How should Apple resolved the 2011 MacBook Pro video issue?

[Queen6]

After battling Apple for almost 2 months, back in January I convinced them to give me a brand new one. I had a 1TB drive in my previous machine so I made them custom build me a rMBP with 1TB flash inside of it and bump me to the highest spec processor wise. It took a long time and multiple levels of management of back and forth talking to, but I was successful. I advise everybody to just keep escalating it all the way up to Senior Apple Customer Relations. Those guys are very pleasant to deal with. During the whole process they even called me on Christmas Day to wish me a Merry Christmas and told me that they were continuing to work on it. Excellent customer service at that level.

Is good result, equally I rather feel that Apple should have been forced to implement a new for old program, as they are making rather a habit of dGPU failure with the 15" MBP. Although the systems concerned are now ageing, many suffered issue relatively early on in the notebooks lifecycle.

We still have one 2011 15" and it`s still going strong, many equally others have not been so lucky. Apple really need to get the engineering right first, the 15" MBP has struggled with it`s thermal envelope with each iteration, nor is there any real need to "thin" the system further on the next redesign (Skylake), as this only results in high power components running at elevated temperatures and subsequent potential for premature failure.

Q-6

 

[ron1004]

I paid a lot more to have mine done 15 months ago.
Still working, but my fingers are still crossed. With the Canadian dollar going down the tubes, a replacement machine will cost a fortune.

Reballing with lead based solder would be a long term fix.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/how-to-prolong-my-2011-macbook-pro.1957721/

 

[Warbrain]

After battling Apple for almost 2 months, back in January I convinced them to give me a brand new one. I had a 1TB drive in my previous machine so I made them custom build me a rMBP with 1TB flash inside of it and bump me to the highest spec processor wise. It took a long time and multiple levels of management of back and forth talking to, but I was successful. I advise everybody to just keep escalating it all the way up to Senior Apple Customer Relations. Those guys are very pleasant to deal with. During the whole process they even called me on Christmas Day to wish me a Merry Christmas and told me that they were continuing to work on it. Excellent customer service at that level.

I might do this if mine fails a third time. I can't, in good conscience, do that now that it's on it's second failure.
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Is good result, equally I rather feel that Apple should have been forced to implement a new for old program, as they are making rather a habit of dGPU failure with the 15" MBP. Although the systems concerned are now ageing, many suffered issue relatively early on in the notebooks lifecycle.

We still have one 2011 15" and it`s still going strong, many equally others have not been so lucky. Apple really need to get the engineering right first, the 15" MBP has struggled with it`s thermal envelope with each iteration, nor is there any real need to "thin" the system further on the next redesign (Skylake), as this only results in high power components running at elevated temperatures and subsequent potential for premature failure.

Q-6

I fully expect them to drop the dedicated GPUs come the refresh.

 

[Queen6]

I fully expect them to drop the dedicated GPUs come the refresh.

Very possible, as Apple moves the Mac steadily towards being a mass consumer product. Like as not they hope to wave the same magic wand over PC sales that they have so successfully done in the mobile space. You can't blame then as they are in the business of making money, equally it does close down the options for some, myself included.

Q-6

 

[Warbrain]

Very possible, as Apple moves the Mac steadily towards being a mass consumer product. Like as not they hope to wave the same magic wand over PC sales that they have so successfully done in the mobile space. You can't blame then as they are in the business of making money, equally it does close down the options for some, myself included.

Q-6

I looked at it more on the basis that Intel graphics are improving and Metal is geared towards integrated graphics more than dedicated graphics.

 

[snaky69]

I hate to say this, but stop being a sheep.

Apple make nice computers, but that doesn't excuse it from its responsibility.

They did not manufacture the boards, only installed them. The original manufacturer, ATI, is the one to blame. End of story.

They do not owe you or anyone else anything, they are repairing computers out of good will, 5 years from the date or purchase, likely on their dime, for a manufacturing defect they did not cause.

 

[ajcgn]

They did not manufacture the boards, only installed them. The original manufacturer, ATI, is the one to blame. End of story.

They do not owe you or anyone else anything, they are repairing computers out of good will, 5 years from the date or purchase, likely on their dime, for a manufacturing defect they did not cause. Stop being so entitled.

Mine fried 3 years and 2 months after purchase, before the repair program.

 

[Ries]

They did not manufacture the boards, only installed them. The original manufacturer, ATI, is the one to blame. End of story.

They do not owe you or anyone else anything, they are repairing computers out of good will, 5 years from the date or purchase, likely on their dime, for a manufacturing defect they did not cause.

Stop being a sheep. You have no clue if it is AMD's fault, my bet is on Apples cooling solution. Look at it, the heat from the CPU has to pass the GPU. The heat has to follow two rods to radiator. Their pursuit for thinness often causes GPU's to clock down to save themselves due to heat.

 

[snaky69]

Stop being a sheep. You have no clue if it is AMD's fault, my bet is on Apples cooling solution. Look at it, the heat from the CPU has to pass the GPU. The heat has to follow two rods to radiator. Their pursuit for thinness often causes GPU's to clock down to save themselves due to heat.

Stop being condescending and we'll go from there. You don't know me and have no business calling me a sheep.

Truth of the matter is, Apple very likely did not design the board. They probably had a say in port and connector placement, and that's it. I've seen that type of heatpipe design in other laptops from other manufacturers. Did Apple design those too?

 

[ron1004]

Many computer manufacturers suffered the same with these GPU's due to quest to go "GREEN" with the solder - the "green" lead-free solder becomes brittle and cracks with extended thermal cycling, and that's why some folks enjoy short lived results with the "Re-Flow".



http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebo...problem-Raising-the-issue-further/td-p/279071

http://www.militaryaerospace.com/ar...eving-reliability-with-lead-free-solders.html

 

[Queen6]

my bet is on Apples cooling solution. Look at it, the heat from the CPU has to pass the GPU. The heat has to follow two rods to radiator. Their pursuit for thinness often causes GPU's to clock down to save themselves due to heat.

Apple tends to design the systems to run the components as close to their thermal limits as possible, hence the recurring issues with the MBP and dGPU over the years, undoubtedly form over function, equally that`s what many pay for, and to some extents expect of Apple.

Q-6

 

[gngan]

Apple should replace it with a newer model WITHOUT design flaw. Whoever says that Apple is already doing what they can for the extended warranty should understand that users may be able to use this computer for 10 years but due to design flaw... it could not.

Look at how many people still use a computer that's more than 5 years old. If it weren't the design flaw then people could have used longer than the 'warranty'.

 

[tubeexperience]

Apple should replace it with a newer model WITHOUT design flaw. Whoever says that Apple is already doing what they can for the extended warranty should understand that users may be able to use this computer for 10 years but due to design flaw... it could not.

Look at how many people still use a computer that's more than 5 years old. If it weren't the design flaw then people could have used longer than the 'warranty'.

I would miss my 17-inch, but I too would rather have a model without a known design flaw.

The whole "it's 5 years old" argument is ridiculous.

Sure, the newer models might have faster processors, better graphics, etc. , but many of us are happy with what we have and weren't looking for upgrades. Had there not been a design flaw, we would have kept using what we have for years to come.

In addition, since we are paying a 100% premium on Apple laptops compare to those of other brands, we should be able to expect Apple to stand behind its products.

After all, had we knew that our MacBook Pro would crapped out after only a few years, many of us would have bought disposable POS from the likes of Acer instead.

 

[Warbrain]

I would miss my 17-inch, but I too would rather have a model without a known design flaw.

The whole "it's 5 years old" argument is ridiculous.

Sure, the newer models might have faster processors, better graphics, etc. , but many of us are happy with what we have and weren't looking for upgrades. Had there not been a design flaw, we would have kept using what we have for years to come.

In addition, since we are paying a 100% premium on Apple laptops compare to those of other brands, we should be able to expect Apple to stand behind its products.

After all, had we knew that our MacBook Pro would crapped out after only a few years, many of us would have bought disposable POS from the likes of Acer instead.

I don't know where you get that 100% premium from but that's not the case at all when you get to this performance level of laptop.

