OSX Mavericks Keeps Restarting at Random Times

It could, but it is prone to false negatives. Run it 3X, back to back, extended, for the most reliable results. That being said, it may not detect anything. Especially when it comes to the logicboard, you need an external diagnostic tool to test the machine.

kgriffen - would your screen flicker, have parts of it go black, etc, or would the whole thing just go black and then the computer restart? Mine does the latter, but it seems like when people have GPU issues, they typically experience the former. Just curious.

Thanks!

I've had no more crashes or issues since uninstalling PACE and Sophos... haven't been working with both external drives either, so not sure if that has anything to do with it. Still have an appointment to get it tested tomorrow.

Here is a question, if it fails the test but I am not having any more crashes, is there a need to replace it? Will the GPU get WORSE over time, or is it more of a "it is what it is" situation, where something about the Mavericks install caused it to rear its ugly head, but as long as I have it under control now, it isn't an issue?

Thanks!

"Here is a question, if it fails the test but I am not having any more crashes, is there a need to replace it? "

Yes. The GPU will get worse over time, and eventually you will only be able to boot your machine in safe mode, if at all.

It is still a good idea that you are bringing the machine in to get it checked, especially given your model, but the most common cause of kernel panics are third party kernel extensions (source Resolving Kernel Panics - The X Lab).

Here's what I've been able to figure out after many tests and three trips to the Genius Bar, and a replaced logic board. Mavericks taxes the logic board in ways that render an otherwise perfectly working Mac useless. My Mac is only two years old and I only do basic things with it. Lightroom is about as intense as it gets. My advice, if you have your Mac still under warranty, get the logic board replaced. If not, go back to Mountain Lion. Hope that helps.

"Mavericks taxes the logic board in ways that render an otherwise perfectly working Mac useless."

Can you explain this further? I highly doubt this is information the Genius Bar supplied you with.

Nbar, thanks again for the reply.

Two followup questions - you said:

Yes. The GPU will get worse over time, and eventually you will only be able to boot your machine in safe mode, if at all.

Why is that (that it gets worse over time). IF it is my logic board, which would likely mean that my 2010 MBP was one of the bad ones from the beginning, doesn't that mean (if it does get worse over time) that it would have been progressively getting worse for the past 40 months or so? And if so, that seems odd that this would be the first time I had an issue, wouldn't it? Or am I missing something?

You also said:

but the most common cause of kernel panics are third party kernel extensions

Why is it that 3rd party kernel extensions trigger a GPU error?

Thanks again!

JamesMG76 wrote:

Here is a question, if it fails the test but I am not having any more crashes, is there a need to replace it? Will the GPU get WORSE over time, or is it more of a "it is what it is" situation, where something about the Mavericks install caused it to rear its ugly head, but as long as I have it under control now, it isn't an issue?

Thanks!

You are asking us to speculate, since anyone who knows what is the actual issue with these GPU's is probably an Apple employee (& may want to keep their job by not posting company info on public forums). Try quizzing the genius but be aware they usually don't have access to the details of every issue.

Apple installed some components that were later found to have problems, they requested users take the Mac in to have parts replaced for free. That tells you Apple were concerned enough to want to avoid any potential claims.

Sadly the free replacement period seems to have run out for many of these machines (it's unclear how that can be legitimate, but we probably have different consumer laws & warranty periods etc).

Will is get worse over time - it seems like 10.9 has answered that question for you.

Others in this thread claim earlier OS's were OK but 10.9 causes GPU panics. The GPU didn't change, but the OS made the issue appear worse, but you are right, it could just be the extra software you removed, but the coincidence with other users appears to point towards - this hardware + 10.9 = trouble.

Backup before you go to the store (& check it boots from the backup).

I was told that every new OS handles hardware differently. In this case, it handles the graphics card differently. Despite that my Mac is only 2 years old (an infant by PC standards) my logic board said "kiss my @$$" to Mavericks. Everything was smooth as butter before Mavericks. Every time it crashed it was going full screen with YouTube, Netflix, Airplay, you name it. So, an new logic board it is, or go back to ML. Without being a Genius myself, I can't be much more technical than that. :-)

"Why is that?"

I can't answer that. I have no idea why certain hardware components fail at certain times. But once they do, they get worse. You would only be able to boot in safe mode because safe mode only loads the necessary drivers for your system to start, which would not include any of the Nvidea GPU's drivers. Again, though, this hasn't been ruled as the cause of the issue. I definitely understand your concern, but wait until you get the results of the diagnostic. not all mid 2010 Macbook Pro's are defective. "Apple has determined that a small percentage of this model..." That's how the replacement program's statement reads.

