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Macbook pro GPU burn out.

S

sinamun

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 3, 2015
16
0
I am having GPU problems that over 50,000 people have faced due to apple's poor macbook design. They have only just recognised the problem and started offering replacement logic boards until 2016, and from this date onwards you will need to pay £400 to replace it. Since they are replacing faulty parts with other faulty parts, I will run into the problem outside of the replacement program.. several times.

I have seen this youtube video talking about this problem, and have been considering it.

I have a 2012 15" Retina macbook pro, which falls under the quality program for this exact problem. I am wondering if anyone has done this before, or dealt with the problem and if you know anything about burning out your GPU with a stress test.
 
sinamun said:
United Kingdom.
Click to expand...

- I suspected as much based on your grammar.

If you're in England or Wales, you're protected for 6 years after delivery of your machine under the Sale of Goods Act, which would be at least until June 2018 based on the age of your machine.
http://www.apple.com/uk/legal/statutory-warranty/

I'm no expert on UK legislation, but additional rights might also apply. In Denmark, for instance, any replacement parts (such as installed under the graphics programme) are covered for 2 years, while any repairs (also including those done under this programme) are for three years.
I've had my 2011 machine repaired, and, effectively, that gives me coverage until at least March 2018 for this GPU issue - a full 7 years after purchase.

I just love consumer protection legislation. :D
 
JTToft said:
- I suspected as much based on your grammar.

If you're in England or Wales, you're protected for 6 years after delivery of your machine under the Sale of Goods Act, which would be at least until June 2018 based on the age of your machine.
http://www.apple.com/uk/legal/statutory-warranty/

I'm no expert on UK legislation, but additional rights might also apply. In Denmark, for instance, any replacement parts (such as installed under the graphics programme) are covered for 2 years, while any repairs (also including those done under this programme) are for three years.
I've had my 2011 machine repaired, and, effectively, that gives me coverage until at least March 2018 for this GPU issue - a full 7 years after purchase.

I just love consumer protection legislation. :D
Click to expand...

I have already tried going down this route. Apparently this only applies for wherever you purchased it from. Mine was from comet which has now liquidated.. I don't know how this can even be an issue, considering it's still an apple product.
 
sinamun said:
I have already tried going down this route. Apparently this only applies for wherever you purchased it from. Mine was from comet which has now liquidated.. I don't know how this can even be an issue, considering it's still an apple product.
Click to expand...

- Yes, it's true that the law applies to the seller, not to the manufacturer, so if you didn't purchase it from Apple, they aren't obliged to do anything.

I don't know how the SoGA handles claims against companies that no longer exist...

Do any legislation like I mentioned above about a repair warranty exist in the UK?
 
JTToft said:
- Yes, it's true that the law applies to the seller, not to the manufacturer, so if you didn't purchase it from Apple, they aren't obliged to do anything.

I don't know how the SoGA handles claims against companies that no longer exist...

Do any legislation like I mentioned above about a repair warranty exist in the UK?
Click to expand...

No they do not unfortunately. I will have to pay for this myself. Do you know anything about the video I linked to about burning the GPU until they give you a new laptop?
 
sinamun said:
No they do not unfortunately. I will have to pay for this myself. Do you know anything about the video I linked to about burning the GPU until they give you a new laptop?
Click to expand...

- No, I don't. And frankly, that guy annoys me enormously, so I find I really don't want to bother with his videos anymore.

Some users have had luck getting Apple to replace the machine completely after 3 repairs. One guy with a 17" 2011 machine even got a brand new top spec 15" 2014 rMBP in the end!
 
sinamun said:
No they do not unfortunately. I will have to pay for this myself. Do you know anything about the video I linked to about burning the GPU until they give you a new laptop?
Click to expand...

Can't you send it to Apple? After Apple acknowledged the issue in Feb, 2015, your Mac will be repaired for free until Feb, 2016. You should try this route.

I think the issue will not end in Feb, 2016. It's just the first round. It's unacceptable that a high end laptop won't last 5 years. It's a standard. Thinkpads woudn't be an option if they would last just a couple of years. We can still see modern movies showing characters using IBM Thinkpad laptops (like in Al Pacino's The Humbling movie) :p

Seriously, the issue won't have an end now with the help of Retina Macbook owners.
 
