This is a very good point..for me, my 2012 rMBP 15" has random kernal panics and screen tearing, and GPU, DGPU switching is very slow and often kills whatever app is running. And yet, a test run in the store with the VST didn't show anything. They said they would have to have it for several days to check it further. I didn't have the ability to leave it there for several days, or the 500$ for a week loaner - REALLY? I might have to go back in after having used it all day already and see if they can make it fail for once and for all.
REPAIR PROGRAM ENDS AT THE END OF FEBRUARY PEOPLE
At least they accept photos and/or videos taken with Our smartphone or a camera showing the failure of your MBP!
I think they would even accept if this would be photos/videos from a Samsung smartphone ...
Good luck!
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Just my general advice for prevention of GPU failure:
In our family we have several 2011 and 2012 MBPs. Although ther were some OTHERS than gpu failures with them, i did some prevention for GPU issues, hoping they will have sort of effect on the risk for it...
I am convinced mostly these issues arrive more likely with overheated GPUs.
My hypothesis: "Overheating" begins already at temperatures beneath the official limit, maybe because of the ROHS issue and the ridiculous minimizing of fan action and "thinness-fetish" of Jony Ive. It seems also that the fan is reacting too late on rising temperatures for "comfort" reasons (noise from fans).
So my personal solution is:
1). To Prevent absolutely less convection and use the MBP the less possible on a cushion or other positions that prevent convection, especially the little part under the CPU/GPU which has just the size of a postcard. Not only the GPU itself, but as well the CPU will heat up the inner part of the MBP and so also the GPU secondarily.
2) installing apps like MacFanControl:
a) to diagnose easily with just one click the temperatures of CPu and GPU
b) to react sooner than the system itself on temperatures above of 55-60 degrees Celsius by manually coose higher rpm of both fans. This also takes just some clicks and about 5-10 seconds.
Normally they run at about 2000 rpm, but even 3000 or 3,500 rpm will cause nearly no significant noise!
3) you can also already choose modestly higher rpms before You charge your MBP with high workload for CPU and/or GPU using MacFanControl.
4) LEARNING about cooling management:
Regarding the temperatures in using Fan control apps makes you better understand how easy you expose your mBP to damn high temperatures... And so you learn to think about manual prevention of higher temperatures very easily.
This will surely not prevent ALL possible existing risks, bit at least some of them, I am convinced about this.
