Intriguing. My friend has a 2010 15" and it has the same issues. Always overheating, though mostly in bootcamp though. I wonder why it's overheating. We have sent it in to Apple and everything and still can't find the problem.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
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Some 2011 MacBook Pros Experiencing GPU Glitches, System Crashes
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Intriguing. My friend has a 2010 15" and it has the same issues. Always overheating, though mostly in bootcamp though. I wonder why it's overheating. We have sent it in to Apple and everything and still can't find the problem.
we're all socialists here except Cob, apparently
Cob in https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/19372621/ claims to have a fix but wants to be paid for it and won't disclose it.
Cob in https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/19372621/ claims to have a fix but wants to be paid for it and won't disclose it.
Having torn down many of these for re-pastes there is no specific hardware long term 'fix' other than when it fails replacing the GPU ideally with a lead soldered new replacement from an independent specialist. Apple's depot repairs using lead free solder will not last as long and they scorch an already used logic board surface that had too many heat cycles as it is and leaded is vastly superior with fast heat cycles and flexibility.
There is a remedy largely proven by what I and others have done such as to my clients and my own 2011 and that's lapping the pair of heatpipe contact plates on the palm tree heatpipe assembly for the CPU and GPU to a smooth mirror shine and using better and far less thermal paste. None of the 2011's I have done this remedial work to have failed their GPU since and typically run 5c cooler than not polishing the plates.
Anything other than this fix frankly is 'snake oil' such as adjusting fans isnt a fix more like a bodge. That isn't the root of the problem, getting the heat out of those pair of dies as efficiently as possible is. Or these screen artefacts are due not to the broken lead free BGA solder balls under the GPU package and we're all hallucinating!
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Thought the product was solid but...
I am really pissed off! I paid over 3000$ for my macbook 17 and upgraded everything expecting that it would work for some years at least. I never liked apple closed ecosystem but I believed their products are at least solid and they have a good quality! Apparently I was totally wrong.
I am really pissed off! I paid over 3000$ for my macbook 17 and upgraded everything expecting that it would work for some years at least. I never liked apple closed ecosystem but I believed their products are at least solid and they have a good quality! Apparently I was totally wrong.
Yosemite Macbook 2011 GPU issues
I posted my debug on the Apple forums. Hopefully this gets resolved soon
There seems to be another thread on MR with the issues as well: https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=20192864&posted=1#post20192864
Source: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6603823?searchText=yosemite%20laggy%20after%20installation
I am experiencing a similar problem and have done some pretty thorough debug to determine the problem. Unfortunately I believe a fix lies within the graphics card driver (so we will have to wait for a release from Apple).
I have a Macbook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011), 2GHz, 16GB 1333 Ram, AMD Radeon HD 6490M 256mb graphics card.
To be clear of my problem, the laptop operates normally standalone. As soon as I plug in to the Thunderbolt display, everything appears laggy (as if the driver isn't installed)
1) Permissions repair
2) Reset PRAM and NVRAM
3) Disabled energy saver so that the laptop is always running discrete graphics. When the laptop is not plugged into the Thunderbolt display, it operates normally (multiple 1080p videos, window dragging flawless). When plugged into Thunderbolt, the lag is apparent (dragging windows is jittery etc)
Then I brought it to the Apple store for some diagnosis with them
4) Plugged in the store Thunderbolt display and lag appeared with the Genius
- This tells me that it's not my Thunderbolt display
5) Disabled startup items
6) MRI hardware test all passed
7) Booted into a copy of Mountain Lion. When plugged into the Thunderbolt display, the laptop responded normally (no lag, just like before Yosemite)
- This tells me that there is nothing wrong with discrete graphic card in the laptop
8) Ran the laptop in Target Disk Mode, chained it to a Macbook with a Nvidia discrete graphic card and the laptop responded normally.
- This tells me that there is nothing wrong with my laptops startup configuration.
- This also is a good indicator that it's a graphic driver issue.
