Q: NVDA(OpenGL): Channel exception!

I have not had the problem since I updated some software a few weeks ago using the Safe Mode technique. To start up in Safe Mode, hold the Shift key down from startup until the login screen appears (it takes a while as the system does some extensive checking). Eventually, you should see "Safe Mode" in red letters. I usually disconnect external drives before starting up in Safe Mode. After that, I run the software install packages. Restart normally (without holding the Shift key down).
Also, some people suggest that you run Disk Utility's disk check and permission repair while in Safe Mode.
I hope this helps.

For the record, I was having major problems with this a couple of weeks ago, but on advice from elsewhere in forums/web, I installed Fan Control (Google Intel Mac Fan Control) and just set the speed of each of the fans slightly higher and haven't had any problems since. Seems something about 10.5.7 makes the GeForce7300 run too hot..?

I'm also tempted to do the permissions repair and taking a can of compressed air to the innards of the beast to further help the situation. If I do, I'll let you know if I run into any problems...

what speed did you set them too?

Set the lower temp threshold to 30.0C, Upper to 80.0C
CPU: 1800
HD: 2500
DVD: 1400

I've not done any really demanding stuff since and also as a desperate measure, before installing Fan Control, I switched off Spaces and turned off various aspects of the interface trickery (such as dock magnification etc) as it was always when such animations were being invoked that the problems occurred. I've left them switched off for the time being. I will probably introduce them back in and see what it does to the system. Again, if I do and I see a result I will add it here.

Anyway, the four temp gauges seem to be maintaining their levels at the low to mid 30s C - I don't have any point of reference as to what they were before, but as I say, the system seems stable for the moment.

Since I upgraded to 10.5.7 both of my main 3D software are freezing (Maya and 3DEqualizer). I can't work anymore with those software. Nobody at the Apple Store and Apple Tech Support found the cause of the problem. They changed my motherboard, all of my ram and they also changed my video card for another Nvidia 7300 GT. All this didn't fixed the problem.

I found out by myself the problem was caused by a video card driver update in 10.5.7
Now I've installed 10.5.6 on another disk partition in order to run my 3D application.

Apple and Nvidia need to fix this problem !!!!!
My video card is the Nvidia 7300 GT (Mac Pro first generation)

Hi,

this is exactly my configuration.
Had all the same problems all over the last weeks. The only solution that worked for me:
Downgrade to 10.5.6 via TimeMachine.
Did it yesterday and all problems are gone.
My guess is, that the reason is an incorrectly programmed NVDA graphic driver.

I am in the club, too, now.
I follow you guys:
- Apple knows about it (yikes, my Apple Care runs out in a month or so)
- It is since upgrade to 10.5.7

Bah - Apple listening?

PS.
I am now doing an archive/install back to original Leo 10.5 - upgrading to 10.5.6 only.

Does anyone knows what is the best way to let Apple know about this problems.Obviously this need to be fix and soon.

I also made a bug report here:
http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html

Thanks about the bug report link. I also reported the problem.

Addition:
I do have now definitly the verification, that these problems must be all about nvidia drivers.
After downgrading to 10.5.6 i bought two brand new graphic cards for my first generation Mac Pro (2006, 2 x 2.66 GHz), first one the ATI Radeon 4870, second one ATI Radeon 3870). Because the 4870 will only work under 10.5.7, i made as a start once again an update to 10.5.7. Then replaced the both Geforce 7300 GT. Since then and absolute "Nvidia free" the whole system works like a charme. Speedy, no freezes, no spinning wheel, total stability. By the way: The official statement on part of apple is, that the new ATI Radeon HD 4870 won’t work on older Mac Pros. Do not believe in that statement. The only concession one has to accept, is the reduced link speed (2.5 GT/s) according to PCI-Version 1,1.

Verification here, too:
- Did the Archive and Install thing
- Upgraded with downloaded 10.5.6 Combo (at http://support.apple.com/downloads/MacOS_X_10-5-6_ComboUpdate )
- Upgrade with Software Update, all BUT 10.5.7

System stable, none of the previous hangs/freezes, no beachbal ever, snappy and free from the BUG (that is B.U.G. - like in SYSTEM BUG, like an Apple ERROR, like Apple HAS TO FIX THIS NOW, read my lips.).

Feels good to be behind the line of beachballs, and I recommend you all do the same. Withdraw.

Anyone have an update on a fix for this yet??? besides the reverting to 10.5.6?

BUMP