kernel panic when auto switching between dual graphics, Macbook Pro 17 (8.3 / Lion)

Question

Hi guys,I was wondering if you might be able to help me with an issue I&#x27;m having. I reciently bought a new 17 inch Macbook Pro 8.3 that came pre installed with Lion. Ever since I first started it up (before I installed any apps that aren&#x27;t incuded in Lion) I&#x27;ve been having constant but random kernel panic attacks. I&#x27;ve been in contact with Apples support agents and even talked with their senior agents but they haven&#x27;t been able to assist me. The problem report looks like this:-----------------------------------------------------------------Interval Since Last Panic Report:  182041 secPanics Since Last Report:          1Anonymous UUID:                    0577657F-1C3E-4F99-8D46-DBE4A8F848D3Mon Dec 12 20:45:18 2011panic(cpu 0 caller 0xffffff7f81f5bc8c): "AGC GPU REGISTER RESTORE FAILED : rdar://7254528"@/SourceCache/AppleGraphicsControl/AppleGraphicsControl-3.0.16/s rc/AppleMuxControl/kext/AGCPowerManagement.cpp:928Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address0xffffff807f8d3e30 : 0xffffff8000220702 0xffffff807f8d3eb0 : 0xffffff7f81f5bc8c 0xffffff807f8d3f20 : 0xffffff7f81f5fa0f 0xffffff807f8d3f40 : 0xffffff800063c091 0xffffff807f8d3f70 : 0xffffff800023db2c 0xffffff807f8d3fb0 : 0xffffff8000820057       Kernel Extensions in backtrace:         com.apple.driver.AppleMuxControl(3.0.16)[F23C08B3-9067-32EC-B7AF-BAB315A38518]@ 0xffffff7f81f4d000-&gt;0xffffff7f81f6cfff            dependency: com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl(3.0.16)[77F64D0E-E357-3B27-BC05-43EBEBBFE 665]@0xffffff7f81f38000            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily(1.4)[4A5A4624-7A52-3EA0-BB8D-5B265B086727]@0xfffff f7f807cc000            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6.7)[6D54F06A-46B7-37FC-AF22-DE68DC18A1A3]@0xffff ff7f8087f000            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.3.2)[6517D9A6-58F5-3CFC-B021-C882306150D5]@0xff ffff7f80ce1000            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.3.2)[55FF26D3-292D-3B4B-8AB7-1D25C8B4313B]@0 xffffff7f80ca9000            dependency: com.apple.driver.AppleBacklightExpert(1.0.3)[0A996825-0CA7-3ABF-B492-9826A5F046 0F]@0xffffff7f81f4a000BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_taskMac OS version:11C74Kernel version:Darwin Kernel Version 11.2.0: Tue Aug  9 20:54:00 PDT 2011; root:xnu-1699.24.8~1/RELEASE_X86_64Kernel UUID: 59275DFA-10C0-30B3-9E26-F7B5DFB1A432System model name: MacBookPro8,3 (Mac-942459F5819B171B)System uptime in nanoseconds: 69318007665last loaded kext at 52646327280: com.paragon-software.filesystems.ntfs          82 (addr 0xffffff7f82065000, size 278528)last unloaded kext at 42845253273: com.parallels.kext.prl_hypervisor          7.0 14922.693916 (addr 0xffffff7f8205c000, size 360448)loaded kexts:com.paragon-software.filesystems.ntfs          82com.parallels.kext.prl_hid_hook          7.0 14922.693916com.parallels.kext.prl_hypervisor          7.0 14922.693916com.parallels.kext.prl_usb_connect          7.0 14922.693916com.parallels.kext.prl_vnic          7.0 14922.693916com.parallels.kext.prl_netbridge          7.0 14922.693916at.obdev.nke.LittleSnitch          2.4.4com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor          1.9.4d0com.apple.filesystems.autofs          3.0com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC          1.59com.apple.driver.AppleTyMCEDriver          1.0.2d2com.apple.driver.AGPM          100.12.42com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyHIDDriver          122com.apple.driver.AppleHDA          2.1.3f7com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyDriver          2.1.3f7com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient          3.5.9com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl          1.0.26com.apple.kext.ATIFramebuffer          7.1.4com.apple.driver.AppleIntelHD3000Graphics          7.1.4com.apple.driver.SMCMotionSensor          3.0.1d2com.apple.iokit.IOUserEthernet          1.0.0d1com.apple.driver.AppleSMCLMU          2.0.1d2com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X          7.0.0com.apple.driver.AudioIPCDriver          1.2.1com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin          4.7.5d4com.apple.driver.AppleMuxControl          3.0.16com.apple.driver.AppleLPC          1.5.3com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight          170.1.9com.apple.ATIRadeonX3000          