2011 Macbook Pro Logic Board Failure

Install gfxCardStatus (https://gfx.io) and set it to "i" (integrated graphics only). It will allow your MBP to run on integrated graphics only, bypassing the discrete GPU which has the issues. This may allow your MBP to run normally, although it will have reduced graphics performance when permforming demanding graphics tasks. The alternative is replacing the logic board, which is not cost effective on a machine that old, unless gfx does not resolve the issue and you really want to keep this MBP.

There is an acknowledged bug in the current version of Cody Kreiger's Open-Source gfxcardstatus, and the developer has confessed he does not have time to fix it right now.

There is a fork off the main build by steveschow available that seems to fix that problem for current versions of MacOS such as ElCapitan and Sierra. He provides a finished .app for direct download -- you do not have to compile anything.

https://github.com/steveschow/gfxCardStatus/releases

Also note that if your Mac does not run long enough to allow gfxcardstatus to be added, this is not really practical.

In addition, Steve Schow writes that he has abandoned further development -- because there are better solutions available [for both the 2010 model and 2011 models]. In particular, the use of ArchLinux bootable CD to gain access to and re-write the EFI on the drive, and permanently disable the discrete graphics chip. This page and scroll down past the list to the blog:

Releases · steveschow/gfxCardStatus · GitHub

there are two similar procedure listed. I used the second from MacRumors as it seemed easier. I have made the Arch Linux bootable CD on another Mac, and tried this approach. I now have a perfectly-functioning MacBook Pro late 2011 15-in model with Discrete Graphics disabled. Runs just fine.

Install gfxCardStatus (https://gfx.io) and set it to "i" (integrated graphics only). It will allow your MBP to run on integrated graphics only, bypassing the discrete GPU which has the issues. This may allow your MBP to run normally, although it will have reduced graphics performance when permforming demanding graphics tasks. The alternative is replacing the logic board, which is not cost effective on a machine that old, unless gfx does not resolve the issue and you really want to keep this MBP.

There is an acknowledged bug in the current version of Cody Kreiger's Open-Source gfxcardstatus, and the developer has confessed he does not have time to fix it right now.

There is a fork off the main build by steveschow available that seems to fix that problem for current versions of MacOS such as ElCapitan and Sierra. He provides a finished .app for direct download -- you do not have to compile anything.

https://github.com/steveschow/gfxCardStatus/releases

Also note that if your Mac does not run long enough to allow gfxcardstatus to be added, this is not really practical.

In addition, Steve Schow writes that he has abandoned further development -- because there are better solutions available [for both the 2010 model and 2011 models]. In particular, the use of ArchLinux bootable CD to gain access to and re-write the EFI on the drive, and semi-permanently disable the discrete graphics chip. This page and scroll down past the list to the blog:

Releases · steveschow/gfxCardStatus · GitHub

there are two similar procedure listed. I used the second from MacRumors as it seemed easier. I have made the Arch Linux bootable CD on another Mac, and tried this approach. I now have a perfectly-functioning MacBook Pro late 2011 15-in model with Discrete Graphics disabled. Runs just fine.

Install gfxCardStatus (https://gfx.io) and set it to "i" (integrated graphics only). It will allow your MBP to run on integrated graphics only, bypassing the discrete GPU which has the issues. This may allow your MBP to run normally, although it will have reduced graphics performance when permforming demanding graphics tasks. The alternative is replacing the logic board, which is not cost effective on a machine that old, unless gfx does not resolve the issue and you really want to keep this MBP.

There is an acknowledged bug in the current version of Cody Kreiger's Open-Source gfxcardstatus, and the developer has confessed he does not have time to fix it right now.

There is a fork off the main build by steveschow available that seems to fix that problem for current versions of MacOS such as ElCapitan and Sierra. He provides a finished .app for direct download -- you do not have to compile anything.

https://github.com/steveschow/gfxCardStatus/releases

Also note that if your Mac does not run long enough to allow gfxcardstatus to be added, this is not really practical.

In addition, Steve Schow writes that he has abandoned further development -- because there are better solutions available [for both the 2010 model and 2011 models]. In particular, the use of ArchLinux bootable CD to gain access to and re-write the EFI on the drive, and permanently disable the discrete graphics chip. This page and scroll down past the list to the blog:

https://github.com/steveschow/gfxCardStatus/

there are two similar procedure listed. I used the second from MacRumors as it seemed easier. I have made the Arch Linux bootable CD on another Mac, and tried this approach. I now have a perfectly-functioning MacBook Pro late 2011 15-in model with Discrete Graphics disabled. Runs just fine.

