Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

Did you actually read that article, here's an excerpt.

Who knew that a law firm could continually file Class Action lawsuits against the same defendant about the same problem using different State laws? What a crazy system. The sad part in all of this is that some of the grievances of these plaintiffs or Apple-fans are real, while these ambulance chasers, oops I meant the law firm, will be the one making the money if they win this case while these poor Apple fans will be thrown a few nickels for their troubles.

And you agree with it I assume?

At this point, anything that forces Apple to consider fair compensation for their faulty manufacturing works for me.

My preference would be for Apple to respond to the 10,000 or so people who signed the petition about the issue and dismiss the lawsuit altogether.

That company may be a shark, and we probably won't see any restitution through them, but it may at least get apple to finally respond.

Really, all I'd like is for apple to admit there was a flaw and offer repairs or a discount towards a replacement.

I've been on macs since the mac classic and OS 7, most of them have been really great and dependable machines and worth the extra cost. But not this version, the 2011 macbook pro had a manufacturing/design issue that apple needs to come clean about and support their customers.

We all know that they have the cash in the bank to settle this one in a way that would restore faith in the company.

GavMackem wrote:

 

The OP who mentioned his 1tb 840 EVO issue should check his firmware for an update, the latest firmware I have had no glitches whatsoever for the last 6-8 months.  Think there have been 3 notable firmware releases in total since the drive has been on the market and there is one due shortly which is a bug fix for RAPID mode which is only used and activated optionally within the Samsung Magician windows utility.  Updated easily via boot-able ISO image from Samsung.

There is another very serious bug fix firmware update coming out that is not related to RAPID mode, affecting all EVO 840 users. Samsung EVO 840 SSDs have been observed to slow down dramatically after about one month of use. In a similar situation to the 2011 MBP GPU failures, EVO 840 users started reporting the problem in growing waves. Samsung has acknowledged the problem and Samsung announced a fix coming on October 15.

I have checked my own firmware with Trim Enabler and it is up to date (EXT0BB6Q).

But again, I do not believe the SSD is part of the problem. Even if the SSD is proven to be a cause, it is certainly not the cause for all cases because the MacBook Pro GPU failure is happening to thousands who never installed an SSD. Therefore, removing the SSD would not be any guarantee that the GPU will not fail again.

I called Apple Care again, basically to see how they respond to the "product design complains" and "calls for replacement programs".

As my machine is under warranty after the second logic board repair, I called Apple to ask "what is the right operating temperature of the GPU under the load" - as I started getting some undefined feedback: "while watching video, temperature is about 40°C", etc... I asked directly is 95°C on GPU during intense load ok - response was that this is too high and that I should go to local store for hardware check.

I claimed that this is hardware design problem, so he referred me to the "form to send feedback about Apple product". When I said that I "already did that" and even send detailed feedback after the repair and nothing happened, I was told that I can "file a product complain". After the call transfer to senior advisor I complained about hardware design problem and "GPU heat that is causing the soldering under the GPU to crack, etc" (I took the opportunity to speak about this forum and thousands of people having the same issue, but this did not create any impression) asked to define what Apple is doing in such cases and referred to the replacement program for iMac GPU board. He could not define me the decision process on creating hardware replacement program and what I can do to "file such case". I was then requesting to talk to analysts who can discuss the design problem... answer was that he will "see what can be done so that engineers can contact me". Of course I don't believe that, but I anyway I provided my phone and e-mail so that they can take my machine any time and make the analysis. I know it makes no sense... but it was fun to learn how standard support channels work. I "took the advise" and I contacted the local store that made logic board replacement to complain about the GPU overheat - it is all nonsense, but let's see how it goes... that should basically justify my decision to get get rid of Apple junk products.

My point actually is: I would suggest everyone to call Apple Care, annoy them about the issue, create case, "file a product complain" at least... as this forum does not "ring the bell" at Apple.

btw SSD issues are completely irrelevant to this topic.... they should be reported in another thread

Maybe, maybe not. But everyone here gets to make their own decisions. Including you.

