Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

Hello Everyone!

I spoke to an apple care representative. He said that because this issue seems to be affecting so many people, they do not look at the forums, however they do monitor feedback that customers submit.

If you would like the possibilities of a recall or repair program to begin I recommend you simply fill out a feedback request which I am providing the link for below.

http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbookpro.html

Please include the URL for this thread as well!

Regards.

Look Familiar?

The lines on my bootup are fairly subtler. Like i have to strain to see them.

I went to the Apple store, and he was able to get it to network boot, and then took it in the back to disassemble it and try some stuff out. He was able to get it to boot up just fine after reseating the RAM. However, I took it home, plugged the external monitor in, and within not 20 minutes, it was frozen rock solid. After a few reboots, I was able to get it to come up without the external display, and I am now using it with the internal graphics, but I'm not sure if it is fully working with the internal graphics. I am going to try putting the stock RAM back in it just to rule that out, but I highly doubt that it is anything other than a bad graphics card.

I am not paying for the logic board replacement. They quoted me something like $497 if they do it there, or $325 if they sent it out, but he said that my machine can't be sent out since it's not in it's stock configuration due to the different RAM, hard drive, SSD, and Optibay.

What I am trying to figure out is once I try it out with the stock RAM, what is the best way to fight Apple for the repair. I am going to be one extremely unhappy camper if they won't fix it free of charge, since this is clearly a class issue that either carrier over from the earlier NVIDIA-based models that were having graphics issues, or they have a different, but similar problem.

@ BiggAW,

I also went the the Apple Store and was able to demonstrate to the Genius Bar Tech the Discrete Graphics Issue.  I ask him to check with his department lead regarding a "Quality Assurance" program related to the early 2011 MacBook Pro.

They confirmed the only QA repair program was for the 2010 model which you mentioned.  The department Lead mentioned to my tech that he has seen "a number of these MacBook Pro 8,2" come in lately with the same issue.

They quote $310.00 logic board replacement.  (Sent out to what they called "repair depot")

Roughly $100 more if repair done there at the Apple Store.

Previous to my appointment I removed my SSD, Data Doubler.  However, I left in the non-OEM memory.  The netboot test they did, did indicate non-stock memory, but he said that was okay even if repair was to be off-site at the repair depot.

I know it's a lot of work but if your going to have your machine repaired you'll need to reconfigure back to stock or pay the premium.

I was told a 90 day warranty comes with the new board so I'll be hitting the discrete graphics card hard before the new warranty expires using FCPX, Motion and my TB 27" Display.

Once you turn your Macbook in for repair you have the Repair No.  Call Apple Care on the phone after you have the number and express your disappointment. That's what I did.  They told me that if this MacBook 8,2 does go into a QA repair program my repair fee will be reimbursed.  How I'm going to track that I'm not sure.

BTW, you can get your Macbook back to integrated graphics by removing the back and un-connecting the battery cable terminal for a few seconds.  That's what your tech probably did prior to him re-seating your RAM  It's not the RAM, I've tried 3 different sets of match RAM sticks with same results.

BTW2, Apple Care cost $349.00 for the MacBook 15", so if you reconfigure your Mac, send it out for the less expensive repair, you'd be a head, provided you don't have any additional problems for the next year.

I know you're upset, so am I.  The concept of "Fit for Use" certainly applies and we should not have to pay.

I'm not paying for it to be repaired. I'll raise **** until they repair it. I'm also not taking half the machine apart, twice, just because they don't want to work on a non-stock configuration. I own it, and I want it configured the way I want it configured, not the way they shipped it. And once I come through the logic board issue, it's probably getting a 256GB or 480GB SATA 6Gb SSD and a 1.5TB HGST hard drive.

Same problems for me.I have a late 2011 MacBook Pro.Im not even able to boot now.showed it to a apple service centre ,they are asking for 1600$ to replace logic board..not sure what's to be done

Thanks

Is that US Dollars? If it is, that's totally nuts.

Yes thats US Dollars .Im from India and there is only Apple authorized service centers in India.They say they need to ship logic board which will be added to cost of logic board

Thanks

Like I said previously on my post at the top of this page (Page 7) Please submit a feedback form and let's get a repair program going! We gotta let Apple realize this is not an isolated issue with their product.

Chiming in... same issue here late 2011 8,2. Surving in Intel only mode for now. Noticed it runs a lot cooler, probably better battery too, never realised how much it switched to discrete...

I Just submitted feedback, thanks for the link!

(reposting)...

If you would like the possibilities of a recall or repair program to begin I recommend you simply fill out a feedback request which I am providing the link for below.

http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbookpro.html

Just as an FYI this is the feedback I submitted under the category "bug report".

I feel that my just over two year old computer has suffered from a failure related to a latent defect of manufacture.

 

 

My machine's GPU began malfunctioning rendering the machine almost useless. It appears that this is now a very common failure with this model. A two year useful life for such a high end product is not acceptable.

 

 

I was forced to have the machine repaired out of warranty by an unauthorised third party in Israel for two reasons:

 

 

1. Local apple representative takes 5 to 10 working days to do anything.

2. I have local contacts that I trust who repair (mostly PC) motherboards for my own business. They were able to make a repair (not a complete motherboard replacement as Apple probably would have done) in 1 day.

 

 

This relates to the following serial number: C02F8LDRDF8X

Invoiced to me: February 3rd 2011.

As a foot note: I've now transitioned from that 2011 machine to a brand new MacBook Pro Retina that was DOA and had a mother board replaced straight out of the box! The local Israeli Authroised Apple service centre did that for free (of course) but it took them 5 working days: exactly one week.

My old 2011 machine that had a replaced GPU and motherboard re-flow continues to work and will now become my wife's machine and my standby backup in case my primary machine stops working for any reason.

To say I'm less than impressed with Apple's hardware quality these days is a huge understatement. I'm livid.

Hi

I had submitted the feedback already.How do you force it to Intel only mode?I tried gfxCardStatus but it has got a bug which causes it to change to descrete card first .Can you please help

Thanks

I don't think there is a way around that. I noticed the same here, but usually only when I suspend with an app open that normally requests discrete to be enabled. It actually crashed coming out of suspend like that as well. Can probably contact the developer of that app to see if there is a workaround to start integrated at boot/resume.

Also switching the graphics mode to better battery for both AC & on Battery also helps keep it on integrated graphics (In Engery settings)