Think I just got lucky finding this. Kept looking everywhere I could think of. Will try to update how it goes once it's back. Am wondering why Apple chose their worthless approach changing many loyal customers thinking about them but it seems when a company is doing well this is the thinking, stockholders first as it seems. I know this will affect my loyalty.

I made a point of asking TecDepo what problems if any their customers have had with performance or fit and they said no problems were reported.

As I remember, my cost new for my MBP was very close to $5000 with the non-glare screen and 16GB of ram etc etc so Bob the fisherman's thoughts of scrapping them is lost on me. In this time while waiting for it's return I've broken out a pc to get by...LOL, it isn't as bad as my memory recalled. Watch out Apple!

FYI, the cost for the new board will be $849.95 and should you have an empty HDD or SSD TecDepo will load the OS also for you.

**With the new GPU, board & chipsets just hooking your drive back in 'may' not kick it in gear. May be the right time to drop in a SSD before shipping it, something to think about anyway. TecDepo could answer those kind of questions though. If your DVD drive is dead TecDepo may be of help too.

They state 1-3 days in their shop is needed, they will have FedEx email you a shipping label so you can just take your package to the nearest FedEx shipping location and drop it off, $0.00 shipping. They will ask for your address for return shipping, once completed you pay thru Amazon and they send it back. $65.00 refund for your old logic board, "A1297 Logic board i7 2.2Ghz"

Yes "a better machine" from Apple would be more in keeping with their old philosophy, I agree completely.

(Just as a side note...one thing that always bugged me about my MBP was the miserable sound quality of the speakers but then I found "Boom2" and I continue to be amazed at the huge difference it made, absolutely amazed!)

There is no such thing as a 'good one'; the flaw is in the design and, if it hasn't failed yet, it will at some point if enough heat is generated.

I found a workaround to make a 2011 last long and it's quite simple: download gfxcardstatus, and force the computer to use the integrated GPU at boot time. As long as you are not using the discrete GPU, the computer will last long.
The problem is that some apps somehow managed to enable it.

At least Apple could release a patch in the OS to disable the discrete GPU on these models, and while it would cost some performance, it would prevent the remaining 2011 from dying.

Hello my name is Michiel.

I’m from the Netherlands. I had the same probleem in 2014 and yesterday my second logicboard gave up on me. The problem is the soldering without lead. 2011 was the first batch of boards without lead. Because of the heat the board warps slightly. The soldering detaches from the chips. This causes all sorts of problems. A special store in Amsterdam fixes this problem. They solder the board again with lead. Their succes rate is 97%. Macrepair.nl

The costs are 419 euro’s. They return your money with a no-cure-no-pay. The invested a lot of money in this repair and there is a 15 day waiting period because of the many repairs they do.

If you want it to be perfect, then yes, you have to buy a new computer.

There are over 19 pages of discussion on this thread, including several good suggestions about how to get more life out of that model MacBook. If you don't need to run an external display, there are things you can do that get it working again and cost you nothing. The simplest thing to try is gfxcardstatus.

After being told by an Apple "Genius" that the 2011 Macbook was junk (ie to buy a new one) I researched further and found this suggestion which, to my amazement, worked. It entails rewriting the boot instructions but it's pretty straightforward if you follow the instructions exactly. It takes a little longer to boot but the graphics are now fine now that the offending video card is bypassed. The instructions are at: https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/267581/gpu-problem-boot-hangs-on-grey- screen/295805#295805

Hope it works for you.

Hi! I've only read 2 pages worth of bantering on this thread, but in case someone is looking for a reasonably priced solution here is a company on eBay doing this exact repair for about $200:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EXCHANGE-MACBOOK-PRO-15-A1286-820-2915-B-2011-LOGIC-BOAR D-REPAIR-NEW-GPU-REBALL/111473619668?_tr…

I love my early-2011 "vintage" MBP and Arepoli I feel your pain. Mine failed 37 months after purchase -- a month after my AppleCare expired. Apple agreed to fix it. Here I am PRECISELY 37 months later and it has failed again. I want to keep the frosted screen -- this was the last MBP made with that option (can't stand those highly reflective new ones) and had the ability to easily update the HD and RAM. I've upgraded the HD to a 1 Tb SSD and put in 16 Gb of Apple approved RAM. It's a great machine EXCEPT for that GPU. (Might add this is the second Mac I've had major GPU issues with. A few years back I had three GPUs replaced in an iMac.)

