GPU issue and New hard drive

So here is the situation. I found a MBP early 2011 left behind when someone was moving out of their apt. I picked it up, it was missing HD and RAM. I replaced those and tried Internet Recovery. The IR seems to finish, go to a screen with the Apple logo and a spinning wheel underneath. It stays on this screen for a few seconds before the screen goes black and then to a plain white screen. I can hear the fan getting louder and it starts to get hot. I’ve done some bit of research and have seen this model has issues with the GPU. Most solutions I am unable to do since I don’t have the OS on the computer. Is there any suggestions that can help. Thank you.

I am using this as a project to learn, I am not trying to spend too much on an old computer. My next attempt will be to install the OS on the hard drive externally using an iMac I have. Hopefully I can get farther in the process but not certain due to the possible GPU problem.