With regards this heating issue, I was curious, if the heat sinks are polished and the proper amount of thermal paste applied correctly.

Would having vents milled into the bottom of the case below the two fans aid in cooling? That in conjunction with a fan powered chill mat.

My 2011 is now off for repairs, and when I get it back, I would like to prevent any further issues, would something like this work?

The other option is to run the computer till it fails within the parts warranty (if it fails within warranty that is). I have read here of others having the boards replaced to the point where the stores simply give them a replacement computer/.

My concern with the run it till it fails, is that I will be down a computer during the time it is being repaired, would milling vents be a viable solution. a solution  that would no doubt void any warranty, and future replacement program, should one be instituted.

Milling vents, would that be a solution for people who have had the gpu's recalled? (we have no rebelling companies close by, but I know of a milling place near by where we get other work done to aluminum parts for snowmobiles)

If the heat-sink plates are lapped properly, and the usual tiny judicious amount of high quality thermal paste applied to both processor dies I don't think you will have a problem with overheating apart from over the longer term with particulates blocking the heat-pipe grilles and dust accumulating around the base of the GPU.  Though with far less excess sticky paste to break off into that fine dust normal household stuff won't have much to stick to and could easily be blown out with a can of compressed air.  Exceptions such as nicotine and animal hairs obviously.

I wouldn't recommend drilling any holes in the bottom case or anywhere else, the airflow is designed to draw and exhaust the air from the hinge area inside the chassis and upsetting that could cause hot spots and furthermore reduce the structural integrity of the bottom case causing possible collapse or even pinching and damaging the logic board itself.

By lapping and re-pasting all you are doing is maximising the efficiency of the cooling system allowing all that heat to be drawn away from both GPU and CPU dies as quickly as possible.  Until Apple engineering actually do some 'research' and finally come up with this solution 'themselves' as the cheapest possible fix to stop these GPU's breaking down I suggest anyone who has a hot 2011 to pay a competent engineer for 1-2 hours labour and get it done to have a cooler running, and also much faster at cooling the dies in the Sandy Bridge CPU/AMD GPU 15/17" MacBook Pro.

Thanks for informing me of this new bug in the 840 Evo, I avoided the initial bugs in the Evo because I was using the 840 Pro as my default large capacity high end SSD which topped out at 512gb and the M4 as my budget model.   i will be mailing out a link to download the firmware ISO as soon as I hear that firmware doesn't cause another problem.  I must say I have heard of absolutely no problems with it from users or clients and must have over 60 in the field inside Macintosh systems, including also a 750gb model fitted into my Mac Pro 3,1 and probably double that 60 total in Windows boxes, even some servers which would certainly stress test the drive.

To go back to topic and finish this third party Apple blame game that so called 'genius' types could possibly put an SSD as contributing to these GPU failures has to be one of the most ridiculous smokescreens I have ever heard.

The golden rule of putting your original memory and hard drive when you take it to Apple for service to avoid the blame game has applied for nearly 25 years and has never, ever changed.

I would also like to compliment Apple for persisting with this awful 'jive' board software making it an absolute nightmare typing this reply out on the iPad using iOS 8 safari.  Mr J Ive the head of design has certainly never tried to use this infernal thing before in his life!

Yes, like mine was removed for posting a link to an apple discussion that was at the bottom of the page. Strange….or confused!

GavMackem wrote:

 

To go back to topic and finish this third party Apple blame game that so called 'genius' types could possibly put an SSD as contributing to these GPU failures has to be one of the most ridiculous smokescreens I have ever heard.

 

The golden rule of putting your original memory and hard drive when you take it to Apple for service to avoid the blame game has applied for nearly 25 years and has never, ever changed.

