MacBook Pro 17" replace Logic Board (newer board?)

I've own several Mac's over the years, and after just selling one of my 17" 2.5 laptops on eBay I have two left right now. One is a second 2011 2.5, which I don't think I'll ever part with. But last Fall I purchased a 2010 that was literally a basket case with however an almost perfect case. I purchased a used 2011 2.4GHz logic board for $310 (a good deal for sure), and installation into the 2010 case was a snap. The only problem I encountered was the wiring for the display. The setup in 2011 had changed slightly. The best and easiest way around it was to purchase a used display assembly on eBay for $120. So for $430 and some shipping costs I had just what I needed. I sold the "leftover" display from the 2010 on eBay for $70, so I ended up spending $360 and, after changing the bottom covers between the two machines, I had a second 2011 17" Macbook with a 2.4 board. When you consider the price difference between the 2010 and 2011 17" machines the swap was definitely worth it. Anyway you look at it I was going to have to purchase a logic board for the 2010 machine, so for $360 I was still way ahead of the game!

Actually the difference between the two operating systems in meaningless in that either machine will run the latest OS, High Sierra (10.13).

Did you notice this thread went inactive over three years ago?

In situations like yours reported here before, Apple will replace your LB "in kind," that is, the same model board.

Ask about a "depot repair." That is a less expensive option where, instead of fixing the computer overnight in the store, they send it to a central refurbishment center. For a flat fee (used to be about US$315) they will fix anything they find wrong other than cosmetic or accidental damage. Takes about a week but the cost savings alone are substantial.

A depot repair may not be available outside the US.

KazeUzumaki wrote:

ddid they release a newer logic board in the 2012 release and if so would it even fit?

No. The last 17" MBP was a late 2011 MBP (I have one). The fundamental difference between the early and late 2011 MBPs is the CPU/GPU and that the early 2011's came with 10.6 OSX installed and the late 2011's came with 10.7 OSX installed. Since the model identifier is the same for both, I suspect that the logic boards are interchangeable. However the difference in the OSX would essentially make your 10.6 install disks non functional.

Snow Leopard 10.6.8 can be installed in a late 2011 MBP, but installing Lion would be simpler.

As Allan Jones has indicated, Apple will NOT install the 'newer' logic board.

Ciao.

PCI connections are only on the late 2013 rMBPs, not on any of the prior models. The earlier rMBPs have a SAT interface.

Ciao.

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Hi Kaze

If you had the work done by Apple there should be a warranty...

And this thread is great, my 17" macbook pro is intermittently showing the exact same problem you described, I plan to use Apple's "depot repair" and then sell the computer on ebay, where I bought it 14 months ago. It's in great shape, mostly used as a cpu and I think I will be able to recover my repair cost.

Thanks for the depot repair tip