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MBP 1,1-10,2 Permanently Disable 2011 15"/17" MacBook Pro Dedicated GPU - gMux IC Bypass

F

fulltilt54

macrumors newbie
Aug 17, 2020
16
5
Finally tried this on my in-laws 15" MacBook. I followed the instructions early in this post to use the gray or multicolored wire harness included with the lattice with the thinner wires. I cut the wire harness in half, so the wires are nice and short. I think this helps with the flashing. Mine worked the first time. It was much trickier to solder the jumper wire to the tiny component for the brightness battery button fix than the jtag wires. I did not have to use a 10pf cap, 100pf cap or remove the coil, it just worked. Thanks for a great solution dosdude!

I've seen a number of posts mentioning flashing the macbook pro 8.1 firmware on this to allow the hd3000 to work in Windows 10. It makes sense on paper since that model is nearly identical to the 15" with the disabled AMD gpu. Has anyone actually done this?
 
trifero

trifero

macrumors 68030
May 21, 2009
2,933
2,751
fulltilt54 said:
Finally tried this on my in-laws 15" MacBook. I followed the instructions early in this post to use the gray or multicolored wire harness included with the lattice with the thinner wires. I cut the wire harness in half, so the wires are nice and short. I think this helps with the flashing. Mine worked the first time. It was much trickier to solder the jumper wire to the tiny component for the brightness battery button fix than the jtag wires. I did not have to use a 10pf cap, 100pf cap or remove the coil, it just worked. Thanks for a great solution dosdude!

I've seen a number of posts mentioning flashing the macbook pro 8.1 firmware on this to allow the hd3000 to work in Windows 10. It makes sense on paper since that model is nearly identical to the 15" with the disabled AMD gpu. Has anyone actually done this?
Click to expand...
Didn´t know there was such flash. Should be so nice. Any link?
 
F

fulltilt54

macrumors newbie
Aug 17, 2020
16
5
No, I just saw a few posts earlier in this thread referencing it. I also wonder if the Hackintosh community might be able to help get Windows running with the Intel HD3000 graphics on these Macs.

This guy was able to get the sound working on a EFI install this way: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250137979
His approach was based on a thread about getting an eGPU working.

I have no idea if these are the same obstacles faced here. This is over my head and I have to give the Macbook pro back to my in-laws soon, but has anyone messed around with this approach to get the Intel display driver for Windows 10 working on these fixed Macbook?
 
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PlayaHeat

PlayaHeat

macrumors newbie
Jul 22, 2018
11
0
Anyone have a pongo board with pins and capacitor they want to get rid of I'm looking to purchase
 
startergo

startergo

macrumors 603
Sep 20, 2018
5,019
2,282
I think this is much more elegant solution:
[Guide] Disabling discrete graphics in dual-GPU laptops | tonymacx86.com
Patching requirements

The goal is quite simple. These machines provide an _OFF method, usually in an SSDT, that can be called to power down the discrete device. The easiest fix is to call _OFF from the corresponding _INI method. Note that the _OFF method may be in DSDT or may have a different name (GPOF, OPOF, _PS3, etc.)

Certain implementations of _OFF cannot be called from _INI as they access the EC (Embedded Controller) space. For these machines, _OFF (or a portion of it) must be delayed until _REG (when Arg0==3 and Arg1==1, see ACPI spec for more information regarding _REG). In some cases, calling from _REG is too late and it is either not effective or leads to a crash. In such a case, editing _OFF to remove EC dependencies is necessary, so it can be called from _INI. The code that was removed from _OFF is then inserted into _REG so the effect is the same although the EC work is done later. This is the case with the example ACPI setup in this guide.

Note #1: Not all _OFF implementations have EC related code. In that case, no need to move any such code to _REG as it simply didn't exist in the first place.

Note: #2: Not all ACPI sets have an _INI at the _OFF path. In that case, you simply add an _INI that calls off. Easiest to add it just before the _OFF method:
Click to expand...
Code: 
Method(_INI) { _OFF() }
 
Pedro147

Pedro147

macrumors member
Sep 23, 2016
36
21
Australia
PlayaHeat said:
Yea I just want the pongo board way easier just not good at soldering
Click to expand...
AFAIK Dosdude1 was planning to only sell the board to shops, not individuals. There is soldering required but no where near as critical as soldering the six programming wires to the logic board if you are not comfortable.

