Kernel Panics with GeForce 7300GT / 10.4.11

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Level 1

9 points

Kernel Panics with GeForce 7300GT / 10.4.11

I have developed a persistent problem with my Mac Pro Quad (2.66MHz / 9MB / 250GB Primary Boot 10.4.11, 1TB+1TB Raid 1, 1TB Virgin Test Boot 10.4.10 / Nvidia GeForce 7300 GT [Revision ID=0x00a1; ROM Revision=3011] driving 2 CRT monitors both set to 1600x1200):

With a normal boot (even with a shift-login and removal of any Input Managers and Application Enhancers), I crash with scrambled screen artifacts (both screens) and errors in system.log of:

* kCGErrorFailure: CGXDisableUpdate
* Graphics chip error! Restarted.

... and various errors in windowserver.log of some form of kCGErrorFailure.

It often ends with a kernel panic, and the panic.log always contains:

Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.GeForce(4.5.8)@0x6d8ad000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.2)@0x5e3b9000 (or some other address)
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(1.4.8)@0x6d175000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(1.4.8)@0x6d190000
dependency: com.apple.NVDAResman(4.5.8)@0x6d2a4000

It is completely stable with Safe Boot, even if I run the following commands after login:

sudo kextload -lt /System/Library/Extensions/* /Library/Extensions/*
sudo launchctl load -F /System/Library/Launch* /Library/Launch*
sudo SystemStarter

... and load fonts with FontExplorer.

Apple Hardware Test with looping produces no error in 8-hour tests.

I can reliably reproduce the graphics chip error crash with normal boot even with any of the below in any combination:

1) New test user or login as root

2) New completely virgin system install with new user on different boot drive using the Tiger install disc supplied with the computer (which runs without error).

3) Removal of /Library

Temporary removal of GeForce.kext or NVDAResman.kext stops error, but only one monitor goes live, and there are no resolution options.

Installation of prior versions of GeForce.kext or NVDAResman.kext do not change behavior.

Deletion of /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/preferences.plist does not help.

I've reset PRAM (3x) numerous times.

System.log at startup shows the following entries:
PXS1: family specific matching fails
NVDANV40HAL loaded and registered

Another new thing is that my internal sound card is not being seen in the Sound preference pane, but this may be a consequence of safe boot.

Internet research shows the experiences of other users (mostly of PowerPC Macs) with exactly the same symptoms, but for the most part, they are turning up problems with the graphics card with Apple Hardware Test. I have not yet been able to confirm an error with AHT.

Does anybody have a clue here? I really suspect a problem with the graphics card that is triggered by some Core Graphics function that is not present in a safe boot, even with the manual loading of extensions, startup daemons and startup applications -- especially since a completely virgin system install on another drive (without migrating any users or network settings) brings the same problem (and again, no problem with a safe boot). Am I missing something obvious?

Mac Pro 4-core 2.66 / 9MB, Mac OS X (10.4.11), NVIDIA GeForce 7300GT driving 2 monitors

Posted on May 31, 2008 2:47 PM

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Answer 1

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Jul 8, 2008 4:28 AM in response to Brian Block

OK, I have a 7/04 24" iMac (white) 2.16GHz, 1MB RAM.

Then you might want to check out iMac AD forum:
http://discussions.apple.com/category.jspa?categoryID=189

The Mac Pro generates a lot of heat out the back and needs to have plenty of ventilation.

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Answer 2

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

May 31, 2008 3:19 PM in response to rcgordon

I have not seen k/p due to 7300. Run Apple Hardware Test.

More likely to be your 9GB of memory, heat, fans not kicking in early enough.

Run Disk Warrior and don't use a system that is k/p, clone or install OS X on a new drive - I guess you did that already.

And do keep background utilities to a minimum anyway if not totally avoid altogether. Even Hardware Monitor plus xyz can be too much. But look at the temps of everything.

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Answer 3

rcgordon Author

Level 1

9 points

May 31, 2008 4:33 PM in response to The hatter

Further research has corroborated that Core Image and Quartz Extreme is disabled on a safe boot (linked and quoted below):

<http://macosx.com/forums/hardware-peripherals/264153-ati-x800-xt-artifacts-plea se-help.html>

Jim_T:
Just an update for anyone who might be reading this: I did a clean install of Tiger on a separate partition, and the problem remains. I tried every ROM version available, and tried removing various kext files and some other things. Nothing helps. I think the card works OK in safe mode because, according to the system profiler, both *core image and quartz extreme are turned off when safe booted*. I figure some part of my card is actually damaged in some way, which leads to problems when core image or quartz extreme are used. I'll be sending the card back ASAP. Thanks all for reading.