At this point I'm not all that happy with the new iMacs. And, frankly, it wasn't until very recently that the MBP lineup had any significant upgrades from my 2011. And I don't need to carry around a dongle collection to get work done.

If anyone wants to blast me, go ahead. I've got work to do and won't be back.

It is not a speculation for a few reasons:

- The initial lawsuit had over 35k members and was certified as a class; this is more than enough to establish a pattern. When you have a recurring pattern of failure, this is a flaw.

- In the initial class action lawsuit method of failure was properly documented. It is a well known problem in electronics, Microsoft suffered from the same with Xbox, and Apple had the same issue in 2008 as well. There is nothing far fetched about what caused the failure since other manufacturers had the exact same issues.

- Google has 11 pages of "macbook pro gpu failure 2011", and the second link for "macbook pro gpu" is talking about the failure; given the size of Google's traffic, this establishes without doubt what people search for and confirms once again that this is not an isolated problem; and a recurring failure is... a flaw.

Asking for a solution is NOT a debate of Apple's policies, procedures or speculation. Coming up with alternative ideas is also NOT a debate of Apple's policies, procedures or speculation by any account.

Now, on a more constructive solution:

I have a machine that lasts long enough to use gfxcard status to disable the GPU; it's not ideal since some programs re-enable it. I haven't don't the EFI solution, although it's been documented in detail for a long time (Resolved - Force 2011 MacBook Pro 8,2 with failed AMD GPU to ALWAYS use Intel integrated GPU (EFI variable fix) | MacRum…)

Many of the problems happened past the warranty period. And, at that time, Apple did NOT take action and refused to do so (as me and a friend both experienced personally) until several lawsuits took place. Lawsuit documents show that the refusal to fix the computers past the warranty was standard. There was enough plaintiffs to be certified as a class, so at that time there was no choice:

Magically there was a goodwill "Quality program" popped up, because image is everything.

Once the period agreed on passed, they went back to refusing to take any responsibility.

Now, you are right that they're probably not going to do anything anymore; I think people are angry enough that even if computers were repaired for free now, the damage is done and these customers are lost for good.

At least this thread can help people realize they're not alone and help them find the few dodgy workarounds available such as disabling the discrete GPU, services that offer re-balled motherboards, etc. But the rhetoric about how they did the right thing and were not obligated to do more, etc can't be taken seriously since it'll all history and facts without any speculation at this point.

The problem is the soldering without lead. 2011 was the first batch of boards without lead. Because of the heat the board warps slightly. The soldering detaches from the GPU. This causes all sorts of problems. A special store in Amsterdam fixes this problem. They solder the board again with lead. Their succes rate is 97%.

The costs are 419 euro’s. They return your money with a no-cure-no-pay. The invested a lot of money in this repair and there is a 15 day waiting period because of the many repairs they do. They fixt my 2011 MBP and it works great.

Correct as to GPU, it came back with a Radeon HD 6770M & built-in Intel HD Graphics 3000. (I sent in my MBP 17” whole minus the HDD. Deciding to upgrade to an SSD came as an afterthought, the MBP had been shipped already.)

I was not willing to risk putting my HDD back in & it not working with the new chipsets, plus a SSD was on my ToDo list anyway so...

*If you send a EMPTY drive they will install OS X N/C.

*I had 8GB ram so no upgrade was asked for.

*The final cost will be exactly as stated on Amazon.

*The SSD I added was paid for by me separately & I had it shipped to TekDepo directly.

Per my earlier post regarding DIY installation of TekDepo's refurbished logic board, here is the gist of the message I sent to TekDepo:

"Greetings TekDepo. I am one of thousands of MBPro17 (2011) owners seeking a proper solution to the well-publicized Logic Board (chip) problem… Rather than send my computer to you, am I correct in my understanding that I can just buy the board and install it myself?… Will your refurbished board have any problems shaking hands with my current internal SSD? Are there any special instructions for installing the board in a computer with an established working hard drive/SSD? If and when you ship this item, is it well packed to ensure absolute protection for the logic board during transport?"

TekDepo's Reply:

"Yes, you can install this logic board yourself. It's all plug and play no modifications needed or anything. It will be well packed…"

I have a machine that lasts long enough to use gfxcard status to disable the GPU

are you using Steve Schow's refinement? it works better than the original.