Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

In fact the second time was the same as the first time (since the MAC addresses of the Ethernet card were the same on both boards, something that is impossible considering that the ethernet card is weld on the logic board).

Indeed my ethernet NIC changed MAC addresses after the replacement. Also the main identity of the system changed which means that you'll have one more authorized computer on your apple id if you forgot to remove it (or couldn't due to not being able to boot). This means that not only software update but also iTunes and in my case many applications will complain about being used on a different computer... Quite a mess here. I also opened up a ticket to get my failed board removed from my account because I already have 5 out of 5 on my id and I don't want to remove all of them and reenter (which can be only be done every 12 months).

and it is my opinion that *all* of the "blackscreen" deaths are in fact, the system shutting down because it detects too much heat.

(the grayscreen and bluescreen and splitscreen are something else -- likley a damaged GPU that was originally overcooked by heat but now behaves randomly)

M

Hmmmmm Maybe...but if your gray/bluescreen theory turns out to be the case....then i'm wondering why those with new logicboards keep having the same results...some the same day the get it back.  I've even read cases of people with brand new laptops not even days or weeks old running into the same prob. I search this thread numerious times daily now, hoping that someone will have the "magic" fix. 

um, I'm one of those people!!!

So my "theory" is in fact based on actual experience.

YMMV

m

LeVeL5 wrote:

 

This issue is not triggered by heat: I have tested it by shutting down my computer, letting it cool for an hour in a chilled, air-conditioned room, and setting the fans to 6200 rpm right after turning it on. The moment I set the 6750M in gfxCard Status, the issue appears instantaneously.

The problem isn't that there is too much heat at any point in particular, but instead, it is that there was an excessive amount of heat during normal usage over the life of the hardware. This would cause the GPU to fail initially and continue to get worse over time.

NotZachari wrote:

 

LeVeL5 wrote:

 

This issue is not triggered by heat: I have tested it by shutting down my computer, letting it cool for an hour in a chilled, air-conditioned room, and setting the fans to 6200 rpm right after turning it on. The moment I set the 6750M in gfxCard Status, the issue appears instantaneously.

The problem isn't that there is too much heat at any point in particular, but instead, it is that there was an excessive amount of heat during normal usage over the life of the hardware. This would cause the GPU to fail initially and continue to get worse over time.

I agreed, the cooling system can't handle the heat generated. Therefore it takes some time for the GPU system to fail.

Gotcha! Just adding what little I can to the convo in hopes that it may be helpful to come up with some kind of solution

As of now, just to use my mbp , i send to tech with VGA rework machine and they re-heated the chip. As of now its working with gfxcard forced to work in integrated graphic memory during start up.. But don know till when it will work. I observed that temp is very stable and you can use it on yje top of your lap. Discrete chop is too hot..

Same problem here. This is just too sad.

Add me to the list, 2011 MBP. Usual story. Wifey using it, running hot. Next time i used it blue screen of death. Works intermittently. 3 trips to Genius bar. "Seems to be working OK". Took to small local gadget shop "it's the graphics card/logic board". Back to genius bar. Further tests "seems to be running OK". Me "no it's not!" After running it for 24 hrs they finally believed me. 700 bucks. Them "well it is 2.5 years old". I'm not throwing good money after bad! Mac user since before they were trendy ie last millenia. Not happy! Not buying again. This company are going the way of Polaroid. Short sell the stock to regain my money?

jessejarvi wrote:

 

Same problem here. This is just too sad.

NO ! it is not sad, that is unfair!

My MacBook Pro is the most expensive computer I bought since 10 years ! And it is the one who died THE FIRST !

Today I am using my old windows Laptop but it works well !

No surprise that a Google search on "Macbook Radeon Glitch" brought me promptly here.  AMD Radeon HD 6490M, same situation as everyone else.  Cold boots now take 2-3 tries to successfully load the OS; at runtime anything that involves any kind of animation (javascript rollovers on web pages, for example) result in odd square artifacts on my external monitor.  I have had some success using *just* an external, and keeping the clamshell closed, but the issues are persistent even through that mojo.  I am also a user of the Unity game engine and design application, and one of the Pro features is an exhaustive Profiler that watches everything hardware related while your game is running.  The GPU line graph frequently reports now "Bad Timing" from the GPU and does not display any data.  I have a feeling I'm running on borrowed time...speaking of which, Time Machine is now my favorite app.

This is my second Macbook Pro that has started to deteriorate right around the 2.5 / 3 year mark.  I'll probably try one more, but as for that its going to be 3 strikes and OUT for this product line if the longevity doesn't improve.

Same here.

Macbook Pro 15" early 2011.

Immediately after upgrading to Mavericks, the display would glitch and the computer freezes.

Now, only very few times the system will boot up. But mostly it will crash on the grey screen (which is also distorted)... I found that the system will get hot when I let it on during this screen, and when it has become very hot I restart the machine and then - sometimes - it will work OK for an hour or so.

VERY disappointed, cause a local premium apple reseller estimates it will cost 600-800 euros to fix

I wonder how many of us used a protective cover on our MBPs? I did (purcahsed from the Apple Store). I also used a slicon keyboard cover. I'm thinking that the two in combination helped fry my GPU over time.

Anybody else?

M

I dont use a case on my MBP but I do use a keyboard cover. But like most people, I'm currently on my second logic board and tomorrow will be one week since I have gotten it out of repair. I am using gfxCardStatus to make sure I don't use the descrete GPU until someone or Apple figures out a way to fix this.