That specific MBP has an issue with the logic board that they will replace for free. I used to have glitches as well and took it in and got a replacement. It's only until the end of the year so I would go and get them to have a look before the new year.

Wait, really?!~

If the GPU fails and you want to fix it this seems to be the only "permanent" solution: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-Macbook-Pro-A1297-820-2914-B-1...

US $14.81 reballing = someone heats up your GPU with a paint gun to make it "work" for about a day to a week.

its a scam

That's just the price of diagnostics. If you read further you'll see that the full repair price is £169 + shipping. But yes, that confused me at first as well. They replace the GPU and use lead solder.

Charging "diagnostic" fee is also a scam ;-).

The sad reality is there doesnt exist a reliable source of _real_ new replacement GPU chips. Almost every single chip from china is either a pull from dead laptop or old stock(1). Chinese counterfeit markings, clean them up and sell as new.

The absolute best case scenario is you get really new old stock and it will survive at least 2 years, but in reality it will most probably be a pull from recycled trash with week-month lifespan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OogV7pbqEGQ

1- Nvidia chips were ALL factory defective (bad underfill between die and bga carrier), every single GPU at least up to FERMI has a limited life span dependent on thermal stress. Nvidia had to issue huge recall and restart manufacturing of ancient chips with fixed underfill formula - they only did a limited run for select partners (Dell, Apple) and those chips are pretty much _gone_ from the market.

At least with the AMD 67X0 models of the MBP the problem isn't the chip itself, but the solder connection (or lack thereof). Same issue as the XBOX 360 RROD. So just replacing from lead free solder to lead solder does the trick.

My GPU failed. The Apple stores offers (or at least offered) a $300 "We will fix anything wrong with your MBP" deal. They replaced the motherboard. Now, that is a great example of "Why buy Apple?" You think I'm gonna get a deal like that from Dell?

1) They don't do that with the MBP from 2010. Not even if you bought the 3 year extended warranty. Worse, it can break again, at any time, because it is a hardware defect. 2) Only after extensive pressure did Apple start this project, and only for 2011 MBPs.

Yes. Actually, I got a 5 year warranty from Dell where such a replacement was free.

I far prefer my MBP but I used to have Dell CompleteCover or something like that and they sent a technician over to meet me in a new city I traveled to. I landed there, the guy arrived to fix it, replaced my motherboard, and gave me the fixed product while I spent my time doing other things. Fairly convenient.

Laptop was okay, though. Much rather have something that doesn't need that.