Constant Kernel Panics on OS X Mountain Lion.

I don't work for Apple so my response falls under the category of opinion, not fact, but if the test they have to identify this specific problem with the mid-2010 MBP is positive, and you're still under Applecare, I would have to think they'd cover it.

I think the only way you'll find out is to take it in. Apple monitors these discussion boards but never responds, so your best bet is to take it in and verify the problem with the appropriate test.

I bought this used 2010 MacBook about 18 months ago specifically because I could run Snow Leopard on it. With Mavericks coming soon, I felt it was finally time to move on (although I kept Snow Leopard on one partition) and upgraded to Moutain Lion.

I'm getting the exact same kernel panics that people in this thread are getting. Seems odd that the machine was 100% stable with Snow Leopard and will fail with later operating systems. I'll probably try Mavericks before I start calling the machine broken (shouldn't be long now?) and try to get it fixed.

However, I find it unfair that Apple has a 3 year limit on this failure if it doesn't affect all operating system versions. There's no way to find out you have a problem than until it is too late if you were reliant on running Snow Leopard (Rosetta/software compatibility reasons). I'm sure that it doesn't help that the machine is also second hand...

Don't lose your temper with Apple until they actually tell you, "No." Most people on this thread, regardless of the time frame, have been able to get Apple to fix the problem on their dime. This is especially true since many of us have only seen this problem with the latest versions of OS X, in my case starting with 10.8.5. Until then, for over 3 years, my machine was perfect.

My experience is if you go into an Apple Store, along with a printout of TS4088, you'll get your MBP repaired for free, assuming it's failing due to the graphics problem outlined in the TS. Just be sure you don't come in with an attitude where they can't wait to get you out of the store, and I'll bet you report back to this forum that your computer was repaired on the house.

Good luck!

Good point. It turns out that although CoconutBattery says the MacBook is 3.6 years old, this MacBook was actually originally purchased in December (and I might even be able to get the original receipts for this, if needed). This means that as long as Apple agrees that the machine was bought within 3 years and that it is indeed the GPU failing, it should be a clear case where I don't even have to try to stetch any rules.

The Apple repair shop is right next door from where I work, so I've already been there and they'll probably test the machine tomorrow. (I needed it for work today and I'm running it with Snow Leopard again for now.) I'm hoping I'll have a working machine back in my hands on Thursday or possibly even as early as Wednesday. They were very well aware of the issue - all I had to say was that I'm getting GPU-related kernel panics after upgrading to Mountain Lion...

Turns out I was the third owner already and the machine is well over 3 years old, so I'm down to a least plea with Apple Support on this. I'm also trying Mavericks to see if it might somehow be able to work around the issue. No crashes with Mavericks so far, but I only installed it 15 minutes ago, so it's far too early to say if it behaves any differently - doesn't seem worse than Mountain Lion so far.

Still getting panics with Mavericks. Feels like it's less often, but I just got one a few moments ago.

I found that nVidia has posted a new CUDA driver yesterday, so I installed that and also gfxCardStatus (to be able to see the switching) and did an SMC reset. I haven't had a panic after that. I used the MacBook for "normal web surfing" while watching TV tonight. For the past hour, I have been doing stress testing with the MBP connected to a projector (both mirrored and separate display modes). I have used VLC, Photoshop, Lightroom, iTunes (movie playback), QuickTime Player.

Too early to be certain, but I'm getting my hopes up again. That CUDA driver is certainly worth trying and SMC resets are never a bad idea. Work tomorrow will be the acid test...

You can find the CUDA driver here:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/mac-driver-archive.html

Juri, what IS a CUDA driver? What does CUDA stand for? I'm reluctant to play with success as Apple already replaced my motherboard and screen on their dime and I'm afraid of tinkering with it.

CUDA is a technology that allows applications to use nVidia graphics chips for computing. Photoshop is a good example. If you read this topic from the first page, you'll find it mentioned a few times.