This makes sense, then that there is no problem is safe boot mode and that Apple Hardware Test generates no errors.

To nail this (and buy time until I can finish deadline work), I'd like to:

1) Determine a way to activate Core Image and Quartz Extreme functionality after a safe boot, to try and demonstrate that a failure will occur after doing so.

2) Set some option by which Core Image and/or Quartz Extreme functionality remains disabled in a normal boot, without resorting to remove video drivers (which, if removed, don't allow multiple monitors or my chosen resolutions).

Number 1 is apparently not accomplished with the following set of commands, which I do to bring up additional functionality after a safe boot:

sudo kextload -lt /System/Library/Extensions/* /Library/Extensions/*
sudo launchctl load -F /System/Library/Launch* /Library/Launch*
sudo SystemStarter

If someone has the answer to either of these questions, I'd greatly appreciate it.

My System Profiler stats are:

NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT:
Name: NVDA,Display-B
Type: display
Bus: PCI
Slot: Slot-1
Vendor ID: 0x10de
Device ID: 0x0393
Subsystem Vendor ID: 0x0000
Subsystem ID: 0x0010
ROM Revision: 3011
Revision ID: 0x00a1
Link Width: x16

GDM-C520:
Resolution: 1600 x 1200 @ 100 Hz
Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Software
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Not Supported

VGA Display:
Resolution: 1600 x 1200 @ 75 Hz
Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Software
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Not Supported

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Answer 4

Jun 21, 2008 8:31 AM in response to rcgordon

i have the exact same system (though slightly less RAM) and am getting much the same behavior: system freezes, kernel panics, etc.). I originally had Leopard 10.5.1 installed and everything was fine until I installed the Leopard Graphics Update after that my system started falling apart. Installation of 10.5.3 completely did it in - creating freezes about every 10 seconds that would last for 1-2 minutes. Sometimes a reboot would only bring up a mess of video artifacts.

I tried everything under the sun including a clean install of 10.5.0 but all that did was lessen the frequency of the freezing. It now appears to be a permanent part of my system.

Most recently I performed a clean install of Tiger 10.4.11 and my system has become much more stable though it still occassionally KP's (about 5x a day depending on what I'm working on).

My concern at this point though is what card to replace it with? All over the internet I see reports of Mac/Pro/Book users with freezing, KP'ing systems under both ATI & Nvidia cards. Also, I've noted that folks who use Boot Camp do not suffer these issues under Windows so the issue does appear to be something with OS X.

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Answer 5

bld2

Level 1

23 points

Jul 7, 2008 1:40 AM in response to rcgordon

I started having similar problems -- but under Leopard 10.5.4. Whenever I would engage the screen saver, the screen would become corrupted. I'd also get into a state where I could not boot (even off of System CDs) without a kernel panic. Only booting the AHT CD worked -- and its tests revealed no problems.

I got AppleCare to replace the video card, and the refurbished one I got is ROM revision 3008 instead of 3011 like my old one.

Everything is back to normal -- so the card was definitely defective.

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Answer 6

Jul 7, 2008 11:49 PM in response to rcgordon

OK, I have a 7/04 24" iMac (white) 2.16GHz, 1MB RAM.

I recently started having "soft" freezes, (mouse will move, but nothing functions, windows will hang in mid-genie effect), massive artifacts, horizontal lines would appear in various windows, etc. The problem was getting worse by the minute. I went out and bought Leopard, thinking that would help, but the problem got worse! Then came the multiple kernel panic starts. It appeared that the system was having a major meltdown.

Tech support told me to reset my SMC...
I unplugged the power, unpluged all peripherals--naked unit. Held in the power button for 30 sec or more. Plugged in the power cord, held in the pwr button for another 30 sec. replugged in the peripherals, restarted. Same trouble.

So A few hours later I try it again, but cleared the area...(hint)
For the first time since I own this unit, I can now easily hear the fan.

But, guess what I figured out that nobody I have read has mentioned before?
Guess what I bought and installed just a day or so before these problems began?
A router, a Linksys Wireless N (WRT310N). And guess where it so nicely fits?
That's right, *+just beneath the monitor+*. I had not realized how critical keeping that area unobstructed is. The heat coming out of that router coupled with the blocked fan resulted in quick overheating and all these problems.