I'm really running out of options on what to try. I'm thinking of hooking up an external HDD, installed Yosemite fresh on that, and she how it responds. At the moment, my diagnosis is that it's a problem with the AMD Radeon HD 6490M driver and the Thunderbolt driver. Unfortunately since the drivers are built into the OS, it seems a little difficult to reinstall or rollback a driver.
I posted my debug on the Apple forums. Hopefully this gets resolved soon
There seems to be another thread on MR with the issues as well: https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=20192864&posted=1#post20192864
Source: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6603823?searchText=yosemite%20laggy%20after%20installation
I am experiencing a similar problem and have done some pretty thorough debug to determine the problem. Unfortunately I believe a fix lies within the graphics card driver (so we will have to wait for a release from Apple).
I have a Macbook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011), 2GHz, 16GB 1333 Ram, AMD Radeon HD 6490M 256mb graphics card.
To be clear of my problem, the laptop operates normally standalone. As soon as I plug in to the Thunderbolt display, everything appears laggy (as if the driver isn't installed)
1) Permissions repair
2) Reset PRAM and NVRAM
3) Disabled energy saver so that the laptop is always running discrete graphics. When the laptop is not plugged into the Thunderbolt display, it operates normally (multiple 1080p videos, window dragging flawless). When plugged into Thunderbolt, the lag is apparent (dragging windows is jittery etc)
Then I brought it to the Apple store for some diagnosis with them
4) Plugged in the store Thunderbolt display and lag appeared with the Genius
- This tells me that it's not my Thunderbolt display
5) Disabled startup items
6) MRI hardware test all passed
7) Booted into a copy of Mountain Lion. When plugged into the Thunderbolt display, the laptop responded normally (no lag, just like before Yosemite)
- This tells me that there is nothing wrong with discrete graphic card in the laptop
8) Ran the laptop in Target Disk Mode, chained it to a Macbook with a Nvidia discrete graphic card and the laptop responded normally.
- This tells me that there is nothing wrong with my laptops startup configuration.
- This also is a good indicator that it's a graphic driver issue.
I'm really running out of options on what to try. I'm thinking of hooking up an external HDD, installed Yosemite fresh on that, and she how it responds. At the moment, my diagnosis is that it's a problem with the AMD Radeon HD 6490M driver and the Thunderbolt driver. Unfortunately since the drivers are built into the OS, it seems a little difficult to reinstall or rollback a driver.
Reducing transparency in Accessibility Options (System Preferences) seemed to have solved my issue.
It will stop the AMD GPU kicking in as much. I have posted a lot on the huge Apple thread for almost a year and the silence is deafening.
Any that do go down I don't take to apple to fix, I send them to a lead solder reballing service on eBay here in the uk who do a much better fix than Apple possibly can, as they are forced to use lead free solder by law which breaks down far more. Failure rate from an independent is much better I'm at 9 units over the past year with zero failures..
> lapping the pair of heatpipe contact plates on the palm tree heatpipe assembly
> for the CPU and GPU to a smooth mirror shine and using better and far less thermal paste.
Makes good sense.
Does anyone who resolders/replaces GPUs also do this lapping?
Anyone near No. California I can carry/send my 17" MBP?
> for the CPU and GPU to a smooth mirror shine and using better and far less thermal paste.
Makes good sense.
Does anyone who resolders/replaces GPUs also do this lapping?
Anyone near No. California I can carry/send my 17" MBP?
I'm uk based, I have an excellent reballer over here there's a guy called ps3specialist on the apple forum thread who does it and I believe is in CA but uses lead free solder.
Lead free just breaks down like the Apple depot boards, I would search locally on Craigslist etc or ebay for with the keywords lead solder reball new AMD 2011 GPU. You can ask them to lap the heatsinks and point them to uberdoward channel on YouTube where he's got a great video on how to do it.
I'm going to post some pictures up step by step next time I have to repaste and reprofile the plates but that will be an addition to post removal of the logic board. 64k $ question is - I haven't got one to do yet!
