MBP Issues 13 vs 15?

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Level 1

9 points

MBP Issues 13 vs 15?

So recently I bought a used mid-2010 Pro 15 and I've been having video card issues with it from day one. The previous owner claimed he updated it to Yosemite the night before he sold it to me, so I have no idea how it acted on previous OSs. I took it to Apple and it failed the video system test...

I've been thinking of selling it as-is to someone (telling them what's wrong with it, obviously), and then just using that money and plenty of extra to buy another MBP. My question is, since there are so many graphics and video card related issues with the MBPs, is it just the 15s, or are the 13s included in these issues?

Every time I search through Google and the forums all I find are issues with 15s and 17s, but not that many 13s. Do the 13s indeed have fewer problems? If so, then I know what I'm buying next time...

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10)

Posted on Feb 8, 2015 9:03 AM

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Answer 1

Japib

Level 4

2,843 points

Feb 8, 2015 9:08 AM in response to AwesomeL

this is because 13 inch Macs don't have a dedicated Graphics card.

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Answer 2

AwesomeL Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 8, 2015 9:15 AM in response to Japib

Would a 13 be terrible to do video editing on with FCPX? When I edit videos they're rather large files.

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Answer 3

Japib

Level 4

2,843 points

Feb 8, 2015 11:00 AM in response to AwesomeL

Well, recent Macbook Pro's aren't that bad. The integrated graphics card in 2014 MacBooks (Inter Iris) is a more powerful than the 2010 discrete card, so it should work fine. It'll start to get slow once you start editing 4K videos.

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Answer 4

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Feb 8, 2015 12:24 PM in response to AwesomeL

You have the misfortune of purchasing a model identifier 6.2 MBP. They have GPU issues and there was a replacement program which has expired:

http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203554

A logic board replacement will cure the problem but will be at your expense. You may download this application that will allow you to use the MBP with just the integrated GPU:

https://gfx.io/

Naturally graphics performance will not be the best possible.

Ciao.

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Answer 5

AwesomeL Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 8, 2015 12:43 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

Yeah, I tried to talk to them about fixing it gratis, but that was a no-go.

Will switching to the integrated only card hurt performance badly enough that I won't be able to edit photos or videos effectively?

Also, are there other MBPs from this time frame that don't have this issue? Like, how do I know whether it's a 6.2 or not?

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Answer 6

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Feb 8, 2015 12:44 PM in response to AwesomeL

I do not have that model MBP so I cannot say with authority. Try it and see for yourself. The download is free. If it works to your satisfaction, do consider a donation to the developer.

Ciao.

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Answer 7

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Feb 8, 2015 4:18 PM in response to AwesomeL

AwesomeL wrote:

Also, are there other MBPs from this time frame that don't have this issue? Like, how do I know whether it's a 6.2 or not?

Open System Information>Hardware and you will see the model identifier here:

The 6.2 was the only one from the 2010 group that had a recall. I have a 2010 17" MBP (model identifier 6.1) with no GPU problems to date.n There is no certainty that any MBP will have or have no problems.

Ciao.

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Answer 8

AwesomeL Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 8, 2015 6:53 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

Do you know where I could find the model identifiers of MBPs that have been affected by video and graphic card problems in recent years? If 6.2 is identifier to stay away from on mid-2010s, which models should be left alone in the 2011-2013s?

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Answer 9

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Feb 9, 2015 3:04 AM in response to AwesomeL

There were GPU recalls with some mid/late 2007 and 2008 models. Those are the only other ones I know of. There seems to be a controversy with some 2011 models but that has not resulted in any recall at this time. A Internet search might provide you with details.

This support article may help you sort out various model information:

http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201300

Ciao.

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