Some 2011 MacBook Pros Experiencing GPU Glitches, System Crashes

[kelon111]

Why regular consumers use laptops these days? Sometimes I think people underrate consumers too much. If they were so dumb as most people argue, they should only use tablets as "they don't know how to do anything more productive or geeker".

Anyone would was child or teen in the eighties is capable of exchanging RAM modules. It's practically the same thing he did with his Nintendo, Genesis or Atari 8-bit when changed cartridges. In the past we were even able to upgrade laptop processors. Then, with the excuse that processor slots were too big, they replaced them with bga-soldered ones that fail as heating damages the solders. Now we have soldered RAM and probably soldered flash storage in the near future.

It's not the user that is a tech illiterate, but the companies that are using this as a false argument to promote programmed obsolescence.

I routinely hear regular consumers complaining about viruses and how slow their computer is. They buy a modern Apple laptop , problem solved. Regular people seem incapable of fixing basic problems now a days.

Apple is making a lot of money catering mostly to regular people.

I remember using DOS to play some computer games. People who grew up around that time were forced to think and do things for themselves instead of paying someone else. DOS wasn't as user friendly as Windows 7 or Mac OS X but I did get to do what I wanted at the time because I was willing to learn what to do.

 

[KdParker]

The Pet Rock never had any issues.

Really..

You don't know how many were returned or the owner had issues?
What (if anything) was done to satisfy the consumer complaints.



Don't take my word...google 'I hate my pet rock'

lots of 'complaints'

 

[SongEmu]

If it's not motherboard-related, then the only other candidates are with the display component housing and LVDS cable. I had a 2008 unibody MB start showing lines over the screen and ended up replacing the screen assembly. Couldn't take the damn thing apart to inspect because Apply uses so much adhesive...

 

[KdParker]

According to POSTERS here.
Isolated incident.
Suck it up and buy a new one LOL.

Not quite...I think Apple should replace it whether it is isolated incident or not.

 

[dukebound85]

makes one not trust apple with a laptop that contains a dgpu

 

[kelon111]

makes one not trust apple with a laptop that contains a dgpu

I find it odd that Apple has never used a Quadro or Fire Pro GPU in any of their laptops. Wasn't Apple geared to OpenGL and stuff like that?

 

[CJM]

Y'know... My ex and I coincidentally owned the same model of iMac from '06 and both of our computers started experiencing artifacting after a couple of years. Though I got the MLB replaced for free (education store-bought), I decided on not buying another Mac. This is rather interesting.

 

[goobot]

Wow, happened to my 2008 unibody MacBook and I had to pay 300$ to fix it.

 

[iSayuSay]

Issues like this are the reasons why integrated, locked down system is BAD. And for some reasons, some people defend their product indecisively. For what?

I had a 2011 iMac with 6970M and it was a horrid computer, quality wise. Easily overheated, heavy, has issues with the display, graphic, harddrive all replaced before Apple gave me a new one under AppleCare.

Getting an iMac was a stupid decision for me. It's like buying a laptop minus the portability part while retaining the integrated nature and risky factor.

My next computer would be separated. I dont have to lug around the WHOLE SYSTEM (and halting my works) just to get soomething repaired. I dont know about you. But just because it's shiny aluminum doesnt mean it's good.
Macs are durable my ***

As strange as it is, my iOS devices however are 99% trouble free for years. Maybe Apple should just stop making Macs.

 

[brdeveloper]

Think about what Apple has done. Since most people are scared of computers , Apple has solved the problem for them. Now the people just have to pay Apple instead now. They don't have to worry about using a screw driver or learning how things go inside slots. Apple is also saving money by making thing not replaceable by the end user (stuff like soldering RAM is cheaper than having separate modules).

I think this strategy will prove worse since any defect in the logic board will require an entire logic board replacement. In the past, users who had defective RAM modules repaired by themselves without even asking Apple (it was an opportunity to upgrade). Apple Care will get more and more expensive once Apple is aware of this.

Imagine replacing a cheap defective RAM with an entire logic board containing a Quad-i7 and 750M GPU? Cheap service, expensive parts. But even servicing is not as cheaper as replacing a single RAM module since exchanging a logic board takes way more time than would be with user-replaceable RAM.

 

[macosxuser01]

I experience these GPU glitches on my MBP (15inch, Mid 2010). Ever since I upgraded the RAM to 8GB which was like 3 months after buying my MBP, I haven't notice or experience any glitches

 

[apolloa]

hahahahahahahahahahahahaha that is sooooo funny.

Why you ask? Well, it's because I am taking my 2010 Nvidia 330m powered MacBook Pro to the Genius bar on Monday as I believe it's suffering from the fault that has affected THOSE GPU's...

Seriously, do ALL MacBook Pro's have a 3 to 4 year shelf life now then?

 

[iSayuSay]

Think about what Apple has done. Since most people are scared of computers , Apple has solved the problem for them. Now the people just have to pay Apple instead now. They don't have to worry about using a screw driver or learning how things go inside slots. Apple is also saving money by making thing not replaceable by the end user (stuff like soldering RAM is cheaper than having separate modules).

Saving whose money? apple's? When everything is soldered then it becomes expensive to replace something out of warranty.

