MacBook Pro Early 2011 GPU Failure?

[Audit13]

Ok. Luckily i found a GPU Replacement service for 350 USD

Where did you send it?

Please report back with your results.

Thank you.

 

[alvindarkness]

Well it might depend on what fix you apply. I noticed more mature fixes have appeared in the last year. Some of the early ones just recommended moving kexts, which does not result in hardware accelerated graphics when the OS is loaded, regardless of whether it's possible to remedy that.

Incase anyone comes back to this thread and is confused, AdamRealMacMods specifically stated "hardware mod", and he is correct. When you remove power to the AMD dGPU in hardware (by removing a single resistor), you dont lose hardware acceleration on the iGPU.

Where did you send it?

Please report back with your results.

I used a place in the UK (that lists their service on eBay world wide and is easy to find), who uses both leaded solder and a newer manufactured batch of AMD chips. So it should good in theory. The problem is the thing will still die eventually, and mine did. Doesnt meant its not worth doing, depending on how much you think its worth paying on a periodic basis to keep the machine running. I used mine to death (pretty much all day every day) and had the thing dying approximately every 16 months irregardless of of who did the repair (Apple a few times with a replacement board, and lastly the AMD replacement chip service).

I ended up buying a newer 2015 MBP for my daily machine, but also did Adam's resistor mod on the 2011 MBP, and it works great. I now have a laptop to throw around the house that should last many years without worrying about the ticking timebomb that is the AMD dGPU. With the AMD being physically disabled in hardware, it also runs substantially cooler. Granted its not an "ideal" fix, but I dont believe a better overall solution exists for 2011 logic board repairs - provided the HD3000 is enough to get you by.