Q: New Retina Macbook pro 13 Haswell system hang/unresponsive

I don't get what the confusion is. The CPU has a known bug with USB 3.0. Intel has a product change notification abiout this:

Description of Change to the Customer:

Intel is initiating a C1 to C2 stepping conversion for the Intel® 8 Series/C220 Series where products will undergo the following changes:

- Metal layers change from C1 to C2 to fix USB SuperSpeed device remuneration erratum.

- C1 stepping package is pin compatible with C2 stepping package.

- Revision ID will change from 04h to 05h.

- Compatibility revision ID will remain at 04h for Intel® Stable Image Platform Program

(Intel® SIPP).

- New S-specs and MM numbers for the converting products.

http://qdms.intel.com/dm/d.aspx/C79FC2E6-6B75-4063-8687-660F4668FFC8/PCN112101-0 0.pdf

http://www.brightsideofnews.com/news/2013/4/5/intel-confirms-haswell-chipset-bug .aspx

Download CPUID for Mac and check the processor info. Mine says:

Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4558U CPU @ 2.80 GHz

Family Information:

Family: 6

Model: 69

Stepping: 1

It's a bug in the CPU. Might require a logic board replacement if Apple can't figure out a software fix.

Thank you for your replies, guys. I just printed the return label (we don't have an apple store nearby ). I will back up my mac and return it tomorrow. I should admit I really love this laptop. But I can not ignore this freeze problem, and it comes more frequently if I have more apps at background, which is super annoying. I will repurchase it as soon as the problem is resolved.

 

It's a bug in the CPU. Might require a logic board replacement if Apple can't figure out a software fix.

If it's true that this C1>C2 stepping changeover relates directly to the 13" rMBP Haswell freezing issue then firstly thanks for that vital piece of information and secondly I'm glad I didn't buy one just yet.

Ya, except when I read the document you linked it shows that change to have occured in July 2013... Am I missing something?

Seems like Apple is working on a fix...

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS5296

It's likely at this stage they will just fix it in the next official patch for 10.9. Here's a history of .1 updates for the other ones

10.4 > 10.4.1 = 1 month

10.5 > 10.5.1 = 3 weeks

10.6 > 10.6.1 = 2 weeks

10.7 > 10.7.1 = 3 weeks

10.8 > 10.8.1 = 1 month

Here is an update from a store in Palo Alto, California. I have just exchanged my MacBook Pro retina 13 Haswell: 13"/2.4/8GB/256GB for a second time. My previous two experienced the hang/unresponsiveness problem and it's been 2 weeks since my last exchange.

The Geniuses are aware of the problem but say that it is not wide spread. Apple has solde hundreds of thousands of MacBook Pros and only 2 thousand have reported problems on this forum. Kind of puts it in perspective. Anyway, so far i have not experienced any problems. This Mac is from a new batch that this store received a few days ago. I will let you know if problem happens on my #3 Mac.

I bought one from the local Apple Store that had the issues and returned it after 13 days.  Then bought one from Best Buy and it had the same freezing issues.  So, wondering is it the first wave of units?  I just find it exremely frustrating.  Really just want a working computer.  Will wait patiently now to see what happens

Here is an update from a store in Palo Alto, California. I have just exchanged my MacBook Pro retina 13 Haswell: 13"/2.4/8GB/256GB for the second time. My previous two Macs experienced the hang/unresponsiveness problem and it's been 2 weeks since my last exchange.

The Geniuses at the store were aware of the problem but said that it was not wide spread. They said that Apple had sold hundreds of thousands of MacBook Pros since the launch. I see only 2 thousand replies in this forum so the question is whethe ALL units are effected or just a subset? 

I recommend exchanging the Mac if you are still in the 2 week window. So far my 3rd Mac (from a new batch - i was told) is working fine. Knock, knock...

Been playing with use cases for past week.  Here's the one for most if not all Maverick based MBPs, most certainly 13" rMBP late 2013:

- Browsing in Safari(current release/upate)

- Using trackpad

- Within a few minutes or so, system, more accurately track pad/keyboard drvier, will hang.

- Close lid, wait 30-60 seconds

- Open lid, machine will be unfrozen

- Resume work until next hang.

- Rinse, repeat.

Non-hanging use case:

- Use Apple white Bt 'magic' mouse, or whatever these things are called.

- No hangs.

- Used mouse only, no track pad for 1 week, no hangs.

Works for me, maybe it will work for others too.  Someone may have already posted this, I didn't read the entire thread.

ericfromlos gatos wrote:

 

I don't get what the confusion is. The CPU has a known bug with USB 3.0. Intel has a product change notification abiout this:

 

Description of Change to the Customer:

Intel is initiating a C1 to C2 stepping conversion for the Intel® 8 Series/C220 Series where products will undergo the following changes:

- Metal layers change from C1 to C2 to fix USB SuperSpeed device remuneration erratum.

