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Level 1

59 points

NVDA(OpenGL): Channel exception!

System freezes after simple task e.g. loading page in Safari (5.0.2 & 5.0.3), cropping image in Preview.

Seems to have only started since 10.6.5 upgrade.

Forcing a restart is the only solution.

Console gives the following at the beginning:
18/11/2010 18:20:12 kernel NVDA(OpenGL): Channel exception! exception type = 0xd = GR: SW Notify Error

Anyone with any ideas/solutions?

 MBP3,1 15 inch 2.2GHz OS 10.6.5 iPhone 3Gs iOS 4.1  iPod Touch 1G OS 3.1.3, Mac OS X (10.6.5)

Posted on Nov 18, 2010 11:29 AM

34 replies

macrobin Author

Level 1

59 points

Jan 6, 2011 1:36 PM in response to macrobin

Upgraded to 10.6.6 today and still get the freeze!!

06/01/2011 21:26:04 kernel NVDA(OpenGL): Channel exception! exception type = 0xd = GR: SW Notify Error
06/01/2011 21:26:04 kernel 0000006e
06/01/2011 21:26:04 kernel 00200000 00008297 00000474 00000010
06/01/2011 21:26:04 kernel 0000047e 000015e0 00000000 0000000a
06/01/2011 21:26:04 kernel 00000000 00000000 00000002
06/01/2011 21:26:04 kernel 00000010 00000000

DrKatz

Level 1

0 points

Jan 7, 2011 4:44 PM in response to macrobin

Upgraded to 10.6.6 just recently. For the last 6 hours system froze 11 times: a few times right after login while launching some apps, but mostly during heavy 3D graphics (MBP 6.2, NVIDIA 330M only used). There were no exceptions in the logs. System simply freezes and you can't do anything but to shutdown the machine by holding power button.

Jan 13, 2011 6:10 AM in response to DrKatz

I'm having the same issue. I had it on 10.6.5 rarely and thought upgrading would help, but it seems that it's only occurring more frequently now.

I see in the logs:

1/13/11 8:48:34 AM kernel NVDA(OpenGL): Channel exception! exception type = 0xd = GR: SW Notify Error
1/13/11 8:48:34 AM kernel 0000006e
1/13/11 8:48:34 AM kernel 00200000 00008597 00000474 00000080
1/13/11 8:48:34 AM kernel 0000047e 00001b0c 1000f010 0000000a
1/13/11 8:48:34 AM kernel 00000000 00000000 00000000
1/13/11 8:48:34 AM kernel 00000080 00000000
1/13/11 8:48:54 AM kernel NVDA(OpenGL): Channel timeout!

Which seems to be the relevant issue. I've noticed this occurring at any time there might be a GPU-switch, though I'm usually locked into NVidia via gfxCardStatus.

I see some people in here are having the issue with the Intel HD as well though...?

Jan 17, 2011 3:21 PM in response to macrobin

Hello, please see my two posts in this other thread for (1) the exact error messages I saw in my logs when my screen froze (they're basically the same as those in this thread), and (2) my fix. http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2666366

Jan 17, 2011 3:29 PM in response to adamsmith1

Considering my issue started immediately after having most of my internals replaced for liquid damage (It's a miracle it was allowed), I think that sounds pretty plausible. I'll talk to the Apple Store about replacing the RAM for free considering it was almost certainly a faulty repair.

They can probably do it in-store pretty quick.

macrobin Author

Level 1

59 points

Feb 2, 2011 6:27 AM in response to macrobin

My MacBook Pro 3.1 with 10.6.6 has same problem, I posted in the following:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2652421&tstart=0

Had the GeForce 8600M GT video card replaced May 2010 (extended warranty for known issue) whilst under 10.6.3.

All went well until 10.6.5 update in November 2010.

System freeze and screen flicker usually coinciding with safari and video but not exclusively so.

01/02/2011 19:58:43 kernel NVDA(OpenGL): Channel exception! exception type = 0xd = GR: SW Notify Error
01/02/2011 19:58:43 kernel 0000006e
01/02/2011 19:58:43 kernel 00200000 00008297 00000474 00000010
01/02/2011 19:58:43 kernel 0000047e 00001408 00000001 0000000a

Only solution is to reboot!!

10.6.6 hasn't resolved it.

Feb 11, 2011 12:47 AM in response to macrobin

I've got a MacBook Pro 15" (mid 2010) with OSX 10.6.6 installed.

My motherboard got replaced one week ago because of a cold junction on the DisplayPort. After restoring it from my backup it started to freeze after maybe 15 minutes of using it (only a hard-reset did work). After reseting the NVRAM it last around one hour until freezing.

NOTE: I did not had any freeze since I received my MBP in August 2010 until the replacement before one week (always using the latest OSX).

At my local AppleStore they told me to do a proper new install because something could be messed up while restoring the machine from my backup with Carbon Copy Cloner.

After the installation everything seemed to be running fine - until I installed Google Chrome. It caused my MBP to freeze within around 10 to 15 minutes. I investigated some more time to dig into the problem and finally I found out that it only happens when using the NVIDIA chip. When forcing my MBP with gfxCardStatus to stay on the integrated Intel graphics chip I couldn't reproduce the freeze.

I found my Console to be full of those "kernel NVDA(OpenGL): Channel exception! exception type = 0xd = GR: SW Notify Error" messages as here in this thread.

+Finally I could reproduce the freeze within 30 to 60 seconds with iMovie '09 (no other app running) by switching very fast between the "Project Library" and "Edit Project" and opening the applications folder from the dock!+

*Solution after visiting the GeniusBar again*: My Motherboard gets replaced one more time due some hardware issues which makes sense because I haven't seen the issue before the first replacement.

I'll keep you informed whether that helps.