Some background information:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/adobe_photoshop.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CUDA

http://blogs.adobe.com/premierepro/2012/08/known-issues-with-cuda-5-0-17-driver- including-crashes-and-kernel-panics.html

I don't know if CUDA comes standard with MacOS and I don't know what the odds are that an application would install it, if it doesn't. However, the component comes directly from nVidia and it interfaces extremely intimately with the GPU. If you read nVidia's documentation and release notes on it, you'll find that they have had some issues with it and the resulting kernel panics sound a lot like the ones that people here are getting.

If your MacBook is still crashing, it's worth trying. If you have no problems, I wouldn't touch a thing and just keep my fingers crossed.

It's quite often possible to use software engineering to work around hardware problems. That's pretty much the only option you have when something breaks on a space probe or satellite, for example. If the hardware repair is too difficult or expensive, writing a bit of code to work around a hardware malfunction makes a lot of sense.

Thanks, Juri. Since I've got my MacBook Pro working perfectly, I think I'll take a pass on it. I do use Photoshop a lot, but the only "problems" I've noticed is that it runs a bit more hesitantly under Mavericks than it did under Mountain Lion, but hardly noticeable.

Thanks again for the answer. Any idea what CUDA stands for??

Unfortunately I have bad news: my MacBook just had a panic attack again. I'm still waiting for some final answer from Apple (haven't heard a peep since Wednesday).

The Wikipedia article that I linked above has your answer: Compute Unified Device Architecture

Perhaps not entirely helpfu but here it goes:

I had this problem for a long time and decided to upgrade to 10.9 and see if it fixed it, as it has some new code reg. displays and graphics. And touch wood, the problem appears to be gone for us...

FWIW, YMMV

Hi. Can anyone help me to find out what is the cause of this kernel panic?

Sun Dec 22 14:26:02 2013

panic(cpu 2 caller 0xffffff7f9ac3b300): "Potential Fifo Overflow in GFX\n"@/SourceCache/GraphicsDrivers/GraphicsDrivers-8.16.74/Common/IONDRV/Intel /HSW/AppleIntelFramebuffer/AppleIntelController.cpp:306

Backtrace (CPU 2), Frame : Return Address

0xffffff80985cb550 : 0xffffff8018a1d636

0xffffff80985cb5c0 : 0xffffff7f9ac3b300

0xffffff80985cb600 : 0xffffff7f9abdd7d7

0xffffff80985cb630 : 0xffffff7f9abdd604

0xffffff80985cb660 : 0xffffff7f9abb832e

0xffffff80985cb690 : 0xffffff7f9ab45e75

0xffffff80985cb6b0 : 0xffffff7f9ab469e8

0xffffff80985cb6d0 : 0xffffff7f9abe5bcf

0xffffff80985cb730 : 0xffffff7f9abbce8f

0xffffff80985cb9e0 : 0xffffff7f9ab490c5

0xffffff80985cba10 : 0xffffff7f9ab49391

0xffffff80985cba40 : 0xffffff7f9ab54df5

0xffffff80985cba80 : 0xffffff7f9abc39f1

0xffffff80985cbaa0 : 0xffffff7f9ab474d3

0xffffff80985cbb30 : 0xffffff8018e70173

0xffffff80985cbb50 : 0xffffff8018e70d4d

0xffffff80985cbbb0 : 0xffffff8018e6e74f

0xffffff80985cbd00 : 0xffffff8018a98c21

0xffffff80985cbe10 : 0xffffff8018a20b4d

0xffffff80985cbe40 : 0xffffff8018a10448

0xffffff80985cbe90 : 0xffffff8018a1961b

0xffffff80985cbf00 : 0xffffff8018aa63ee

0xffffff80985cbfb0 : 0xffffff8018acf221

Kernel Extensions in backtrace:

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelFramebufferAzul(8.1.6)[8F074659-F84D-3303-8E40-F7726 C5A2B10]@0xffffff7f9ac27000->0xffffff7f9ac7cfff

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily(1.4)[A35915E8-C1B0-3C0F-81DF-5515BC9002FC]@0xfffff f7f99512000

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.8)[6C1D646D-7E5E-3D7F-A557-2CBA398FF878]@0xffffff 7f99051000

