heisenberg123
macrumors 603
I understand you point but what does applecare cover if things like this should not require it?
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Some 2011 MacBook Pros Experiencing GPU Glitches, System Crashes
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I understand you point but what does applecare cover if things like this should not require it?
Happened to a friends 2011 MBP first... i advised him to go straight to BGA soldering (GPU replacement, no re-soldering) which is working fine now for 6 months and counting...
Replaced the thermal paste in my own 2011 MBP as a countermeasure, but ultimately I struck mine as well (while the thermal paste was all dried up and as shown many times in pictures way too much it didnt really shave off that many degrees). I also went the BGA route -- mainly because I need a working laptop and I'm using mine almost exclusively with an external screen.
Seeing the temps - albeit high - are still within common specs I doubt its purely based on "lead free solder", instead there are a few different kinds of lead-free solder out there, each with different specs, probably combined with poor assembly (taking into account the amount of time it is set in liquid form during assembly seems to play a large role amongst various others)....
I still have another machine which is probably bound to fail at some point so fingers crossed we are seeing a replacement program soon. I guess that's still a while down the road since the replacement boards suffer from the same failures.
(on a sidenote: I installed the HEAVEN Benchmark when the glitches first appeared in order to demonstrate the issue in the shop, but running that benchmark actually kicked the GPU to the curb, just the blue screen from there on out and vertical lines even before the apple logo showed up on screen.
since december last year the GPU failure happened to at least 2 other friends around me with similar models from 2011)
Replaced the thermal paste in my own 2011 MBP as a countermeasure, but ultimately I struck mine as well (while the thermal paste was all dried up and as shown many times in pictures way too much it didnt really shave off that many degrees). I also went the BGA route -- mainly because I need a working laptop and I'm using mine almost exclusively with an external screen.
Seeing the temps - albeit high - are still within common specs I doubt its purely based on "lead free solder", instead there are a few different kinds of lead-free solder out there, each with different specs, probably combined with poor assembly (taking into account the amount of time it is set in liquid form during assembly seems to play a large role amongst various others)....
I still have another machine which is probably bound to fail at some point so fingers crossed we are seeing a replacement program soon. I guess that's still a while down the road since the replacement boards suffer from the same failures.
(on a sidenote: I installed the HEAVEN Benchmark when the glitches first appeared in order to demonstrate the issue in the shop, but running that benchmark actually kicked the GPU to the curb, just the blue screen from there on out and vertical lines even before the apple logo showed up on screen.
since december last year the GPU failure happened to at least 2 other friends around me with similar models from 2011)
My early 2011 17" MBP suffered the GPU failure this past September. I didn't have Applecare, so it cost a little over $300 to get it fixed through the Apple Store (shipped out to 3rd party). Took a week to get back.
So if they decide to issue a recall, would I be eligible to get reimbursed?
So if they decide to issue a recall, would I be eligible to get reimbursed?
While it's always sad when someone has an issue, at least Apple is fixing the problem.
Try getting a problem with a Chromebook so you can get to deal with Google's crappy non-existent customer support.
Try getting a problem with a Chromebook so you can get to deal with Google's crappy non-existent customer support.
Ah, I remember that fiasco as well. The unibody models had their own problems.
For my own purposes, I'm probably just going to avoid models with dGPU's since the latest haswell integrated graphics are fast enough for most purposes. Since I'm sticking to 13" rMBP's I guess I won't have to worry about it.
Oh yeah, well, I have an LG Retina Display. My screen looks like those screenshots all the time when I move a window.
I have not any graphical issue thus far with my early 2011 with the 6750m.
I always have mine hooked up to an external monitor, freezes and resets are not something that happen more than once every half a year, and only really happens after i really squeezed all the power out of the laptop.
My only gripe with the laptop is that it has been running quite warm recently even on just safari, iTunes and ms office. Hopefully apple will somehow reduce the GPU usage with the next patch, and let my laptop screams less during usage.
I always have mine hooked up to an external monitor, freezes and resets are not something that happen more than once every half a year, and only really happens after i really squeezed all the power out of the laptop.
