20/3/2561 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card | Official Apple Support Communities

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abelliveau Level 1

Q:
I have an early 2011 MacBook Pro (2.2 GHz Intel Core i7, 8 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 memory) running OS 10.8.2.  It has two graphics components: an
AMD Radeon HD 6750M and a built-in Intel HD Graphics 3000. Since I've had the computer, the screen would get a blue tint when the computer switched between them.
 
However, as of two days ago, the problem has become substantially more severe.  The computer was working fine, when all of a suddent the screen when completely blue.  I had to
force restart the computer.  Since then, the screen has gone awry on numerous occassions - each time necessitating a hard reset.
 
I installed gfxCardStatus, and have discovered that the computer runs fine using the integrated card, but as soon as I switch to the discrete card - the screen goes .
 
I am just wondering what my options are (any input on any of these would be appreciated!):
 
1) Replace the logic board.  Would this necessarily fix the issue?
 
2) Is there any way to "fix" the graphics card? 
 
3) Keep using gfxCardStatus and only use the integrated graphics card.  This is definitely the easiest/cheapest option, but to have such a computer and not be able to use the
graphics card seems like a real shame.
 
4) Is there any other alternative?
 

Posted on Feb 1, 2013 4∶45 PM

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saramwrap Level 1

Jul 22, 2013 5∶27 AM

In response to zwolu
I've been working on the kernel extension disabling in the other thread (this gets sort of confusing!). This is what currently seems to be
working...
 
If you have the 6490 M, open the Terminal and type:
> mkdir DisabledExtensions
> cd /System/Library/Extensions
> sudo mv ATIRadeonX3000.kext ~/DisabledExtensions
> sudo touch /System/Library/Extensions
 
If you have the 6750 M, open the Terminal and type:
Open the Terminal:
> mkdir DisabledExtensions
> cd /System/Library/Extensions
> sudo mv ATIRadeonX2000.kext ~/DisabledExtensions
> sudo touch /System/Library/Extensions
 
That sequence (1) makes a folder in your home directory called DisabledExtensions, (2) goes into the appropriate Library folder where
kernel extensions are stored, (3) moves the relevant GPU controller from the active Extensions folder to that DisabledExtensions folder

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4766577?start=210&tstart=0 1/7
20/3/2561 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card | Official Apple Support Communities
that you created, and (4) updates the access and modification timestamps for the Extensions folder, so it operates properly. 
 
This should permanently disable the discrete graphics card until it is undone.  There may be consequences - my Photo Booth no longer
works, and I assume it will have the same limitations that gfxCardStatus does (lack of external display support).  Please let me know if
other things don't work.  I am working on this with my partner as a stop-gap until my computer no longer has this problem... hopefully
that day will come soon. 
Jul 22, 2013 5∶27 AM

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smart_star Level 1

Jul 22, 2013 5∶30 AM

In response to zwolu
My informations are from here:
MacBook Pro 2011 17" hard freeze
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2768351
 
 

saramwrap 
 
Re: MacBook Pro 2011 17" hard freeze
 
   20-Jul-2013 14∶58    ( in response to Ezan) 
Thanks, Ezan!  I only have the one 2011 MBP to try this out with. 
 
Since I think the 17" uses the 6750M, I assume this means that the 15" models that use that GPU may also use the 2000 instead
of the 3000.
 
If you're wondering which kernel extensions your computer is using, you can type kextstat at the command line and it'll spit
out a big long list of the active drivers.  Before you disable anything, you can look in there for anything with the format
ATIRadeonX****.kext (asterisks are whatever numbers you're looking for) to see which one you're using. 

 
Actually you move out the kext driver for the ATI card. The system cant find it at boot.
 
Sometimes you need to run the NVRAM reset before.
Jul 22, 2013 5∶30 AM

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smart_star Level 1

Jul 22, 2013 5∶37 AM

In response to saramwrap
Hi  saramwrap,
 
you are my hero!
Many thanks for the workaround.
 

There may be consequences - my Photo Booth no longer works, and I assume it will have the same limitations that
gfxCardStatus does (lack of external display support).  Please let me know if other things don't work.

 
 
I noticed starting aperture ended in a black screen.
 