So, a combination of resetting the SMC, installing iStatPro (to monitor temp) and freeing up the real estate under the monitor has given me several hours of trouble free operating. Keeping my fingers crossed!!!

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Answer 7

Jul 9, 2008 3:09 AM in response to rcgordon

I've got the same problem of Freezing Mac Pro
"08/07/08 13:57:41 kernel NVChannel(GL): Graphics channel exception! status = 0xffff info32 = 0x8 = Fifo: Watchdog Timeout Error
08/07/08 13:57:41 kernel 0000000c
08/07/08 13:57:41 kernel 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
08/07/08 13:57:41 kernel 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
08/07/08 13:57:41 kernel 00000000 00000000 00070003 "

My mac pro si a :

"Mac Pro - MacPro1,1
Dual-Core Intel Xeon - 2 GHz
Process : 2 - 4 Mo
RAM : 4 Go"

"NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT :
VRAM : 256 Mo
ROM : 3011
Moniteurs :
Cinema : LCD - 1680 x 1050"

PRAM Reset, autorisations repaired … Nothing better !!!
A2 solutions :
• Video card
• or motherboard

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Answer 8

mvic

Level 1

0 points

Jul 16, 2008 2:01 PM in response to DarkVador44

"I've got the same problem of Freezing Mac Pro"

...me too!

I also have:

Dual Core Intel- 2.66 GHz and NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT ROM 3011
running 10.4.11

Started with kernel panic and frozen desktop, a reboot fixed it.
Then the big video square artifacts started showing up ending with a kernal panic and it got worse after a reboot.

In safe mode evrything is ok.

Apple Hardware Test is ok.

Machine has no problem booting with an ATI graphics card ( from a intel quad core, The Quad core will not output or recognize the nvidia 7300GT card ( maybe it is not suported..?))

I tried to run the 7300 firmware update, but the message is : machine don't need the update.

I have double checked the RAM, fans and HDD and disconnected all external equipment.

I have one other 2.66 Dual core running 10.4.11 and 7300GT /3011 that don't have the problem yet..

Is it possible to downgrade the ROM version on the card ?

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Answer 9

Aaron H

Level 2

400 points

Aug 28, 2008 12:35 PM in response to mvic

Same exact symptoms here and all due to the fact that three of my GeForce 7300GT cards went bad.

There is a known issue with these cards in that certain capacitors on the board are prone to swelling thus rendering the cards completely useless.

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Answer 10

A Davey1

Level 1

29 points

Sep 8, 2008 1:10 PM in response to rcgordon

Same problem here. It's happened to 2 of our MacPros with GeForce 7300 GT.
It was replaced under warranty, but we have 8 more of these f'ing machines and I'm not about to have my designers without a workstation while AppleCare re-analyzes the problem when I can just replace the video card...

Does anyone have a good replacement card for the failing NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT's?

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Answer 11

Sep 22, 2008 6:44 AM in response to A Davey1

Having exactly the same problem as all those above. In fact, this am, I cannot even get my monitor to power up at all. I suspect it's the card, but I'm wondering if instead of a replacement, I get the upgrade to the 8800GT, if I can expect more of the same?

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Answer 12

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Sep 22, 2008 6:55 AM in response to TommyGnosis

Or try the Radeon 3870 for $217.
http://www.barefeats.com/harper16.html
http://www.barefeats.com/harper15.html

And, up the fan speeds to 1000 rpm in the meantime, especially with 3GHz and 12GB.
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/23049/smcfancontrol

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Answer 13

Sep 23, 2008 3:28 AM in response to The hatter

That's funny... I never thought to look at this. I got my old card up and running, and set my minimum fan speed to 1200 rpm, and the problem has disappeared. Thanks so much for the help. Cannot believe I overlooked this solution, though I didn't see it posted anywhere. Perhaps my search skills are not up to par.

thanks again!

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Answer 14

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Sep 23, 2008 5:01 AM in response to TommyGnosis

Cooling graphic cards -

Apple no longer sells the 7300GT (but probably has them for warranty work).

The same symptoms, problems and solutions X1900 owners have had to deal with often worth investigating. http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/ has a number of tips, reports, and reviews.

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Answer 15

A Davey1

Level 1

29 points

Nov 3, 2008 5:20 PM in response to rcgordon

Just replaced our 4th Mac Pro/7300GT with a new ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT Graphics Upgrade Kit.
It solves the problem and only for $140. Sure they are under warranty, the problem is time. We have 3 more machines from this generation so now I keep at least one 2600 XT at the ready.

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