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sinamun said:
No they do not unfortunately. I will have to pay for this myself. Do you know anything about the video I linked to about burning the GPU until they give you a new laptop?
Click to expand...

There have been cases where, if a Mac is sent back in for repair for the same issue three times, Apple will swap it out for a new system.

This however, has happened for varying issues that aren't part of a repair program. It's possible they might be treating this situation differently because of the repair program in place. And don't think for a second that if you are aware of this guy's YouTube video, that Apple isn't aware of it and adjusting how they handle these issues accordingly.

In any case, there's no guarantee that they'll swap it out on the third repair. It's a courtesy thing, entirely at their discretion. And I suspect that on what will be a 4-year old laptop come 2016, Apple is more likely to tell you that the useful lifespan of the laptop is done and it's time to move on (meaning, you need to by something new).
 
JTToft said:
- No, I don't. And frankly, that guy annoys me enormously, so I find I really don't want to bother with his videos anymore.

Some users have had luck getting Apple to replace the machine completely after 3 repairs. One guy with a 17" 2011 machine even got a brand new top spec 15" 2014 rMBP in the end!
Click to expand...

Yes that is exactly what I'm going for. He says you should get a repair, run a GPU stress test with energy saver settings off and wrap it with insulating material so it'll overheat. Take it back for repair within the 90 days warranty of repair, repeat twice and they will give you a 2015 model.
 
sinamun said:
I am having GPU problems that over 50,000 people have faced due to apple's poor macbook design. They have only just recognised the problem and started offering replacement logic boards until 2016, and from this date onwards you will need to pay £400 to replace it. Since they are replacing faulty parts with other faulty parts, I will run into the problem outside of the replacement program.. several times.

I have seen this youtube video talking about this problem, and have been considering it.

I have a 2012 15" Retina macbook pro, which falls under the quality program for this exact problem. I am wondering if anyone has done this before, or dealt with the problem and if you know anything about burning out your GPU with a stress test.
Click to expand...

As Apple have recognised and confirmed that your MacBook Pro was faulty at time of purchase, under EU law they must repair your computer free of charge. And that is what a Genius Bar guy told me at the Bath Apple store when they changed the board in my 2010 MB Pro due to the faulty Nvidia 330M GPU issue.
 
apolloa said:
As Apple have recognised and confirmed that your MacBook Pro was faulty at time of purchase, under EU law they must repair your computer free of charge. And that is what a Genius Bar guy told me at the Bath Apple store when they changed the board in my 2010 MB Pro due to the faulty Nvidia 330M GPU issue.
Click to expand...

Is this even if I have purchased it from comet who doesnt exist anymore?
 
sinamun said:
Is this even if I have purchased it from comet who doesnt exist anymore?
Click to expand...

I would think so yes, you couldn't take a computer several years old back to Comet and request they repair it.
Pop into a store or call them and ask.

----------
JTToft said:
- This is incorrect. The EU consumer protection only binds the seller, not the manufacturer, and only within two years of purchase.
See this article: http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/shopping/shopping-abroad/guarantees/index_en.htm
Click to expand...

The device was faulty at time of launch, it is up to Apple to repair it as the seller will not and it is Apple and not the seller who has accepted the responsibility for the repair work, it is the one running the repair scheme, not the seller.
In the UK we have different regulations and laws for consumer goods.
 
apolloa said:
The device was faulty at time of launch, it is up to Apple to repair it as the seller will not
Click to expand...

- Based on what?

apolloa said:
and it is APPLE and not the seller who has accepted the responsibility for the repair work, it is the one running the repair scheme, not the seller.
Click to expand...
- Yes, and I'm sure Apple will repair it under the programme until Feb 2016, but in this thread we're primarily concerned with what happens after that time.

apolloa said:
In the UK we have different regulations and laws for consumer goods.
Click to expand...
- I realise that (see my above reference to the Sale of Goods Act), but you were referring to EU law, which imposes no obligations on manufacturers, only on sellers.
Also, I believe the UK laws are about sellers, too, but I could be wrong about that. If you have some information, I'd love to give it a read.
 
JTToft said:
- Based on what?


- Yes, and I'm sure Apple will repair it under the programme until Feb 2016, but in this thread we're primarily concerned with what happens after that time.


