't fix the problem, and the solution for that is to pay the replacement (600€)

I'm really thinking to invest this 600€ into a hackintosh. I wouln't buy an Apple product any more if they don't fix that...

OK I just tried the "let the machine overheat a bit, power down, and then power up immediately trick" and it worked after 3 tries.

I immediately backed up everything onto my TimeMachine.

Not sure how long it will keep working for until the next time it dies...

Apple should really have a fix for this!

I've signed the petition as well.

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As this movement of dissatisfied customers is gaining momentum, it does bother me that the petition going around only states EARLY 2011 macbook pro, I have a late 2011 model with the exact same problem and have read reports of many others, if Apple were to take action it would be very disappointing if they only helped owners of the early 2011 laptops.

Appleinsider acknowledged that late 2011 models are also affected in their January article, but most media reports are only mentioning the early machines.

I am also now jaded by these issues, as a professional needing a reliable computer for live work Apple was always the only option, as it was trusted they were built to last and would cause the minimum of hassle with the best customer care - you get what you pay for, so we thought. I really do hope they act on this.

I've been having this same issue since May of 2014. When I brought it in to a third-party applecare provider they fixed the issue for me and told me they've been seeing a lot of these lately. It started happening again this month (August) and I decided to take it right into the Apple Store this time.

Despite the fact this had already happened before, had been diagnosed by another party, AND that Apple must be aware of this reoccurring problem with these models, the Apple employee noted that I'd upgraded with third-party RAM and zeroed in on that. When he took down his report he noted that we'd "failed to reproduce the issue" while standing there. I saw him type that and said that I could happily reproduce it in a few minutes, but that we'd have to wait. He said it didn't matter because they were going to do all the tests anyway.

When I picked up my computer from the Apple Store they told me they had tested it with "good RAM" and "failed to reproduce the issue" so they blamed it on my third-party RAM.

As a Mac user for the past 10 years, I'm really disappointed by the way they're dealing with this. It's a great way to lose a bunch of loyal customers who think you can do no wrong until you demonstrate that you really don't give a **** about them at all. Why should I pay the premium for another mac if there's the possibility this could happen again in a few years and I know Apple will leave me out to dry?

Those Samsung ultrabooks are starting to look pretty good right about now.

Would it not be a good idea to put the original Ram back in see if they are right before deciding that they are not?

I agree.

There is another problem here. Usually You could sold Your used Mac at fair price, because everyone knew that Mac can be used for years without problem - they were worthy of trust.

Now, no one will buy these used models (MBP 2011), because they have a recurring problem. So really this a seroius problem for the customer, and also, for the producer. Opinion matters. A tought choise for the producer: ignore all the customers with problems, or, do someyhing but at a high financial cost, but regain credibilty.

If they do nothing - i will never ever buy another Apple product (i have bought them many). If they do something, they will regain my trust, and consequently, the content of my wallet.

PS: I hope they will not delete this post.

Totally agree...

Very very very serious situation...

But, when big car companies can recall to a unplanned service millions of a cars the most profitable IT company could do the same thing...

If something costs 2,500 Euros it must finish its life in some drawer 10 years after (and working), but just not used anymore...

It can not burn itself after 3 years and fixing that will cost a fortune, but that fix can be only temporary...

So... Apple your turn now... Show us that you are not rotten Apple.

Add my MBPro to the list!  It just crapped out today.  Started with blocks of pixels blacking out on external monitor.  Shut down unit, rebooted with nothing plugged into the computer, noted horizontal lines throughout initial screen and if it boots through, next screen is deep blue with colored lines.  Reset PRAM, SMC, tried different RAM, nothing and then I noted this problem is wide spread and apparently growing.   Due to school startup season, I can't get a MAC tech to even look at it for a couple of days at this time.  Frustration is high right now.

I had the same problem and had to replace the logic board as I need my machine daily. Unbelievable that the customers have to pay for a hardware issue of this scale.