There's a class action lawsuit about this issue in the United States:
http://arstechnica.com/apple/2014/1...leges-2011-apple-macbook-pros-were-defective/
http://arstechnica.com/apple/2014/1...leges-2011-apple-macbook-pros-were-defective/
My 2011MBP Nightmare
I normally don't write on boards but I figured I would join in on this since this metaphorical "virus" of a problem has made my life just plain hell. My first Mac Purchase was a 2008 MBP. After about three years, and several graphics issues, it seemed like the cost of repairs was so high, and that investing in a new macbook pro would make more sense. So in Feb. of 2012 I purchased a 2011 macbook pro. All was peachy for a bit until one day I connected it to an external monitor and the screen froze. In these earlier stages, a PRAM/ SMC reset did the tricks. As the Mavericks updates continued, the idea of using my external monitor was obsolete. So I was now trying to edit images on a 15 inch screen, which doesn't fit the bill for what I do.
Fast forward to now. For the past two months my day to day life has been consumed with endless troubleshooting to just get the damn machine on. Pram/ SMC, Disk Utility for Permission Repairs, Creating a new partition and doing a clean install of mavericks onto the partition to see if it was compatible with the external monitor, repartitioning back to one, erasing and reinstalling mavericks. (Mind you anything I was doing had to be done via target disk as "Command R" wasn't even an option.)
Ive had three calls with apple, each in over three hours lengths trouble shooting this issue. Each little trick would be enough to get the computer on for a bit of time, but then back to nothing.
This is my main machine, and while I have several other macs, none are able to handle the programs I use on a daily basis. I even managed to get the 2008 "alive" again, and restored and updated it. I find it hysterical that THIS is my main computing device as of now.
Anyway, i took a visit to apple to get an understanding of the hardware failures, and its pretty much everything! Graphics Card, Logic Board, even hard disks. It wouldn't even load to triage and gave the infamous "grey screen of death"
When I was looking through this thread I found it interesting how people that not only do not own a macbook, but have no idea what everyone is talking about specific to this particular batch of 2011's.
I do wish I lived in Australia, as it seems that Consumer Rights make it a bit more difficult for Apple to make their arguments, and when I did mention this onslaught of defective merchandise (at the genius bar), it was mums the word!
Right now I am at a standstill, I do not have a computer (that works) powerful enough to handle the programs I use, and my main device is poo. Its hard to retain any hope for a repair knowing the amount of failed repairs that have happened specific to this model.
I feel trapped. I have a pile of work I can't even do until this issue is fixed. Or I have to succumb to the lowest level of Maslows Pyramid that Apple has put before physiological needs and just buy a new mac book? No.
I guess from my experience thus far, all I can say in terms of dealing with Apple is to remember that while many other users are facing this same issue, bringing up a legal suit filed against apple TO an apple rep. is only going to make that person panic (my guess). I have tried to be as kind and appreciative as I could. Thank them. And most importantly, NOT talk about "this issue". And I am satisfied with the progress of my case.
Ive seen some nuts out there, with a laundry list of ways they have attacked store managers, and I can't see that as a logical solution to anything? If you were that store manager and someone was degrading you in every way possible would you give them the exception you could give to a kinder person? I wouldn't. People are people.
Oh and something else that worked for me (when they brought up the whole apple care crap) is that defective merchandise is defective.
I found an article about consumer rights in America. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/consumer-rights-refunds-exchange this gave me a better understanding of what my rights were. And ironically enough, there was an issue in Australia where Apple was living in the "grey" area and not meeting the consumer guidelines, forcing them to extend the one year warranty to two.
I really wish the people commenting on this thread would stay on topic, this isn't about Mac to PC, this isn't about Mac Users being in some sort of cult-- this thread is about 2011 MBP'S with graphics card and logic board issues (defective merchandise)
Regardless of "opinion" (Ive seen things about just buying a new one?) there is something called the Limitations Act which allows the consumer up to six years to report faulty products.