"Why is it that 3rd party kernel extensions trigger a GPU error?"

Read the link I referred you to.

Regards.

PS: This isn't speculation. I'm basing this on the fact that 1) I have had a GPU fail on me before, 2) I have read the experiences of others on this site.

Thanks!

You're welcome. Best of luck with the appointment.

How did you get on with your appointment? I'm a bit screwed as I'm acutually working over in Ireland at the moment so there is no way that I can get to an Apple store in the immediate future 😟 I also need my laptop for work on a daily basis (I'm a freelancer) so can't really send it anywhere... still, be interested to hear what they told you!

BigJoeCool - it failed the text, so it is the GPU.

Talked to the genius at length about it, however (nice guy, we know some of the same people so he was very helpful) - I asked him if it would get worse over time or if there was a chance that some of the 3rd-party extensions had caused it and that it might stay manageable (after crashing 4 or 5 times on the 7th and 8th, it has not crashed since...which I believe may be in part to removing a couple old apps, etc).

He said the answer is yes and no. He said he has seen both situations but there is no way to know which boat you will be in. He said it could be something that starts occurring more and more, or it could happen every few months, once a year, etc, or it could be that it was triggered by the 3rd party extensions and it won't be a problem again.

He suggested i call Apple Care to see if they would put a note on my serial number to authorize the repair for free (I've had it for about 3 years and 5 months). I called Apple Care and the first answer was no...I'm not very good at taking no for an answer, however, so I'm on to round two and should know more by Tuesday.

Hope this was helpful.

Anonymous UUID: 160969B3-F2D3-5DA0-3565-9746EA32E4BE

Tue Jan 14 10:42:24 2014

panic(cpu 3 caller 0xffffff7f93010fac): "GPU Panic: [<None>] 5 3 7f 0 0 0 0 3 : NVRM[0/1:0:0]: Read Error 0x00000100: CFG 0xffffffff 0xffffffff 0xffffffff, BAR0 0xd2000000 0xffffff8125169000 0x0a5480a2, D0, P3/4\n"@/SourceCache/AppleGraphicsControl/AppleGraphicsControl-3.4.12/src/Apple MuxControl/kext/GPUPanic.cpp:127

Backtrace (CPU 3), Frame : Return Address

0xffffff8124e7aea0 : 0xffffff8010c22f69

0xffffff8124e7af20 : 0xffffff7f93010fac

0xffffff8124e7aff0 : 0xffffff7f9174f53d

0xffffff8124e7b0b0 : 0xffffff7f9181bd9e

0xffffff8124e7b0f0 : 0xffffff7f9181bdfc

0xffffff8124e7b160 : 0xffffff7f91aa05be

0xffffff8124e7b290 : 0xffffff7f9183fd41

0xffffff8124e7b2b0 : 0xffffff7f9175608d

0xffffff8124e7b360 : 0xffffff7f91753bae

0xffffff8124e7b560 : 0xffffff7f917554d7

0xffffff8124e7b630 : 0xffffff7f926385bf

0xffffff8124e7b700 : 0xffffff7f92662993

0xffffff8124e7b780 : 0xffffff7f9264acc0

0xffffff8124e7b7e0 : 0xffffff7f9264b5ba

0xffffff8124e7b830 : 0xffffff7f9264b934

0xffffff8124e7b8a0 : 0xffffff7f9264c1a8

0xffffff8124e7b8e0 : 0xffffff7f926191ca

0xffffff8124e7ba60 : 0xffffff7f92648b20

0xffffff8124e7bb20 : 0xffffff7f92617cb9

0xffffff8124e7bb70 : 0xffffff80110cc226

0xffffff8124e7bb90 : 0xffffff80110cd821

0xffffff8124e7bbf0 : 0xffffff80110cb28f

0xffffff8124e7bd40 : 0xffffff8010cb6008

0xffffff8124e7be50 : 0xffffff8010c26bb1

0xffffff8124e7be80 : 0xffffff8010c139b5

0xffffff8124e7bef0 : 0xffffff8010c1e003

0xffffff8124e7bf70 : 0xffffff8010cc921d

0xffffff8124e7bfb0 : 0xffffff8010cf3e26

Kernel Extensions in backtrace:

com.apple.driver.AppleMuxControl(3.4.12)[A4934A66-0E30-36E9-984A-650481102449]@ 0xffffff7f93003000->0xffffff7f93015fff

dependency: com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl(3.4.12)[661E3C87-5B97-3272-88FF-B9BA9B6E2 4ED]@0xffffff7f92ffb000

