Display suddenly failing on Late 2013, 11,3, NVIDIA 750M MBP

[jessejesse]

Hey Folks

Long time reader, first time poster, owner of many MBs

I have a wonderful machine. It's a late 2013, MBP with NVIDIA 750M, 4960HQ., SSD etc.

Out of nowhere, this morning, when I went to wake my machine, it wouldn't turn on. I figured it was dead by some fluke, but I knew it shouldn't be. Then I noticed that the keyboard backlight was on, so the machine was on. I turned it off, figuring it was some strange occurrence. When I tried to turn it back on, I couldn't. So I did the ol' vulcan pinch (shift, control, option, power) and reset everything. After about 15 seconds, it turned back on, 40% power, but on the black screen with the apple, I noticed a TON of snow and artifacts. So it ultimately turns back on and I go back about my business. 10 minutes later, it suddenly goes black. Same deal as before. Finally get it booted again. Then I notice whenever I put it to sleep, it does the same thing. I tried to search for display snow, but sadly there's a OS you all may have heard of with "snow" in the title, so I couldn't get any leads.

I'm obviously out of warranty and I know the NVIDIA problem was for older machines (I had one of them - though funnily enough, didn't have the NVIDIA problem). I can't imagine it's a connector, because it happens so suddenly. Everything is up to date. It wasn't dropped or damaged and worked perfectly yesterday. No changes, nothing.

Is this just hardware failing? A connection? A firmware issue? Software?

 

[jerryk]

Nvidia 750? I bet it is the graphic subsystem failing.

 

[jessejesse]

Nvidia 750? I bet it is the graphic subsystem failing.

In other words, nothing I can do?
[doublepost=1509846045][/doublepost]

Nvidia 750? I bet it is the graphic subsystem failing.

And is there a way to just shut off the discrete graphics all together and rely on the iris?

 

[jerryk]

I don't know if this program is still in effect, but Apple did have a program.

https://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro-videoissues/

If nothing else it cannot hurt to ask and see if you are eligible.

 

[ZapNZs]

750M failures with the MBP appear to be pretty rare (650M failures appeared much more common) - but this happening specifically on startup and wakeup from sleep suggests it has to do with the dGPU (as it is activated upon startup and wakeup - and these are points where the 2011 AMD and 2012-early2013 650M models would often show glitches before outright failing). An Apple Store or AASP can run one or more specific tests to check the discrete GPU.

 

[jessejesse]

I don't know if this program is still in effect, but Apple did have a program.

https://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro-videoissues/

If nothing else it cannot hurt to ask

Mine is a late 2013, I think. That's for Mid 2013 It's hard to replicate at the moment - other than the constant snow. It's faint, but it's definitely there.

Thanks for the advice. I'll bring it to an Apple store. I don't live near one but should be near one the week of thanksgiving.

 

[macjunk(ie)]

Another one bites the dust. If it is a graphic issue, get it fixed by Apple. And after that, dispose off the machine if you can by selling it. You will loose money but it is a sunk cost. If you buy Apple again, don’t buy the ones with a dedicated card

 

[jessejesse]

Thanks for the recommendation. I'd feel weird selling a machine that's bound to fail, even with the repair!

I'm on the fence on a new computer. I want a 13 inch and don't want discrete graphics. From tests, the 550 and 650 seem to be neck in neck with discrete 750m. Who knew? The difficult thing is going from quad core to dual core and cutting memory in half + losing standard USB ports - for the same price.

 

[jerryk]

Thanks for the recommendation. I'd feel weird selling a machine that's bound to fail, even with the repair!

I'm on the fence on a new computer. I want a 13 inch and don't want discrete graphics. From tests, the 550 and 650 seem to be neck in neck with discrete 750m. Who knew? The difficult thing is going from quad core to dual core and cutting memory in half + losing standard USB ports - for the same price.

The 13 will likely be quad core in the next iterations. So get it fixed and upgrade when the new 13 comes out. Of course, the 15 will a hex core in the next iteration.

 

[kohlson]

I have a late 2013 15-MBP (11,3). Several months ago it started to spontaneously reboot. This increased in frequency, As well, the screen would black out (keyboard still lit). Eventually, it stopped altogether. That is, the gong would sound on startup, but no screen. I took it to Apple, and it was a $600 repair, which included new 1TB drive, logic board, display. It was an expensive system when I got it, and while not happy about the repair, I definitely didn't want to buy a newer equivalent.