Additionally, consumer law refers to "reasonable expectations" -- when I purchased my 2011 mbp I did not plan on turning my office into it's own "half-genius bar" with workloads of troubleshooting rather than the actual work I need to do. I didn't expect to buy an external monitor and not be able to use it. I expected the merchandise to work, in the same manner my older models work.
I didn't sign on for over heating, spinning fans, random restarts (the list goes on)
And finally this has NOTHING to do with money. We simply want what we signed up for. For Apple, MBP'S is their premiere product, able to handle larger programs. I will not donate one more dollar to the church of Apple or sync one more device with "the cloud" until I know this is both a system and a company I can rely on. (And unfortunately I just saw something else, maybe in this thread, that calculated the costs of distributing units vs. losing customers and it would be more cost effective for MAC to lose the customers than replace the equipment.) either way, Im jumping in the boat, and at this point, for all of those afflicted with a faulty 2011 mbp, we MIGHT need Noah's Arc.
Thats my two cents!
I normally don't write on boards but I figured I would join in on this since this metaphorical "virus" of a problem has made my life just plain hell. My first Mac Purchase was a 2008 MBP. After about three years, and several graphics issues, it seemed like the cost of repairs was so high, and that investing in a new macbook pro would make more sense. So in Feb. of 2012 I purchased a 2011 macbook pro. All was peachy for a bit until one day I connected it to an external monitor and the screen froze. In these earlier stages, a PRAM/ SMC reset did the tricks. As the Mavericks updates continued, the idea of using my external monitor was obsolete. So I was now trying to edit images on a 15 inch screen, which doesn't fit the bill for what I do.
Fast forward to now. For the past two months my day to day life has been consumed with endless troubleshooting to just get the damn machine on. Pram/ SMC, Disk Utility for Permission Repairs, Creating a new partition and doing a clean install of mavericks onto the partition to see if it was compatible with the external monitor, repartitioning back to one, erasing and reinstalling mavericks. (Mind you anything I was doing had to be done via target disk as "Command R" wasn't even an option.)
Ive had three calls with apple, each in over three hours lengths trouble shooting this issue. Each little trick would be enough to get the computer on for a bit of time, but then back to nothing.
This is my main machine, and while I have several other macs, none are able to handle the programs I use on a daily basis. I even managed to get the 2008 "alive" again, and restored and updated it. I find it hysterical that THIS is my main computing device as of now.
Anyway, i took a visit to apple to get an understanding of the hardware failures, and its pretty much everything! Graphics Card, Logic Board, even hard disks. It wouldn't even load to triage and gave the infamous "grey screen of death"
When I was looking through this thread I found it interesting how people that not only do not own a macbook, but have no idea what everyone is talking about specific to this particular batch of 2011's.
I do wish I lived in Australia, as it seems that Consumer Rights make it a bit more difficult for Apple to make their arguments, and when I did mention this onslaught of defective merchandise (at the genius bar), it was mums the word!
Right now I am at a standstill, I do not have a computer (that works) powerful enough to handle the programs I use, and my main device is poo. Its hard to retain any hope for a repair knowing the amount of failed repairs that have happened specific to this model.
I feel trapped. I have a pile of work I can't even do until this issue is fixed. Or I have to succumb to the lowest level of Maslows Pyramid that Apple has put before physiological needs and just buy a new mac book? No.
I guess from my experience thus far, all I can say in terms of dealing with Apple is to remember that while many other users are facing this same issue, bringing up a legal suit filed against apple TO an apple rep. is only going to make that person panic (my guess). I have tried to be as kind and appreciative as I could. Thank them. And most importantly, NOT talk about "this issue". And I am satisfied with the progress of my case.
Ive seen some nuts out there, with a laundry list of ways they have attacked store managers, and I can't see that as a logical solution to anything? If you were that store manager and someone was degrading you in every way possible would you give them the exception you could give to a kinder person? I wouldn't. People are people.
