MacBook Pro 17" early 2011, possible revival?
Hi,
1 1/2 year ago, Apple replaced my motherboard as per their program on defectuous motherboards on this model.
This summer, suddenly: black screen. My hard drive is ok, mounted in another computer and running great... My repairman said the "motherboard is dead". And now, my model is obsolete.
The thing is: I work with my computer 12h/day and I need photoshop badly.
Now I'm on an old computer and it's just so slow, I'm running crazy.
I invested last year in 16Go RAM, a SSD hard drive and a new battery few months ago... I admit I'm really !#^&@@-off the motherboard changed by apple just died.
You understand, I'm not really happy with the idea of buying a new macbook pro and this for 3 reasons:
1/ really too expensive for me at this time,
2/ I'm a graphic designer and 17" is much much better than 15",
3/ I want to make a statement by waiting 2018 new macbook pro : I hate the "soldered strategy", it's not fair for people with low budgets, it bound us to their after-sale costs, the whole market will suffer from it, I really hope the sells will drop down this year so they go back to reason.
The motherboard cost 1200€ on the market... at this cost, I better change my computer for an earlier one.
My question is: is it possible to build a new machine with my macbook pro for a basis. Can I replace components such as the motherboard, the processor and whatever is needed and come up with a good speeding machine for a good price? Is there anybody who tried this?
If I'd like to make a powerful machine to run the last system, is it possible to find some pieces of recent mac or even pc compatibles in order to work until I can buy a new expensive mac. Or is it completely crazy?
In other words, can I make kind of a hackbook with my macbook pro. And what components should I expect to change to do so? Would it worth it?
Update (08/17/2017)
On a good lead... I hope
I tracked the specs of my macbook pro here, very usefull website by the way www.everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/
And I saw on a website out of stock that they sell the same logic board for both 17" early and late 2011. Seams to be the same ref when I try early 2011 and late.. not sure about that accuracy yet.
So I looked up to this references for the logic board : 820-2914-A, 820-2914-B and A1297 i7 2.5Ghz
2,5Ghz instead of my 2,2Ghz would be great, hû?
Now, I need to see my logic card to see if it's A or B, according to this seller picture
but it looks like it's possible to buy it from china supplier
Exemple of supplier on alibaba
Does anyone have bought one of those in this marketplace?
Update (08/17/2017)
The A model is for 2010.. Supplier exemple in alibaba
I'm going to look further in the ref to be sure which one fit the macbook pro early 2011 and know more.
If anyone is looking for this kind of motherboard, let me know! Maybe we can buy more pieces together to lower the price. I'm in Paris, France. It can be tricky if we are in different parts of the world but we may think of a solution, maybe threw ifixit e-shop, I don't know, any idea is welcome.
Mise à jour (19/08/2017)
I looked into mine. It's a A.
The alibaba seller answered me A & B doesn't matter.
BUT, I went to look their seller's review and it's very very bad. People says they waited very long and in the end, the motherboard didn't work + they have only a 45 day guaranty.
... it doesn't fill like the solution. I'm going to ask a friend who goes in China often for buying electronic to look for this motherboard with my dead computer so he can try it on site. If he finds a reliable seller, I'll let you know.
Questa è una buona domanda?
4 Commenti
Beetstech was making them when Apple had a contract with them. The page is very old. As far as I know they are nolonger making them.
Which is why I was suggesting if we can get a GoFundMe page put together and someone has the energy to put into it we could give Apple a run.
Remember we're only making a replacement board not competing with Apple as there are some legal risks here that would need to be explored.
da Dan
It seems that I might have this same problem too - and I have a question about re-applying thermal paste, and whether or not that is helpful?
My MBP symptoms:
1. The MBP will most likely work (boot) when left for a while to cool. When it does boot, all seems well.
2. At some point (especially under use) the machine will shut off, freeze, either with the current screen, blue screen, grey screen, etc.
3. If I let it sit for several hours, I might be able to turn it back on successfully. Many times, it will get stuck on a grey screen about 2/3 through the boot process.
4. I'm running Mac Fans, and notice that under use the CPU/GPU can get up to 90 C. While not being used it will sit around 50 C. (BTW I have it set to spin the fans at max when it hits 75 C, and they can't get the job done even at high RPM).
Thermal paste redo? Or is it toast???
da scottman1987
Weigh the cost between getting another motherboard from a seemingly trusted seller OR another working well treated MBP17, costs might not differ much. To begin with I suggest try the thermal paste job, nothing to lose.
da Gunnar Forsgren
I just had the same thing happen with my 2,5GHz, i7 , 16GB late 2011 (last of the 17” models) BUT this only happens when I update to the latest macOS version of High Sierra. I’m now looking for a way now to install the version that doesn’t have the new file system APFS=Apple File System.
The OS version before 10.13 has the HFS Plus file system that also works with latest version of Disk Warrior 5.1.
And I don’t think I’m going to update anymore, at least not until there’s a stable version of the latest MacOS that works with both the 17” MacBook Pro and Disk Warrior. I got my work cut out for me! And of course it’s happening right now when I need my Mac the most
da EdiTSPE