Macbook Pro 16 inch panic (PowerPlay Failed Resume)

I actually don't think it is strictly a software issue. Several people have said the problem was resolved by a logic board replacement. It may be a software issue in the sense of an incompatibility between the OS and some characteristic of the processor or other hardware, but from my investigation and other peoples' experience, hardware is almost certainly a factor.

The specs for my two 16" machines --one with the problem and one without--only differ in a couple of respects. The one without the issue is a 2.3 GHz 8 core i9 processor, 64 GB RAM and 2 TB SSD and the machine with the problem is 2.4 GHz, 8 core i9, 64 GB RAM and 4TB SSD.

Both have the same graphics card--Radeon Pro 5500M 8GB--and both are running macOS 10.15.5 (19F101). The only apparent differences between the two machines are the processor and the 4TB drives, and the fact that the problem machine was built a couple of months later. Everything else seems identical including Boot ROM and Kernel Version.

Whether or not a coincidence, the problematic machine has the same specs as snowdoniafan's. I do see another poster reported the problem with a 2.3 GHz, 16 GB model, but didn't say what size SSD. As I said, all things considered, including yosefitche's report that a logic board replacement cured the problem, leads me to believe hardware plays some role in this. We will see what happens when I get the new machine back from Apple.

It could be a faulty logic board.

I ended up bringing the machine in for repair at an Authorized Apple repair specialist in NYC, and they replaced the logic board and Touch ID button, and I haven't had the issue since. It's been about two weeks.

problem fixed.

hey replaced. the mother board finally !

Dave

*** Apple has to be very careful not to spoil its name ...such a problem should not happen and they must check before new model leaves apple factory! (all must be checked actually).....

Yes, I got it back within about 5 days and since then I haven't had the problem again. I'm speculating but it feels like this is an elusive problem that is affecting silicon in a non-deterministic way, and Apple isn't quite sure which stock will have the problem and which won't, and they haven't been able to develop reliable diagnostics for it. That means if you're unlucky, you get a Mac with it. If you send it in for a repair, if you're lucky you get a replacement board without the problem, and if you're doubly unlucky, as I was, the replacement has the problem as well. Second repair was the charm in my case. I hope Apple figure it out, because as the guy at the Apple store admitted, it's crazy for us to have to deal with such problems on such an expensive piece of hardware.

Frustratingly, a lot of 2019 16 inch MacBook Pro users are having similar problems, myself included. It has been an ongoing issue for months that Apple has failed to resolve. If you adjust your energy preferences as recommended in the below thread, you will probably see an improvement.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251244835

I went to Genius Bar last month (about June 16) and was told that this was a known problem and to wait for an update. Meantime, turn off graphics switching in Energy Saver settings. So why no acknowledgement from Apple ? Or timeline for fix ? I've seen threads on this that go back to December 2019. This is a $3k+ machine. A real scandal !

Hello Guys,

i had this panic thing in the end they changed the mother board mac 16inch 1 week after i purchased it

Apple has to check properly prior releasing new models. it does not make good name for them !!!!!

after. they replaced my computer mother board is working good ...it should not happen in the first place ..

i am very angry !!!! waited 2.5 weeks till i got it back

Apple please wake up, if you dont want to lose Mac users !!!!!!!

good luck panic problem guys (now you know its. mother board (must replace)

Dave

Seems fine after a couple days, after logic board & touch ID pad replacement. I ended up buying Mac Air as well for backup while machine was in repair, 2 weeks. I can't be without a computer. We'll see if this holds up.

Kennybroh,

Sounds like you're going through exactly what I went through. What fixed it for me what bringing it in for repair and having a new logic board installed.

Hey there ddbullfrog,

Thanks for reaching out to Apple Support Communities. I understand your Mac is restarting unexpectedly. I’ll be happy to help with this.

If your Mac is restarting because of a problem, start by checking your software:

• ‘Install all available software updates.
• If your Mac suspects that a particular app caused the restart, it might ask whether you would like to move the app to the Trash. Click Move to Trash, then contact the software developer to see if a software update is available.
• Use safe mode to try to isolate the cause of the issue.
• Reinstall macOS. If the issue continues after reinstalling macOS, check your hardware.’

If the restarting continues and those steps have no impact on this, check your hardware:

• How to use Apple Diagnostics on your Mac

Take a look at this link for more details and let me know if this helps:

• If your Mac restarted because of a problem

Regards.

Disabling graphics switching has not resolved the problem for me. I'm amazed this isn't a more well publicised issue as many people seem to be having the problem.

As above, some people report having their logic board replaced, and some say it fixed it while some say it does not (check other forums for that info). Some report that 10.15.6 Beta 4 Fixes it, but I have tried that and it did not fix it for me.

I am still having the same problems on the latest Catalina 10.15.5 and have tried fully formatted re-installs, SMC & PRAM resets etc and every combo of power settings all to no effect. I have also tried Windows under bootcamp and still get issues.

The on board hardware diagnostics do not report a problem. Apple support when I contacted them suggested there is a software fix in the pipeline but can not give a date and only give taking it in to a Genius Bar as an option (difficult during Covid).

I am having the exact same issue with the exact same problem report.

This is clearly a bug in MacOS 10.15.4. I was just using the machine, closed the lid, came downstairs and when I opened the lid the system rebooted and displayed this report. Machine was 100% charged.

C'mon Apple.... this is really a problem.

Just adding my experience. I've had this problem for a little over a month. At first I'd just get the symptom after deep sleep that I'd open the lid, hear a quick, loud burst of the fans and then realize the machine is restarting. Sometimes I'd get that grey on black "Your system restarted because of a problem." When the boot finished of course I'd get the kernel panic notice. It was only happening every few days at first so I gritted my teeth and bore it. Then one day it really flipped out and started not showing that the battery was charging when plugged into its official adapter; I know this is a known bit of Apple weirdness, but that day it did the reboot-after-sleep thing some three times and then started indicating that it was charging when not plugged in. I assumed some sort of power regulator hardware issue and took it to the Genius Bar. They sent it for repair and my logic board and Touch ID hardware were replaced. The very day I got it back the reboot-after-sleep happened twice, so the new hardware didn't fix it.

That time I did use Migration Assistant. I went back to the Genius Bar and they ran diagnostics and 2 days later told me they'd found no problem. On their suggestion, on the chance that it was some sort of bad software/kernel interaction, last night I erased it and re-installed Catalina with no migration. Went to bed and it did the reboot-after-sleep when I woke up this morning. That led me to a search which led me to this thread. I'll try the power management settings, but I do want to report that replaced logic board and Touch ID hardware did not work for me. I am now on 10.5.6, upgraded from 10.5.5 the day I got it back after the hardware repair, so if Apple was working on a fix for this release it clearly hasn't worked. Fingers crossed for 10.5.7, or their figuring out the hardware fault or whatever it takes. It's pretty frustrating to barely be able to take advantage of this premium, and premium priced device.

This issue Started for me 2-3 weeks ago and i've tried all the fixes and nothing has worked but what i usually do before i get up and walk away from the Mac is turn on Star trek on Netflix and let it play it keeps it from going to sleep or being idle, that has helped me to keep it on all day without it erroring or crashing but soon as i forget to do that and run to pee or something, its crashed and restarted with this error... i made my wife mad by buying this mac because i really needed it, but the price being so outrageous and now having this issue after only having it for 3 months, makes me second guess buying more apple products.