Apple MacBook Pro 15" I7" 2.2 Late 2011

[llonen]

Identifiers: Late 2011 15" - MD318LL/A - MacBookPro8,2 - A1286 - 2563

So I have this strange problem that has cropped up recently, this machine has the AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 512mb video ram and the Intel HD Graphics 3000 built in chipset 512mb video ram.

I7 2.2ghz quad core
16gb ddr3 ram
The above GPU chipsets

The machine starts to the Intel HD Graphics 3000 chipset unless I have any applications open that require the AMD Radeon HD 6750M, everything looks normal there are no graphics artefacts and and machine runs normally. If I launch an application that requires the AMD Radeon HD 6750M then all is well, it is reported as using the high performance chipset etc.

Again there are no graphics problems while in this mode and the machine runs correctly, when I close the application requiring the high performance chipset I get a flickering pointer (rest of screen is completely normal) and I have problems selecting and opening programs from launchpad which immediately closes.

The only way I can get back to normal is to restart the machine, from the behaviour it seems either the MUX is not cleanly switching between gfx cards, there is a developing problem with the AMD Radeon HD 6750M or something else. Pram and nvram reset has had no effect.

I emphasise the machine runs otherwise normally in every other respect however when switching back to the Intel gpu the pointer and control becomes glitchy.

[mon2]

Re: Apple MacBook Pro 15" I7" 2.2 Late 2011

https://logi.wiki/index.php/A1286/A1297_Common_Issues

Also review this video - we have repaired a few of these logic boards by using the recommended larger size tantalum cap - perhaps a different fault of the logic board but is worth a quick viewing:

https://youtu.be/NfY6vTQthiE

For future readers, we used the following part from Arrow with success:

EEFGX0E331R PANASONIC
Cap Aluminum Polymer 330uF 2.5VDC 20% (7.3 X 4.3)

[piernov]

Re: Apple MacBook Pro 15" I7" 2.2 Late 2011

2011 != 2008-2010

[llonen]

Re: Apple MacBook Pro 15" I7" 2.2 Late 2011

Well the OS identifies as late 2011 but there is some confusion on what year this macbook pro is.

So something of an update, I am aware of the bad tantalum cap issue that affects certain mbp's but as above I am not sure if this is one of the machines affected. I can look at the ripple level on the buck converter though and see if this is likely an issue with this machine though.

So concerning developments, I have found that this issue of switching between high performance gpu and intel integrated causes a problem when only one application is running and for reasons I don't pretend to understand that application is google chrome. If I have chrome running and start an app which requires the high performance gpu and later close that app I get the above noted strange behaviour when the machine switches back to to the integrated gpu.

Chrome does not use or require the high performance gpu, after reading about the issue for a while it seems this is not an uncommon problem

[piernov]

Re: Apple MacBook Pro 15" I7" 2.2 Late 2011

No confusion possible. Radeon HD 6000M is only present in 15"/17" 2011 MacBook Pro. This is the series with very high GPU failure rate. The tantalum capacitor is not a problem.
Google Chrome can use GPU hardware acceleration, it can be disabled. It's been known to cause issues on certain configurations, especially with the 16" MBP 2019. Haven't heard about the 2011, but most have a dead GPU already anyway.

[llonen]

Re: Apple MacBook Pro 15" I7" 2.2 Late 2011

Yes well for some reason the OS reports this mac as late 2011 which it is not, already looked into the tantalum capacitor issue in more detail and reached the conclusion that its not the problem. It does rather seem that Chrome appears to be using the hardware acceleration on the discrete GPU when enabled, otherwise it it seems to be using the integrated GPU.

So I have not noticed this problem before, so this leaves the question of whether this is a discrete GPU fail starting, which these macs are well known for, a problem with the Gmux not switching back or something unrelated. Things of note I did apply a recent chrome update, also this problem does not appear to be affecting any other applications that I am aware on the mbp.

Reading around the configuration issues with chrome and later mbp's relating to compatibility issues around hardware acceleration I got around to disabling hardware acceleration on this mac which seems to have now solved the problem.

So leaves the question is this indicative of a failing gpu or something to do with Chrome since I have no other issues with the dedicated gpu.

Thanks if you have read this far.

[ACS-Repair]

Re: Apple MacBook Pro 15" I7" 2.2 Late 2011

I have one of these 2011 17" MacBook Pros and the GPU on this computer has failed. Generally after this failure, you will see a display with green or red lines running vertically or horizontally at start up. On mine the progress bar would go to about 60% and then just nothing. The computer was loading but it wasn't being displayed. A reflow of the GPU will bring back to life, but this is a short term fix. Dosdude1 has files on his website that allow for a software bypass of the dedicated GPU. I run his software and my MBP runs fine.