There's always going to be a tendency towards smokescreens when Apple's own diagnostics can't identify a problem with failing boards.  I've been participating in this discussion for around 15 months now, and it remains incredibly frustrating that they can't find the problem (and then set up a program to correct it).  So, of course, they're looking for anything besides the logic board (which they see as healthy) to explain the issues.  With mine, they tried to blame memory (problem occurred regardless of what memory I installed, original or either of two upgraded pairs of RAM), a "bad hard drive" (original, passed S.M.A.R.T. testing with flying colors, still going strong), the charging cable, and even a very shallow dent in the case nowhere near any vital components. 

Logic board #4 took care of it, and that board has been working for me since September 2013.  But do I trust it?  No, and I don't look forward to playing this game yet again.  It's in my computer's "permanent record" that they saw upgraded RAM and hard drive at an earlier visit, which means they'll turn to that explanation again.

There was NO COST at all for me to get my MBP 15" logic board replaced.

 

So I definitely would encourage you all to go after your right as this is definitely something Apple should be responsible to...

 

I am located in Australia, Brisbane, and believe the procedure should be the same at any (or all) Apple Store.

I've been dealing with the Apple Store in Brisbane too.  My logic board first died in June this year - I didn't know how widespread the problem was so I stupidly agreed to pay the $700 for the repair the first time. It has died twice more since then, by coincidence I picked it up from the most recent repair yesterday too. Since the first repair it has been free (within the 90 days). The most recent time I pushed them to find a better solution but they were adamant my only options were: (a) free repair or (b) $700 discount on a new rMBP.

When I picked it up, the technician said that if it happened again they would look for a more permanent solution. I expect/hope this might mean a newer refurb MBP.

So I've got it back now and am already running a few stress tests on it. If it doesn't fail again, great (but unlikely); if it does fail again I hope they come up with a better solution!

Hi saramwrap I remember you from way back here when I started posting on this thread too!

Now I have returned to the absolute typing pleasure of using Firefox on my late 2011 Win 7 boot-camp setup instead of wanting to throw my iPad Air hard against the wall with utter frustration using iOS 8 Safari I can now post a quick reply.

Apple have always done the blame game - and with these GPU's in particular the AHT (Apple Hardware Test) that tests the GPU for this 2011 is hopelessly inadequate.  I know because I have the AHT apps myself and it doesn't test the GPU anywhere near as hard enough, or take into account that transporting it to the store or service centre may have moved those solder balls slightly so it appears to work fine and they look at you as if you're lying about it! Recording videos of the error on your iPhone/Android etc will help disprove the 'lie'.

I use Furmark to stress test the GPU really hard like I do with any other computer, PC or Macintosh - a decent app which is capable of cooking any GPU really, really good.

As for your board - firstly I'm surprised you didn't get the retina 15 offer on the 4th board, I am happy its still working fine- but until those die plates are shiny and better and far less paste applied I wouldn't trust an Apple pasted 2011 logic board GPU to stay working full stop.

I have to pack now I have a flight to catch to Dublin in the morning - may the miracle of new 2011 engineering guidelines happen when I return at the weekend!

saramwrap wrote:

 

Logic board #4 took care of it, and that board has been working for me since September 2013.  But do I trust it?  No, and I don't look forward to playing this game yet again.  It's in my computer's "permanent record" that they saw upgraded RAM and hard drive at an earlier visit, which means they'll turn to that explanation again.

Yeah, they tried the upgraded RAM and SSD explanation to me. I said I guaranteed that isn't the problem and told them I could come back with the original RAM and HDD to prove it (which I could). They said not to worry about it and agreed to replace the board again. I'm on #4 too - 1 day old and going strong so far.

Hello everyone.

3 days ago my macbook pro 15' late 2011 started having these same symptoms as described in this thread. I made a video with my cellphone, please have a look at it.

https://db.tt/FnfZ5yd7

It crashes 2 minutes into the video. 

I talked to apple and they knew nothing about this model behaving like this.  (Apple Denmark)

I have taken good care of my mac and only upgraded ram from 4 to 16.

I really hope apple will help with this problem