Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
OP, I have to say you are a hero, my friend.

I was able to keep my 2011 17" alive for at least 2 more years thanks to this.

Alas, it just died yesterday (screen backlight went out), so it's time to put her to rest.

Just in time for my transition to iPadOS earlier this year. I will miss her. :)
You live in Europe?
 
OP, I have to say you are a hero, my friend.

I was able to keep my 2011 17" alive for at least 2 more years thanks to this.

Alas, it just died yesterday (screen backlight went out), so it's time to put her to rest.

Just in time for my transition to iPadOS earlier this year. I will miss her. :)
I guess I lucked out. Apple redid the graphics chip on my 2011 as per their program in 2016.
 
I guess I lucked out. Apple redid the graphics chip on my 2011 as per their program in 2016.
Unfortunately not, as AMD never released a revised chipset for the Radeon HD 5xxx and 6xxx series GPUs. It still has the same garbage that AMD released in 2011, and will fail again if used frequently.
 
Unfortunately not, as AMD never released a revised chipset for the Radeon HD 5xxx and 6xxx series GPUs. It still has the same garbage that AMD released in 2011, and will fail again if used frequently.
It´s just a matter of time. Now I have two demuxed Macbook Pro 17". In one of them still worked the AMD, but disabled it so I can run Catalina like a charm.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dosdude1
Is there somehow a way to install Windows 10 on such modified Macbooks?
Yes. You can Install windows 10 in EFI Mode, not legacy. But it´s difficult. In my case, when Windows updates, replaces the graphic driver and you have to revert to am previous restoration point.
 
Yes. You can Install windows 10 in EFI Mode, not legacy. But it´s difficult. In my case, when Windows updates, replaces the graphic driver and you have to revert to am previous restoration point.
Thanks for the feedback! Sounds like it's not worth the efforts to do it.
 
Last edited:
It´s just a matter of time. Now I have two demuxed Macbook Pro 17". In one of them still worked the AMD, but disabled it so I can run Catalina like a charm.

there is a graphics patch now these days, released not so long ago.

this will enable hd5xxx and hd6xxx graphic acceleration.

as far as I know it’s available trough opencore legacy patcher link :


You test it out, it is still in beta as far as I know..
 
  • Like
Reactions: 0134168
Thank you so much, I know the patch and tried it in other Macbook 17". I gave congratulations to the authors in other thread. Though still with a lot of errors, it´s a huge improvement.
 
Unfortunately not, as AMD never released a revised chipset for the Radeon HD 5xxx and 6xxx series GPUs. It still has the same garbage that AMD released in 2011, and will fail again if used frequently.
Exactly what happened to me. I had it “fixed” by Apple, and then it broke again after the program ended.

Now that the screen won’t come on at all, my 17” is being gutted and recycled, replaced by an iPad Pro 12.9.
 
Exactly what happened to me. I had it “fixed” by Apple, and then it broke again after the program ended.

Now that the screen won’t come on at all, my 17” is being gutted and recycled, replaced by an iPad Pro 12.9.
My DeMux firmware will actually resurrect a machine with a dGPU that won't boot at all/has a black screen. So if you still desire to get it working, that should get the job done for you.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 0134168
Unfortunately not, as AMD never released a revised chipset for the Radeon HD 5xxx and 6xxx series GPUs. It still has the same garbage that AMD released in 2011, and will fail again if used frequently.
You may be correct. I use a Speck hard shell case to prevent the laptop body from flexing and to keep it alive... it's still running fine.
 
dosdude1, thank you bro, you best
A33A3264-FF54-4862-B2BB-5F53237A0606.jpeg
9C4BE0F1-69B6-4477-9F0A-1C3F26E18B8C.jpeg
 
if i already installed the backlight package and restart but the button for screen backlight still not functioning, do i have to do something else?
In my case, Macbook Pro 17" 2011, nothing. Worked at first try. Did you restart?

