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Some 2011 MacBook Pros Experiencing GPU Glitches, System Crashes
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How hard was this to do? I've replaced RAM and hard drives, but that's about it. I might give this a try, seeing as I'm out of warranty.
A lot of people on the Apple Boards,
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4637833?tstart=0
have said that the logic boards aren't the problem, refurb or not.
For me routine as it's part of what I do for a living but the 2011 is quite straightforward compared to other MacBook Pros. Philips and torx driver, a spudger, organise your screws you take out, the artic silver 2 bottle cleaning kit and as-5 paste, some chrome polish to lap the contact plates, lint free cloths and the tear down guide on ifixit and/or the apple service technician guide PDF for your model. A fine non static brush to clean the dirt and grime off the logic board, a new soft filament toothbrush will do and 90% plus isopropyl to clean off any gunk you find and leave it to dry for an hour. I use 100% denatured isopropyl but it's rather flammable but I prefer not to wait!
Took me about 45 mins but take your time with everything methodically and you should be fine and take 90 mins tops. Fiddliest bit is reseating the logic board is making sure all of the connectors are on top of the logic board before screwing the board down tight and making sure you tighten the heatpipe screws and the logic board ones half tight at first and doing them exactly in order. Wear an earth strap or ground yourself like I do often on a copper central heating pipe often to avoid static discharge on your parts.
Doward's video covers it all extremely thoroughly for the 17 inch 2011 model, after watching it you'll get a good idea whether you feel confident enough to DIY.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF0PBUnoNOc&t=9m26s
Edit: just seen further back you possibly have a GPU failing - my re-paste is more prevention than a cure. If you cannot afford a new logic board I would recommend you get the GPU re-balled by a professional, though if that is even out of your price range and you have no other option I gave my logic board baking recipe further back in this thread.
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/18671477/
3,749 replies on this thread about the GPU over at Apple!
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4766577?start=3735&tstart=0
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I took my MBP in to Apple today. It started having problems on Friday night (locked up twice, Apple boot logo corrupt on power cycle) and once on Saturday morning. Since then, it's been fine, so I was dubious about taking in a machine with a problem I couldn't reproduce.The genius ran some daignostics (which passed) and took a look at the console logs for a kernel panic and then recommended further diagnostics and logic board replacement.
The fact that he was happy to do this without seeing the problem (unless he recognised something from the logs) and without any argument from me makes me think they know about the issue. I have Applecare, still have 3 months left to run on it.
The fact that he was happy to do this without seeing the problem (unless he recognised something from the logs) and without any argument from me makes me think they know about the issue. I have Applecare, still have 3 months left to run on it.
Well, if they know about this, they shouldn't keep changing logic boards. Costs them, and doesn't solve our problem (at least not mine).
It's speculation on my part. I'd also be curious to know if the replacement boards are new or refurbished. If the latter, have the GPUs been replaced or just re-balled?
Having now read through a lot of the huge thread I linked on the apple forums they seem to be new boards, very likely manufactured at the same time with the same weak lead free solder in 2011. So a replacement in combination with Apples over-excessive thermal paste keeping temperatures too high means these swapped boards can go defective just like the originals.
I'm almost tempted to ask if they'll redo the thermal paste before reassembling. On the other hand, it's out of warranty in 3 months, I could do it then myself. I have plenty of AS5 around.
They will over-apply the paste as usual unless you are lucky to get an technician who thinks outside of the apple procedure box. Lap the two contact plates with chrome polish and use the AS cleaning kit while you are there also.
My 17" early 2011 MBP is currently at a retailer in the UK, where a third replacement board is currently being installed and tested. The first replacement board died within 48 hours of use at home and I never got to use my laptop with the second replacement board, as it died at the retailer whilst testing it.
So, yes, it happens again :/
I have a funny feeling the boards come with the heat sink preinstalled, as daft as that might sound. Not great for a board that has been possibly sitting around for 2-3 years, waiting to be used!
