Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

Kris, read my note earlier!

I can confirm that this worked on my Macbook (restricting to integrated

graphics chip using gfxcardstatus) for a period of time.....  Eventually

though my macbook wouldn't boot at all anymore.  I think it just buys you

time rather than a permanent fix unfortunately

On Aug 28, 2014 10:57 AM, "Apple Support Communities Updates" <

another one here. All the symptoms. Started about two weeks ago. Late 2011 MBP. Apple should do something. I'm sending mine in. If it's over $400, I'm going to get a PC. I have a feeling that 'replacing the motherboard' is just installing another 2 year failure waiting to happen

I've been using my repaired 2011 17" Macbook Pro (new logic board for $310) for a few days now and it's been working great. One thing that I have noticed is that it's running cooler now. In hindsight, it had been running hot for a few months, with the fan kicking in more than normal. Going to the Apple store now to return the new Macbook Pro that I had purchased in the meantime.

I've been running Integrated Only for over three months now (except for the odd test to see what needs the AMD) and haven't had anything that wouldn't run, although perhaps not as well as it should.  I haven't done any serious video editing but have been playing videos, comping some stuff in QTPro, running Photoshop CS4, Avid Pro Tools, iPhoto (which has always been a dog anyway), and some other bits and pieces.  Admittedly, I don't currently have a known dying logic board (Apple replacement in May) but am happy that I can keep running and may avoid imminent failure.

That isn't a recommendation for paying to get the logic board replaced, as I managed to get a free replacement.  If I was paying, I'd look at reballing.

I'm running on my integrated video and seem to have no problems right now. Some things don't work as well. This all started when I left a graphics intensive application in the 'pause' mode using discrete graphics card while I went to dinner. When I came back, system was hung and all the trouble started.

Just sharing my experiences here.

I have a early 2011 17" with 2.3 i7 upgraded processor and I've added SSD to both the original drive bay and optical bay. 16GB ram etc etc. It's a lovely machine and still doing everything I need of it as a professional photographer and this is over 3 years after I bought it. Quite remarkable for a laptop.

I experienced the same as many posters here. Started with blue lines, split screen. Grey on restart, would come back to life after a rest or numerous restarts.

Then one day, black screen. I could screen share from another mac over a network or plug it in with a firewire cable to access what I needed but nothing from the native screen.

I live in London. I searched 'Re-balling London' and used the first firm that google throws up.

2 days later, my computer returns and is running fine. The cost was £180 inc VAT.

Now I don't know if this will work for everyone but it has for me (for now).

Like to add my voice to this giant mess: I had been experiencing some intermittent problems with the machine overheating / becoming inconveniently slow, especially when using a Cinema display, all when my 2011 MBP was still under warranty.  They replaced the mobo, but problems persisted, and Apple refused any further repair or replacement.  I "lived" with the problem as I'd given up hope of Apple doing anything about it.  Just recently it's begun to suffer the same GPU-related issues that I've been hearing about all over the place.

I brought the machine into the Apple store, and the Genius confirmed the issue and initiated the repair.  I was also told a few additional interesting tidbits:

1) He acknowledged knowing about the GPU soldering issue

2) their GPU tests have changed since I brought it in last, and should now be able to pick up the problem.

Well, I thought that was interesting.  Certainly Apple would cover the repair cost given the history of the machine and the nature of the problem.  But, nope!  I was told that, because it had been 2 years since I had a repair done that they would not cover the cost.  Despite the nature of my complaints when the machine was under warranty.  Despite the mobo having been replaced once already.  Despite this being a large enough and consistent enough issue with owners of this exact same machine.  Thanks, Apple!  I'll remember to sell my next machine shortly before the extended warranty runs out so some other sucker can pay for it.

erroneus wrote:

Thanks, Apple!  I'll remember to sell my next machine shortly before the extended warranty runs out so some other sucker can pay for it.

So in fact, Apple still gets away with it.

Would be better not to buy Apple products anymore to hurt them instead of a random person.

Apple offered flat rate repair for about 350. Ugh!

Same problem with my 2011 MacBook Pro. It crashed one week ago, with graphic failures. Then it run perfectly for one week and since yesterday it will not start any more, i'll only get a blue screen or it stucks in a white screen. Hardwaretest says everything is perfect, but it doesn't seem so. I can only boot Mac OS and Windows in the Safemode. I have a genius bar appointment next Thursday in a Apple Store. Hopefully they will do something! It is not ok, that a so high priced machine, dies after only 3 years! And I am not the only person which is experiencing this problem. If you would buy a expensive car, you would never expect, that the engine would die after only 3 years!

Are there any german users here? Let's contact some of these "Verbauchersendungen" like akte, zdf Wiso, Wdr Markt ...  Maybe they can help us. 

to start with, this thread is getting my head in  - why do I have to log in again when I go to the last reply, at which point I'm redirected to the home page and have to search for this thread by name because if I try the direct link once logged in, I need to log in again? OK rant (almost) over, I think I posted on here earlier, but I keep forgetting my 99 usernames.