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily(1.4)[045D5D6F-AD1E-36DB-A249-A346E2B48E54]@0xfffff f7f9164b000

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.8)[447B4896-16FF-3616-95A2-1C516B2A1498]@0xffffff 7f912ba000

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.3.6)[38E388A5-92D6-3388-B799-F2498E582287]@0 xffffff7f916ab000

dependency: com.apple.driver.AppleBacklightExpert(1.0.4)[E04639C5-D734-3AB3-A682-FE66694C66 53]@0xffffff7f92ffe000

com.apple.nvidia.classic.NVDAResmanTesla(8.1.8)[0A1B6F41-168D-307A-BABD-162F3B3 C2786]@0xffffff7f916fe000->0xffffff7f9196dfff

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.8)[447B4896-16FF-3616-95A2-1C516B2A1498]@0xffffff 7f912ba000

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.3.6)[86BA68C6-18DD-30A1-ABF6-54597AD6C277]@0xff ffff7f916ee000

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.3.6)[38E388A5-92D6-3388-B799-F2498E582287]@0 xffffff7f916ab000

com.apple.nvidia.classic.NVDANV50HalTesla(8.1.8)[3666E0FC-87C7-3329-BD8C-2F1ADE D100A4]@0xffffff7f91978000->0xffffff7f91c24fff

dependency: com.apple.nvidia.classic.NVDAResmanTesla(8.1.8)[0A1B6F41-168D-307A-BABD-162F3B3 C2786]@0xffffff7f916fe000

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.8)[447B4896-16FF-3616-95A2-1C516B2A1498]@0xffffff 7f912ba000

com.apple.GeForceTesla(8.1.8)[7DAF283F-6FD3-3783-B3CC-D23964F1B9B8]@0xffffff7f9 2606000->0xffffff7f926d0fff

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.8)[447B4896-16FF-3616-95A2-1C516B2A1498]@0xffffff 7f912ba000

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.3.6)[86BA68C6-18DD-30A1-ABF6-54597AD6C277]@0xff ffff7f916ee000

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.3.6)[38E388A5-92D6-3388-B799-F2498E582287]@0 xffffff7f916ab000

dependency: com.apple.nvidia.classic.NVDAResmanTesla(8.1.8)[0A1B6F41-168D-307A-BABD-162F3B3 C2786]@0xffffff7f916fe000

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: WindowServer

Mac OS version:

13B42

Kernel version:

Darwin Kernel Version 13.0.0: Thu Sep 19 22:22:27 PDT 2013; root:xnu-2422.1.72~6/RELEASE_X86_64

Kernel UUID: 1D9369E3-D0A5-31B6-8D16-BFFBBB390393

Kernel slide: 0x0000000010a00000

Kernel text base: 0xffffff8010c00000

System model name: MacBookPro6,2 (Mac-F22586C8)

System uptime in nanoseconds: 1150089216590

last loaded kext at 260677176870: com.apple.filesystems.msdosfs 1.9 (addr 0xffffff7f93188000, size 65536)

last unloaded kext at 321559306710: com.apple.filesystems.msdosfs 1.9 (addr 0xffffff7f93188000, size 57344)

loaded kexts:

com.vmware.kext.vmioplug.10.1.24 10.1.24

com.vmware.kext.vmx86 0104.03.86

com.vmware.kext.vmnet 0104.03.86

com.vmware.kext.vsockets 90.4.23

com.vmware.kext.vmci 90.4.18

com.kerio.kext.kvnet 8.0.0

com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch 80.14

com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC 1.60

com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor 1.9.5d0

com.apple.driver.AGPM 100.14.11

com.apple.filesystems.autofs 3.0

com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager 4.2.0f6

com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyHIDDriver 124

com.apple.driver.AppleHDA 2.5.3fc1

com.apple.iokit.IOUserEthernet 1.0.0d1

com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyDriver 2.5.3fc1

com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X 7.0.0

com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin 1.0.0

com.apple.GeForceTesla 8.1.8

com.apple.driver.AppleSMCPDRC 1.0.0

com.apple.driver.AppleHWAccess 1

com.apple.driver.SMCMotionSensor 3.0.4d1

com.apple.iokit.BroadcomBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport 4.2.0f6