 

[simon lefisch]

I paid $27 for an eBay seller to reball my 2011 17's GPU with lead solder. Worked great for the remainder of the time I had it, and since lead solder doesn't crack like non-lead solder, I'd guess I'd would last a long time before needing repair again.

You have a link to that eBay reseller?

 

[caseyfriday]

You have a link to that eBay reseller?

I used this one, without realizing that it says "Apple logic boards are not included", but the seller performed the fix anyway and didn't mention that bit, probably because I sent the completely removed logic board only - not the laptop fully assembled.

Here is the Apple specific repair, and it costs $75 for him to attempt the repair, and $75 extra if the repair is successful. I can definitely vouch that the seller is absolutely capable of reballing the GPU successfully, and he also has a listing to give you a brand new GPU if you want.

 

[simon lefisch]

I used this one, without realizing that it says "Apple logic boards are not included", but the seller performed the fix anyway and didn't mention that bit, probably because I sent the completely removed logic board only - not the laptop fully assembled.

Here is the Apple specific repair, and it costs $75 for him to attempt the repair, and $75 extra if the repair is successful. I can definitely vouch that the seller is absolutely capable of reballing the GPU successfully, and he also has a listing to give you a brand new GPU if you want.

Nice! Many thanks good sir would love to get as much life out of my 2011 MBP. Will def check it out

 

[ron1004]

I used this one, without realizing that it says "Apple logic boards are not included", but the seller performed the fix anyway and didn't mention that bit, probably because I sent the completely removed logic board only - not the laptop fully assembled.

Here is the Apple specific repair, and it costs $75 for him to attempt the repair, and $75 extra if the repair is successful. I can definitely vouch that the seller is absolutely capable of reballing the GPU successfully, and he also has a listing to give you a brand new GPU if you want.

His feedback is good.

Here's the option for a new GPU, but if he reballs with lead based solder it should be all that's needed for a long term repair.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2010-2011-2...ard-No-Video-GPU-Repair-Service-/231467111586

 

[simon lefisch]

I wonder if he'd be able to upgrade the processor as well. If so, i would do it in a heartbeat!

 

[caseyfriday]

I wonder if he'd be able to upgrade the processor as well. If so, i would do it in a heartbeat!

Hmmm, maybe just from the 2.3 to 2.5 Sandy Bridge, but probably not much else.

BTW, he says in one of his listings that for the reball service, he does indeed use lead based solder.

 

[iKaushal]

I have a late 2011 15" MBP and it had graphics issue in 3rd year of my apple care.
They swapped the logic board and since then "touch wood" it's working fine.
I'm happy that Apple has extended the cover till end of 2016.....but the sword will keep hanging after that as the cost of replacement of logic board in India is INR 45000 which is approx $ 670.

A company as big and reputed as Apple should replace the affected laptops with newer ones without the issue.

I got mine in 2012 and I plan to use it for atleast next 4 - 5 years.

P.S: I also have the 12" retina MacBook as my travel machine....but the power of my 2011 MBP is far more and it's my main machine.

 

[PTLove]

It is a 5 year old product from release, well outside of any warranty (even in the EU I believe). Apple has adequately handled this situation from any legal perspective. They will do no more.

 

[MrNomNoms]

I mean real solutions.

One is to redesign the cooling system.

For example, make new bottom covers with air intake holes.

Neither will fix the problem because the problem is a motherboard design flaw that isn't going to get addressed by adding more fans, more holes or some other contraption. By this stage if you've bought a 2011 laptop then you've kept it for 5 years so the best thing Apple should do is some sort of trade in offer of 50% of a new machine or something to at least earn back some good will they burned by selling a faulty product.

 

[Warbrain]

It is a 5 year old product from release, well outside of any warranty (even in the EU I believe). Apple has adequately handled this situation from any legal perspective. They will do no more.

It was a hypothetical. Thanks for taking it literally.

 

[tubeexperience]

It is a 5 year old product from release, well outside of any warranty (even in the EU I believe). Apple has adequately handled this situation from any legal perspective. They will do no more.

How is not actually fixing the problem considered "adequately handled this situation" ?

This only addresses the symptom and not the underlying issue.

It would be like a doctor giving an ebola patient ibuprofen and saying that the situation was adequately addressed.