mid 2012 macbook pro kernel panicking since video chat, hdmi

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mid 2012 macbook pro kernel panicking since video chat, hdmi

My (usually very reliable) Macbook Pro has been kernel panicking about once a day for the last week. The first time it crashed just after I logged out of a video chat on the discord app. Since then it has crashed whenever I connect to a projector via hdmi, or using visual editing software like Indesign or Photoshop. The fact that multiple processes seem to trigger it makes me worry it is a hardware issue.

I have run disk utility first aid a couple of times. I rebooted in safe mode and still got a kernel panic when I connected to the projector. Any ideas what my next step should be?

Thanks

Report here:

kernel panic report (hdmi to projector connection)

Posted on Nov 18, 2020 11:41 AM

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Answer 1

HWTech

Level 9

69,254 points

Nov 18, 2020 5:34 PM in response to k8_mc

The Kernel Panic you posted is referencing a GPU issue. The 15" model has been known to have GPU issues. If you post a few other Kernel Panics we may be able to tell if there is a pattern in the panics. While I didn't notice any third party software listed in the Kernel Panic log you may also want to post an EtreCheck report here so we can see if there may be any third party software installed that may be causing the problem.

If the issue is due to the GPU, then you could force the laptop to use the Intel GPU instead of the discrete GPU, however, some video functionality will be reduced or removed. To force the laptop to use the Intel GPU you can use the third party app gfxCardStatus:

https://github.com/steveschow/gfxCardStatus/releases

If you cannot boot the laptop even in Safe Mode, then you can try this method instead:

http://www.dosdude1.com/gpudisable/

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Answer 2

k8_mc Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 19, 2020 1:58 AM in response to HWTech

Thanks, this is very helpful. Here are a couple more crash logs. I cut out some of the lower portions to meet the text limit:

discord panic (abridged)

indesign panic (abridged)

photoshop panic (abridged)

I know my hard drive could use a clean out so I will definitely going on that in the next few days. From reading around others' GPU issues it sounds like it is almost certainly the dGPU at fault, since the most reliable way to cause a panic is connecting to an external display, which means switching from the intel GPU to dGPU from what I've read. I'm just trying to assess how permanent this issue is and whether it is going to get worse. If I just can't use a projector anymore it's annoying but I can live with it. If it starts to interfere with all my graphics work too much and more regularly then I might have to take more drastic action. The gfCardStatus app seems like a good compromise in the meantime, thank you.

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Answer 3

HWTech

Level 9

69,254 points

Nov 19, 2020 8:29 AM in response to k8_mc

The only logs that are really useful are the actual Kernel Panic logs whose file names begin with "kernel" and end in ".panic".

From the EtreCheck report it shows you are using two anti-virus apps. You should only ever use one anti-virus app, otherwise they conflict with one another. Uninstall both anti-virus apps by following the developers instructions. Anti-virus apps are not needed on a Mac and they usually cause more problems than they solve plus they impact system performance.

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Answer 4

mid 2012 macbook pro kernel panicking since video chat, hdmi

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