MacBook Pro 2011 17" hard freeze

Scott, my experience matched yours up to the point that Apple asked me to reset the SMC and NVRAM. After that the issue hasn't re-occured (2 days and counting). Which is weird - doesn't seem to be a black and white hardware/software issue for me.

Replicated your tests on mine, got 9 terminals up and running, all CPUs maxed out, 0% idle, obviously the temps up at 90 degrees and both fans are spinning hard, but no freeze. Switched between Intel and AMD graphics, all OK. I'm typing this at the same time.

The problem appears to be related if not directly caused by the graphics switching.

These solutions come from this thread and others. *I have had zero lock-ups since.*

1. No software solution - disable automatic graphics switching in the energy pane.
2. Install gfxCardStatus to force either chipset.
3. Install smcFanControl to monitor temp sensors and force a minimum fan speed of at least double (4000 RPMs)

All solutions are free. I'm using both tools to best monitor and control the problem.

Until a firmware update is released to address the issue then this will be necessary.

I haven't installed anything, just unchecked that box in the Energy Saver that turns off the automatic graphics switching. recorded my meeting last night using BoinxTV, with an HD cam hooked up to a Matrox input box, a blue yeti usb mic, & doing a live screen capture of another mac using screen sharing. Didn't freeze or anything.

What the ****?
Was it delivered like that?

I got my MBP 2.2 15" HR today.. no crash yet (I just played 2 hrs of Crysis under Bootcamp and fans didnt even turn on).
But I havent had any switching procedures yet as I work with an external screen attached to the MBP.
However I noticed a bug, on (re)starts it fails to recognize the external monitor. I need to unplug/plug it back in to get it working, which is really annoying.
(Also I'm running gfxcardstatus set on auto, smcFanControl and iStat Pro)

Wow.. i'd send it back in for a new one asap!

Also since my last post i've been stress-testing my machine a little with Photoshop running, Handbrake encoding a video, 4 instances of Quicktime playing video, 1 instance of VLC and Youtube doing 720p fullscreen whilst Spotlight is indexing the main-drive and Timemachine doing a full backup (also had Photobooth open).
Also running Skype and Adium.

Test lasted around 15 mins.

CPU hitting 89°C max. with fans at 6000rpm max.

Your fix of using smcFanControl didn't work for me. I set the fan RPMs to a minimum of 4000, heard them kick in a bit, then launched Starcraft 2. As soon as I went to change the video resolution in Starcraft the screen froze while the music continued playing. The fans also ramped up quite a bit while it was frozen like this and I eventually had to hard reboot it.

Its already a replacement machine too! I stress tested mine earlier and never crashed once. Yet randomly with just one thing open it will freeze completely or appear to free yet still be working in the background

So I shipped my computer out yesterday, and this morning I noticed it was being repaired. Now I've the following:

*Step 2 - Service*
On hold - Need information (16-Mar-2011)

I wonder what kind of information they need? I did leave the DVD rip of "The Jerk" that I was using to test with Handbreak on the desktop, perhaps they're watching it (it's a classic).

Can anyone who has "stress tested" their laptop please make sure to do the test where you instal boost as others in this thread have mentioned and make sure you are on the AMD GPU at the time.

I am mentioning this because I can stress test all day long without a crash but certain scenarios such as installing boost or changing resolution in Starcraft 2 will always cause a a crash if on the AMD GPU.

Sorry, I should clarify. The SMC Fan Control is really for monitoring purposes at this point. It's been determined that it's a problem with switching. The gfxCardStatus can help with that.

I would only force it on discrete though when you are going to be doing things that cause it to switch frequently, as it's after that process that it has a chance to lock up. Note that forcing the integrated one works just as well if you don't mind the slower speed and prefer battery life.

The GPU locking up is why people report that audio and other things unrelated to the GPU continue to work after the freeze (Ventrilo still playing audio, etc.). A firmware update is most likely needed, but I'm not in engineering :P

If you're doing something that always causes it to be in one mode continuously (as others note: having an external monitor attached forces discrete on) and not switch back-and-forth a lot, then that's why you're not seeing it happen to your machine.

Also, setting the fan speed above the minimum in SMC Fan Control is not needed. I've changed mine back to the default speeds to reduce unnecessary wear.

I don't think the problem is with switching. I used gfxCardStatus to lock the graphics on discrete and I still had the exact freeze mentioned when trying to install boost via macports. Also same problem when exiting from a fullscreen game such as Starcraft 2. I do however think it is related to the graphics card as sound and other processes do continue in the background

Very strange then. Have been going for 7 hours now playing WoW encoded 2 DVDs running 4-5 apps on top of those, Safari, iTunes, QuickTime playing a movie, and others. Freeze seems to only happen using dynamic switching with testing, and would happen within minutes of doing all or part of that before. Well I hope that eng figures it all out soonish. Sorry to hear that didn't resolve it temporarily for you.

my 20" cinema display & 2011 17" MBP run together very nicely. unchecked the auto gpu switching. ran BoinxTV - heavy GPU use - without any issue on tue for 1.5 hrs recording a meeting with soem gfx.

Can anyone who gets the lockup problem while compiling boost confirm that setting the graphics card to only integrated or only discrete (AMD) resolves the hang problem? I really would like to purchase this machine, but I do a ton of development so the compiling boost test hits very close to home.

Thanks in advance to anyone who is able to run this test and confirm / deny.

My MBP also freezes almost certainly when exiting full screen Programs (World of Warcraft most times) after I spend some time in them.
Once even viewing a picture in Quicklook (full screen) caused the freeze.