HalexPereira

Q: kernel_task is using 100% CPU when waking from sleep

Since updating my 13" mid-2013 MacBook Air to Mavericks, there's this issue that's been happening when I wake the computer up from sleep. A proccess called kernel_task uses 100% CPU (a whole core) and hangs there until the computer is restarted. This doesn't make the computer unresponsive, but it kills battery life.

 

So far, I've tried the following:

 

1. Resetting SMC, NVRAM and PRAM: no effect.

2. Safe Boot: the issue doesn't happen.

3. Deleting old apps/plugins: issue persists.

4. Closing all apps doesn't solve issue after it takes place.

5. Repairing permissions: no effect.

6. Apple Diagnostics: no issue found in hardware.

7. No kernel extensions from third-parties are installed (there are 120 kext, according to Terminal, but they all come from Apple).

8. Everything is up to date.

9. Only external plugin installed is Flash.

 

Given these, I reckon it's something software-related. Any tips on solving this would be welcome — things to look for in Console logs would be greatly appreciated.

MacBook Air (13-inch Mid 2013), OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Oct 28, 2013 12:03 PM

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Q: kernel_task is using 100% CPU when waking from sleep

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  • by awellis,

    awellis awellis Dec 23, 2013 12:52 PM in response to Sharp-man
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 23, 2013 12:52 PM in response to Sharp-man

    Yep, false alarm. The problem has returned now, kernel_task is now back to using just over 100% of the CPU after waking from sleep with headphones plugged in. When I unplug headphones, CPU usage back to around 1-2%.

     

    I'll try to contact Apple Support again tomorrow.

  • by contempt1,

    contempt1 contempt1 Dec 24, 2013 5:44 AM in response to HalexPereira
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 24, 2013 5:44 AM in response to HalexPereira

    So I just hit a weird bug not having to do anything. My computer is copying files (large volume so it's taking hours). Anyway, I constantly have Activity Monitor on now because of this issue. Things were looking great as kernel_task was at avg around 10%CPU. My computer went to sleep and then waking from sleep.... kernel_task at 120%!!! I have no headphones plugged in, all 3rd party apps are closed, the only real task running was the Finder copying files to an external. Apple really needs to fix this bug!

  • by joeyjohnson,

    joeyjohnson joeyjohnson Dec 24, 2013 10:19 AM in response to contempt1
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Dec 24, 2013 10:19 AM in response to contempt1

    Yup, thats the one! Identical to what happens to me, regularly now too. It's after machine sleeps, so wondering if avoiding sleeping machine will help, but then whats the point in lower power ratings if the machine goes wrong when its used?! No solutions forthcoming that I can see, other than ditching Apple.

  • by milo jah,

    milo jah milo jah Dec 24, 2013 11:31 PM in response to Andy_Kenney
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Dec 24, 2013 11:31 PM in response to Andy_Kenney

    I have a mid-2013 and did a full wipe and install of Mavericks and the problem happens with a purely clean install.

     

    After a day or so of the CPU running at 100%, audio dies.

     

    No headphones, just built-in.

  • by drewrob26,

    drewrob26 drewrob26 Dec 25, 2013 7:19 PM in response to HalexPereira
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 25, 2013 7:19 PM in response to HalexPereira

    Since this seems like a software or firmware issue/incompatability I wonder if/when Apple will fix it.  I love my new MacBook, but I can't lie, this is a bit of an annoyance.  Please fix it soon Apple!

  • by cyclix86,

    cyclix86 cyclix86 Dec 25, 2013 8:18 PM in response to HalexPereira
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 25, 2013 8:18 PM in response to HalexPereira

    Same problem here using a brand new Retina MacBook Pro 13" Late 2013 running Mavericks

    I am not using headphhones at all, but still geting a large rate of interrupts tied to the HDEF vector after waking from sleep (see below).

    I am using the mic and speakers in a google hangout, which may be the reason it is saturating the audio interrupt.

     

     

    The following results from running

         "sudo powermetrics -n 1" in terminal is as follows:

     

    After Restart:

     

    ****  Interrupt distribution ****

     

    CPU 0:

              Vector 0x46(SMC): 14.59 interrupts/sec

              Vector 0x72(IGPU): 57.96 interrupts/sec

              Vector 0x74(XHC1): 6.20 interrupts/sec

              Vector 0x77(ARPT): 15.19 interrupts/sec

              Vector 0x7e(SSD0): 0.20 interrupts/sec

              Vector 0xdd(TMR): 1228.25 interrupts/sec

              Vector 0xde(IPI): 20.18 interrupts/sec

    CPU 1:

              Vector 0xdd(TMR): 48.96 interrupts/sec

              Vector 0xde(IPI): 3.80 interrupts/sec

    CPU 2:

              Vector 0xdd(TMR): 45.17 interrupts/sec

              Vector 0xde(IPI): 18.39 interrupts/sec

    CPU 3:

              Vector 0xdd(TMR): 19.39 interrupts/sec

              Vector 0xde(IPI): 4.40 interrupts/sec

     

     

     

     

    And after sleeping and waking

     

     

     

    ****  Interrupt distribution ****

     

     

    CPU 0:

              Vector 0x46(SMC): 15.38 interrupts/sec

              Vector 0x72(IGPU): 265.88 interrupts/sec

              Vector 0x74(XHC1): 21.77 interrupts/sec

              Vector 0x76(HDEF): 184863.22 interrupts/sec

              Vector 0x77(ARPT): 127.65 interrupts/sec

              Vector 0x78(CMRA): 47.34 interrupts/sec

              Vector 0x7e(SSD0): 18.38 interrupts/sec

              Vector 0xdd(TMR): 497.41 interrupts/sec

              Vector 0xde(IPI): 300.24 interrupts/sec

    CPU 1:

              Vector 0xdd(TMR): 404.12 interrupts/sec

              Vector 0xde(IPI): 1302.25 interrupts/sec

    CPU 2:

              Vector 0xdd(TMR): 957.86 interrupts/sec

              Vector 0xde(IPI): 2895.16 interrupts/sec

    CPU 3:

              Vector 0xdd(TMR): 383.94 interrupts/sec

              Vector 0xde(IPI): 1140.84 interrupts/sec

  • by drewrob26,

    drewrob26 drewrob26 Dec 26, 2013 11:46 AM in response to cyclix86
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 26, 2013 11:46 AM in response to cyclix86

    I ran the exaxt same code, and got similar results.  I'm hoping apple can fix this bug soon, It gets annoying!

  • by samuelg0rd0n,

    samuelg0rd0n samuelg0rd0n Dec 27, 2013 8:28 AM in response to HalexPereira
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 27, 2013 8:28 AM in response to HalexPereira

    Same issue here :-( Apple, we need a fix!

  • by drewrob26,

    drewrob26 drewrob26 Dec 27, 2013 10:56 AM in response to samuelg0rd0n
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 27, 2013 10:56 AM in response to samuelg0rd0n

    Yes we do need a fix! I was just at my local BestBuy store and I got one of their Retina MacBook Pros to show the same symptoms, and it was running stock OS X with no other software installed whatsoever.  PLEASE APPLE CAN YOU FIX THIS BEFORE MID JANUARY WHEN I HAVE TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL?

  • by jijijij,

    jijijij jijijij Dec 29, 2013 5:18 AM in response to HalexPereira
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 29, 2013 5:18 AM in response to HalexPereira

    2013 rMBP reporting in, same issue here when using headphones. For now I'm using the same solution suggested by other users:

    • unplug headphones;
    • open an application capable of reproducing audio - I usually open iTunes;
    • leave it open for a couple of seconds, then close it;
    • put the computer to stop, either via the Apple menu or by closing the lid;
    • wait 4-5 seconds;
    • wake computer up, the problem is gone.

    This fixes the issue, at least for a while (I didn't check if this happens only when the computers wake up with the headphones plugged in - as other users reported - or randomly).

    The real problem for me is that if I'm not using applications that requires a lot of processing power and I don't keep an eye on Activity Monitor I won't even notice the spikes in CPU usage and that's really bad because I think this problem is affecting my battery health as well (went from 6330 to 6291 mAH capacity with less than 20 charge cycles - a ~1% difference, I know, but I'm still worried it will be a problem if Apple doesn't fix this).

  • by fredrick_b,

    fredrick_b fredrick_b Dec 29, 2013 9:52 AM in response to HalexPereira
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 29, 2013 9:52 AM in response to HalexPereira

    I have this problem too. Very annoying, have to keep restarting my MBA

  • by 1magine,

    1magine 1magine Dec 29, 2013 11:03 AM in response to fredrick_b
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 29, 2013 11:03 AM in response to fredrick_b

    Same problem here on 2010 Macbook Pro after sleep . Activity Monitor shows  91 threads running for this process !! This really needs to get sorted soon . This and the 'Application Memory ' low on my Mac Mini which pauses iTunes and other processes at will .

     

    ~M~

  • by antony-m,

    antony-m antony-m Dec 31, 2013 10:14 AM in response to HalexPereira
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 31, 2013 10:14 AM in response to HalexPereira

    Just noticed the same issue on my new MacBook Pro 13". Have been using it with headphones after waking from sleep. As with many others, unplugging the headphones and closing the lid for a few seconds fixed the problem.

     

    Submitted a bug report to Apple. Home they fix it soon.

  • by drewrob26,

    drewrob26 drewrob26 Dec 31, 2013 3:36 PM in response to HalexPereira
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 31, 2013 3:36 PM in response to HalexPereira

    Now I'm getting a bug where my audio in my headphones cuts out and I can't get it back without a reboot.  I have seen a few forums with other people with this problem and I think it's related.  Let's hope Apple can fix these bugs soon.

  • by joeyjohnson,

    joeyjohnson joeyjohnson Jan 1, 2014 2:40 AM in response to drewrob26
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jan 1, 2014 2:40 AM in response to drewrob26

    Well having had ongoing problems for years now on various new apple machines, including various ones which apple stores have looked at and replaced virtually every internal part, still unable to find the slowness causes (and instability and network leeching), my friend, a lifelong Apple tech, sent me these two links. I can't say I am not ever so slightly curious!

     

    http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/the-nsa-uses-powerful-toolbox-in-effor t-to-spy-on-global-networks-a-940969.html

     

    http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/catalog-reveals-nsa-has-back-doors-for -numerous-devices-a-940994.html

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