In short, I had what everyone is having, sent it away to the company I bought it from (I bought it through uni, so still have warranty until February I think) - as expected, they ran some 'stress test' and sent it back to me with all-clear; it relapsed within a week and I put up with it for about a month, taking pictures while at it; at some point I've had enough and sent it back, and the next thing I know, I get this email saying that my equipment is ready to be sent back, so I thought let me check what have you done with it first, and guess what - the same useless test. I thought this is not on, let's have Apple involved, and they sent it away pronto. Few days later they forward me an email from 'Apple Engineer' which reads 'I have diagnosed this MacBook Pro and it requires a Logicboard.'; presumably this has now been ordered and will be replaced in no time.

my question is: will it help, and how long for, because I think I read of several cases where people have their logic boards replaced numerous times, which I won't be able to afford in the long run once my warranty expires (could I perhaps extend it?).

thes whole saga is even more unfortunate because I just realised that should I be forced to consider buying a new MBP, I won't have the anti-glare screen option since they only care about selling phones these days, and the last thing I want for £1.5k is a shiny plastic mirror screen.

has anyone tried to get their machine actually replaced, or are we all stuck in replace-one-bit-at-a-time loop.

Just adding my voice to the forum. My late-2011 MBP with an AMD Radeon HD 6750M died last week. The split screen symptom came first - then a total system crash. Many reboots later have resulted in only one success - and that didn't last long. Let's keep hoping that Apple responds to this issue. I can forgive a manufacturing error. I can't forgive abandoning customers like this. My +20-year-long Apple evangelism has sadly come to an end.

Solution #1: Using gfxCardStatus worked for about a week or so. But the machine underwent sudden and unscheduled shut-down twice in a week. Both times required roughly 40+ reboots to get going again. Then, yesterday things took a turn for the worst. Complete shutdown, and restarting resulted in another complete shutdown immediately after seeing the stripy grey Apple sign.

Solution #2: So, I went to plan #2 - trying to disable the discrete GPU permanently by moving the .kext, .plugin and .bundle files for the GPU. I did this following the instructions at this page - which I've repeated below.  Please don't hold me responsible if you break your Mac using this technique. It was a last-ditch attempt for me to revive my machine - and so far so good...

1. Start up in Single User Mode (hold down CMD-S immediately after startup)

2. Get ready to move System files by typing the text that I've underlined mount -uw /

3. Create a directory to move the Extension files into by typing mkdir /System/Library/DisabledExtensions

4. Move the files by typing mv /System/Library/Extensions/ATI* /System/Library/DisabledExtensions

5. Type exit

6. you might need to type exit again to reboot.

This still required that I do a hard shutdown (holding the power button for 5 seconds) and restart 4 or 5 times - but here I am, once again, typing on my computer that, 2 hours ago, was a brick. Let's hope that this solution sticks.

Cheers

- geoff

I also have an issue since yesterday with my 15" MBP. Suddenly it stopped working and I got a white startup screen and the system doesn't boot. Went to the authorized Apple dealer here in Dubai. They checked it and got back to me today. They said it's a GPU failure - replacement costs 500 EUR! My MBP had still warranty until just two months ago and is now out of warranty. If I read through this forum and I also compare it with the many other discussions on the internet I would assume that this was a hardware failure from the very beginning. I also understand that Apple hasn't reacted to this issue yet, which is quite surprising to me. Considering the fact that prices of Apple are premium I also expect the company acting in a responsible manner to such issues. Our house is full with Apple products and we love using them. Never had an issue like that and this is indeed the first time I have an experience with Apple with a bitter aftertaste. I would expect that the company is taking appropriate actions soon to rectify the situation.

Hi,

If you live in a European Union country, you have an automatic 6 year protection from goods with a manufacturing fault. That is, a fault which pre-existed before you bought the product. Apple knows this and has posted advice on its web site here:https://www.apple.com/uk/legal/statutory-warranty/

The onus, after 6 months, is on the buyer to prove that the fault pre-existed.

The good news is that I took my Early 2011 MBP to my local Apple Store here in Scotland, after making a Genius appointment, by phone,  with Apple Support and have had the Logic board replace free of charge as an Out of Warranty repair. (It was the Apple support lady who made me aware of the above legislation) (Tip: you will not need to pay the $69 fee for out of warranty telephone support if you have recently bought an O.S. from Apple. I had recently purchased Mountail Lion but no one seemed to check this, you get two options when you book telephone support, free or pay).

My free repair would normally have cost £400GBP.

I went into the Apple repair store armed with a summary copy of the above EU legislation and a print out of the first three pages of this thread. I was able to replicate the graphics fault by skipping rapidly through iPhoto pictures, screen goes haywire etc. After a re-boot, the Genius tech ran a diagnostic which showed all was OK. I said that I believed an existing, manufacturing fault was present and showed him this thread to support my claim. He didn't say anything, but went away and spoke to a supervisor who must have OK'd a free repair of the logic board (which has the faulty graphics CPU attached).

I'm happy that Apple have honoured the consumer rights in my region and have taken responsibility for their product. This feels good and reassures me. I'm less impressed that they have not yet issued an official response to this issue, in the face of overwhelming global evidence, and still seem to have a head in the sand approach, where they can get away with it. Having said that; full marks to Apple in Scotland, UK. I'll be back. I hope this info helps some of you to get a fair deal.