Kernel: IOSurface buffer allocation size is zero

I tend to receive the above message when listening to Itunes, this message can cause itunes to pause the music and sometimes cause the whole system to crash. Although it does not affect spotify.


I have only recently found out what the problem is, this problem has been going on for a long time. it does get annoying after sometime that your music pauses.


The list of text below has been copied from my Kernel.log and shows that this problem is quite prominent.

Would there be a olution to this? I have previously reinstalled my Operating system, after the reinstallation the problem occurs again. Even after an upgrade to OS X Lion the problem is still there


Mid 2010 Imac, 2.8Ghz Quad Core i5, 8GB ram, 1TB HDD, ATI Radeon HD 5750 1024 MB





rdbus=0)

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: [ PCI configuration end, bridges 8 devices 36 ]

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: FireWire (OHCI) TI ID 823f built-in now active, GUID e80688fffebe3be2; max speed s800.

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: mbinit: done [96 MB total pool size, (64/32) split]

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: Pthread support ABORTS when sync kernel primitives misused

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: com.apple.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib kmod start

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: com.apple.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless kmod start

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: com.apple.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib load succeeded

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: com.apple.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless load succeeded

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient: ready

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: Ethernet [AppleBCM5701Ethernet]: Wake reason GIGE - bonjour - service connect

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: Network wake from BCM5701Enet

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: USBMSC Identifier (non-unique): 000000009833 0x5ac 0x8403 0x9833

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: USBMSC Identifier (non-unique): 00001411A7BE 0x411 0x105 0x300

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: [IOBluetoothHCIController::setConfigState] calling registerService

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: rooting via boot-uuid from /chosen: F995335E-73C3-3050-9BE7-6AD137A3B0CA

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: Waiting on <dict ID="0"><key>IOProviderClass</key><string ID="1">IOResources</string><key>IOResourceMatch</key><string ID="2">boot-uuid-media</string></dict>

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: Got boot device = IOService:/AppleACPIPlatformExpert/PCI0@0/AppleACPIPCI/SATA@1F,2/AppleIntelPchS eriesAHCI/PRT0@0/IOAHCIDevice@0/AppleAHCIDiskDriver/IOAHCIBlockStorageDevice/IOB lockStorageDriver/ST31000528AS Media/IOGUIDPartitionScheme/NotQuiteMaxDisk@2

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: BSD root: disk0s2, major 14, minor 2

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: Kernel is LP64

Jul 26 16:36:23 localhost kernel[0]: BCM5701Enet: Ethernet address c4:2c:03:0f:54:8f

Jul 26 16:36:25 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: Previous Shutdown Cause: 5

Jul 26 16:36:25 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: ** Device in slot: SLOT--1 **

Jul 26 16:36:25 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: DSMOS has arrived

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: 27.597048: ath_get_caps[4036] rx chainmask mismatch actual 3 sc_chainmak 0

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: 27.597073: ath_get_caps[4011] tx chainmask mismatch actual 3 sc_chainmak 0

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: 27.601135: Atheros: mac 128.2 phy 13.027.601140: radio 12.027.601142:

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: 27.601146: Use hw queue 0 for WME_AC_BE traffic

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: 27.601152: Use hw queue 1 for WME_AC_BK traffic

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: 27.601158: Use hw queue 2 for WME_AC_VI traffic

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: 27.601163: Use hw queue 3 for WME_AC_VO traffic

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: 27.601169: Use hw queue 8 for CAB traffic

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: 27.601174: Use hw queue 9 for beacons

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: 27.601235: wlan_vap_create : enter. devhandle=0xd320c610, opmode=IEEE80211_M_STA, flags=0x1

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: 27.601271: wlan_vap_create : exit. devhandle=0xd320c610, opmode=IEEE80211_M_STA, flags=0x1.

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: AirPort_AtherosNewma40: Ethernet address d8:30:62:59:e7:bd

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: IO80211Controller::dataLinkLayerAttachComplete(): adding AppleEFINVRAM notification

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: IO80211Interface::efiNVRAMPublished():

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: NTFS driver 3.8 [Flags: R/W].

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: AirPort: Link Down on en1. Reason 1 (Unspecified).

