kernel_task high memory usage

That actually makes me feel a little better, although I'm sorry the problem isn't solved. I was a little sheepish about admitting that I had carried a SCSI driver across two decades, but I thought for sure that the transfer of old stuff was the problem, but now at least I know I'm still screwed even if I do a complete wipe and reinstall of everything. 😐

Yes, Apple needs to figure this one out, because it is very annoying.

CWSites, thank you for the link.

Try modifying the spotlight settings: Kernel_Task is taking only 430 MB for me.

Hi,

my kernel_task on a MBP2010 (8GB) was high, too. About 3 GB.

kextstat -kl | awk '{printf "%i %i %s %s\n", $4 / 1024, $5 / 1024, $6, $7}' | sort -n

showed no weird memory suckups .

So I restarted Finder and kernel_task deflated from 3GB to 1.4GB.

I suspect, that Finder had problems with different network shares.

So, before you're doing a reboot, try restarting "Finder"

cheers

Andy

USING BATCHMOD - I'm concerned about damaging permissions and clearing xattrs warning concerns me also... I've been having issues with a slow machine and tried removing HP printer .kext files and then removing any before 2013... No luck. My machines boots up slowly and applications hang up.

Any suggestions or comments about using BATCHMOD are welcome.

I experienced a problem similar to this a few months back. My Virtual ram reached 200+GB, and my kernel_task was using 300% CPU. My iMac would beach ball just by trying to log in; that would last for a few minutes. then because the apple menu was gone and the status menu didn't work I would try to open system preferences, which would cause my Mac to beach ball until I restarted it. I managed to fix this problem by Go>Go to Folder (Shift-Command-G)> type /Library/Preferences

You will see a lot of .plist files. and delete any that say Zero bytes (this means that the file is corrupted, by deleting it you remove the corrupted file which will automatically be replaced by one that is not corrupted) then restart your computer and reset the PRAM, then verify/ disk permissions.

This was able to fix my problem, so I hope this helps.

Whenever I run some 3D related Plug-Ins for FCPX, I found my computer quickly run-out memory and then freezed.
How come?

PS: I have checked the usage of my computer's memory, I found the kernel_task has taken almost all memory.

PS: I am using Yosemite now. I have no idea when this problem begins.

This solved my problem..

Method 1:

1. Go to About this mac under the apple in the upper left and click on More info

2. Click on system report

3. make a note of what it says after Model Identifier

4. go to your master drive – System -Library – Extensions – IOPlatformPluginFamily.kext -Contents – Plugins – ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin.kext – Contents – Resources – find the name from step 3 and move it to a folder that you can find again if needed.

4.1. Open Applications->Utilities->Terminal and type:

cd /System/Library/Extensions/IOPlatformPluginFamily.kext/Contents/PlugIns/ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin.kext/Contents/Resources/ ls

*Do you see your Mac Model Identifier listed? If not, move on to Method 2, if so then type the following if your model is Macbook Pro 1,2:

sudo mv MacbookPro1_2.plist ~

5. Restart and you’re done

Where's the method 2 please? my mac isn't in the list 😟

Please, what's method number 2 ????!!! Thank you

1. In Finder use Command + Shift + G: and enter /System/Library/Extensions/IOPlatformPluginFamily.kext/Contents/PlugIns/ACPI_SMC _PlatformPlugin.kext/Contents/Resources

2. Create folder on your desktop called 'Resources backup' or similar (does not matter) and move (not copy, but move) the files from the previous folder to this new one

3. Restart your Mac holding Cmd + Alt + P + R, only release those keys after you hear the startup sound for the second time

4. You should be fine after that, my Mac's back okay and I tried all the previous methods.

Credits go to some guy on YouTube and me for the NVRAM thing (which may have helped too) 😝

Hi everybody,

I have same problem on both imacs i use (iMac9,1 and iMac10,1). Both updated from Maveriks to Yosemite some months ago and since last 2 weeks kernel_task "eat" to much RAM.

I tried to solve with all kind of resets, move files from ACPI_SMC _PlatformPlugin.kext, hardware test, reinstall and restore from time machine and finaly also with a complete clean reinstall (without TM restore!). But kernel_task run with too much RAM usage.

I feel frustrated and I seem to be back like Windows users!

So, i think problem could be associated to some software upgrade (DropBox? Skype? Osx update? don't know). Anyone knows if there are usefull debugs system log for kernel_task usage?

Thank you!

Thank you very much for your response.

Do you know the Mountain Lion version for this trick? I cannot use Maveriks because it doesn't work with some essential software I use. I saw this method in another thread:

1. Go to About this mac under the apple in the upper left and click on More info

2. Click on system report

3. make a note of what it says after Model Identifier

4. go to your master drive – System -Library – Extensions – IOPlatformPluginFamily.kext -Contents – Plugins – ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin.kext – Contents – Resources – find the name from step 3 and move it to a folder that you can find again if needed.

3. Restart and you’re done

But my MacBookPro 9,2 is not listed in the stated folder (System -Library – Extensions – IOPlatformPluginFamily.kext -Contents – Plugins – ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin.kext – Contents – Resources )

Thank you very much!

Already tried danielfernandezlugea without appreciable results!

The kernel task is generally only affected by 3rd party kernel extensions, such as unneeded anti-malware products and other hacks that try to hook directly into the kernel.

You should really start you own "New" post, and describe your problem so answers are not mixed, as it is rare that a similar symptom has the same cause.

Also a "New" post is more likely to get more people looking at it, than one that is 6+ pages long and annoying to find the last post, and annoying to figure out which replies go with which conversation happening the the same room.

If you decide to create a new post, I suggest you include the EtreCheck output

<https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6174>

I'll tell you what solved the problem for me, and I didn't have to do anything thing with the system files at all. Turns out my computer was running `hot. I found out using the program istat pro that my fan was at 0rpms, meaning it wasn't running at all. My CPU temp was running in the 80's-high 90's and my HD temp was elevated as well. I ended up taking the bottom cover off my mac and found out my fan was stuck. I manually manipulated it until it unstuck and put the case back on. When I booted up my computer, I put my ear close to the vent and could hear the fan running. I checked the istat program again, and my fan was running at about 1900rpms and my HD and CPU temp were much lower. I even used a spare UBS powered cooling pad I had laying around to bring the temp even lower, and now my mac runs smooth as butter. When I was googling I found out that high temps cause activity on mac activity to slow down as a protective measure to keep it from overheating. I hope this works for you all.