OSH Park ~

oshpark.com oshpark.com
 
PlayaHeat

PlayaHeat

macrumors newbie
Jul 22, 2018
11
0
Pedro147 said:
AFAIK Dosdude1 was planning to only sell the board to shops, not individuals. There is soldering required but no where near as critical as soldering the six programming wires to the logic board if you are not comfortable.

OSH Park ~

oshpark.com oshpark.com
I .
Click to expand...

It doesn't come with the pins on it or the capacitor
 
M

msugad

macrumors newbie
Jan 28, 2021
2
0
Because of reballing failed I have removed AMD GPU and I hardwired as you said (gmux is there )but I'm getting only white screen no logo nothing. What could be wrong?
 
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Aguymac

Aguymac

macrumors member
Jan 9, 2020
94
7
This "custom" pogo pin connector(?) for doing the flash, is this something we could make for ourselves, and perhaps easier than the soldering? Just curious.

I just learned about dosdude1 about a week ago, while preparing to update to highsierra using his patcher to find the full install.
Then saw his video with louis rossman, and I thought 'hey, sounds like their describing my previous issue with that model mbp" (it was fixed under the "recal" or whatever, replaced logic board).

Within a week of learning about this guy and his work with this issue, and now my computer's gpu appears to be dying again...great.

I've never soldered such small stuff before though, that would be a first so I'd do some practice tries first and probably even get a better soldering iron.
*sigh*...

I haven't read the whole thread, I got here from a link on Doslabs.

Many thanks to dosdude1, what a smart, helpful guy.
Thanks.
 
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B

b251

macrumors newbie
Jan 4, 2017
29
31
Germany
I have a 17" MBP Late 2011 with a faulty AMD graphics too. Before doing the DeMux mod, i have a few questions:

1) Is it still needed to remove R8911 when using the DeMux method or will the firmware disable power for the discrete GPU by itself? I wan't the discrete graphics to be fully disabled with the aim to reduce the heat and to get maximum battery life.
2) Is there still the issue that the screen stays black after wake up from sleep, which made it necessary to solder a jumper wire between R9202 and a test point?
3) As for the battery indicator brightness mod, can someone share me a picture from the exact solder points on a 17" MBP as I don't fully understand the diagrams mentioned in post #628.

I appreciate any help.
 
jdran

jdran

macrumors newbie
May 22, 2013
21
2
I have the exactly the same issue as the post above that @b251 says. (Mine is El Cappitan however).

I am not that much comfortable with hardware soldering as suggested in OP, nor I have the tools needed at hand.
The problem is that I don't know if I will be able to find someone adept enough to do it for me here where I live (Greece). Local shops that I asked, they say they only replace or solder the chipset and nothing more.

I am open for any suggestions, or even encouragement for trying it myself if someone believes it is doable. I should then need some guidance.. a youtube video perhaps, but as I am hard of hearing person, so I need a very good video.

I know that my post seems pathetic, but my other option is to install Ubuntu which I think disables the dGPU. Or even ditch any fixing and keep the MBP in my attic just for the good memories before the bad ones came. I ve read so many pages around the internet of how to solve it, that I m totally lost now.

Ofcourse, I have the common question everybody is thinking. Is Apple deliberately wishing to lose 50% of those MBP owners? After this experience, I don't trust to buy Apple again.
 
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JMVB

JMVB

macrumors regular
May 16, 2016
186
51
@jdran @b251 take a look to the efi variable fix

forums.macrumors.com

Force 2011 MacBook Pro 8,2 with failed AMD GPU to ALWAYS use Intel integrated GPU (EFI variable fix)

If you don't have time to read my story (which also describes some interesting technical approaches) just scroll down this thread until a "100% WORKING SOLUTION" text Discrete AMD GPU of my 2011 MacBook Pro 8,2 has finally failed because of the reasons mentioned here (...
forums.macrumors.com forums.macrumors.com

I did this procedure at least 10 computers, mine, my brother, friends etc, and no one had issues:

I use my mac to video playback, with a Blackmagic thunderbolt mini monitor, or with a Displaylink adaptor, flawlessly

I used the ubuntu method and removed the r8911

Then upgraded to HS, and no wake up or brightness problems at all

Check my post


Is just matter to do a good search!
 
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