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: 28.701894: setDISASSOC from disconnectVap

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: 28.701905: switchVap from 1 to 1

Jul 26 16:36:27 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: NTFS volume name BOOTCAMP, version 3.1.

Jul 26 16:36:27 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: nstat_lookup_entry failed: 2

Jul 26 16:36:28: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 26 16:36:27 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: Ethernet [AppleBCM5701Ethernet]: Link up on en0, 100-Megabit, Full-duplex, Symmetric flow-control, Debug [796d,2300,0de1,0300,45e1,0000]

Jul 26 16:36:29 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: macx_swapon SUCCESS

Jul 26 16:36:34 andrew-pc kernel[0]: [ffffff8015319c00][BNBMouseDevice::init][66] init is complete

Jul 26 16:36:35 andrew-pc kernel[0]: [ffffff8015319c00][BNBMouseDevice::handleStart][66] Done

Jul 26 16:36:35 andrew-pc kernel[0]: [ffffff8015a16000][AppleMultitouchHIDEventDriver::start] entered

Jul 26 16:36:35 andrew-pc kernel[0]: [ffffff8015a90d00][AppleMultitouchDevice::start] entered

Jul 26 16:36:56 andrew-pc kernel[0]: udf log: Allow bogus directory length

Jul 26 16:37:14 andrew-pc kernel[0]: AppleBCM5701Ethernet: 0 1 BCM5701Enet::replaceOrCopyPacket worked after N tries

Jul 26 16:40:27 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 16:41:22: --- last message repeated 2 times ---

Jul 26 16:41:40 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 16:43:52: --- last message repeated 6 times ---

Jul 26 16:45:16 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 16:46:22: --- last message repeated 2 times ---

Jul 26 18:25:18 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 18:26:23 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 18:32:19 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 18:34:08 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 18:34:45 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 18:36:22: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 26 18:37:53 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 18:38:52: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 26 18:39:27 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 18:40:17 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 19:27:48 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 19:28:45: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 26 19:28:45 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 19:29:15: --- last message repeated 2 times ---

Jul 26 22:53:21 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 22:56:56 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 22:58:28: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 26 22:58:28 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 22:58:58: --- last message repeated 6 times ---

Jul 26 22:59:00 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 22:59:30: --- last message repeated 5 times ---

Jul 26 23:03:12 andrew-pc kernel[0]: CoreServicesUIAg[590] Unable to clear quarantine `CodeResources': 93

Jul 26 23:03:12 andrew-pc kernel[0]: CoreServicesUIAg[590] Unable to clear quarantine `Growl': 93

Jul 26 23:03:12 andrew-pc kernel[0]: CoreServicesUIAg[590] Unable to clear quarantine `Headers': 93

Jul 26 23:03:12 andrew-pc kernel[0]: CoreServicesUIAg[590] Unable to clear quarantine `Resources': 93

Jul 26 23:03:12 andrew-pc kernel[0]: CoreServicesUIAg[590] Unable to clear quarantine `Current': 93

Jul 26 23:03:12 andrew-pc kernel[0]: CoreServicesUIAg[590] Unable to clear quarantine `Headers': 93

Jul 26 23:03:12 andrew-pc kernel[0]: CoreServicesUIAg[590] Unable to clear quarantine `Resources': 93

Jul 26 23:03:12 andrew-pc kernel[0]: CoreServicesUIAg[590] Unable to clear quarantine `Skype': 93

Jul 26 23:03:12 andrew-pc kernel[0]: CoreServicesUIAg[590] Unable to clear quarantine `Current': 93

Jul 26 23:04:53 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:06:23: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 26 23:08:22 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:18:09 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:22:01 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:24:39 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:26:23: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 26 23:27:36 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:33:49 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:35:58 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:36:28: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 26 23:37:23 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:37:58 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:38:37: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 26 23:38:37 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:39:08: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 26 23:39:52 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:40:36: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 26 23:40:36 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:42:23 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:46:12 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:46:44 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:47:14: --- last message repeated 2 times ---