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.3.7)[9928306E-3508-3DBC-80A4-D8F1D87650D7]@0 xffffff7f99577000

com.apple.iokit.IOAcceleratorFamily2(74.15)[CC44ABAB-C39F-34EF-853D-50DA40B6D45 F]@0xffffff7f9ab41000->0xffffff7f9aba4fff

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.8)[6C1D646D-7E5E-3D7F-A557-2CBA398FF878]@0xffffff 7f99051000

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.3.7)[9928306E-3508-3DBC-80A4-D8F1D87650D7]@0 xffffff7f99577000

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelHD5000Graphics(8.1.6)[E5B86F86-1654-369D-B939-C309BF D3BFAD]@0xffffff7f9abb2000->0xffffff7f9ac01fff

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.8)[6C1D646D-7E5E-3D7F-A557-2CBA398FF878]@0xffffff 7f99051000

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.3.7)[F16E015E-1ABE-3C40-AC71-BC54F4BE442E]@0xff ffff7f995ba000

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.3.7)[9928306E-3508-3DBC-80A4-D8F1D87650D7]@0 xffffff7f99577000

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOAcceleratorFamily2(74.15)[CC44ABAB-C39F-34EF-853D-50DA40B6D45 F]@0xffffff7f9ab41000

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: hl2_osx

Mac OS version:

12F45

Kernel version:

Darwin Kernel Version 12.5.0: Sun Sep 29 13:33:47 PDT 2013; root:xnu-2050.48.12~1/RELEASE_X86_64

Kernel UUID: EA38B02E-2B88-309F-BA68-1DE29F605DD8

Kernel slide: 0x0000000018800000

Kernel text base: 0xffffff8018a00000

System model name: MacBookAir6,2 (Mac-7DF21CB3ED6977E5)

System uptime in nanoseconds: 9661923706937

last loaded kext at 244460294289: com.apple.filesystems.msdosfs 1.8.1 (addr 0xffffff7f9b03a000, size 65536)

last unloaded kext at 304566861903: com.apple.filesystems.msdosfs 1.8.1 (addr 0xffffff7f9b03a000, size 57344)

loaded kexts:

com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyHIDDriver 124

com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager 4.1.7f4

com.apple.filesystems.autofs 3.0

com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC 1.60

com.apple.driver.AGPM 100.13.12

com.apple.driver.X86PlatformShim 1.0.0

com.apple.driver.ApplePlatformEnabler 2.0.7d2

com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient 3.5.12

com.apple.driver.AppleHDA 2.4.7fc4

com.apple.iokit.IOUserEthernet 1.0.0d1

com.apple.driver.AppleSMCLMU 2.0.3d0

com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X 7.0.0

com.apple.iokit.BroadcomBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport 4.1.7f4

