Mac Studio Random Crashes

Question

Mac Studio Random Crashes

I've had my Mac Studio for over a year with no issues. About a month ago it just started crashing randomly. At first I thought it was related to my LG TV/Monitor so I purchased a new monitor. However after about a week it started crashing again. I tried fresh installs of the OS and the crashes would slowly return.

I begrudginly updated to Mac OS Sonoma and it was fine for about a week, then the crashes returned. It would also crash in safe mode.

In the end I took it to an apple ( reseller ) in Bali. They had it for two weeks - they reinstalled the firmware & OS and kept YouTube playing for a week with no crashes. When I got the Mac home and started configuring the Mac how I like it - it crashed several times that evening. I had not installed any software, I was just setting the Mac up the way I like it to run with hot corners etc. During these crashes I was still using the LG TV as a monitor so I decided to wipe her clean ( again) and run on my new monitor.

Surprisingly it hadn't crashed using the fresh install and new monitor, I even loaded up a few benchmark apps to give the system some stress trying to invoke the crashes again - and it didn't crash. - so I put it down to a defect with the LG TV as a monitor.

It's worth noting the only app I have installed and used is google chrome and my Timing app that tracks my time.

It's been a week and now the crashes are back. There are no obvious reasons for the crashes. Although the crashes have been sporadic, I have just installed Adobe Creative Cloud and Acrobat - ten minutes after I installed it, it crashed again.

I purchased EtreCheckPro and to date there has not been any major issues found. However it crashed about ten minutes ago and it is now showing a Crash report, I have posted it below and here is a link to the EtreCheckPro Report

Any help or advice would be awesome - thanks in advance

Crash Log

Mac Studio, macOS 14.1

Posted on Dec 12, 2023 2:53 AM

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Answer 1

den.thed

Level 10

82,564 points

Dec 13, 2023 6:45 AM in response to tonyfromweybridge

Hi Tony

Turn on "Prevent automatic sleeping when the display is off" and only allow the display to turn off during the day.

Then test manual Sleep from the dropdown menu at night to see if it still crashes.

If it will not sleep without crashing, Shutdown at the end of each day.

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Answer 2

Dec 12, 2023 8:41 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Hey Grant appreciate your time and input.

It's worth noting I was experiencing the crashes before I installed any software, and I was just setting up the Mac the way I like it.

The timing tracker software is an essential tool for my work. I've been using it for over a year with no issues. I'm also running it on a 2017 MacBook Air & a 2016 MacBook Pro ( when my Mac Studio doesn't work) with no issues at all. It sends the info to the timing cloud to sync with my other devices. Timing app does send notifications however I've never heard any sounds associated with it.

Same for chrome - yes you're right in how much power it sucks however - on a Mac Studio M1 Max with 64 gig of ram we would like to think it would run better than on my other two Macs.

Yesterday I set the Mac to restart automatically after a power failure. And sure enough it crashed at some point, when it reboots it asks me to either restore my computer or select a start up disk. I select the startup disk and then it will work again. - this is odd behavior. I popped out last night and when I returned the Mac just had a flashing orange light - I just switched everything off and went to bed.

This morning I've powered it up and she's working fine.

With regards to the crashes/ power offs they seem to happen after the Mac has been on for a few hours at least and more in the evening when it has been on all day. The Mac doesn't ever seem to get warm, I've only heard the fans go once in a year after excessive AI image creation.

It's also worth noting I'm in Indonesia and they don't have an earth out here. Before I bought the new screen I purchased a APC Stabilizer, Automatic Voltage Regulator which also Improved the crashes for a week or so and then they returned.

The frustrating is it's so hard to replicate the crashes. Today the EtreCheckPro Report is looking fine.

Thanks again and much appreciated

Tony

EtreCheckPro Report.

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Answer 3

Jan 9, 2024 8:21 AM in response to tonyfromweybridge

Just giving an update on the random crashes. - I have wiped the Mac clean so many times now, I have suspected software causing the issue and I've not installed the suspect software on fresh installs and it still crashes. When I say "crash" it just powers off. Sometimes when I try to power it on again it just switches off straight away - I need to pull out the power cord for 20 seconds before it will power up again.

One friend said it could be thermal paste? - I'm currently in Bali, Indonesia and there is humidity and it's warm here. I've never heard the fans come on and the unit is always cool to the touch.

I've installed TG Pro to monitor the heat and I have an external fan blowing on the unit constantly ( just in case)

it runs idle ( no programs running) at 40-50c - is that normal for a Mac Studio ( that's with a big external fan blowing on it)

Below is the Electrical and Operating Requirements from the apple website.