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4766577?start=210&tstart=0 2/7
20/3/2561 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card | Official Apple Support Communities
Apps that work:
Lightroom
iMovie
Mail
Jul 22, 2013 5∶37 AM

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smart_star Level 1

Jul 22, 2013 10∶15 AM

In response to smart_star
I noticed when I run iMovie this starts happening to me:
 
Get this half screen....flickering....blue screen.
It disappears after CMD+Q to quit iMovie.

 
I wonder why it can switch to the ATI because I moved out the kext driver?
Jul 22, 2013 10∶15 AM

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smart_star Level 1

Jul 22, 2013 10∶33 AM

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20/3/2561 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card | Official Apple Support Communities
In response to smart_star
When I use GFXcardStatus and check "Integrated only" it stays on the integrated with iMovie.
Jul 22, 2013 10∶33 AM

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Guilmon Level 1

Jul 22, 2013 7∶18 PM

In response to abelliveau
I am having the same problem unfortunately still no solution found
But after many trials...I found out that if I forced my MBP at the gray screen to shut down
then boot it into boot camp "I had windows 7 installed"
and after starting windows animation ends it gives me some kind of blue screen error and automatically restarts
then leave it to load my mac osx and after the apple logo disappears I have the same gray screen
and when I force it to shutdown this times I don't get the two columns colors like the pic there and my mac
starts normally as if nothing happened.
I don't know how or why this works but it worked for me maybe you shall try it

Jul 22, 2013 7∶18 PM

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aminek Level 1

Jul 25, 2013 11∶26 AM

In response to saramwrap
Hello saramwrap
Seems your solution is working, it just boot perfectly
Only problem is that as soon as it goes to sleep or if u leave the computer 5mn (the time for the screen to go black) it just doesn't come
back and I have to do a hard reboot... do you know is it possible to avoid this or should I just kill the screen saver?
 
PS: was gonna change my motherboard but after seeing so many people saying that it just doesn't solve the issue Im kinf of sceptic
 
Thx
Jul 25, 2013 11∶26 AM

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zwolu Level 1

Jul 25, 2013 12∶03 PM

In response to abelliveau
Apple should admit its mistake!
There is so many posts about it. Day after day i see more and more. i'm pretty sure its cooling problem! Apple change immediately
warranty machines and dont want change any others. They said that problem is unknown!
Jul 25, 2013 12∶03 PM

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Abhijithb Level 1

Jul 25, 2013 2∶36 PM

In response to saramwrap
Hi Saramwrap,

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4766577?start=210&tstart=0 4/7
20/3/2561 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card | Official Apple Support Communities
 
I have AMD 6750M and i followed
 
Open the Terminal:
> mkdir DisabledExtensions
> cd /System/Library/Extensions
> sudo mv ATIRadeonX2000.kext ~/DisabledExtensions
> sudo touch /System/Library/Extensions
 
But it doesnt seem to be working for me,It still boots with grey screen and only after multiple tries(it may takes
sometimes hours of retries) i could actually boot in and then imediately after it starts i use gfxcard to shift to
integrated mode.Am i missing something.Please let  me know
 
Thanks
Abhi
Jul 25, 2013 2∶36 PM

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aminek Level 1

Jul 25, 2013 4∶42 PM

In response to saramwrap
Re Hello saramwrap
So after some extensive use, it seems that ure solution doesn't work. Well it worked very well but for some hours, now it got back to the
same problem. Can u give us the command line to undo it and maybe annother idea?
Im scared of changing my moherboard which willl cost me 900$ here and that it wouldnt change the problem...
Jul 25, 2013 4∶42 PM

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Ququq Level 1

Jul 25, 2013 7∶26 PM

In response to aminek
@aminek
 
Hi,
I DID change the motherboard and it SOLVED the problem.
 
I do not see why it shouldn't do so.
 
The only thing is that there is no guarantee that the new chip not also crashes.... But this guarantee does not exist neither when you
buy a new MBP... bad Appel quality for a high price.
 
