Chosen Solution
Hi. Have this Macbook Pro (A1278, early 2011) in for service. It seems to work fine, but after some minutes of use it freeze and there come some horizontal lines on the screen. The mac also starts biping. I´ll add a video that shows the problem
There was a class action law suit on the GPU on this model, then a repair program which has since expired. MacBook Pro Repair Extension Program for Video Issues https://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro… (see the bottom of the page) So it is a well known issue. A lot of success has been had using a hot air work station to reflow the GPU. There are also several companies offering repair service of this model on eBay that will attempt repair or replacement of it.
That Looks like the gpu is either faulty or it is overheating and needs fan claened and probably new thermal paste on gpu