7.1.4com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCButtons          225.2com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless          1.0.0d1com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib          1.0.0d1com.apple.BootCache          33com.apple.driver.AppleIRController          312com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyEventDriver          225.2com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyboard          225.2com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient          3.0.1com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage          2.0.1com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub          4.5.0com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI          4.8.9com.apple.driver.AirPort.Brcm4331          512.20.18com.apple.iokit.AppleBCM5701Ethernet          3.0.8b2com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM          1.5.0com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort          2.2.0com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI          4.5.5com.apple.driver.AppleUSBUHCI          4.4.5com.apple.driver.AppleSmartBatteryManager          161.0.0com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons          1.4com.apple.driver.AppleRTC          1.4com.apple.driver.AppleHPET          1.6com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS          1.7com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC          1.4com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC          1.5com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient          167.1.0com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall          3.2.30com.apple.security.quarantine          1com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement          167.1.0com.apple.kext.triggers          1.0com.apple.driver.AppleAVBAudio          1.0.0d11com.apple.driver.AppleHDAHardwareConfigDriver          2.1.3f7com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib          2.1.3f7com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusController          1.0.10d0com.apple.iokit.IOSurface          80.0com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager          4.0.1f4com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily          10.0.5com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP          2.2.4com.apple.iokit.IOAVBFamily          1.0.0d22com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController          2.1.3f7com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily          2.1.3f7com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily          1.8.3fc11com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib          1.3com.apple.driver.ApplePolicyControl          3.0.16com.apple.driver.AppleSMC          3.1.1d8com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily          4.7.5d4com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI          1.0.10d0com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl          3.0.16com.apple.driver.AppleBacklightExpert          1.0.3com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltEDMSink          1.1.3com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltEDMSource          1.1.3com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltDPOutAdapter          1.5.8com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport          2.3.2com.apple.kext.ATI6000Controller          7.1.4com.apple.kext.ATISupport          7.1.4com.apple.driver.AppleIntelSNBGraphicsFB          7.1.4com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily          2.3.2com.apple.driver.AppleFileSystemDriver          13com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltDPInAdapter          1.5.8com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltDPAdapterFamily          1.5.8com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltPCIDownAdapter          1.2.1com.apple.driver.BroadcomUSBBluetoothHCIController          4.0.1f4com.apple.driver.AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController          4.0.1f4com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily          4.0.1f4com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMultitouch          227.1com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver          4.4.5com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice          3.0.1com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily          1.6com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily          1.7com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily          1.7com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub          4.5.3com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite          3.9.0com.apple.driver.XsanFilter          403com.apple.iokit.IOAHCISerialATAPI          2.0.1com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily          3.0.1com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltNHI          1.3.2com.apple.iokit.IOThunderboltFamily          1.7.4com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient          4.5.3com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily          4.4.5com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family          411.1com.apple.iokit.IOEthernetAVBController          1.0.0d5com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily          2.0com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily          2.0.7com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily          4.5.5com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime          1.5.0com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily          1.7.1com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily          1.1com.apple.security.sandbox          165.3com.apple.kext.AppleMatch          1.0.0d1com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet          7com.apple.driver.DiskImages          331com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily          1.7com.apple.driver.AppleKeyStore          28.18com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform          1.4com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily          2.6.7com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily          1.4Model: MacBookPro8,3, BootROM MBP81.0047.B24, 4 processors, Intel Core i7, 2.4 GHz, 4 GB, SMC 1.70f5Graphics: AMD Radeon HD 6770M, AMD Radeon HD 6770M, PCIe, 1024 MBGraphics: Intel HD Graphics 3000, Intel HD Graphics 3000, Built-In, 384 MBMemory Module: BANK 0/DIMM0, 2 GB, DDR3, 1333 MHz, 0x80AD, 0x484D54333235533642465238432D48392020Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM0, 2 GB, DDR3, 1333 MHz, 0x80AD, 0x484D54333235533642465238432D48392020AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x14E4, 0xD6), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.100.98.75.18)Bluetooth: Version 4.0.1f4, 2 service, 11 devices, 1 incoming serial portsNetwork Service: Ethernet, Ethernet, en0Network Service: Wi-Fi, AirPort, en1Serial ATA Device: TOSHIBA MK7559GSXF, 750.16 GBSerial ATA Device: MATSHITADVD-R   UJ-8A8USB Device: FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in), apple_vendor_id, 0x8509, 0xfa200000 / 3USB Device: hub_device, 0x0424  (SMSC), 0x2514, 0xfa100000 / 2USB Device: BRCM2070 Hub, 0x0a5c  (Broadcom Corp.), 0x4500, 0xfa110000 / 5USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller, apple_vendor_id, 0x821a, 0xfa113000 / 8USB Device: Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad, apple_vendor_id, 0x0252, 0xfa120000 / 4USB Device: hub_device, 0x0424  (SMSC), 0x2514, 0xfd100000 / 2USB Device: IR Receiver, apple_vendor_id, 0x8242, 0xfd110000 / 3-----------------------------------------------------------------I&#x27;m fairly technical but this is overkill even for me. I managed by googling "AGC GPU REGISTER RESTORE FAILED" to find a japanese blog that helped me fix the problem but it&#x27;s only partially solved. I&#x27;m not getting any kernel panic attacks by switching of the integrated graphics under "Energy Saver" in system prefs but instead getting decreased battery life as the computer is constantly using the dedicated graphics card. So in other words when I untick the "Automatic Graphics Switching" the problem is gone.I always get the same report and it doesn&#x27;t really matter if I&#x27;m pushing the machine to it&#x27;s limits or just writing something in TextEdit. When speaking to Apples support advisors they implied that it&#x27;s most likely not hardware related but software related. I personally think that it&#x27;s most likely the driver related and could be fixed by modifying the AppleGraphicsControl.kext file but I can&#x27;t be sure. I&#x27;ve never modified a kext file before and feel a bit uncomfortable doing it without any assistance.Could anyone please give me some advice. It would be sincerely appreciated.ThanksPS. Forgot to add that I&#x27;ve reinstalled Lion several times, reset SMC, PRAM, etc. None of that worked.