Some 2011 MacBook Pros Experiencing GPU Glitches, System Crashes
Proper thermal paste and lap have the CPU0 sensor idle temps between 36-44C on OSX and approx +10c more in bootcamp using the high performance power plan. The GPU idles at the 48-54 degree mark in windows. If it's substantially more than that I would whip the board out and DIY.
Why CPU - I have noticed the GPU die heats up noticeably when the CPU is running turbo boost single core and believe its the combination of the sandy bridge/northern islands CPU/GPU in close proximity that pushes the thermal configuration like no other in this largely common 15-17 unibody design from 08-12 increasing the chances of failure. I would want my heatpipe running as optimal as possible transferring all that heat away as efficiently as can be, which I have done with my own and will continue to do with any sandy bridge mbp I encounter.
Proper thermal paste and lap have the CPU0 sensor idle temps between 36-44C on OSX and approx +10c more in bootcamp using the high performance power plan. The GPU idles at the 48-54 degree mark in windows. If it's substantially more than that I would whip the board out and DIY.
Why CPU - I have noticed the GPU die heats up noticeably when the CPU is running turbo boost single core and believe its the combination of the sandy bridge/northern islands CPU/GPU in close proximity that pushes the thermal configuration like no other in this largely common 15-17 unibody design from 08-12 increasing the chances of failure. I would want my heatpipe running as optimal as possible transferring all that heat away as efficiently as can be, which I have done with my own and will continue to do with any sandy bridge mbp I encounter.
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The irony is that had the thermal paste been applied properly instead of dumped on in huge blobs, the end result would be a cooler and quieter MBP anyway, which is what was intended. Oh and fewer replacement logic boards required too!
Quite so, though that is an industry wide problem with factory paste applications, macs are particularly affected due to the tight thermal tolerances and I'd say these Sandy Bridge/AMD models the most crucial of all. Judicious slivers of artic silver 5 sandwiched between polished contact plates I would prefer to have in my MacBook Pro over great big blobs over dull, rough ones between the GPU and CPU any day of the week, for my computer and any of my clients!
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I would check the temperatures for CPU/GPU post third logic board so see if they are anywhere close to my 17 inch and consider getting it re-pasted properly if not. I'm in the South London area if you need someone who knows what they are doing for the job
UPDATE: My MBP won't startup now. Spent hours last night trying to get it too boot. Really bummed. I guess I'll try calling apple.
Well my computer MBP flaked out on me again. I'm averaging 1-2 times a week. I don't think mine has to do with graphic card switching, as most of the time I have VLC running, and it says it's using the high performance GPU, according to the Activity Monitor.
There hasn't been specific incidents while this occurs. This past incidents was just from working on emails. I can be working on heavy duty graphics for a while, and nothing. On my last restart battle, PRAM resulted in blank gray screen, and fan speeding up to max. regular reboot, same thing, gray screen. Safe boot, has the loading bar, then to a black screen, no fan. After a few of these, it's usually the PRAM reset boot that does it. This is after a good 45 mins of this.
The past 2 incident, I'll usually get to log in, but have it freeze again. But after the 2nd successful login, it seems to be stable for a longer time. Got a Skype interview this week *crosses fingers* I'll probably conduct that on my brothers MBA, just in case.
Thanks for all the great information, it was really a big help while redoing mine. I really hope Aple does something about the GPU's. Really disheartening.
I think it's more about finding the proper way to approach the problem. Do they admit fault and do a recall? Do they ignore and just give logic board replacements? What will cost them more in the end? What will be better for the company's brand?
Apple is a huge corporation and can't just make a quick decision, they have to go through a **** ton of bureaucratic ********. I remember my cousin getting a recall notice on the 1st gen iPod Nano's many years after it was released.
Well my computer MBP flaked out on me again. I'm averaging 1-2 times a week. I don't think mine has to do with graphic card switching, as most of the time I have VLC running, and it says it's using the high performance GPU, according to the Activity Monitor.