com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient 3.5.13

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelHDGraphics 8.1.8

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelHDGraphicsFB 8.1.8

com.apple.driver.AppleLPC 1.7.0

com.apple.driver.AppleSMCLMU 2.0.4d1

com.apple.driver.AppleMuxControl 3.4.12

com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl 1.1.12

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCButtons 240.2

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyboard 240.2

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBCardReader 3.3.5

com.apple.driver.AppleIRController 325.7

com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless 1.0.0d1

com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0d1

com.apple.BootCache 35

com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient 3.6.0

com.apple.driver.XsanFilter 404

com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 2.4.0

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub 650.4.4

com.apple.driver.AirPort.Brcm4331 700.20.22

com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI 4.9.9

com.apple.iokit.AppleBCM5701Ethernet 3.6.9b9

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI 650.4.1

com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 2.9.5

com.apple.driver.AppleSmartBatteryManager 161.0.0

com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 2.0

com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 2.0

com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.8

com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 2.0

com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 2.0

com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.7

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient 216.0.0

com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 153

com.apple.security.quarantine 3

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement 216.0.0

com.apple.driver.IOBluetoothHIDDriver 4.2.0f6

com.apple.driver.AppleMultitouchDriver 245.13

com.apple.AppleGraphicsDeviceControl 3.4.12

com.apple.kext.triggers 1.0

com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily 10.0.7

com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib 2.5.3fc1

com.apple.vecLib.kext 1.0.0

com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily 1.9.4fc11

com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib 1.14

com.apple.iokit.IOSurface 91

com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily 4.2.0f6

com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginLegacy 1.0.0

com.apple.nvidia.classic.NVDANV50HalTesla 8.1.8

com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI 1.0.12d1

com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP 2.2.5

com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport 4.2.0f6

com.apple.nvidia.classic.NVDAResmanTesla 8.1.8

com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController 2.5.3fc1

com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily 2.5.3fc1

com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily 5.5.1d27

com.apple.driver.AppleSMC 3.1.6d1

com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl 3.4.12

com.apple.driver.AppleBacklightExpert 1.0.4

com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport 2.3.6

com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusController 1.0.11d1

com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily 2.3.6

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMultitouch 240.6

com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice 3.6.0

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBMassStorageClass 3.6.0

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver 650.4.4

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub 650.4.0

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite 650.4.0

com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice 3.6.0

com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily 1.7

com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily 1.7.1

com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily 1.7.1

com.apple.iokit.IOAHCISerialATAPI 2.6.0

com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily 3.6.0

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient 650.4.4

com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family 600.34

com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily 4.5.5

com.apple.iokit.IOEthernetAVBController 1.0.3b3

com.apple.driver.mDNSOffloadUserClient 1.0.1b4

com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 3.2

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 650.4.4

com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 2.6.0

com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 2.0

com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 2.0

com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 2.0.0

com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1

com.apple.security.sandbox 278.10

com.apple.kext.AppleMatch 1.0.0d1

com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 7

com.apple.driver.AppleKeyStore 2

com.apple.driver.DiskImages 371.1

com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 1.9

com.apple.iokit.IOReportFamily 21

com.apple.driver.AppleFDEKeyStore 28.30

com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 2.0

com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.8

com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.4

com.apple.kec.corecrypto 1.0

com.apple.kec.pthread 1

Model: MacBookPro6,2, BootROM MBP61.0057.B0F, 2 processors, Intel Core i7, 2.66 GHz, 8 GB, SMC 1.58f17

Graphics: Intel HD Graphics, Intel HD Graphics, Built-In, 288 MB

Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M, PCIe, 512 MB

Memory Module: BANK 0/DIMM0, 4 GB, DDR3, 1067 MHz, 0x857F, 0x483634353155363446373036364700000000

Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM0, 4 GB, DDR3, 1067 MHz, 0x857F, 0x483634353155363446373036364700000000

AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x14E4, 0x93), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.106.98.100.22)

Bluetooth: Version 4.2.0f6 12982, 3 services, 23 devices, 1 incoming serial ports

Network Service: Wi-Fi, AirPort, en1

Serial ATA Device: Hitachi HTS545050B9SA02, 500.11 GB

Serial ATA Device: MATSHITADVD-R UJ-898

USB Device: Hub

USB Device: IR Receiver

USB Device: Built-in iSight

USB Device: Hub

USB Device: BRCM2070 Hub

USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller

USB Device: Internal Memory Card Reader

USB Device: Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Thunderbolt Bus: