Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

"I heard that Apple recall for iMac by 2011 with similar graphic card problem, but nothing for Mac book?"

You heard it?  Did you hear that it's a completely different problem?  All of the details surrounding Apple's lawsuit against the device vendor, and the recall, are online.

Old to them maybe, but I didn't get mine till 6/2012 and it only last two years before it started displaying the crap screen. Sounds like those people don't live in the real world. Most people can't afford a new MBP every 2 to 3 years.

No , you don't need to read 614 pages to find out what the problem is , I will summarize them for you, there are 933 soldering points attaching the discrete graphics chip to the logic board, depends on which points and how many points have bad connection you will see symptoms, these symptoms are different from one to another freezing, grey screen, blue screen, glitches, lines fine or wide , batches, pixilation , split screen, black screen, pink screen, computer powers on then turn off and go into a loop those among others are some of the symptoms of bad connection on one or more of those 933 soldering points. For Solution you have three options, first is to buy a brand new logic board for the range of $900 to $1200 depends on your model and specifications and where you buy it from , second option is to take your computer to Apple store and pay $310 for a flat rate logic board replacement that is used and most of the time don't pass the 90 days warranty , third option and probably the most reliable option and cheapest for most people is to get the GPU chip reballed or replaced by a reputable professional and that would cost less than $300 in most cases and comes with at least twice the Apple repair warranty. The rest of the 614 pages are arguments, chat and cry out for Apple free repair. That is the summery of this whole discussion until now and probably for the next 614 new pages.

Also if he/she read the whole 614 pages of this thread, he/she will also know that the ps3specialist doesn't do a very good job on repairs.

Yes, there's a complaint from JMC to ps3specialist.

Yes, I am not expecting someone from China to send me his computer to repair so you should find someone there and don't comment on my posts , they are not for you.

Yes, he does, try to find a repair center with no complaint and send him yours.

It's hardware failure for 99.9% of us.

It's hardware failure for 99.9% of us.

It's hardware failure for 99.9% of us.

It's hardware failure for 99.9% of us.

It's hardware failure for 99.9% of us.

It's hardware failure for 99.9% of us.

It's hardware failure for 99.9% of us.

Don't even try to inject the suspect that a system upgrade would eventally fix it.

Unfortunately, you can't upgrade a brick!

Without knowing about this potential issue, abouot a year ago I bought a second-hand, late 2011 MBP with the i7, high-res non-glare screen and 1GB GPU.

I subsequently replaced the HD with an SSD and maxed-out the RAM.

Most of the time the MBP is connected to a 24" screen, so the GPU has to be enabled. I use it primarily for image editing in Aperture and lighter stuff (web surfing, iTunes). I also have to run Windows in a VM from time to time.

Production date was 10/2011.

I am still running on 10.7.5 and luckily never experienced any GPU-related glitches so far.

I am thinking about upgrading to Yoesmite because 10.7.5  doesn't get updates anymore but then again I don't want to risk to run into problems :-(

Besides, some of my applications aren't compatible (PGP WDE and others).

Mind you, the previous owner must have been a chain smoker, because when I first received it, it smelled like it was used in Casino and I had to thoroughly clean the fans and de-stink it. .

Maybe the fumes solidified the connectors? :-)

I really don't know what to do now.

Very interesting and useful indeed.

We would eventally became all chain smokers for a year and than benefit from the supposed fumes-repairing properties.

Be serious, this is a pandemic worldwide HARDARE FAILURE.

Don't even try to infiltrate and pack this thread with useless software upgrades keywords/ideas.

Unfortunately, you can't upgrade a brick!

Infiltrate? Keywords?

Lighten up, I was just trying to share my experience / observations. .

Own a Early 2011 15" Macbook Pro. Having same issues such as distorted screen, flickering, and the blue screen. Shuts off randomly and the only way to turn it back on is a hard reset. Got to a point where I could not ignore the increasing issues so since I'm obviously out of warranty now, I took it to a Mac Authorized Computer center in San Diego Ca. I walked in and told him the symptoms of my failing Macbook Pro. He looked up the system profiler and as soon as he read my hardware told me that he has been getting a steady diet of these model and year Macbook Pro's WEEKLY...

I learn that Apple has "addressed" this non-issue by providing a repair program , a flat $310 fee for a replacement logic board, to the lucky bunch that purchased these defective devices. I met with Apple "Genius" later that day and explained my frustration as full time student / part time  web design, and told him it was critical that I can get it back ASAP. He told me he would run some stress tests to see if he could reproduce, what I had already countless times dealt with, the crashing hardware.

As if it couldn't get any worse, he told me if he could NOT reproduce the issue there was NOTHING Apple would cover.

The following morning I get a voicemail in class stating that my laptop is "fixed and ready for pickup." When I return the call I am told that it is ready for pick up, so I inquire as to what was fixed... After getting transferred multiple times within the store, a guy tells me that they ran the stress test and have not come up with any issues. Fixed, huh? I was given me two alternatives, let them keep running these stress tests until it occurs or I take home my defective Macbook Pro. Not really a choice there...

I am now without the device and waiting on the confirmation that Apple did indeed screw up and sold countless broken machines for a premium.

Apple products have always been used since my youth. ie. iMac, iPod(s), iPhone(s), Macbook(s), and after this complete slap in the face I have been dealt, I cannot deny the fact that Apple completely abandoned us loyal customers. This should have been addressed as soon as the floods of complaints poured into the forums pertaining to a specific model and year repeatedly having the exact same hardware issues.

I no longer can justify purchasing or using Apple again. How could I trust a company if they can't own up to THEIR issue, a $2000+ defectively designed device?

My MC723 was dead yesterday when it was running a dynamic simulation program last night. I think the COD is the same.

Luca Basilico wrote:

 

Very interesting and useful indeed.

We would eventally became all chain smokers for a year and than benefit from the supposed fumes-repairing properties.

 

Be serious, this is a pandemic worldwide HARDARE FAILURE.

Don't even try to infiltrate and pack this thread with useless software upgrades keywords/ideas.

This is a public forum, it is not for you to tell others what to post.

chakibfromcoquitlam

What would be the best way to stress the GPU ?

Use an external monitor with the macbook in clamshell mode , and then launch during a few hours a program like Unigine Valley, or maybe Unigine with Geekbench at the same time (to stress both the CPU and the GPU) ?

I've tried this several times during a few hours and my GPU temp doesn't go above 72°C.

 

Thanks.

You can install this app: http://www.geeks3d.com/20130507/gputest-0-4-0-cross-platform-opengl-benchmark-re leased-opengl-4-tessellation-test-enabled-under-mac-osx/#download

and run FurMark test.

(FurMark is first in the list and it will "burn" your GPU. Other open GL tests provided in the app are not producing as much heat.)