You could run Patch Updater in Utilitities folder, and see.
 
Hey people.
Can someone share a link to a known working display-link adapter so I can run an external monitor with my 2011 mbp now, please?

I tried one from amazon.ca, and it just did not work. I'm in canada.

Thanks for any help.
 
Hey people.
Can someone share a link to a known working display-link adapter so I can run an external monitor with my 2011 mbp now, please?

I tried one from amazon.ca, and it just did not work. I'm in canada.

Thanks for any help.
Just select the macOS ones. If you have a 17", you can use an USB 3.0 one, connected to an expresscard.


 
  • Like
Reactions: Aguymac
Just select the macOS ones. If you have a 17", you can use an USB 3.0 one, connected to an expresscard.


Thank you, *******.

I selected 'macos', then compared what was available in usb (2.0) to dvi, and also in usb (3.0) to hdmi. I ended up getting one of each - the usb 3.0 to hdmi model said it was 'backwards compatible' and will work even if you only have usb 2.0 (which 2011 mbp has).
Hope one/both work well.

Thanks again.
 
Thank you, *******.

I selected 'macos', then compared what was available in usb (2.0) to dvi, and also in usb (3.0) to hdmi. I ended up getting one of each - the usb 3.0 to hdmi model said it was 'backwards compatible' and will work even if you only have usb 2.0 (which 2011 mbp has).
Hope one/both work well.

Thanks again.
I have the 3.0 two display ports. I connect it with 2 Led Cinema Display 27" and no problem, if you use them with not much demanding tasks, like games. Also, is Windows compatible, in case you have it installed with Bootcamp.

I recommend that you a 3.0 port using the thunderbolt. There are two great adaptors, Kanex and Startech. In addition , they have an esata port, so you can install another macOS, or Windows. I use it to test betas, and for backups. I clone the with CCC, and when needed, just boot from it, and clone again. There´s no USB 3.0 adapter booteable. A SSD runs at about 350-400 GB/seg, so you don't notice you are working with an external disk.

Hope it helps.
 

Attachments

  • usb32dp24k60.main.jpg
    usb32dp24k60.main.jpg
    202.5 KB · Views: 87
  • tb2usb3ge.main.jpg
    tb2usb3ge.main.jpg
    21.3 KB · Views: 91
  • 71uQXtpXu9L._AC_SX450_.jpg
    71uQXtpXu9L._AC_SX450_.jpg
    12 KB · Views: 84
  • rBVaVl7kxXGAM0wdAAEBcNLLMVQ803.jpg
    rBVaVl7kxXGAM0wdAAEBcNLLMVQ803.jpg
    64.4 KB · Views: 90
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Aguymac
if i already installed the backlight package and restart but the button for screen backlight still not functioning, do i have to do something else?
You need to have the latest firmware in order for that to work as well. If you flashed within the last few months, you do. If not, you'll have to reflash your machine with the latest DeMux firmware.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 0134168
Hi again

I think I have come across a minor problem that it might be worth thinking about for a few minutes. I have been using your solutions with my 2011 17inch very successfully for a couple of years. Disabled the graphics chip and installing first Mojave, then Catalina.

I just decided to do an SSD upgrade. I backed up to Time Machine first, switched drives, rebooted into TM to do a full restore and hit a brick wall! For some reason, TM restore doesnt recognise the backup I just created as a proper backup for this same machine! I restored some old OS and applied the graphics patches and everything works fine but I seem to be stuck with 10.9.5! (and no data of course)

TM does recognise some elderly backups from 2018 to restore, and I thought those were the newer ones but it cant see the one i did only last month! Unless TM is seeing the correct backup but is seeing the creation date as the most recent backup date?

Can you think of any way of fooling the unit into recognising the backup I just created on this very machine as this machine's backup please? I am not sure if the kexts are wrong or it doesnt recognise the Mojave install or it doesnt recognise the Catalina install!
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.