Jul 26 23:47:58 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:48:38 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:49:36 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:50:19: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 26 23:50:19 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:51:23: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 27 00:50:43 andrew-pc kernel[0]: HFS: Very Low Disk: freeblks: 0, dangerlimit: 154

Jul 27 14:07:46 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 27 14:09:00: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 27 14:09:00 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 27 14:13:16 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 27 14:15:07 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 27 14:15:50: --- last message repeated 3 times ---

Jul 27 14:15:50 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 27 14:16:24: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 27 14:16:26 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 27 14:16:56 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 27 14:17:26: --- last message repeated 2 times ---

Jul 27 14:17:28 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Jul 27, 2011 6:29 AM

Reply
154 replies

Jun 9, 2012 9:16 AM in response to andrew011

This error *only* exists when I am running Google Chrome and open a web-page.


The error does not occur in Safari, Opera, or Firefox.


I assume that this error is related to the embedded Flash player in Chrome.


Google Chrome does not use the system installed Flash Player like other browsers.


Updating Chrome to the latest version still shows this problem.


Suggestion: Use Safari.

Jun 12, 2012 3:34 PM in response to andrew011

I had this problem, everytime I would go to a webpage with flash using Chrome, I would see the page, then a second later it would show a blank page. I tried disabling flash under chrome://plugins and that fixed the problem, although I couldn't view flash stuff anymore. This started happening less than a week ago . . not sure what made it start.


I eventually did a software update, and everything is working fine again, althought I still ge tthe IOSurface: buffer allcoation errors in the sys log.


Before my update I was on Lion 10.7.3, now I'm on 10.7.4. I also noticed that the flash version updated on chrome, not sure what it was before, but now it is: 11.3..300.257 (not 100% sure, but I think it was 11.2.xxx before)

Jun 14, 2012 9:59 AM in response to Kiefer27

I had the same problem with the mention on console (kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero) combined with freezing and 3 loud bips.

Thought it was the ram.


But, since I used chrome and made inactive the two flash plugins, I've got no more kernel message (and no freeze as well).


I do believe in a problem between Adobe Flash Player and Lion… (had no problem at all with Snow Leopard)


Wainting for Moutain Lion, now, to reactivate my plug-ins…

Jun 15, 2012 4:40 AM in response to Florelle

I'm assuming they come from the speaker, right?

If they were diagnose bips (e.g. for bad RAM, etc), they would happen when you start your computer (this is the moment where the Mac checks this). I'm not aware that this changed in “newer” models (and I wouldn't believe it has). Hearing them in the middle of use seems odd to me. When you say it freezes, what exactly freezes? Only the display? The mouse pointer, as well, can't move? And can you recover from the freeze or you're forced to restart?


To check whether it's only the display, you can use iTunes for that (it's how I discovered a problem with my graphics card). When my display froze, I could use the space bar to start/pause iTunes (which was in the foreground). I then realized the system was still running, only the display was not refreshing (except the mouse, which even changed to a hand when doing Command-Tab).

Jun 17, 2012 1:59 AM in response to Anic264b

Thanks Anic,


True, the bips came from the speaker. (Quite loud…)

During the freeze, the display is frozen and the mouse can't move.

The only way to recover is to force to restart.

Thanks for the iTunes advice, but i'm not sure to want to listen my music till the freeze occurs…


Thanks Bryan,

The thread was quite useful.

I did change two chips on my iMac, replacing the 2go by 4go ones…

I changed only two chips because I read somewhere that the freeze could disappear by removing one of the four chips…


By the way, with these new chips, the IOSurface annoucement is still here when I activate the flash plugins of Chrome.

No freeze for the moment being (but it's too early to say).


One question : is there any "good" vertical order for the chips in the slots as far as I put two same chips on the same horizontal line ?

Jul 6, 2012 11:58 PM in response to andrew011

Hi everyboy,

You can fix the flash player issues (ex. youtube)

You just have to install the safari extension AdBlock, restart safari and have fun.

The issues seems to be coming from that ****** advertisement "Mac keeper, mac slow".

Apple should take action in the case against these people, which brings nothing but as ****.

You can test the effectiveness of solution activating and deactivating AdBlock.


My respects

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Kernel: IOSurface buffer allocation size is zero

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