Why modern electronics are less durable than older ones? I dont care if it's user accessible or not, shiny or not. Just make it DURABLE.

 

[NT1440]

Saving whose money? apple's? When everything is soldered then it becomes expensive to replace something out of warranty.

Why modern electronics are less durable than older ones? I dont care if it's user accessible or not, shiny or not. Just make it DURABLE.

Apparently you have no idea what model has been driving economic growth for the past century.

It's not a good thing, but its nothing new.

 

[G51989]

We're Apple people. We laugh at the PC lemmings because they have to constantly update their computers every other year, while we buy computers designed to last for a decade because they're built with quality parts and durability in mind.

Well, I own lots of Apple products. But Apple computers are made to last a decade? Are you kidding? Apple doesn't even support its own operating systems and software that long.

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Regular consumers aren't supposed to change parts. Changing RAM modules , HDDs , batteries , etc. are all too hard for standard consumers.

Changing a stick of ram or a hard drive or a battery is to hard for the average person?

What? Changing a stick of ram in my laptop is an operation that takes under 2minutes, same with the hard drive and battery

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Apple is the leader in the consumer market.

How many Ultrabooks have you taken apart? Aren't most of them just Apple copies?

Apple sets the standards for the consumer market and other companies follow.

Apple decides to solder the RAM on the motherboard , other companies follow.
Apple decides to have non-removable batteries , other companies follow.
etc...

Uh, actually. The vast majority of PC laptops, even ultrabooks have user upgradable RAM, hard drives, and batteries. A couple do not, but most are easily user accessible.

 

[iSayuSay]

Apparently you have no idea what model has been driving economic growth for the past century.

It's not a good thing, but its nothing new.

Along with it also comes inflation as a bonus?

Consumer electronics should last at least 10 years. And people are still going to upgrade. Why? Because people get bored and want the newest, latest things once in a while. Do people stop upgrade their iPhone just because their 3Gs still working?

But by making durable stuff people would keep the old ones or selling it, but they would still be usable instead of immediately trash it just because it's damaged. Longer life cycle = less e waste = saving environment on the side.

 

[Renzatic]

Well, I own lots of Apple products. But Apple computers are made to last a decade? Are you kidding? Apple doesn't even support its own operating systems and software that long.

The bit after the dot dot dot is the punchline of what I thought was obviously a tongue in cheek post.

 

[G51989]

Ask some random person on the street how to change a timing belt, and see what they say. Does that mean we should weld the hoods on cars shut?

Uh yeah, why change a timing belt or replace a power steering pump when you can just buy a whole new car? Much cheaper that way.

 

[NT1440]

Along with it also comes inflation as a bonus?

Consumer electronics should last at least 10 years. And people are still going to upgrade. Why? Because people get bored and want the newest, latest things once in a while. Do people stop upgrade their iPhone just because their 3Gs still working?

But by making durable stuff people would keep the old ones or selling it, but they would still be usable instead of immediately trash it just because it's damaged. Longer life cycle = less e waste = saving environment on the side.

And what part of this model would Wall Street give the tiniest of a crap about?

Listen, you and I are in agreement on what shouldbe done. That said, no one operates on this methodology because BY LAW its all about maximum return to shareholders. That means by definition long term planning is out the window.

 

[Baumpie]

It actually is heat related.

I've had a screen swap a while ago. Fixed the problem!

Sold my baby though..

 

[reddevil0728]

It actually is heat related.

I've had a screen swap a while ago. Fixed the problem!

Sold my baby though..

Thought I am the only one facing this issue. Been noticing my screen flickers from time to time.

Has Apple announced any fix to this? My AppleCare is gonna expire in a couple of months time.

 

[dukebound85]

And what part of this model would Wall Street give the tiniest of a crap about?

Listen, you and I are in agreement on what shouldbe done. That said, no one operates on this methodology because BY LAW its all about maximum return to shareholders. That means by definition long term planning is out the window.

By law? what law is that...

 

[NT1440]

By law? what law is that...

It's the structure of the corporate charter in the USA.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...-shareholder-value-wrecked-american-business/

Unfortunately it's not written explicitly, but it's a precedent that has been upheld by the courts.

 

[kalsta]

Damn, I own mbp late 2011 but found no issues *knock on wood.

This is reminisce of the nvidia 8600, which is a shame

Indeed. My first thought upon reading this article was 'here we go again'. I had my old MBP logic board replaced under the old scheme at least, but this is becoming too regular an occurrence.

 

[brdeveloper]

Well, I own lots of Apple products. But Apple computers are made to last a decade? Are you kidding? Apple doesn't even support its own operating systems and software that long.

Yes, but eight years is pretty possible. I see some people still using their 2006-Macbooks even today with upgraded ram, ssd, Snow Leopard or Lion... still very usable machines, so I'd expect a Macbook to be usable for about 5-6 years at minimum, but 8-9 years still be possible for some extreme upgraders.

My late-2009 white Macbook runs smooth after almost 5 years from being launched, but there isn't any more room for upgrades, so it will only get slower as time passes, although I don't see any upcoming paradigm shift in terms of processing needs for the next couple of years.