My only gripe with the laptop is that it has been running quite warm recently even on just safari, iTunes and ms office. Hopefully apple will somehow reduce the GPU usage with the next patch, and let my laptop screams less during usage.
puckhead193
macrumors G3
I have had the same issues with my 15" Mid-2010 MBP and it didn't start till I upgraded to Mavericks. Fresh install of OSX, replaced the logic board and NVIDIA 330M twice, the ram, for some reason the magsafe and it's still having issues. It's even doing it in specific programs. Just gotto agree to a replacement though.
I've never had a problem on my 17"... Still kicking! knock on wood. this thing can't die till I get my nMP! 😛
Why does this seem to be such a recurring problem for macs? I feel like I've read about this happening in many older models as well.
Maybe heat problems? I know macs run much hotter than most other laptops.
Maybe heat problems? I know macs run much hotter than most other laptops.
Thanks
Thanks. Good idea. I'll upgrade to a new 17" Macbook pro with Matte display.
Thanks. Good idea. I'll upgrade to a new 17" Macbook pro with Matte display.
Dark Dragoon
macrumors 6502a
It's also been interesting reading about the same issues affecting the mid-2010's however one very big difference is that the latest set of problems on the mid-2010's seems to be affecting the integrated Intel graphics and not the Nvidia which was the previous problem.
Some people have had a couple of logic board swaps and can immediately replicate the graphics corruption whilst the system isn't under load.
I have a mid-2010 17" MBP and see glitches sometimes, but pretty much only when running on the Intel graphics and I think only after sleeping the computer. I'm hoping it's a software problem. 🙁
Some people have had a couple of logic board swaps and can immediately replicate the graphics corruption whilst the system isn't under load.
I have a mid-2010 17" MBP and see glitches sometimes, but pretty much only when running on the Intel graphics and I think only after sleeping the computer. I'm hoping it's a software problem. 🙁
CmdrLaForge
macrumors 601
nagromme
macrumors G5
Obviously most Apple products have a long life; but with zillions of components, there will be some lemons. Maybe not as many lemon models as Dell has, say, but as machines/components age, it happens sometimes. From any company. What the company does matters then.
Judging from my friends' experiences with this 2011 model... this is one of those lemon modelss for sure!!
Historically Apple has stepped up to reimburse repairs for this kind of thing. Hope that happens again. As for how quickly Apple jumps or how slowly--don't hold your breath. Apple has always had the habit of "measure twice cut once" when it comes to public statements and responses. The Internet blows up for hours and days, wondering about Apple's silence, and then a single good, planned response comes. I might like to see a strong series of off-the-cuff but official reassurances leading up to that--but that's not Apple.
Judging from my friends' experiences with this 2011 model... this is one of those lemon modelss for sure!!
Historically Apple has stepped up to reimburse repairs for this kind of thing. Hope that happens again. As for how quickly Apple jumps or how slowly--don't hold your breath. Apple has always had the habit of "measure twice cut once" when it comes to public statements and responses. The Internet blows up for hours and days, wondering about Apple's silence, and then a single good, planned response comes. I might like to see a strong series of off-the-cuff but official reassurances leading up to that--but that's not Apple.
I've had this issue on a early 2011 MacBook Pro 15".
There is a way to fix it yourself.
Take out the logic board and disconnect everything from it including heatsink. Clean the thermal paste off.
Get a baking tray cover it in foil and put the logic board on top and bake it in an oven at 200*c for 8 minutes.
Apply some Arctic Silver 5 carefully afterwards and put it all back together.
You should find it working. I have done this successfully before.
There is a way to fix it yourself.
Take out the logic board and disconnect everything from it including heatsink. Clean the thermal paste off.
Get a baking tray cover it in foil and put the logic board on top and bake it in an oven at 200*c for 8 minutes.
Apply some Arctic Silver 5 carefully afterwards and put it all back together.
You should find it working. I have done this successfully before.
Yes in the past when the issue was determined to be a wide spread problem with a manufacturing defect, Apple issued refunds for those who paid out of pocket for the repair prior to the recall.
I pray my 17" does not end up with this issue. I an VERY reluctant to downgrade to a 15" model and am not sure I will even buy another apple laptop unless another 17" is re-introduced (Very unlikely)
jessejarvi
macrumors member
2010 Machines suffer the the same
I work in a computer repaire shop and the 2010 mbp's are coming in more and more with the graphics falling aswell, repair means replacing the logic, so i hope for the people who are having these problems , that apple will give out an extended warranty for effected machines like they did with the 2008 nvidia machines.
I work in a computer repaire shop and the 2010 mbp's are coming in more and more with the graphics falling aswell, repair means replacing the logic, so i hope for the people who are having these problems , that apple will give out an extended warranty for effected machines like they did with the 2008 nvidia machines.
cambookpro
macrumors 604
Can I ask why? Three years isn't that long a time to own a laptop, and it's still a capable GPU.
Anyway, my early 2011 2.2 i7 is still working fine (touch wood), just hope it will hold on for another year when I can upgrade!
seamer
macrumors 6502
This problem happened to me. (All under AppleCare)
The graphics started dying after 24 months or so - Bought it on release day in 2011, and had the major issues in 2013. It went from "fine" to "gray startup" within 24 hours.
I took it in to the Apple Store and left it with them and they replaced the logic board, video, just about everything except the hard drive (free). Within days I noticed that the battery wouldn't charge 9/10 times, and it would decide that the power cable wasn't even attached in the middle of a charge process. (I have multiple power cords and access to another MBP; it wasn't a cord defect).
Took it back in and the genius told me it was just a dirty power connection on the laptop itself (!) and insinuated that I'm a dirty, dirty liar. Took it back again a few days later, talked to a different genius, mentioned that the logic board was just replaced, and got a brand new mid-2013 MBP out of it.
I love my Applecare.
The graphics started dying after 24 months or so - Bought it on release day in 2011, and had the major issues in 2013. It went from "fine" to "gray startup" within 24 hours.
I took it in to the Apple Store and left it with them and they replaced the logic board, video, just about everything except the hard drive (free). Within days I noticed that the battery wouldn't charge 9/10 times, and it would decide that the power cable wasn't even attached in the middle of a charge process. (I have multiple power cords and access to another MBP; it wasn't a cord defect).
Took it back in and the genius told me it was just a dirty power connection on the laptop itself (!) and insinuated that I'm a dirty, dirty liar. Took it back again a few days later, talked to a different genius, mentioned that the logic board was just replaced, and got a brand new mid-2013 MBP out of it.
I love my Applecare.
GPU Glitches and Failure
I had the same problem a couple of months ago...
I read all I could about it on the net and came to the conclusion that (in my case) it would be an expensive fix.
What helped was an app that allowed me to force the use of my chosen GFX card - Discrete or Integrated.
Despite that the problem got worse over the next couple of weeks until once powered down I was unable to turn back on my MBP (Early 2011 17" 2.3Ghz i7).
I started looking for a replacement but while doing so found 2 people who had the same problem and had tried a rather drastic repair.
Thinking I had not much to lose I tried the same thing....
The problem was identified as (possibly) being caused by faulty solder joints around the GFX chip - heat being the culprit. My MPB has been used intensively since I bought it (Cinema 4D, Avid, FCP, After Effects, Photoshop... often simultaneously, with the CPUs running at 97 - 98 C for hours (even days) at a time.
The cure... (maybe)... was to strip the MPB down to it's component parts and remove the logic board. Then I did what the other guys had suggested......
I baked it in the oven for 8 mins at 200 C !
After cooling and reassembling it booted up and ran like new 😀
That was about 6 weeks ago and I've had no recurrence of the problem.
I understand the reasoning behind the solution - the intense heat my MPB had undergone had possibly affected the joints around the GPU connections and the baking had re-flowed the solder, remaking the connections, but it was a drastic solution and one I tried only after realising that it would cost hundreds to have it repaired by Apple which probably wasn't cost effective (being almost 3 years old).
Being so risky I could not recommend that anyone else try this unless they are ready to bin their laptop and have nothing to lose. All I can say is that several weeks ago I had an MPB that wouldn't boot up after having the problems described in this thread... now I have one that is working just as hard as it ever did and is once again cooking my legs as I work on it !
If you do decide that this might be a solution for you then please search the net for advice - reflowing solder, MacBook Pro, GFX etc etc...
Despite being immensely satisfied with having repaired it in this way I'm hugely disappointed in having a (relatively widespread) defect like this in an Apple product that Apple themselves shy away from.
I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that my "Medium Rare MBP" keeps cooking for a while longer.§
----------
Forgot to say that while it was apart I found a huge amount of debris in the fans... can't have helped the cooling !
I had the same problem a couple of months ago...
I read all I could about it on the net and came to the conclusion that (in my case) it would be an expensive fix.
What helped was an app that allowed me to force the use of my chosen GFX card - Discrete or Integrated.
Despite that the problem got worse over the next couple of weeks until once powered down I was unable to turn back on my MBP (Early 2011 17" 2.3Ghz i7).
I started looking for a replacement but while doing so found 2 people who had the same problem and had tried a rather drastic repair.
Thinking I had not much to lose I tried the same thing....
The problem was identified as (possibly) being caused by faulty solder joints around the GFX chip - heat being the culprit. My MPB has been used intensively since I bought it (Cinema 4D, Avid, FCP, After Effects, Photoshop... often simultaneously, with the CPUs running at 97 - 98 C for hours (even days) at a time.
The cure... (maybe)... was to strip the MPB down to it's component parts and remove the logic board. Then I did what the other guys had suggested......
I baked it in the oven for 8 mins at 200 C !
After cooling and reassembling it booted up and ran like new 😀
That was about 6 weeks ago and I've had no recurrence of the problem.
I understand the reasoning behind the solution - the intense heat my MPB had undergone had possibly affected the joints around the GPU connections and the baking had re-flowed the solder, remaking the connections, but it was a drastic solution and one I tried only after realising that it would cost hundreds to have it repaired by Apple which probably wasn't cost effective (being almost 3 years old).
Being so risky I could not recommend that anyone else try this unless they are ready to bin their laptop and have nothing to lose. All I can say is that several weeks ago I had an MPB that wouldn't boot up after having the problems described in this thread... now I have one that is working just as hard as it ever did and is once again cooking my legs as I work on it !
If you do decide that this might be a solution for you then please search the net for advice - reflowing solder, MacBook Pro, GFX etc etc...
Despite being immensely satisfied with having repaired it in this way I'm hugely disappointed in having a (relatively widespread) defect like this in an Apple product that Apple themselves shy away from.
I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that my "Medium Rare MBP" keeps cooking for a while longer.§
----------
Forgot to say that while it was apart I found a huge amount of debris in the fans... can't have helped the cooling !
Max(IT)
Suspended
I'm in the same situation, with my late 11.
Never had a video glitch or a reboot so far ....
I'm worried now ...
My 2011 15" with the 6750m started having graphics glitches about 8 months ago. After going through the usual (SMC and PRAM stuff, etc), Apple didn't hesitate to let me send it in for a logic board replacement. It's been fine since, but this worries me about the long-term stability of this when my Applecare runs out soon.
This happened to my 2011, 17" MBP.
There were no software end-arounds. And I tried everything.
I took it to the Apple store to get it fixed and they replaced the logic board.
A few hours after I got it back... same problem.
I took it back and they replaced the entire screen and connectors to the new logic board. As one Genius there, said it was something he had seen before.
That fixed the issue... so far.
There were no software end-arounds. And I tried everything.
I took it to the Apple store to get it fixed and they replaced the logic board.
A few hours after I got it back... same problem.
I took it back and they replaced the entire screen and connectors to the new logic board. As one Genius there, said it was something he had seen before.
That fixed the issue... so far.