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Macbook Pro freezes when Nvidia GeForce is active

Im having a strange issue of having my macbook pro to get freeze quite oftenly. It usually happens more frequently when im watching a movie or playing any sort of game. I noticed this is happening when my Gefore nvidia card is active. I usually keep a track of which gfx card is in use by using the app gfxCardStatus. So ive to turn off and restart my system everytime the system gets freeze and after that im shown with the following exception stack trace. I shall be very thankful for your help and guidance on this issue. I just recently upgraded to 10.6.6 for mac app store update.

Mon Jan 10 08:06:30 2011
panic(cpu 2 caller 0x9cdbfa): NVRM[0/1:0:0]: Read Error 0x00400500: CFG 0xffffffff 0xffffffff 0xffffffff, BAR0 0xc0000000 0x7f5fa000 0x0a5480a2, D0, P0/4
Backtrace (CPU 2), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x92c9b858 : 0x21b50c (0x5d4438 0x92c9b88c 0x223974 0x0)
0x92c9b8a8 : 0x9cdbfa (0xbe32bc 0xc53940 0xbf2424 0x0)
0x92c9b948 : 0xae862a (0x9c7ac04 0x97cf004 0x400500 0x20)
0x92c9b998 : 0x1740b1d (0x97cf004 0x400500 0x0 0x0)
0x92c9b9d8 : 0x1723182 (0x97cf004 0x9c9ba04 0x809000 0x0)
0x92c9ba58 : 0xb09a8d (0x97cf004 0x97d0004 0x0 0x3b12)
0x92c9ba88 : 0x1724ea3 (0x97cf004 0x97d0004 0x80 0x0)
0x92c9bb68 : 0xb09a75 (0x97cf004 0x97d0004 0x0 0x9bd6d7)
0x92c9bb98 : 0x1725f85 (0x97cf004 0x97d0004 0x1 0x0)
0x92c9bbe8 : 0x174a3ff (0x97cf004 0x97d0004 0x0 0x1)
0x92c9bc28 : 0xb4a42c (0x97cf004 0x9cb0004 0x92c9bc5c 0x0)
0x92c9bca8 : 0x174986c (0x97cf004 0x9cb0004 0x40 0x0)
0x92c9bce8 : 0x1727c3b (0x97cf004 0x9cb0004 0x0 0x0)
0x92c9be28 : 0xb072bd (0x97cf004 0x97d0004 0x0 0x0)
0x92c9be68 : 0x9d6e63 (0x97cf004 0x97d0004 0x0 0x0)
0x92c9bf08 : 0x54c5ab (0x0 0xa200280 0x1 0x29f54e)
0x92c9bf58 : 0x54b5dc (0xa200280 0x9ce1b7c 0x92c9bfa8 0x219159)
0x92c9bf88 : 0x54ba36 (0x8ea4880 0x9ce1b7c 0x8af35093 0xffffffff)
0x92c9bfc8 : 0x2a06cc (0x8ea4880 0x0 0x10 0x1189a9a0)
Kernel Extensions in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.nvidia.nv50hal(6.2.6)@0x15f1000->0x1a05fff
dependency: com.apple.NVDAResman(6.2.6)@0x967000
com.apple.NVDAResman(6.2.6)@0x967000->0xc54fff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6)@0x927000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.2)@0x95a000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.2)@0x938000

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task

Mac OS version:
10J567

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 10.6.0: Wed Nov 10 18:13:17 PST 2010; root:xnu-1504.9.26~3/RELEASE_I386
System model name: MacBookPro6,2 (Mac-F22586C8)