eww · Answer

Assuming you reported the problem to Apple within the 14-day return window, and have been in touch with them to let them know their suggestions haven&#x27;t resolved the problem, I wouldn&#x27;t hesitate to request very firmly that they replace the machine with one that works properly.

Valentin123 · Answer

I&#x27;m from Sweden but bought the computer in Hong Kong. The only difference being the price and the keyboard layout. I asked them if they could replace it with a new one after a week had passed (since I bought it) but they informed me that I could only return it to the Hong Kong Apple Retail Store (and not Apple sweden). So it&#x27;s unfortunately a no go.

eww · Answer

Well, that&#x27;s a real shame. Further evidence, if any were needed, that buying one&#x27;s computer close to home is usually best, regardless of the price. Spending less on the far side of the world can be a very false economy when it has consequences like this. Turn the machine over to Apple Sweden for repair under your worldwide warranty coverage. Maybe after trying and failing to repair it a few times they&#x27;ll arrive independently at the conclusion that it makes sense for them to replace it instead of wasting any more of your and their time and your good will. I&#x27;m very sorry to hear that they won&#x27;t just do the right thing on their own.

Valentin123 · Answer

That was their answer to but at the same time they told me that it can take weeks for them to investigate the issue. Don&#x27;t really feel like being weeks without my brand new computer.Does the integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics card have it&#x27;s own dedicated 384mb of memory or does it allocate ram? Wondering if it could be ram related as in me getting faulty memory chips. Did a complete and extended hardware test but everything turned out just fine.

eww · Answer

The Intel HD3000 grabs some of the installed RAM. There&#x27;s no VRAM.It&#x27;s certainly no fun to have bought an expensive new computer and not have the use of it for quite some time. But unless you let Apple Sweden beat their heads against it for a while, they&#x27;re not going to be embarrassed enough by their incompetence to replace it for you. And if they&#x27;re actually able to fix it, of course you won&#x27;t need a replacement. But there won&#x27;t be any chance of that happening unless you hand it over. So it isn&#x27;t fair and it isn&#x27;t right, but I think that&#x27;s what you need to do. Then call them up once a week for four weeks and patiently ask how they&#x27;re progressing on it. If they haven&#x27;t gotten it fixed and back to you by then, it isn&#x27;t going to be the fault of anyone in Hong Kong — it&#x27;s going to be their own fault, and they&#x27;re going to know it. That&#x27;s when to ask again, very firmly, for a replacement.

nickkk · Answer

I&#x27;ve got the exact same problem with my md322. I&#x27;m wondering if you&#x27;ve got it solved. I even changed my memories with corsair and samsung. No luck at all. Pretty frustrating. However, the problem didn&#x27;t show up when I&#x27;m on Windows 7 whether the load is high or low. Seeking help. Merry xmas and happy new year btw.

Valentin123 · Answer

I haven&#x27;t managed to solve the problem. The only thing I&#x27;ve noticed is that it stops crashing when I&#x27;m using the dedicated graphics card. I&#x27;m not sure if the computer was crashing before I&#x27;ve updated to 10.7.2 from 10.7. I&#x27;m hoping that 10.7.3 will be released soon and that the update might solve the issue. Except for that the only thing I thing might solve this issue is removing some *.kext files so that the OS can recreate new ones on new boot or maybe modify it. Not really sure how to do that....I know that does *.kext files are located in HDD/System/LibraryExtensions and I&#x27;m also fairly certain the issue derives with either this file "AppleGraphicsControl.kext" or "AppleGraphicsPowerManagement.kext".Do you have issues with your computer when it have automatic graphics switching? Any issues when you are only running on the dedicated GPU?

nickkk · Answer

Auto switching definitely cause the problem. I&#x27;ve tried like to check/uncheck the autoswiching box for a couple of times then comes the freezing. I&#x27;m not sure about only using the dedicated GPU since I&#x27;m currently on Windows since it&#x27;s more stable. I&#x27;ll manage to run some stress test though. I&#x27;ll go to the Genius Bar to see if they can help these days. Post later.

UnferionPT · Answer

Got the same problem (same kernel panic), today i update to 10.7.3 and active autoswitch and 5 min late got kernel panic again. so nothing have changed 😢.

Valentin123 · Answer

I had to send my MB Pro to an authorized apple service provider where they ran diagnostic tests on it and concluded that it was the logic board (motherboard) that was as seeehr germans would put it "kaput". After they replaced it with a new one and re-did the tests everything worked fine. So in my opinion waiting for a SW update to fix the issue one would have to wait an eternity. Just let the technicians take a look at it and they&#x27;ll most likely replace the logic board or the entire computer depending on what makes most sense for them.This is not a software glitch but HW. The only reason one does not experience this in bootcamp is due to no automatic graphic switching in windows. It only runs the dedicated GPU and never switches to the intergrated Intel HD3000 GPU.Hope this gives you some clarity. PS. I asked the technician if he could give me a detailed explanation in regards to which part of the GPU / logic board was causing the issue but he couldn&#x27;t answer that question.

UnferionPT · Answer

My macbook pro is the 8,2 early 2011 , he comes with Leopard and never got that kernel panic , this start after change to Lion, its strange if the problem is the hardware, well maybe will try send to the store a see what they say. Thanks for the feedback about your solution.

Valentin123 · Answer

Your Macbook Pro must have come with Snow Leopard as Leopard never supported auto graphic switching as I&#x27;m aware. Could be that Lion is utilizing parts of the gpu that were never used in SL. I&#x27;m not sure but only speculating now. I have the 8.3 version which was shipped with Lion and even though I speculated the SL would most likely solve the problem (read on a forum that a user fix his issues by reverting to SL) I never really wanted to downgrade as I shouldn&#x27;t have to go back to an older OS because of hw bugs. The only advice I can give you is to take it to a AASP and let them do extensive diagnosic tests. I never got any issues when I ran Apples HW tests (extended).