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GPUs going bad? 15" Early 2013 rMBP

drewsof07

drewsof07

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Oct 30, 2006
2,018
445
Ohio
This is what my Early 2013 rMBP looked like last night after waking the display from sleep. It has happened about 6 times in the last 2 months. Rebooting fixes the issue, but there is never any warning and I always lose my work. This happens most commonly while using airplay, remote desktop, and games. I initially tried disabling the graphics switching and reset SMC to no avail. When this started, it would only affect the bottom portion of the screen around the dock; switching resolutions would resolve. Now the whole screen is affected, and I am becoming more suspicious of the GPU(s). This computer isn't even 6 months old :(
Any advice?

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I'm about 2 hours away from the nearest :apple: store, how would I describe what I'm seeing over the phone?
Visual static? Screen distortion? Bleep Bloop thingies?
 
Under moderate load (couple Youtube videos & iTunes, GPU temps are bouncing between 75-83C: Not blistering, but still warm.
CPU seems reasonable: 55

Just got off the phone with Applecare, want me to bring it in for a hardware diagnostic and/or reinstall the OS. Clearly NOT an OS issue :rolleyes:
 
You can set up a repair with AppleCare over the phone. Make sure your information is backed up because they will erase the computer. They'll mail you a box to put your computer it and then mail it back. Describe it as "vertical lines" or also as screen tearing. They'll understand what you mean, and vertical lines is one of their specific diagnoses options and will prompt them for a hardware repair. Having pictures also helps since it's an intermittent issue.
 
The lady I spoke with wouldn't authorize a repair until I took it to a store for a "hardware diagnostic." I pushed pretty hard...

The Genius glanced at one of the photos I took for no longer than 1 second before exclaiming "Aaaand you get a new Logic Board, why didn't they schedule mail-in service over the phone!?" :rolleyes:

I'm all set up for a repair at my leisure. The computer still works, so no need for me to be without it over the holiday. Sending it for repair first thing in January.

Now the next question: Everything is glued into this thing, how good are the repair personnel about not damaging anything else in the process? For one thing, I really like the colors on my Samsung panel and know how flimsy the ribbon cables are inside any portable. :eek:
 
drewsof07 said:
The lady I spoke with wouldn't authorize a repair until I took it to a store for a "hardware diagnostic." I pushed pretty hard...

The Genius glanced at one of the photos I took for no longer than 1 second before exclaiming "Aaaand you get a new Logic Board, why didn't they schedule mail-in service over the phone!?" :rolleyes:

I'm all set up for a repair at my leisure. The computer still works, so no need for me to be without it over the holiday. Sending it for repair first thing in January.

Now the next question: Everything is glued into this thing, how good are the repair personnel about not damaging anything else in the process? For one thing, I really like the colors on my Samsung panel and know how flimsy the ribbon cables are inside any portable. :eek:
Click to expand...

That's a very good question, I would assume they know how to repair it without damaging the components.

Personally because of this assumption I do not like getting my laptop repaired, I'd rather get a replacement.
 
Just thought I would post an update:
Received my MBP back on Jan 16 with a logic board replacement. There was a high-pitched metallic "ping" in the case when you moved it, not sure if it was the grounding fins? But definitely annoying... Functionally, everything else seemed in order.

Fast forward to February 18 when the same behavior reappeared (ironically enough) during a demo of Apple apps at my office. I'm driving a transition to Macs for the few of us who manage media, less than ideal for a system failure to occur with the execs present. :(

Happened an additional 3-4 times until I was fed up and went back to the Apple store. Encountered a thorough genius that looked through console logs for software issues to no avail.

Back to the repair depot on Saturday Feb 22 for another LB, SSD, and Display swap.
 
drewsof07 said:
Happened an additional 3-4 times until I was fed up and went back to the Apple store. Encountered a thorough genius that looked through console logs for software issues to no avail.

Back to the repair depot on Saturday Feb 22 for another LB, SSD, and Display swap.
Click to expand...