Cheers,
Ququq
Jul 25, 2013 7∶26 PM

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saramwrap Level 1

Jul 26, 2013 3∶21 AM

In response to Abhijithb

Abhi - Unfortunately, since I don't have a laptop with that GPU, it's been guesswork to figure out how to disable extensions on it.  If you
run kextstat in the Terminal, which ATIRadeon extension(s) does it show running?
 
aminek - To disable:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4766577?start=210&tstart=0 5/7
20/3/2561 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card | Official Apple Support Communities
> cd ~/DisabledExtensions
> sudo mv ATIRadeonX****.kext /System/Library/Extensions
   (replace **** with 2000 or 3000 depending on which one you moved)
> sudo touch /System/Library/Extensions
 
I don't really have another idea - as I mentioned when I provided the commands to disable the kernel extension, this is really just a
stopgap for me until I can find something that fixes the problem permanently and without detriment to the operation of the laptop. 
Clearly, there are detrimental effects when you run these computers without both graphics cards operating. 
 
As for getting a logic board replaced - if the problem here is in the logic boards, then replacement is a gamble.  I assume that some
boards/GPUs are good, some are bad, and some appear to be good until they go bad (given that many of us didn't experience any
issues until our computers were ~2 years old).  I'm on logic board #3, all three have been bad.  I'm hoping logic board #4 will be the
answer, but how can I trust it, even if it seems to work when it is first installed?  Apple also uses a lot of refurbished parts in their repairs,
which means that their replacement logic boards may be the ones that others have had replaced for exactly this problem.  This makes
me worry that replacement logic boards have even greater odds of failure than the initial stock of laptops did. 
Jul 26, 2013 3∶21 AM

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nbar Level 5

Jul 26, 2013 3∶30 AM

In response to saramwrap

If you want to render your computer unoperable, unloading native kernel extensions is a pretty good way to do it. Booting into safe
mode would accomplish the same thing you are trying to do above (your discrete GPU driver is not loaded).
 
The terminal command above is a poor way to manage this issue. The kext may contain dependencies. When you unload a kext with
dependencies, the result will be a kernel panic. Read the manpages for these commands. Read the man pages for any command you
run in the terminal, but especially for these. Unload kexts properly. Refer to the man pages for each command below:
 
kextfind(8)              - find kernel extensions (kexts) based on a variety of criteria and print information
kextlibs(8)              - find OSBundleLibraries needed by a kext
kextload(8)              - load kernel extensions (kexts) into the kernel
kextstat(8)              - display status of loaded kernel extensions (kexts)
kextunload(8)            - terminate driver I/O Kit driver instances and unload kernel extensions (kexts)
kextutil(8)              - load, diagnose problems with, and generate symbols for kernel extensions (kexts)
Jul 26, 2013 3∶30 AM

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saramwrap Level 1

Jul 26, 2013 3∶47 AM

In response to nbar
I agree that messing with kernel extensions is a delicate game, and I am familiar with that family of commands.  However, I have not
found a solution through any of them - sure, you can figure out which kexts are running, and get info about them.  kextunload does
not seem to permanently disable the GPU driver in question, where removing it from the Library does.  Perhaps it is worthwhile to run
kextunload before moving the extension, and kextload after returning it, but I have seen mixed answers online as to whether that is
necessary.
 
I disagree that booting into safe mode is the same thing.  Safe mode is a stripped-down version of the OS, it does not leave you with a
fully-functional computer for normal operations.  A variety of hardware and software features will not work in safe mode.  But for those
of us who can rarely get our computers to boot without a graphics seizure, the discrete GPU needs to be disabled at startup.  Disabling
it at the driver level does this when gfxCardStatus does not, and leaves the computer far more functional than it would be in safe
mode. 
Jul 26, 2013 3∶47 AM

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https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4766577?start=210&tstart=0 6/7
20/3/2561 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card | Official Apple Support Communities

Level 5
nbar

Jul 26, 2013 3∶54 AM

In response to saramwrap

Agree with your second paragraph. Though you need to realize that disabling the discrete GPU in a system configured to have a
discrete GPU will also "not leave you with a fully-functional computer for normal operations."
 
 
Ever notice in safe mode how nothing on your screen gets rendered correctly? That isn't due to any other drivers being unloaded
besides those related to your discrete GPU. But yes, you are correct in saying functionality is limited beyond this (peripheral devices,
spotlight, etc).
Jul 26, 2013 3∶54 AM

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