We've serviced more than 24,000 Apple devices since ZA Support opened in Johannesburg, and GPU failures account for roughly 8–12% of our logic board repairs. It's not a rare fault, but it's also not something most repair shops advertise clearly. That's partly because GPU repair sits in a grey zone: some units can be revived through micro-soldering or reflowing; others require full logic board replacement. We'll walk you through both scenarios and show you exactly what to expect.
What a GPU Fault Actually Looks Like on Your Mac
Your graphics processing unit handles everything visual on your device. It renders web pages, streams video, runs design software, and powers external displays. When it fails, macOS often responds with one of these telltale signs:
A grey or black screen during boot, even though the device powers on and you can hear the fan spinning. Kernel panics mentioning "GPU" or "Metal" errors in the crash log. Coloured lines, pixelation, or image corruption across the entire display. The device becoming unusable during video calls, gaming, or graphics-heavy tasks, but functioning normally with basic text editing. External monitors being detected but displaying nothing, even when the built-in display works.
Most modern MacBooks (2012 onwards) use integrated GPUs built directly onto the logic board, which is why diagnosing the exact fault requires specialist equipment. We spend time narrowing down whether the GPU itself has failed, whether the memory attached to it is faulty, or whether power delivery to the GPU has been interrupted by a failed voltage regulator.
The Morningside Advantage: Why Location Matters for Turnaround
Morningside sits roughly 12 kilometres north-west of our Hyde Park workshop. That proximity means you're not posting your device across the country or waiting in a national queue. When you bring a MacBook with GPU problems to us, the assessment happens the same day, usually within three to four hours.
Our assessment fee is R599. We'll run full diagnostics, create a detailed report with photographs, and explain your options face-to-face. That matters because GPU repair decisions are genuinely case-specific. A 2015 MacBook Pro with a failing GPU chip might benefit from reballing (a micro-soldering technique that refluxes the connection between the GPU and its substrate). A 2016 model with a fried voltage regulator might require logic board replacement. A 2019 unit with a defective T-series chip requires board swap.
The choice of repair method affects both cost and longevity. A reflow repair typically costs between R2,800 and R4,200 and carries a one-year warranty. A full logic board replacement runs R5,500 to R8,900 depending on the model, and we back it with a three-year warranty. Neither option is cheap, but neither involves false promises or surprise invoices.
Understanding Your Repair Options
Micro-soldering and reflowing work when the GPU die itself is intact but the connection between the chip and the logic board has failed due to thermal stress. We heat the joint with precision equipment, allow it to reflow, cool it under controlled conditions, and test it with multiple boot cycles and GPU load tests. Success rate for modern MacBooks is approximately 68–74%. If it fails, you've paid for the attempt but haven't damaged anything further; you can then pursue board replacement.
Logic board replacement is the definitive solution. We source tested, compatible boards, perform a full micro-soldering transplant of any security-critical components (like your storage or T-series chip), and install the replacement. This takes longer—typically five to seven working days—but it eliminates uncertainty. The three-year warranty reflects our confidence in the repair.
We also investigate the root cause. GPU failures rarely happen randomly. Load shedding-induced power surges, liquid damage, or sustained thermal stress under heavy workloads often precede them. We look for evidence of these issues so you can prevent another failure after we've finished the repair.
Pricing Breakdown for Morningside Customers
Here's what you'll actually pay, without the vague estimates you'll find elsewhere:
Assessment: R599 (applies toward your repair if you proceed)
Reflow attempt: R2,800–R4,200 including one-year warranty
Logic board replacement: R5,500–R8,900 with three-year warranty
Express turnaround (same-day assessment, one-week repair): add R400
Out-of-hours collection from Morningside: add R350
If your device suffered liquid damage before the GPU failed, our liquid damage repair service runs separately. We'll flag that during assessment so there are no surprises.
The logic board repair page goes into detail on more complex faults, but GPU work is a subset of that discipline.