System uptime in nanoseconds: 64951379846423
unloaded kexts:
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireSBP2 4.0.6 (addr 0x93465000, size 0x69632) - last unloaded 44957046655411
loaded kexts:
com.vmware.kext.vmnet 3.1.2 - last loaded 44896348546815
com.vmware.kext.vmioplug 3.1.2
com.vmware.kext.vmci 3.1.2
com.vmware.kext.vmx86 3.1.2
org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetAdp 3.2.10
org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetFlt 3.2.10
org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxUSB 3.2.10
org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxDrv 3.2.10
com.bresink.driver.BRESINKx86Monitoring 7.0
com.parallels.kext.prl_vnic 5.0 9220.531002
com.parallels.kext.prl_netbridge 5.0 9220.531002
com.parallels.kext.prl usbconnect 5.0 9220.531002
com.parallels.kext.prl hidhook 5.0 9220.531002
com.parallels.kext.prl_hypervisor 5.0 9220.531002
com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor 1.9.3d0
com.apple.filesystems.autofs 2.1.0
com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyHIDDriver 1.2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleHDA 1.9.9f12
com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyDriver 1.9.9f12
com.apple.driver.AGPM 100.12.19
com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC 1.13
com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient 3.4.5
com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl 1.0.17
com.apple.driver.SMCMotionSensor 3.0.0d4
com.apple.driver.ACPI SMCPlatformPlugin 4.5.0d5
com.apple.Dont Steal_Mac_OSX 7.0.0
com.apple.kext.AppleSMCLMU 1.5.0d3
com.apple.iokit.CHUDUtils 364
com.apple.iokit.CHUDProf 364
com.apple.driver.AudioIPCDriver 1.1.6
com.apple.GeForce 6.2.6
com.apple.driver.AppleLPC 1.4.12
com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl 2.8.68
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelHDGraphics 6.2.6
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelHDGraphicsFB 6.2.6
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCButtons 200.3.2
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyboard 200.3.2
com.apple.driver.AppleIRController 303.8
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBCardReader 2.5.8
com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient 2.6.5
com.apple.BootCache 31
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0d1
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 1.6.3
com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI 4.7.1
com.apple.driver.AirPortBrcm43224 426.36.1
com.apple.iokit.AppleBCM5701Ethernet 2.3.9b6
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 1.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub 4.1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleSmartBatteryManager 160.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 2.1.5
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 1.3.5
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 1.3.1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI 4.1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.5
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 1.6
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 1.3.5
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.4
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient 105.13.0
com.apple.security.sandbox 1
com.apple.security.quarantine 0
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 2.1.11
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement 105.13.0
com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib 1.9.9f12
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileReadCounterAction 17
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileTimestampAction 10
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileThreadInfoAction 14
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileRegisterStateAction 10
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileKEventAction 10
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileCallstackAction 20
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusController 1.0.8d0
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily 4.5.0d5
com.apple.iokit.IOSurface 74.2
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager 2.3.8f7
com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily 10.0.3
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP 2.0.3
com.apple.driver.AppleSMC 3.1.0d3
com.apple.iokit.CHUDKernLib 364
com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily 1.8.0fc1
com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib 1.3
com.apple.iokit.AppleProfileFamily 41.4
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController 1.9.9f12
com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily 1.9.9f12
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI 1.0.8d0
com.apple.nvidia.nv50hal 6.2.6
com.apple.NVDAResman 6.2.6
com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport 2.2
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily 2.2
com.apple.driver.BroadcomUSBBluetoothHCIController 2.3.8f7
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController 2.3.8f7
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily 2.3.8f7
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMultitouch 206.6
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver 4.1.5
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBMassStorageClass 2.6.5
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub 4.1.5
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite 3.9.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice 2.6.5
com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily 1.6
com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily 1.6
com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily 1.6
com.apple.driver.XsanFilter 402.1
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice 2.6.5
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCISerialATAPI 1.2.5
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily 2.6.5
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily 4.2.6
com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family 312
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 1.9
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient 4.1.5
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 2.0.4
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 1.4.0
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 1.6.5
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 4.1.7
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1
com.apple.kext.AppleMatch 1.0.0d1
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 6
com.apple.driver.DiskImages 289
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 1.6.2
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 1.3.5
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.6
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.3.0

Macbook Pro i5 2.4 GHz, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Jan 10, 2011 2:44 PM

Reply
19 replies

Jan 10, 2011 9:38 PM in response to frazii

Same exact problem here. I've been having this problem since 10.6.5 as well...thought 10.6.6 would fix it, but so far no luck. I ran Apple's Hardware Diagnostics Tool (from the install DVD) on it...even did the "Extensive Test" (took about an hour). Everything checked out with the ADHT. I installed the app to monitor which video card is being used today (like you) and I just had a crash before writing this post. I was running the NVIDIA chip at the time of the crash.

I guess I'll have to resort to sending the laptop in to Apple.

Anyone experience this and have a solution? I've heard people with this problem having their logic boards replaced by Apple and STILL having the issue.

Jan 13, 2011 7:32 AM in response to Lockdown

I can replicate this problem by using Photoshop CS5 with GPU support on. All you have to do is zoom in and out a few times and the screen will go blank. However, this is not the only reason the screen will go blank so it is not a CS5 bug nor is it specific to the Nvidia GPU for me. It will also go blank using the integrated graphics on the MB Pro and when doing simple things like browsing the web. Thus I have no idea what the problem is. I'm waiting to get my machine back from Apple for the 2nd time. If other people are having the same problem then it must be a design problem somewhere.