There hasn't been specific incidents while this occurs. This past incidents was just from working on emails. I can be working on heavy duty graphics for a while, and nothing. On my last restart battle, PRAM resulted in blank gray screen, and fan speeding up to max. regular reboot, same thing, gray screen. Safe boot, has the loading bar, then to a black screen, no fan. After a few of these, it's usually the PRAM reset boot that does it. This is after a good 45 mins of this.
The past 2 incident, I'll usually get to log in, but have it freeze again. But after the 2nd successful login, it seems to be stable for a longer time. Got a Skype interview this week *crosses fingers* I'll probably conduct that on my brothers MBA, just in case.
Thanks for all the great information, it was really a big help while redoing mine. I really hope Aple does something about the GPU's. Really disheartening.
I think it's more about finding the proper way to approach the problem. Do they admit fault and do a recall? Do they ignore and just give logic board replacements? What will cost them more in the end? What will be better for the company's brand?
Apple is a huge corporation and can't just make a quick decision, they have to go through a **** ton of bureaucratic ********. I remember my cousin getting a recall notice on the 1st gen iPod Nano's many years after it was released.
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The problem is that they refuse to acknowledge fault for a clearly defective product, and, in many cases (depending on AppleCare status and the country where the user is located and their applicable consumer protection laws) are forcing the users to pay $300 to fix Apple's defective crap. My experience with this has soured my view of Apple irreparably. Although I wouldn't make a future purchasing decision purely based on this one irresponsible and illegal action by Apple, it certainly clouds my view of their products and their ecosystem for future purchases. I can't see myself continuing to buy Apple computers or phones. Probably only the iPad. I'm also someone that others come to when looking to purchase a computer, and anyone who does gets my story about how Apple refused to fix a defective part.
Not sure if this is the right place to ask or if I should make a separate thread.
I have a late 2011 15" mbPro. I had the logic board replaced last summer just before the warranty was up. So all has been well afterwards thus far.
I have a 27" Shimian monitor (2560x1440) with DVI-D that I used for my gaming desktop and previously with a macbook air 11". I got rid of the air to get the 15" mbpro and recently got rid of the desktop so I'm left with the 15". Point is, the monitor had no issues (other than occasional snow) with the desktop or air 11" on dvi-d. I used the Monoprice dvi-d adapter for the 11" Air and had no issues.
Now connecting to my 15" mbpro, the screen on the laptop goes black (but everything is still running) and the external monitor is black as well. At this point I can't get the laptop screen back without restarting it by using the power button. On a rare occasion, I can pull out the usb connection of the dual-link dvi adapter and the laptop screen will come back. It will even pop up a second window in the display preferences for an external monitor saying "Digital" at the top of the window but no resolutions are being shown in the window so I can't select any. On an even more rare occasion, OSX reboots akin to Windows Explorer restarting on Windows. It is not a full reboot, just basically similar to the springboard restarting on iOS devices... the desktop reboots in a matter of seconds and all windows are closed with startup programs restarting. Is this another logic board issue?
Also note, the thunderbolt(displayport) to hdmi adapter works on this 15" mbpro when I connect to a 24" display through hdmi at my parents' house.
One more note, I have used both the monoprice and Apple dual-link dvi adapters (apple version is 1.03) with the same result. I have even plugged the usb connector into an iPhone plug direct power source to alleviate the power consumption of the laptop and the issue still persists.
When I do get the laptop to show a screen while the cable is plugged in I get this...
I have a late 2011 15" mbPro. I had the logic board replaced last summer just before the warranty was up. So all has been well afterwards thus far.
I have a 27" Shimian monitor (2560x1440) with DVI-D that I used for my gaming desktop and previously with a macbook air 11". I got rid of the air to get the 15" mbpro and recently got rid of the desktop so I'm left with the 15". Point is, the monitor had no issues (other than occasional snow) with the desktop or air 11" on dvi-d. I used the Monoprice dvi-d adapter for the 11" Air and had no issues.
Now connecting to my 15" mbpro, the screen on the laptop goes black (but everything is still running) and the external monitor is black as well. At this point I can't get the laptop screen back without restarting it by using the power button. On a rare occasion, I can pull out the usb connection of the dual-link dvi adapter and the laptop screen will come back. It will even pop up a second window in the display preferences for an external monitor saying "Digital" at the top of the window but no resolutions are being shown in the window so I can't select any. On an even more rare occasion, OSX reboots akin to Windows Explorer restarting on Windows. It is not a full reboot, just basically similar to the springboard restarting on iOS devices... the desktop reboots in a matter of seconds and all windows are closed with startup programs restarting. Is this another logic board issue?
Also note, the thunderbolt(displayport) to hdmi adapter works on this 15" mbpro when I connect to a 24" display through hdmi at my parents' house.
One more note, I have used both the monoprice and Apple dual-link dvi adapters (apple version is 1.03) with the same result. I have even plugged the usb connector into an iPhone plug direct power source to alleviate the power consumption of the laptop and the issue still persists.
When I do get the laptop to show a screen while the cable is plugged in I get this...
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Hello, I just wanted to update everyone with my 2011 Spring MBP. I sent it in to be repaired through Applecare. They gave me a new clamshell display, optical drive (it was broken due to a previous issue long ago), and a new battery. i am cycling the battery now and it's depletes very quickly. Very happy they gave me a new display but I'm thinking I should of never installed mavericks.
For those curios, I also posted this on the Apple forums last week. A little update. I still haven't run into any problems with the graphics which has been really nice. I haven't been doing too much heavy duty work, so I can't say for sure, but it has been about 5 days and seems to be going strong. I've ran HD movies, and constantly playing VLC while working on an external and seems like everything is good. I'm wondering if I had bad RAM. When I get some time, I'll do a memory test. I'm running on OEM 4GB RAM right now. Kind of wary of replacing the 8GB's back in.
I'm now experiencing this. I experienced it with my old MBP with the 8600M, so I know it's the start of the discrete GPU failing. Colours looking like 8-bit.
I really don't want a replacement logic board if that'll fail too. Has anyone been offered any sort of replacement? I'd be keen to get a replacement, even if I have to contribute a little towards it.
I really don't want a replacement logic board if that'll fail too. Has anyone been offered any sort of replacement? I'd be keen to get a replacement, even if I have to contribute a little towards it.
Nothing offered as per yet, but I've already referred a few 2011 clients to this firm here in the UK who will replace your old GPU with a brand new chip, lead resolder and AS-5 paste. Cheaper than Apple's used logic board lottery at £169+postage, and a far better chance of it not going wrong having the proper solder and optimal thermal material and application in the first place.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Apple-Mac...ther_Computing_Networking&hash=item43c561830d
That's where my 2011 will go if mine goes wrong, and if a recall program is made we can ask Apple to reimburse the costs like they did with the Nvidia 8 series GPU's.
At least the Intel HD chip is fine, so when the 6490 does go, I can still use it. I'm hoping Apple announce some sort of program soon.
The Intel HD graphics are on the silicon die of the CPU itself. Though the 6490 is the least affected out of all the discrete models they are still failing, though if you can soldier on using gfxcardstatus until it goes completely and hanging on for an official announcement. In my case thankfully I have a Mac Pro tower which does all my hard CPU/GPU work but having read and had feedback from clients that many of the the replacement logic boards are failing 2,3 or more times I am leaning far more towards obtaining a true permanent fix by changing and lead soldering on a new GPU and waiting for the program's announcement to be reimbursed.
You do have another option if you are the original purchaser. Make a Genius Bar appointment and use the UK Sale of Goods Act to demand they fix it for free but that would probably be with yet another flawed logic board swap!