Jorasho

Level 2

250 points

Feb 26, 2011 8:36 PM in response to macrobin

Same problem, but this time on a 2009 Mac Pro with a GT 120. Same description as you do, it also seems like it started somewhere around 10.6.6 to me. First I isolated it to be caused by Twitter for Mac and I was able to reach uptimes of around 20 days, but now it seems it also happens on specific websites. For instance when visiting http://vi.nl (a Dutch website about sports), it sometimes plays an intro ad, and sometimes immediately after showing the ad, it flashes and crashes.

I am wondering when Apple will wake up?

psammer

Level 1

0 points

Mar 14, 2011 1:50 AM in response to Jorasho

I am having the same problem with the same exception (MacBook Pro 3,1):
Already any solutions?

Log:
3/14/11 9:22:47 AM kernel NVDA(OpenGL): Channel exception! exception type = 0xd = GR: SW Notify Error
3/14/11 9:22:47 AM kernel NVDA(OpenGL): Channel exception! exception type = 0x1e = Bad Address Accessed Error
3/14/11 9:22:48 AM kernel 0000006e
3/14/11 9:22:48 AM kernel 00200000 00008297 00000474 00000001
3/14/11 9:22:48 AM kernel 0000047e 00001b0c 1000f010 00000017
3/14/11 9:22:48 AM kernel 00000000 00000000 00000000
3/14/11 9:22:48 AM kernel 00000001 00000000
3/14/11 9:22:48 AM kernel 0000006e
3/14/11 9:22:48 AM kernel 00200000 00008297 00000474 00000001
3/14/11 9:22:48 AM kernel 0000047e 00001b0c 1000f010 00000017
3/14/11 9:22:48 AM kernel 00000000 00000000 00000000
3/14/11 9:22:48 AM kernel 00000001 00000000
3/14/11 9:22:49 AM kernel 00000069

psammer

Level 1

0 points

Mar 19, 2011 9:42 AM in response to psammer

The error disappeared!
I downloaded and ran the installer:
"Mac OS X v10.6.6 Update Combo": http://support.apple.com/kb/dl1349

Now my MacBook runs without problems since almost one week. I had this error every day or even in minute intervals.

macrobin Author

Level 1

59 points

Mar 26, 2011 9:46 AM in response to macrobin

On morning of Tuesday updated Flash (to 10,2,153,1) closely followed by OS X 10.6.7.......

4 days have elapsed and I have yet to have a recurrence of the system freeze (previously happening at least once a day).....

Things are looking good.... Happy Days!!

psammer

Level 1

0 points

Mar 27, 2011 11:14 PM in response to psammer

Unfortunately my previous "fix" (reinstalling "Mac OS X v10.6.6 Update Combo", meanwhile updated to OS X 10.6.7) did NOT solve the problem.
The error disappeared for about 2 weeks, but now it is back again - happening rarely, but it does.

JontyLP

Level 1

0 points

Jul 3, 2011 8:21 AM in response to psammer

Hi all

I've tried a myriad of things. I also have the same issue. I have a MacBook Pro 2010 model 15" i7 2.66 with the Geforce GT 330M with OSx 10.6.8 (the latest OSx). I've tried replacing the RAM, re-installing the OS to 10.6.6 (the Snow Lion OSX install that came with the machine) and then doing a combo update to 10.6.8 and fixing the disk permissions with Disk Utility. The only way I can use my machine is by using the gfxCardStatus application and forcing it to use the Intel HD onboard graphics. If I don't, after a few minutes/hours the screen becomes pixelated and the machine crashes and I need to do a hard restart.

I've been told to replace the Logic Board, but I know some people have tried and still had issues. I wish Apple would address this - there are loads of people with this issue and plently of threads on the support forums. I'm not optimistic about 10.7 (Snow Lion) resolving this...

Kevenly

Level 1

25 points

Jul 31, 2011 2:53 PM in response to macrobin

After installing Lion, Killing Floor (via Steam) has locked up my system twice, usually right at launch. This never happened under Snow Leopard. Pages of this stuff:

Jul 31 14:39:10 kernel[0]: NVDA(OpenGL): Channel exception! exception type = 0x6 = Fifo: Parse Error

Jul 31 14:39:30 kernel[0]: NVDA(OpenGL): Channel timeout!

Jul 31 14:39:30 kernel[0]: 00000069

The sound loops, the cursor remains active on screen, but I have to do a hard reset.

The first time it happened there was nothing in the log (always a bad sign).

It happened just now and there is the above (repeated many times) in the log.

This never happens when I'm booted into Windows XP. Not a once, ever, and I spend a lot of time there for games. Yet this has happened twice in the last two weeks from trying to play Killing Floor, and I have only tried to play it under Lion maybe 4 times. It happened right at start up, with a cool computer and no chance for overheating. As soon as it loaded a map to play, that was the end. It was the same way the first time.

Should I have my logic board replaced? This is a late 2010 2.8GHZ i7 MBP 17" with 8G RAM and 512GB SSD.

The fact that it never happens under windows suggests a software issue, but the fact that it locks the computer up so hard suggests a hardware problem. I don't know what to think because some people here have had their logic boards replaced only to have the issue recur.

On a second note, I do get graphical corruptions on my screen at differnet times, especially after installing Lion.

Yet again it never happens under Windows.

Incidentally I keep "automatic graphics switching" turned OFF at all times.

Aug 4, 2011 8:44 PM in response to macrobin

Same issue on a MBP Late 2010 (i5), the only way I can use the computer is by forcing it to use the Intel HD Graphics using gfxCardStatus..... but I wouldn't really call that a solution 😟

Nothing new? Unfortunately my Macbook Pro isn't covered by AppleCare anymore :/

NVDA(OpenGL): Channel exception!