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Modèles A1297 Unibody : Début 2009, Mi-2009, Mi-2010 & Fin 2011

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Another* 2011 17" GPU problem

I am working on a Late 2011 MBP 17”. It gets a grey screen when I try to load macOS High Sierra (via USB). I see the apple logo for a while, then just a full grey screen.

I’m reading that it’s related to the GPU issue this model has been plagued with.

1)

I’ve tried entering single user mode (found some people saying you could disable that GPU and get the computer to work) but single user mode won’t boot (I tried command + r + s before turning on)

2)

I also found another article where they removed a specific (capacitor?) by one of the fans, but when I look at the capacitor layout on the one I’m working on, it’s not the same.

Besides a reflow, any other fixes that can be applied here to get the unit going?

Répondre à cette question J'ai le même problème

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A reflow is about all you can do here. If you were able to boot up your Mac and use it for an amount of time before this nonsense happens I would have suggested you to install an application that would control which graphics would be used. That application would also notify you if the problematic graphics were to enable itself.

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The solution for these is not a reflow, that won't help because the issue will keep coming back. In addition to that, there are no new GPUs on the market we can solder onto these laptops so there's no practical way to repair them.

You can disable the GPU in firmware with the Dosdude1 Demux tool, but it kills your second monitor. You can soft disable or force it with gfxcardstatus too, but it doesn't solve the core issue that the GPU is shot with no permanent repair.
Before I say this, know how hurt I feel having to say it... I wanted more too: The problem with the 17" 2011 is you're putting lipstick on a pig that has an incurable cancer in the form of the AMD GPU. This hurts me as much as you think it does for me to say... I WISH I didn't have to so I can have another OG 17" Unibody with the 2011 motherboard: Once the GPU dies, game over; you have to choose between a permanent disable (and LOSE the 2nd display), or putting lipstick on the problem by patching the NVRAM. Once the GPU acts up, the computer is at a dead end without turning it into a 6.5lb 13" with a quad-core chip vs dual core, and no more 2nd display option :`-(.

Like everyone, I wanted a better solution like everyone who knows how special the OG 17" was I could put on the computer to have one again, but we got screwed over. I wanted one with a special spec (Matte LCD) again (and was ready to pay the matte premium) so much that I almost bought one used a few years ago to "get even" with my dad for screwing me over with a POS eBay charger pushed via ultimatum (because he only thinks with his wallet, not logic) that killed the MLB on my 2009 in 2013 and later took no responsibility in my teens (which is normal with him on stuff like this). The AMD GPU cancer ruined my last chance because 2009/2010 models simply hit a support brick wall. If we got a permanent fix that wasn't crippling, I'd have paid to have the machine modified to not die and get two!

While the 17" is forever long in the rearview mirror (and mine, with a longstanding grudge I continue to hold against my dad for being a difficult cheapskate) we got our "17" MBP" back: It's called the M series 16" :-). I tried one when they came out and coming from the 17" 2009-2011 all I have to say is when I got to try one for myself, there was quite a bit of de-ja-vu. The first time didn't stick out as much, but when I benchmarked it against the 17" I immediately knew they did it and undid the problem years (2016-2020) while bringing back the OG 17" Unibody. It's not quite the same (lack of USB-A, upgrades are dead, larger trackpad and you end to carry a USB-C hub or adapters without native cables), but they got it right this time around. Essentially I already knew which size I wanted to replace my aging 2015 15" Retina.
For those of us who had the privilege of using the retired 17" from 2009-2011, it's essentially every bit as good as the old machines (without a cancerous GPU).

As far as I see it Apple didn't directly say it, but the M series 16" is an admission on MULTIPLE fronts. The big one being the adapter ridden port only design was a mistake and undid that mess. That's in addition to killing the 17" in 2012 was a mistake, then putting bad GPUs in them and then ruining the last chance to have a modern one that will be well supported. The price? 7 years of bad computers and piles of 2015 Retinas dropping dead which were run to the ground just to hold us over for so long. The 2019 16" was not a replacement, it was an appeasement for people who wanted the screen and not a proper replacement. It's 1" smaller than the old machines, but that's fine with me given how many wins we took with the M 16". The machine IS a bit heavy and hard to travel with (without the weight issue) but that was known to anyone who got one.

I looked at them; the 14" is for the 15" users, and the 16" is for those of us who had the 17" MBP (and 15" owners aware of what they are buying and the weight penalty) and want to get our old machines back without the fatal GPU problem (and burden of rapidly dwindling Intel Mac support). The machines are so similar to the old 17" with how many stark similarities came back to the point it's undeniable (including the infamous travel limitations of the 17"). The only real "compromise" that can be a bit much at first is the notch. I would have been fine with a lesser mic and webcam to use all 16.5" of screen space, but Apple masks it so well it's a moot issue.
As far as blind buyers being caught off guard? Nah, NOT concerned; the screen is such a brute it puts people off early on OR they look at one and get put off by the bulk. You either know, or you tried it and accept the tradeoff for the screen size. I even asked a few people if they'd buy it; almost always a resounding no unless they like large laptops.

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KRepair sera éternellement reconnaissant.
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