Between the apple logo loading screen and the initial login screen, there is a few seconds of this on gray screen. I just replaced my logic board for the 3rd time, so I'm wondering what this could be about.
MacBook Pro (17-inch Late 2011), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)
I'm assuming that your previous logic board replacements were for the GPU problems that so many of us 15" and 17" 2011 models are having?
Those are definitely GPU glitches. If you're within 90-days of your last 'repair' take it back to whomever serviced the machine and have the logic board replaced - again.
Good luck,
Clinton
MacBook Pro (15” Late 2011), OS X Yosemite 10.10, 16GB Crucial RAM, 960GB M500 Crucial SSD, 27” Apple Thunderbolt Display
My system would go black (fan still running so system didn't crash) when I ran graphic intensive programs.
I just got logic board replaced 17 days ago. Worked for 10 days then screen went black and wouldn't boot up past Apple logo screen. Just got my system back today, and this graphic is still persistent. But this artifact has been seen on-and-off with other logic boards (this is my 4th on this system).
Is it possible that this is a software issue of some sort?
I doubt that it's software related - the soldering/thermal paste on the 15" and 17" model logic boards is simply faulty and it seems as if you've managed to get faulty logic boards all along, if this is a symptom repeating itself.
Of course, you should have the logic board replaced. And there's still a chance that you'll get another bad one. If you're asked to pay for another board after your 90-day warranty has expired, you may want to look at having the GPU reballed. But get that logic board replaced first - I seem to have stumbled onto a 'decent' one when I had my logic board replaced (under AppleCare) in January. 10 months and, thus far, no problems as yet. You're a bit 'double-jinxed' because if this board goes belly up, you could only get a replacement in a 15" Retina model. Just no more 17" models since 2011.
have the board replaced and keep your fingers crossed that you get a good one this time around.
Good luck,
Clinton
MacBook Pro (15” Late 2011), OS X Yosemite 10.10, 16GB Crucial RAM, 960GB M500 Crucial SSD, 27” Apple Thunderbolt Display
Artifacts during startup