Why You Shouldn't DIY a GPU Repair
The internet is full of YouTube videos showing people reballing GPUs in home workshops. It looks straightforward: heat the component, use flux, cool it. In practice, you need:
A rework station capable of holding 350–380°C within a 2°C tolerance. A thermal camera or infrared pyrometer to verify actual board temperature (not air temperature). Appropriate solder paste chemistry for the specific GPU model. Stencils that match your exact board revision. A microscope to verify joint quality before cooling. Thermal cycling and load testing equipment to verify the repair doesn't fail within hours.
You likely don't own most of that equipment. More importantly, a failed reflow attempt doesn't just leave your GPU broken—it can damage adjacent components, lift pads from the board, crack solder joints elsewhere, or destroy the substrate itself. We've seen repair attempts turn a R4,000 problem into a R7,500 one.
Professional repair still costs real money, but it's insured, warrantied, and reversible if something goes wrong.
Keeping Your GPU Healthy After Repair
Load shedding is a genuine threat in Johannesburg. Voltage surges can re-damage a newly repaired GPU or accelerate failure of a replacement board. We recommend:
Using a surge-protected power strip rated for 16A minimum. Letting your device cool for 15 minutes after intensive work (video rendering, large file transfers) before shutting it down. Keeping the intake vents clear of dust; thermal stress is the most common GPU failure precursor. Updating macOS to the latest stable version; Apple occasionally releases firmware updates that improve power delivery stability. Monitoring GPU temperature with tools like iStat Menus (legitimate third-party software, not a scam).
We include these recommendations in your repair report, and they genuinely extend the life of your device.
Getting Your GPU Repaired: Next Steps
The assessment is R599. That conversation will clarify your options and give you a fixed quote. You won't hear "it'll probably be around R4,000" and then receive an invoice for R6,200. We'll explain the repair method, the warranty terms, and the expected turnaround. Then you decide.
Book online at zasupport.com/book for a slot in our Hyde Park workshop. Walk-ins are welcome, but booking ensures we have diagnostic equipment ready and minimises your wait time.
If you'd rather discuss the problem first, WhatsApp us on 064 529 5863. Send a photograph of any error messages or describe what happened, and we'll give you an initial steer before you visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can a GPU fault damage other parts of my Mac?
Power delivery failures that kill a GPU often damage surrounding components on the logic board. That's why we inspect the voltage regulators, capacitors, and power traces surrounding the GPU during diagnostics. A comprehensive repair addresses all of those; a GPU-only fix might leave you with a partial fault that resurfaces in six months.
Q: How long does a GPU repair take?
Assessment takes one to four hours. A reflow attempt takes one day. A logic board replacement takes five to seven working days because we need to source a compatible board, transplant security components, and run full load testing. We'll give you an exact timeline during your assessment.
Q: Is the three-year warranty real, or does it exclude GPU faults?
It covers the entire logic board, including the GPU, for three years from the repair date. The only exclusions are liquid damage (which we diagnose before repair) and physical impact. It's a proper warranty, not a marketing line.
Q: My device still has AppleCare+. Should I use that instead?
AppleCare+ typically costs R299–R399 per month and includes accidental damage. If you're still within the coverage window and haven't exhausted your incidents, it might cover a GPU replacement. Call Apple directly to check. If not, we'll beat their pricing on out-of-warranty repairs.
Q: What if the reflow attempt fails? Am I stuck with a dead device?
No. If the reflow doesn't work, the device is in exactly the same state it was before the attempt. Nothing has been broken further. You then have the option to pursue logic board replacement, or to walk away. Most people choose the replacement because the reflow price already accounts for the diagnostic cost.
Q: Do you repair iMacs and Mac minis with GPU faults, or just MacBooks?
We repair all Apple devices. iMacs with Radeon GPU failures and Mac minis with M1 Pro GPU issues are less common, but we handle them using the same diagnostic and repair methods. Assessment and pricing would be discussed during your visit.
