Kernel Task @ 600% + :/ MacBook Pro Late 2011

Boot into Safe Mode and report whether that helps at all.

What do you see in Activity Monitor:

Open Activity Monitor in the Utilities folder. Select All Processes from the Processes dropdown menu. Click twice on the CPU% column header to display in descending order. If you find a process using a large amount of CPU time (>=70,) then select the process and click on the Quit icon in the toolbar. Click on the Force Quit button to kill the process. See if that helps. Be sure to note the name of the runaway process so you can track down the cause of the problem.

Another thing you can try is to create a new admin user account. Log out of your account and into the new account. Does this help any?

Some part of your hardware is either sending bad temperature data or your computer is so full of dust that its actually having to use Kernel task as a cooling solution.. (ouch..)

Either way I can say with confidence that problem is hardware related, not software..

Step 1, Clean out the fans and heat-sinks,

IF: not fixed-

Step 2,
Find a temperature monitoring application that can show all the realtime censer data in the laptop.. (Like Istat menus) This should be obvious what’s broken (the censer should be stuck on a high reading)..

THE FIX: Replace the hardware thats broken (In my case a battery sensor).. Warranty it or buy the part on Amazon..

IF: Your unable to replace hardware because of out of warranty, or not enough money, (my case, just lazy)

Step 3, (quick and dirty as they say)

Remove the Model Identifier PLIST file for your model mac.. (my case MacBookPro8_2.plist)
read how to at:

http://www.rdoxenham.com/?p=259

Whats this do?

Well I’ll tell you, The kernel_task0 has a base configuration that can manage all Apple hardware.. This is the state that your kernel boots in when you push the power button, eventually this task is given to a higher level operating system task called kernel_task0. But when kernel_task0 is given this it checks a Model Identifier file(yourmac.Plist) to get statistics about what it should expect that models censer data to look like and the Ratio it should use fans over cpu choking… Without that file the system defaults to a linear system method (if Avg. temperature goes up, then turn fan-speed up).. which is what the bootcamp windows side uses also.

All of these temperature controllars have many redundant hardware safegardes. so you really can’t do wrong with this method..

And your computer will feel like new, out of the box again.. mine did..

Best of luck!

The kernel is using excessive processor cycles. Below are some possible causes for this condition.

Throttling

When it gets high temperature readings from the hardware, or a low-voltage reading from the battery, the kernel may try to compensate by interrupting the processor(s) to slow them down and reduce power consumption. This condition can be due to

• a buildup of dust on the logic board
• high ambient temperature
• a worn-out or faulty battery in a portable
• the malfunction of a cooling fan or sensor

Note that if the problem is caused by a sensor, there may be no actual overheating or undervoltage.

If the computer is portable, test with and without the AC adapter connected. If kernel_task hogs the processor only on battery power, the fault is in the battery or the logic board. If it happens only on AC power, charging is causing the machine to heat up. That may be normal on some models. CPU usage should drop when charging is complete.

The Apple Hardware Test or Apple Diagnostics, though not very reliable, is sometimes able to detect a bad fan or sensor.

If nothing is wrong with the hardware, then whatever you can do to improve cooling may help.

Installed software

User-installed software that includes a device driver or other kernel code may thrash the kernel. That category includes virtualization software, such as Parallels and VMware, as well as most commercial "anti-virus" products. Some system-monitoring applications, such as "iStat," can also contribute to the problem. You can test for this possibility by completely disabling or removing the software according to the developer's instructions, or booting in safe mode. Note, however, that disabling a system modification without removing it or booting in safe mode may not be as easy as you think it is.

Corrupt NVRAM or SMC data

Sometimes the problem is cleared up by resetting the NVRAM or the SMC.

Peripherals

Connecting an external display to some MacBook Pro models via Thunderbolt may cause this issue. Reports suggest that termperature control (see above) may be the reason, but that's not certain.

Encryption

Transferring large amounts of data to or from an encrypted disk image or FileVault volume may put an extra load on the kernel. If both the source and the destination are encrypted, the load may be doubled. If you transfer data from an encrypted disk image on an encrypted partition to another such image on another encrypted partition, the load may be quadrupled.

This issue probably doesn't affect late-model Macs with an Intel i-series, recent Xeon, or later processor. Those processors support hardware-accelerated encryption. You can determine what kind of processor you have by selecting About This Mac from the Apple menu in the menu bar.

I have played with the monoprice monitors and have been very satisfyed:
https://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartments.asp

c_id=103&cp_id=10325&cs_id=1130704&pn=computer_accessories

Question: Did you have any problems with Wifi when your monitor was plugged in to your laptop? I've had this strange issues with the apple cinema displays shorting out the Wifi on MacBook Air's.

The VX2770SMH-LED 27-Inch IPS LED is the better of the Two… BUT that being said both these low resolution “monitors/Tvs” are in my opinion mediocre at best. I’m not a fan of ViewSonic either, most of there products I’ve tested feel like there designers only half cooked them..

Anything under 2560x1440 is just not worth the money anymore. Korean off brand Monitors with the same LG IPS panel that apple puts in the 27” iMac are the latest biggest trend.

When I buy a display here are my key point’s:

1- Under $400,

2- Always IPS, (or newer/latest technology)

3- Must be greater then or equal to 2560x1440, (or newer/latest technology)

4- After all of the above are met base my purchase on reviews…

The irony is that the only monitor that didn’t follow these rules was my apple 23” Cinema display (was not Under $400). It was the first to start acting up and died only after a couple years.. My cheaper 30”, off brand, 2560 × 1600.. Out lived it by a long shot. So Brand does not matter if you find a quality product!

Hope this helps..

http://www.amazon.com/QNIX-QX2710-LED-Evolution-2560x1440/dp/B00BUI6S3Y/ref=sr_1 _7?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1377988753&sr=1-7&keywords=IPS

Lol, That would have been nice.

Just wondering is the problem still occurring if your on a windows bootcamp?

I don't think it will.. If the problem is, what I think it is..