Oh and something else that worked for me (when they brought up the whole apple care crap) is that defective merchandise is defective.
I found an article about consumer rights in America. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/consumer-rights-refunds-exchange this gave me a better understanding of what my rights were. And ironically enough, there was an issue in Australia where Apple was living in the "grey" area and not meeting the consumer guidelines, forcing them to extend the one year warranty to two.
I really wish the people commenting on this thread would stay on topic, this isn't about Mac to PC, this isn't about Mac Users being in some sort of cult-- this thread is about 2011 MBP'S with graphics card and logic board issues (defective merchandise)
Regardless of "opinion" (Ive seen things about just buying a new one?) there is something called the Limitations Act which allows the consumer up to six years to report faulty products.
Additionally, consumer law refers to "reasonable expectations" -- when I purchased my 2011 mbp I did not plan on turning my office into it's own "half-genius bar" with workloads of troubleshooting rather than the actual work I need to do. I didn't expect to buy an external monitor and not be able to use it. I expected the merchandise to work, in the same manner my older models work.
I didn't sign on for over heating, spinning fans, random restarts (the list goes on)
And finally this has NOTHING to do with money. We simply want what we signed up for. For Apple, MBP'S is their premiere product, able to handle larger programs. I will not donate one more dollar to the church of Apple or sync one more device with "the cloud" until I know this is both a system and a company I can rely on. (And unfortunately I just saw something else, maybe in this thread, that calculated the costs of distributing units vs. losing customers and it would be more cost effective for MAC to lose the customers than replace the equipment.) either way, Im jumping in the boat, and at this point, for all of those afflicted with a faulty 2011 mbp, we MIGHT need Noah's Arc.
Thats my two cents!
That picture!
Im assuming that's photoshopped? Or Tim is Dr. Evil. We should all do a John Lennon style sitting protest in front of the fifth avenue store. If they don't mind the lines for the iPhones they certainly won't mind a protest with all of us proudly holding our damaged goods! Or maybe a flash mob, with the "flash" being our screwed up monitors-- first one screen, than two, then 20,000, than 200,000! We can call the movement "Not a screen saver." I wonder how many damaged 2011 mbps are in nyc?
Im assuming that's photoshopped? Or Tim is Dr. Evil. We should all do a John Lennon style sitting protest in front of the fifth avenue store. If they don't mind the lines for the iPhones they certainly won't mind a protest with all of us proudly holding our damaged goods! Or maybe a flash mob, with the "flash" being our screwed up monitors-- first one screen, than two, then 20,000, than 200,000! We can call the movement "Not a screen saver." I wonder how many damaged 2011 mbps are in nyc?
Nail on the head. I spent too many years on the other side of a customer service counter getting yelled at by ignorant customers. They got the minimum of what they were entitled to, not a millimetre more. There was no incentive to go that little bit extra to keep them happy.
When I took mine in, I talked to the Apple Store staff how I would have like to have been treated. Politeness got me a result.
Agreed!
Amen! We may be in the minority because it seems as though many have taken the Varuka route. (willy wonka) You have to see this website I found about failed 2011mbp's http://www.mbp2011.com whomever this person is doesn't make it easier for the rest of us. Speak for yourself. Not in "we". I can't see how making a scene in an apple store speaking on behalf of 20,000 people will get you a replacement? Nor how she expected the store manager to talk about any legal issues? Yes, I get its annoying. But turning over a new mbp to a lune like is essentially getting yourself fired as you KNOW she is going to immediately blog the store, name of the associate etc. and let every single person possible know about this "coupon", who will then march in expecting the same thing.
So before its "customer with broken computer" and "apple associate" its two human beings, where all the laws of human nature still apply.
When I see these posts where people wonder why they aren't getting anything, the answer to that is in their post. Its the delivery and mob mentality.
Confusion and sweetness will go SO much farther than a power point on this issue, degrading tone, and expecting results not only for yourself but for every single user affected.