com.apple.driver.ApplePolicyControl 3.4.5

com.apple.driver.AppleLPC 1.6.3

com.apple.driver.AppleCameraInterface 4.08.1

com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight 170.3.5

com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl 1.1.11

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelHD5000Graphics 8.1.6

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelFramebufferAzul 8.1.6

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBCardReader 3.3.1

com.apple.driver.AppleTopCaseHIDEventDriver 10.20

com.apple.driver.XsanFilter 404

com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 2.3.5

com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless 1.0.0d1

com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0d1

com.apple.BootCache 34

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub 635.4.0

com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 2.6.6

com.apple.driver.AirPort.Brcm4360 641.15.1

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBXHCI 635.4.0

com.apple.driver.AppleSmartBatteryManager 161.0.0

com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 1.8

com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 1.5

com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.8

com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 1.9

com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 1.8

com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.7

com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 4.0.39

com.apple.security.quarantine 2.1

com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily 10.0.6

com.apple.kext.triggers 1.0

com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib 2.4.7fc4

com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily 1.9.2fc7

com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib 1.12

com.apple.iokit.IOSurface 86.0.4

com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily 4.1.7f4

com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport 4.1.7f4

com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController 2.4.7fc4

com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily 2.4.7fc4

com.apple.driver.X86PlatformPlugin 1.0.0

com.apple.driver.AppleSMC 3.1.5d4

com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily 5.4.1d13

com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl 3.4.5

com.apple.driver.AppleBacklightExpert 1.0.4

com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusController 1.0.11d1

com.apple.iokit.IOAcceleratorFamily2 74.15

com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport 2.3.7

com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily 2.3.7

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver 623.4.0

com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltDPInAdapter 2.5.0

com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltDPAdapterFamily 2.5.0

com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltPCIDownAdapter 1.3.2

com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice 3.5.6

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBMassStorageClass 3.5.2

com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily 3.5.6

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub 621.4.6

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite 621.4.0

com.apple.driver.AppleHIDKeyboard 170.2.4

com.apple.driver.AppleHSSPIHIDDriver 23

com.apple.driver.AppleMultitouchDriver 237.4

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient 630.4.4

com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 2.5.1

com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltNHI 1.9.2

com.apple.iokit.IOThunderboltFamily 2.7.7

com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family 530.5

com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 3.0

com.apple.driver.AppleHSSPISupport 23

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelLpssSpiController 2.0.34

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 635.4.0

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelLpssGspi 2.0.34

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelLpssDmac 2.0.34

com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 2.0

com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 2.0

com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 1.8.1

com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1

com.apple.security.sandbox 220.3

com.apple.kext.AppleMatch 1.0.0d1

com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 7

com.apple.driver.DiskImages 345

com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 1.8

com.apple.driver.AppleKeyStore 28.21

com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 1.8

com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.8

com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.4

com.apple.kec.corecrypto 1.0

Running OS X 10.8.5

Mid June 2013 MBA

Processor: 1.3 GHz Intel Core i5

Memory: 4GB 1600 MHz DDR3

Intel HD Graphics 5000

Thanks for the help.

P.S. just realised this is in the Macbook Pro section because i found this through google search. Hope you guys would still help me out thanks.

Message was edited by: hymai

On the surface, it looks like a graphics driver issue. From the model, it looks like you're running a mid-2010 MBP. If it is the graphics subsystem that's causing the problem, you need to take it to an Apple Genius or call Apple and reference TS4088. They have a test they can perform to verify it. It is then at their option whether they will fix it for free or not, but in almost every case I've heard of, they will replace the motherboard on the house.

My advice is to take it to Apple, and if the problem is related to this TS, nicely work with the Genius to get Apple to replace this at their expense.

Good luck.

hymai,

Mid-2010 15" MacBook Pros - the bad NVIDIA GPU

If you're having frequent kernel panics with your 15" mid-2010, or intermittent screen problems, the problem is, more than likely, the faulty NVIDIA GPU found in a number of those machines.

Here's just a sample of a kernel panic log that points to the faulty NVIDIA card:

Kernel Extensions in backtrace (with dependencies):          com.apple.GeForce(6.4.0)@0x82ac4000->0x82b7afff             dependency: com.apple.NVDAResman(6.4.0)@0x834a0000             dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.2.1)@0x82fd3000             dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6.5)@0x7a802000             dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.2.1)@0x8301b000          com.apple.nvidia.nv50hal(6.4.0)@0x83c05000->0x84019fff             dependency: com.apple.NVDAResman(6.4.0)@0x834a0000          com.apple.NVDAResman(6.4.0)@0x834a0000->0x8378dfff             dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6.5)@0x7a802000             dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.2.1)@0x82fd3000             dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.2.1)@0x8301b000

Here's the "official" Apple take on the issue - but the very real kernel panics need not be preceded by 'Intermittent black screen or loss of video'... in fact, you might not experience any video problems at all. Although video problems can certainly be a portent of things to come…

So what can you do? Print out a copy of your kernel panic and a copy of the Knowledge Base article and take them, along with your machine, to your local Apple Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider. The unfortunate thing is that many people have passed the “three years from date of purchase” now and Apple is not honoring the free logic board replacement for many users. Some dealers seem to be making some exceptions for those past the three year mark, but don’t count on it…

Good luck,

Clinton