Early 2011 Macbook Pro 15' - Logic Board Failure

How do you know they remanufactured the boards? I'd like someone who has had it done to post what the new board actually is.....

"How do you know they remanufactured the boards?"

Perhaps I should have said "refurbished" since it doesn't appear to be an actual chip failure but an chip attachment problem like in the old iBooks. Re: BGA failure.

So I can't actually prove that but it's a deduction on my part based on past experience:

1) High failure rate of "new logic boards" installed pre recall. Probably left over from the original run.

2) Rumors via Apple Techs.

3) Recently dealt w/ Dell USFF GX-620s that had failures due to the "capacitor plague" that started in the 1990s. Purchased 36 "refurbished" mother boards off of eBay for $19 each. They had been refurbed in Scotland judging by the markings on the box.

Apple apparently did the same thing for the BGA problem, the "fish capacitor" problem and the same "capacitor plague" problem that everyone had. It was very easy to tell that those boards were refurbed because the "capacitor plague" caps had very distinctive markings on them. The "fish capacitor" caps smelled like fish and the BGA boards had a continuing high failure rates.

Oh great a refurb. I hope not unless they finally get the solder or paste right. My laptop is on it's 4th logic board and each board has been identical to the last. I have no confidence that another one...a refurb, will last any longer than the others. But I will go for the fix anyway and how for the best. Thanks for the reply.

Wow! Just wow. Good news at my end: I was finally able to make and keep an appointment at my local Apple Store last sunday (March 22nd). The tech reset the PRAM (something I didn't do) and the Pro is back to its normal self; typing on it at this very moment.

I have a problem with mine as well, and the Apple Tech told me about a $310 flat rate repair that Apple does to the MacBook pro. Anything wrong they will repair it all for that $310 fee.

I got my MBP 17inch Early 2011 model fixed for free under the recent program launched by apple. I got an additional 90days warranty as well.

I got lucky with this program as i dumped my MBP in the storeroom for about 2yrs and started using a DELL Precision ( this one's a beast).

But now that i have my MBP in place after the logic board replaced, i went for a Yosemite upgrade and it was smooth. However, you don't get to make use of some new features like HANDOFF due to hardware restriction and also with the newage, there is an absence of USB3 on the same MBP.

I need some suggestions on the upgrade of MBP 17inch 2011 model.

1. Can we go for a 16gb memory upgrade ? ( apple says the max is 8gb for this model but some vendors do commit on 16gb)

2. Can we rely on the logic board for another 2-3yrs for not giving us the discrete graphics issue

3. How long is apple going to support this machine ?

Thanks for your help guys !

Cheers

I called Apple support. for my early 2011 macbook pro 15 bought in 2011. My applecare expired couple of years back.

I had replaced the harddisk to SSD and 8GB RAM and it was superfast but still with the video display isse.

They called me back and gave a case number and nearest repair center to go and replace the logical board.

Asked me to take a time machine backup which I already had anyway.

Got it replaced now in 7 working days for FREE🙂.

The cost I would need to pay if it wasn't free would be whopping £750.

Great Apple!!! But I did have to put up with it for a couple of years.

Add my MBP 17 in to the list for failed logic board. After reading all these complaints and thinking I was paying for a superior product, I am disappointed to say the least. I'm probably not going to buy another apple product again.

If it falls under the recall, it would be free and anything you spent previously would be reimbursed.

So do you fall under the recall?

My 2011 15" MacBook Pro just had the graphics problem, had the logic board replaced under the replacement program, and the replacement lasted for one whole day before displaying the same symptom. I have lost a lot of faith in Apple's ability to manufacture quality computer hardware after this as well as failed Mac Pros x 2 and a Mac mini, (both within 1 or 2 years of AppleCare expiring). I'm guessing that's how you become a company that makes hundreds of billions of dollars profit..... Force the customer to upgrade every 3 years before the product fails.

i guess I'm the idiot for contributing to their success, having too much invested in the platform (OSX & IOS).

Can you tell us, can anyone who has had the replacement done tell us, the name of the logic they put in? Go to About this Mac, System Report, and then graphics card. It would be helpful to know what they'[re actually swapping out. I'm on my 4th logic board and it was the same type put in all 4 times. I will have it replaced again under the replacement program and will be checking myself to see what they do. Just sort of would like to know before actually doing it.

It will depend on the initial ordered configuration though. I know I originally ordered a customised configuration with an upgraded graphics card and processor speed (AMD Radeon 6750M), so it would be replaced with the same type.

You're on your 4th logic board?....WOW! That gives me even less confidence in this laptop.

I was very fortunate to have found the problem 1 week before my extended warranty was up so I've never had to pay for the service. Now awaiting the battery fix. New Yosemite problem....some batteries are draining over 50% faster than prior to Yosemite. Will downgrade back to Mavericks. No faith in the product anymore but will not switch back to a PC.

"Will downgrade back to Mavericks."

That's what I"m running because pf what I see around here.

"No faith in the product anymore"

Well Apple has never been perfect so their downsides have been (In my personal experience):

The "Tooth", the PAV boards in the first teardrop iMacs, the "capacitor plague" of the '90s ( Everyone who made anything electronic had that problem), the GPU BGA problem in the iBooks ...not a complete list.

"will not switch back to a PC."

My sentiments exactly (But have had to set my kids up for online gaming - Win 7.) - Millennium, Vista, Win 8.