Late 2011 MBP 15" GPU replacement success rate.

[HarryPot]

Today I started having trouble with me MBP 15", and I think it is the GPU.
Sudden restarts, distorted image when restarting and freezing up. After some 5-6 restarts my MBP started normally and I am currently being able to use it.

From what I have read, this seems like a GPU failure. Now my doubt is, how successful are repairs for fixing this issue? From some posts here it seems like once the problem starts it will keep happening even after a new GPU is installed by Apple.

I would appreciate any positive experiences from people out there. I'm not sure if I should repair and instantly sell my MBP to buy a new one.

 

[snaky69]

You do know Apple has a recall on those computers, right?
https://www.apple.com/ca/support/macbookpro-videoissues/

Take it in, it'll be free. You can decide what you'll do after that.

 

[Dark Void]

Common issue in these models as snaky69 said. No worries at all, you now just have to enter applestoreception.

 

[BrettApple]

Yeahhhh. Well. The obvious solution is the replacement (whole logic board I believe). And I would HOPE that Apple/AMD worked it out and is using different solder this time. But I've heard that some just fail again down the line. I'd get it fixed via Apple and get rid of it (letting the buyer know about the defect, I sold a 2007 15" MBP with the 8600M GT that was 100% fine but let them know anyway).

The other solution is to have a professional repair business do a complete reflow of the solder on the chip and the logic board with solder that wont crack/melt under high heat. I've heard it's successful but it could still go bad. That may be a better option if Apple didn't have the recall going. But I'd just try to cut your losses and get rid of it.

 

[HarryPot]

You do know Apple has a recall on those computers, right?
https://www.apple.com/ca/support/macbookpro-videoissues/

Take it in, it'll be free. You can decide what you'll do after that.

Common issue in these models as snaky69 said. No worries at all, you now just have to enter applestoreception.

Yes, I read about the recall. I'm just weary that I'll just receive a laptop that will fail again shortly after.

Yeahhhh. Well. The obvious solution is the replacement (whole logic board I believe). And I would HOPE that Apple/AMD worked it out and is using different solder this time. But I've heard that some just fail again down the line. I'd get it fixed via Apple and get rid of it (letting the buyer know about the defect, I sold a 2007 15" MBP with the 8600M GT that was 100% fine but let them know anyway).

Already called my Apple Store, I'll take it in next Monday.

I would like to keep it really, I don't want to spend right now in a new Mac. This is the reason I'm asking wether the success rate of this repair is good.

 

[HarryPot]

Already took it to the Apple Store. They told me lately most of the repairs they do the owner never comes back with another failure.

So I'm hoping for the best.

Currently I'm getting my Black MacBook from 2006 ready to go! No kidding, this is by far the best laptop I've ever had.

 

[BrettApple]

Good to hear!

I had a Black MacBook for 8 months or so, it was one of my favorite MacBooks.

It ran Snow Leopard like a champ even with 2GB of RAM (later upgraded) along with Firefox and Office 2011. It was nearly flawless despite being a finger print magnet. I kind of miss it now

I gave it some sprucing up while I had it, going to 6GB RAM (Early 2008 model), an SSD, new thermal paste, new NewerTech battery, new fan, and a good wipe down and cleaning. I've got family members still using the old style white ones. One is a 2008 stuck on Lion, the other is an Early 2009 happily running Yosemite doing school work and gaming (mostly TF2 on Steam with the 9400m).

The only thing keeping them from being truly great machines even in their prime was the dumb Intel GMA cards. Once they went Nvidia it was perfectly fine. That and the palmrest chipping issue. Otherwise I still think they're beautiful.

 

[jorgk]

... seems like a GPU failure. Now my doubt is, how successful are repairs for fixing this issue? From some posts here it seems like once the problem starts it will keep happening even after a new GPU is installed by Apple.

Got mine (late 2011 15" MBP) repaired three times, of course, each time by changing the LB. Since after the first, I have been hammering the GPU (using GpuTest or similar). Unsuccessful for almost 3 months after the last repair, even so I had somewhat automated to have an extreme temperature fluctuation (see command below). I take from this that the latest repair-LB appear stable.

Good luck with yours!

The command is as follows (once running I change the timings, benchmark_duration_ms and sleep timing, such that the temperature fluctuations are huge - but so that fans come down during 'sleep' (down to around 58ºC for some 15 seconds), but then starting over so that .95ºC is reached, when then the benchmark utility stops gain. Takes some adjusting. To monitor the fluctuations graphically I used 'Intel Power Gadget'.
Happy GPU burning - type this in Terminal (prerequisite: GpuTest installed) and stop by ^-C if you don't want to go for 500 iterations:

for i in {1..500}; do open -g -W '/Applications/Utilities/GpuTest_OSX_x64_0.7.0/GpuTest.app' --args '/test=fur /width=120 /height=70 /msaa=4 /benchmark /no_scorebox /no_log_score /benchmark_duration_ms=26000'; sleep 80; done

 

[Dark Void]

I had a Black MacBook for 8 months or so, it was one of my favorite MacBooks.

I really like the BlackBook, so much so that I've been considering coating my unibody in plasti-dip or some other type of paint. Something less serious than ColorWare but still a nice finish. I'm worried about it sticking to surfaces though lol.

 

[HarryPot]

I really like the BlackBook, so much so that I've been considering coating my unibody in plasti-dip or some other type of paint. Something less serious than ColorWare but still a nice finish. I'm worried about it sticking to surfaces though lol.

I hope they release a grey space MBP in the future. That would be nice.

As for the Black MacBook running Snow Leopard, I swear, many things it does faster than my MBP 15". And I only have 2GB of RAM and a crappy Core Duo. Comes to tell they have been adding so much junk to the new OS X releases.

 

[jorgk]

To update my earlier posting: After the fourth repair (aka: Apple logic board exchange) went by, the Repair Extension Program expired, and now that MBP transformed into a chunky paper weight.
Was a great machine though. Take home message: With Apple, never buy brand new series, wait at least 1, better 2 years, then take a 'cheap' used one if no flaws widely reported.