- I realise that (see my above reference to the Sale of Goods Act), but you were referring to EU law, which imposes no obligations on manufacturers, only on sellers.
Also, I believe the UK laws are about sellers, too, but I could be wrong about that. If you have some information, I'd love to give it a read.
Click to expand...

You are right in this case, it only applies to the seller and not the manufacturer, and since comet has liquidated there is nothing that I can do other than follow the video that I linked to for a permanent solution. Do you know what will happen if I wrap my laptop in insulating wrap to hold the heat in and run a CPU stress test constantly? Will this damage other components or just my GPU?
 
sinamun said:
Do you know what will happen if I wrap my laptop in insulating wrap to hold the heat in and run a CPU stress test constantly? Will this damage other components or just my GPU?
Click to expand...

- Well, I wouldn't do it, that's for sure. It's basically damaging your machine intentionally and expecting Apple to repair it after that - especially the part about insulating it to prevent the heat from dissipating. And I think it verges on being fraud.
 
JTToft said:
- Well, I wouldn't do it, that's for sure. It's basically damaging your machine intentionally and expecting Apple to repair it after that - especially the part about insulating it to prevent the heat from dissipating. And I think it verges on being fraud.
Click to expand...

I understand that it's pretty risky, but apple gives you 90 days warranty after every repair. If I can do this to 'speed' up the inevitable I definitely will. Apple is making me pay £450 to repair a problem that they have caused, which they have taken blame for and are still doing nothing about it. Apple frauding me out of a single penny is more damage to me than if I was to steal 100 laptops from them. They have been doing this to hundreds of thousands of people, simple because $$$. Hell yeah I'm going to do whatever I can to not lose against corporate nazi's.
 
sinamun said:
I understand that it's pretty risky
Click to expand...

- It's very risky. I'd say there's definitely a risk other parts will be damaged by the procedure. And then you're even more screwed than you were before.
Although the machine is supposed to have safeguards to ensure damage doesn't happen because of overheating, so perhaps it'll be fine?

sinamun said:
Apple is making me pay £450 to repair a problem that they have caused, which they have taken blame for and are still doing nothing about it.
Click to expand...
- Are you talking about right now or in the future after Feb 2016?
Surely, they haven't refused to repair it while this programme has been in effect?
 
JTToft said:
- It's very risky. I'd say there's definitely a risk other parts will be damaged by the procedure. And then you're even more screwed than you were before.
Although the machine is supposed to have safeguards to ensure damage doesn't happen because of overheating, so perhaps it'll be fine?


- Are you talking about right now or in the future after Feb 2016?
Surely, they haven't refused to repair it while this programme has been in effect?
Click to expand...

They have indeed refused to repair it free of charge, even though I have shown plenty of evidence, including video evidence and it having intermittent black screen in front of them.
 
sinamun said:
They have indeed refused to repair it free of charge, even though I have shown plenty of evidence, including video evidence and it having intermittent black screen in front of them.
Click to expand...

- Well, that's another matter then. Did it fail or pass their GPU test?
Try another store or call them on the phone. I think you've probably just been unlucky with the personnel in your store.
 
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JTToft said:
- Based on what?


- Yes, and I'm sure Apple will repair it under the programme until Feb 2016, but in this thread we're primarily concerned with what happens after that time.


- I realise that (see my above reference to the Sale of Goods Act), but you were referring to EU law, which imposes no obligations on manufacturers, only on sellers.
Also, I believe the UK laws are about sellers, too, but I could be wrong about that. If you have some information, I'd love to give it a read.
Click to expand...

So are you claiming the Genius Bar engineer was wrong then? I think you are wrong because their are different regulations and laws and EU consumer law, also my computer was over the programme time span for repair but again I was told by an APPLE representative that under EU law they HAVE to repair my computer because it was faulty at point of sale.
Sorry but I would take Apple's word on this one, especially as they fixed my computer.

And to the OP, why are you so worried? Just get your computer fixed, if it breaks again get them to fix it again.
You don't need to intentionally break your computer just to try and get a free new one. And yes, Apple will run a test on your computer, like they did on mine, to determine if you are affected by the fault the repair programme covers.
Otherwise go down the fit for purpose router, speak with the Citizens Advice Bureau about it:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/c...s/what-is-meant-by-goods-not-fit-for-purpose/
 
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