Good news: current Apple policy calls for a replacement computer (in their words a CRU) after 3 major repairs. Although if you really need the computer, you can push for one instead of a 3rd repair. Plus with the retinas after a logic board and display replacement there isn't much else they can replace... That's what happened to me, and hopefully you can get a working computer soon. Being without one is certainly trying depending on the nature of your work.
 
durkkin said:
Good news: current Apple policy calls for a replacement computer (in their words a CRU) after 3 major repairs. Although if you really need the computer, you can push for one instead of a 3rd repair. Plus with the retinas after a logic board and display replacement there isn't much else they can replace... That's what happened to me, and hopefully you can get a working computer soon. Being without one is certainly trying depending on the nature of your work.
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Agreed. If this doesn't do the trick, I'll be pushing hard for a replacement. It's killing me without my primary machine at 100%

I'm in Healthcare IT - Using a loaner 14" HP running XP that runs like a rusty sled... :eek: #firstworldproblems
 
My Retina had similar problems. Ghosting problems led to a display replacement, Kernel Panics led to a SSD replacement (1 repair). The Genius who worked on it stripped the screw hole in the top case and that was replaced. Then the LoBo replaced due to graphics tearing and distortion much like yours. When I got it back, the new LoBo's discreet GPU was causing Kernel Panics (apx. 6 in less then a couple days) eventually leading to its replacement.

Mine was an original 2012 Retina, for the record.
 
Asuriyan said:
Looks like VRAM, or solder joints on the GPU getting flaky. Bring it in ASAP.
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It uses shared memory. I don't think the 13" has an additional cache. The variant is different from the spec used in the 15".
 
thekev said:
It uses shared memory. I don't think the 13" has an additional cache. The variant is different from the spec used in the 15".
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My issue seems most common when pushing the integrated graphics "too far". When I disabled automatic switching for a few days, had no issues on the dedicated gpu.
 
drewsof07 said:
My issue seems most common when pushing the integrated graphics "too far". When I disabled automatic switching for a few days, had no issues on the dedicated gpu.
Click to expand...

There's no technical "too far". I would definitely get full diagnostics on that machine, because what you posted should not happen. Even integrated graphics are quite powerful today. We're way past the point where they're severely crippled in usefulness on anything that doesn't make explicit use of graphics libraries. Even in the case of graphics libraries, the rise in GPGPU often involves rewriting things that used to run on the cpu where they are inherently faster this way.
 
thekev said:
There's no technical "too far". I would definitely get full diagnostics on that machine, because what you posted should not happen. Even integrated graphics are quite powerful today. We're way past the point where they're severely crippled in usefulness on anything that doesn't make explicit use of graphics libraries. Even in the case of graphics libraries, the rise in GPGPU often involves rewriting things that used to run on the cpu where they are inherently faster this way.
Click to expand...

Agreed, integrated graphics should have no issues handling the content I use regularly - iMovie, Photoshop, Captivate + general browsing/mail. Repair status was "Diagnosing product" for about 6-8 hours yesterday, hoping the diagnostics were completed before & after the repair. Finally updated to "shipped" late in the afternoon. I missed FedEx today, but should be here tomorrow.
I'm meticulous about the physical condition, if they scratched the case or stripped any screws, lord help them. I always take detailed photographs before sending anything in for warranty work. Makes a much more compelling argument than my word vs. theirs :)
 
drewsof07 said:
Agreed, integrated graphics should have no issues handling the content I use regularly - iMovie, Photoshop, Captivate + general browsing/mail. Repair status was "Diagnosing product" for about 6-8 hours yesterday, hoping the diagnostics were completed before & after the repair. Finally updated to "shipped" late in the afternoon. I missed FedEx today, but should be here tomorrow.
Click to expand...

I hope you don't have any further issues with it.

drewsof07 said:
I'm meticulous about the physical condition, if they scratched the case or stripped any screws, lord help them. I always take detailed photographs before sending anything in for warranty work. Makes a much more compelling argument than my word vs. theirs :)
Click to expand...

I totally understand that, although I don't try to keep my notebooks perfect. They come with me practically everywhere. Dealing with work stuff on the go is far from ideal, but it's better than having to return to a fixed location to make the smallest change to something minor. There is another good thing about keeping the notebook in decent condition. If you're out of warranty on a repair, flat rate repair is a typical option if the notebook has no signs of abuse or liquid damage.
 
Received it back today, only replaced the LCD. No scratches, so that's a plus. There is now a piece of dust sandwiched between the LCD & glass though... :(

I'll give it a good testing and see if the graphics issue is resolved before making a big deal about the dust.
 
Aaaaand I appear to have backlight flickering.:mad:

Screen randomly switches to black for a split second and back on again, as frequently as every 60 seconds and infrequently as every 10 minutes.
Gimme a break Apple!!! :(
 
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