- C1 stepping package is pin compatible with C2 stepping package.

- Revision ID will change from 04h to 05h.

- Compatibility revision ID will remain at 04h for Intel® Stable Image Platform Program

(Intel® SIPP).

- New S-specs and MM numbers for the converting products.

 

http://qdms.intel.com/dm/d.aspx/C79FC2E6-6B75-4063-8687-660F4668FFC8/PCN112101-0 0.pdf

http://www.brightsideofnews.com/news/2013/4/5/intel-confirms-haswell-chipset-bug .aspx

 

Download CPUID for Mac and check the processor info. Mine says:

Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4558U CPU @ 2.80 GHz

Family Information:

Family: 6

Model: 69

Stepping: 1

 

It's a bug in the CPU. Might require a logic board replacement if Apple can't figure out a software fix.

What you did miss, unfortunately, is that not the CPU has a c1 stepping bug, but the controller chipset. So stepping 1 of your CPU has nothing (as in: zero) to do with the stepping of the chipset.

RIVERSTALKER wrote:

 

just did the oli.s display test, no ghosting or retention. i ran the test about 15 minutes with brightness 2 klicks under maximum.

but my screen suddenly got complete dark as i made sure that my energy settings dont stop the 15 minute testing.

looked like it was kind a unforced sleep mode in that moment. after using the trackpad the screen woke up and showed me my account site. crazy stuff but im happy not to see some display ghosting.

 

can anybody tell me, if ghosting appears - is it for the rest of my macbooks life or is is just some kind of issue that disappears after a few minutes ? thx

No ghosting at all is quite happy news for you. Congratulations. Of course it means to me, that my display is not as good as it could be. (I already assumed that as many people reported to have no ghosting at all)
And that will unfortunately not get fixed through software. So I will return mine and get a new one. Means, again, waiting 7-10 days. Oh, well ...

edit: the ghosting goes away after a couple of seconds. It's not "burned in"

ericfromlos gatos wrote:

 

I don't get what the confusion is. The CPU has a known bug with USB 3.0. Intel has a product change notification abiout this:

 

Description of Change to the Customer:

Intel is initiating a C1 to C2 stepping conversion for the Intel® 8 Series/C220 Series where products will undergo the following changes:

- Metal layers change from C1 to C2 to fix USB SuperSpeed device remuneration erratum.

- C1 stepping package is pin compatible with C2 stepping package.

- Revision ID will change from 04h to 05h.

- Compatibility revision ID will remain at 04h for Intel® Stable Image Platform Program

(Intel® SIPP).

- New S-specs and MM numbers for the converting products.

 

http://qdms.intel.com/dm/d.aspx/C79FC2E6-6B75-4063-8687-660F4668FFC8/PCN112101-0 0.pdf

http://www.brightsideofnews.com/news/2013/4/5/intel-confirms-haswell-chipset-bug .aspx

 

Download CPUID for Mac and check the processor info. Mine says:

Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4558U CPU @ 2.80 GHz

Family Information:

Family: 6

Model: 69

Stepping: 1

 

It's a bug in the CPU. Might require a logic board replacement if Apple can't figure out a software fix.

i know what your saying... but seriously that was like 4 months ago...

intel new about the problem before release and released the 2nd stepping a month after the c1 release...

so i really dont think theres anyway apple would of got hold of enough c1 steppings in 1month and saved them until october for the retina mac....

i have my macbook pro 13 inch since tuesday and have one freeze per day right now. working with mac since 2007 i have never had such freezes before. guys from apple, don't fall into wintersleep! greetings from lovely austria.

aniebyls wrote:

 

Here is an update from a store in Palo Alto, California. I have just exchanged my MacBook Pro retina 13 Haswell: 13"/2.4/8GB/256GB for a second time. My previous two experienced the hang/unresponsiveness problem and it's been 2 weeks since my last exchange.

 

The Geniuses are aware of the problem but say that it is not wide spread. Apple has solde hundreds of thousands of MacBook Pros and only 2 thousand have reported problems on this forum. Kind of puts it in perspective. Anyway, so far i have not experienced any problems. This Mac is from a new batch that this store received a few days ago. I will let you know if problem happens on my #3 Mac.

errrrmmmmm..... if you look at the views of this forum its over 100,000.....

and its not like every single person who ever bought a macbook pro retina 13 late 2013... checked this exact forum....

so yes i think its a problem with every one made so far...