Oh and the "single line email" to Tim demanding a new mbp? From what I have read Tim actually reads and answers his emails! But if I were him, I'd ignore these one liners too! Its like touching an explosive zit.
Amen! We may be in the minority because it seems as though many have taken the Varuka route. (willy wonka) You have to see this website I found about failed 2011mbp's http://www.mbp2011.com whomever this person is doesn't make it easier for the rest of us. Speak for yourself. Not in "we". I can't see how making a scene in an apple store speaking on behalf of 20,000 people will get you a replacement? Nor how she expected the store manager to talk about any legal issues? Yes, I get its annoying. But turning over a new mbp to a lune like is essentially getting yourself fired as you KNOW she is going to immediately blog the store, name of the associate etc. and let every single person possible know about this "coupon", who will then march in expecting the same thing.
So before its "customer with broken computer" and "apple associate" its two human beings, where all the laws of human nature still apply.
When I see these posts where people wonder why they aren't getting anything, the answer to that is in their post. Its the delivery and mob mentality.
Confusion and sweetness will go SO much farther than a power point on this issue, degrading tone, and expecting results not only for yourself but for every single user affected.
Oh and the "single line email" to Tim demanding a new mbp? From what I have read Tim actually reads and answers his emails! But if I were him, I'd ignore these one liners too! Its like touching an explosive zit.
I own a 17" 2011 MBP. I follow this topic and this MR thread for obvious reasons. Thankfully no issues at this time, but living in fear none the less. Hopefully this recent class action lawsuit filing will motivate Apple to come up with a true fix or replacement program, or at least some sort of upgrade replacement pricing offer. Anything other than denial!
I've been debating about having it re-balled, but with the recent lawsuit filing, I'll live with it for now. If I were to encounter any problems, would an aftermarket re-ball repair void any chance being a part of any settlement of this class action? Would one be better off asking Apple for a "flat rate repair" (often cheaper than logic board replacement) and hope for the best awaiting lawsuit settlement?
http://nwsinglespeed.hubpages.com/hub/Do-You-Know-About-Apples-Flat-Rate-Repair-Pricing
Thoughts?
I've been debating about having it re-balled, but with the recent lawsuit filing, I'll live with it for now. If I were to encounter any problems, would an aftermarket re-ball repair void any chance being a part of any settlement of this class action? Would one be better off asking Apple for a "flat rate repair" (often cheaper than logic board replacement) and hope for the best awaiting lawsuit settlement?
http://nwsinglespeed.hubpages.com/hub/Do-You-Know-About-Apples-Flat-Rate-Repair-Pricing
Thoughts?
Yes it does, at least for my 2011 17" MacBook Pro. External monitor goes blank or has wonky color stripes, etc. Usually with heavy CPU usage. *sigh*
If my GPU failed on a logic board that was a 'virgin board' i.e. original GPU I wouldn't hesitate to get it lead reballed with a fresh one from an independent. As that is a proper long term fix along with polishing the die plates and less paste I would prefer if their is a settlement to have my invoice for the reball paid instead.
I agree 100%. I just wonder how likely this would be an option in any settlement given Apple didn't do the repair.
For what it costs - i.e. less than a lottery of a lead free depot board I wouldn't care cos it's fixed and the probability of staying fixed is far higher, especially with the plate and paste not done Apple's way either.
Having a rebate would be a bonus - I would just want a Mac that lasts for donkeys years like most of the rest. Plus as a big fan of the 17 inch MBP upgraded this is the best big Apple I can get!
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Yes it does, at least for my 2011 17" MacBook Pro. External monitor goes blank or has wonky color stripes, etc. Usually with heavy CPU usage. *sigh*
It will do. Plugging in an external display automatically switches in the AMD GPU. Using the MacBook display on its own will run the Intel HD Graphics the majority of the time, until an application requests high performance graphics, e.g. iPhoto, then the AMD switches in.