White screen, I got nada

[aslowdodge]

While watching YouTube my screen went blank to white but I could hear the audio from the video playing
I have a mbp late 2011 15 in, 2.5 ghz, 16 go ram, 500 gb ssd as start up disk.
Tried to reboot but I always get the start up bar, then white. After 10 seconds it tries to reboot again by itself and the same sequence happens again.
The ssd was filled within a few gb of being full. I was getting ready to clear it out when this happened.
I tried a safe boot, can’t get it to do so.
Tried to run the disc utility , but can’t get the utility to appear.
Tried to zap the PRAM, nada.
Tried Internet recovery, nada again.
Any ideas?

 

[maflynn]

I have a mbp late 2011 15
...
Any ideas?

Yep, your GPU bit the big one. There's a couple of threads that people have had success in bypassing the dGPU - you can see if that helps you. Good luck

Force 2011 MacBook Pro 8,2 with failed AMD GPU to ALWAYS use Intel integrated GPU (EFI variable fix)

If you don't have time to read my story (which also describes some interesting technical approaches) just scroll down this thread until a "100% WORKING SOLUTION" text Discrete AMD GPU of my 2011 MacBook Pro 8,2 has finally failed because of the reasons mentioned here (...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Ruggy]

Unless it's a coincidence and was caused by something trying to update in the background, then it's likely it is the GPU.
Your instinct about the disk being nearly full is a good one though, which is why it is just possible that it was killed by an update. Also, I think it can be knocked out by a damaged codec too which might be the case as you were watching video.
I guess if you can get a copy of the OS onto an external drive somehow, thumbdrive or disks even, you can try and boot from that and that will at least tell you if it's the GPU or something in the software.
My best advice otherwise would be do a fresh install I'm afraid. You'd lose everything and it still might not work but if it is software then it should work.
If you can, take it into an Apple store. They have diagnostics that can give you a better idea.

 

[Fishrrman]

If you don't know what the term "RadeonGate" means, you'd better read up on it, because it sounds like you just got bitten by it.

GPU failure. Apple won't fix it any more.
3rd-party fixes require replacement of the motherboard (which can fail again).

There is a "workaround" by permanently disabling the discrete GPU, there's a thread on that here.
It works for some folks.

But the real "solution" is to start shopping for a replacement...
(actually, you did pretty well, getting 8 years out of it before RadeonGate appeared...)

 

[aslowdodge]

As always you folks are always helpful.
I have a back up boot drive back home and will try that as a last resort.
It’s been a good laptop.
Question
I watch a lot of downloaded videos usually mkv or mp4.
The laptop plays it on vlc and goes through Apple TV to my big screen tv.
How much did this tax my laptop. It seems like the fans were always running.

As this is an important aspect, my next laptop, what should I be looking for as far as specs?