Jan 15, 2011 10:58 PM in response to Lockdown

Im just curious to ask that whether your battery is working correctly with this freezing issue. As what happened with me that my battery health drastically drops to 33% from 90% within a week. My battery has just completed only 166 cycles. Soon after that my Nvidia graphics card starts to behave strangely and starts freezing my screen.

Jan 29, 2011 1:40 PM in response to frazii

Basically the graphics subsystem in Snow Leopard 10.6 is f*-d. This is especially noticeable on Macbook Pro 2010 models with Nvidia 3xx series cards. Extremely frustrating, and there's nothing wrong with the actual hardware, but rather the drivers have gone haywire because Apple wouldn't dedicate a good software engineer to fixing them.

Various trouble is happening with the Nvidia layer, among which - bus conflicts with the hard drive (NVDA channel timeout errors, reportedly fixed for some users who have had their drives replaced), as well as external displays no longer being recognised until they're unplugged and plugged back in, and so on and so on.

Snow Leopard 10.6.4 had very few problems for me so I feel like a fool for updating to 10.6.6.
A new version - 10.6.7 is in the pipeline, with reportedly more graphics fixes. But I am skeptical :/

Jan 29, 2011 2:43 PM in response to frazii

to everyone using gfxCardStatus - i've posted already on this forum that merely using gfxCardStatus may be a source of problems. The way this makes sense is because under certain conditions an application monitoring the ioregistry tree may actually cause OSX to crash upon changes in the said tree. So there's always the option of trying to uninstall gfxCardStatus.

I got so frustrated with graphics in 10.6.6 that I forcefully applied the Snow Leopard Graphics update 1.0 (one I already had on my computer happily before 10.6.6 arrived). At least one of my problems is now gone, and am checking the system to see if it works with this supposedly new kernel and older graphics extensions. If you're feeling adventurous, google that, and use Pacifist to force it to install. Don't ask me for support. I may be advising you to do something wrong here..

Feb 2, 2011 1:34 PM in response to frazii

After upgrading to 10.6.6, I started having occasional (every 2-3 days) screen freezes and frequent (more than once a day) kernel panics matching the one posted above. Finally I downgraded to 10.6.4 a week ago and haven't had a problem since then. I'm pretty sure I didn't have the problem with 10.6.5, but since others have, I'm going to stay at 10.6.4 for now.

My only question will be how to tell if 10.6.7 fixes the problem for me, without having to upgrade to it and then possibly have to downgrade again if it's not fixed? Yuck!

Feb 5, 2011 5:34 AM in response to gmarinov

Hey Guys,

I posted to a similar thread. I had a similar issue...

Connect miniDisplayPort to external monitor and 1 minute to 1 hour later both screens would go blank and the laptop would be locked up. Cap locks key no longer works. Unplugging the miniDisplayPort does work. Have to lean on the power button for several seconds to force reboot.

Here's what I tried with the help of apple support:
1. Failure occurs with Gigaware and Apple VGA converters.
2. Seems to happen faster with overhead projector vs. second desktop monitor
3. Seemed to start happening in only the last month or two. Have had laptop working with monitors/projectors for almost a year.
4. Ran all of the disk utilities.. verify&repair and verify&repair privileges
5. Reset the PRAM
6. Reset the SM? which reset the logic board

None of these things made a difference.

7. Backed up my OSX version from 10.6.6 to 10.6.3. I have now been running for over a week with no issues. This appears to have solved this issue.

There must be a bug that was introduced in 10.6.6 that affects external monitors. Backing up to 10.6.3 is OK as a temporary workaround, however this has other issues.

Hey Apple Engineers,

Please get to the bottom of this so that we can update to 10.6.7 without any issues! THANKS!!

Mar 21, 2011 6:37 AM in response to Arlo Leach1

Oops -- after running happily on 10.6.4 for a few weeks, I got three more freezes over the course of a few days. I finally gave up and took my laptop to the Apple Store to request a repair. The Genius didn't seem aware of a chronic problem, but after three days the laptop came back with a new logic board. I then continued running under 10.6.4 for two weeks with no problems, then upgraded to 10.6.6 again and still have had no problems. So in my case, this seems to have been a hardware problem after all.

Macbook Pro freezes when Nvidia GeForce is active

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