Line voltage: 100–240V AC
Frequency: 50Hz to 60Hz, single phase
Maximum continuous power: 370W
Operating temperature: 50° to 95° F (10° to 35° C)
Storage temperature: –40° to 116° F (–40° to 47° C)
Relative humidity: 5% to 90% noncondensing
Operating altitude: tested up to 16,400 feet (5000 meters)

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Answer 4

Jan 10, 2024 6:47 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks Grant,

I've completed several clean wipes and installs, I've restricted using certain software in case it is a software issue. The Mac has crashed ( turned itself off) even after a clean install with no software installed. It is NOT software related in my opinion because of the trial and errors I've been doing.

This is one of the reasons now I'm thinking it might be heat related.

The Electrical and Operating Requirements from the apple website for a Mac Studio M1 Max state;

Operating temperature: 50° to 95° F (10° to 35° C)

My M1 Mac Studio runs Idle at 41c and can quickly go up into the 58c + if I run a program like After Effects ( to be expected) however I'm curious what temperatures would the Mac Studio turn off to protect itself from over heating?

When I do a render in AE it will surely heat up and turn itself off.

Also to add I've had clean Etrecheck reports and nothing to show in the apple diagnostics

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Answer 5

Dec 14, 2023 11:29 PM in response to den.thed

Thanks Den I already had this switched on as part of my Mac setup.

I can report that the Mac hasn't crashed for a couple of days - let's hope by me typing that I haven't jinxed myself! ;)

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Answer 6

Dec 12, 2023 8:24 AM in response to tonyfromweybridge

I see no obvious Bad Actors.

The crash was in CoreAudio, and was a page fault -- a reference to memory not owned by the caller.

It surprises me that your Timing tracker software is shown on the list of major energy users. I suggest you try in-installing that to see if maybe it is doing something unusual, like making a call to play a sound, and causes a crash far downstream.

Google chrome is the biggest resource hog around. if you can possibly get by with Firefox or Safari or ANY other browser, you will be far better off.

(there was in interesting historical case where Disk Warrior would do its work correctly, then crash your Mac trying to play its 'success' sound.)

Also:

I have never seen a report where this Apple system call ns Attributed String Agent used so much CPU, RAM and showed as consuming major resources. Documentation says it is associated with fonts and kerning.

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Answer 7

Jan 10, 2024 8:17 AM in response to tonyfromweybridge

The diagnostics generally does not catch subtle problems, but it DOES one very important test that applies here.

The fans used in Macs have a built-in RPM sensor, that the computer can read back. At one point during the diagnostics, the fans are run on Maximum, and it roars, but the software can see that the fan is spinning at the correct speed.

So passing the diagnostic says your fans are working as designed.

Do you have sufficient clearance behind the air exit grille for the hot air to dissipate? Have you modified the air exit grille or applied filter foam? is the bottom (which contains the air Intake) sitting on a Hard flat surface (not fuzzy) so as not to impede air intake? Can fresh cool air be drawn in at the bottom?

Macs should be ale to run all day every day at up to 60 degrees C. If the temperature gets up to 100 degrees C, they will do an uncontrolled emergency power off to save themselves from heat damage

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Answer 8

Jan 11, 2024 5:21 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

thanks Grant I replied on another post

However for anyone reading this I'll post the same reply here and to add, I have my Mac Studio on it's side with an exterior fan blowing in - I'm not sure that would be detrimental to the Mac?

....I'm now starting to believe my problem is just a climate issue. I live in Bali and it's super hot here during the day. I've just moved my desk to outside where there is more air flow ( not much ) however since i've installed the temp app I have been monitoring the conditions.

During the day it averages 41c - I worked through the night last night and it dropped to 38c during the night as it was much cooler and the Mac was cold to touch. I've also had an exterior fan blowing on the Mac at close range. So far no crashes. ( Hoorah!)

I have a feeling there might be a lot of dust in the unit too - not sure how to tackle that one as I don't want to open it up. Maybe some Air in a can might help

If anything changes ill be sure to post -

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Answer 9

Jan 11, 2024 8:30 AM in response to tonyfromweybridge

I have encountered many different devices over the years that 'got too hot'.

One solution I have used to good effect is to increase the space UNDER the device to in excess of 5/8 inch (about 16 mm). This is the smallest space that allows a convection current to form UNDER the bottom plate, and allow the bottom plate to act as additional cooling. if found this to provide some improvement even on devices that do not have air intakes on the bottom.

My usual solution is to add 'tall' (or multiple) rubber feet to the existing rubber feet to increase the clear air space.

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