yosemite graphics problem on macbook

Yes, I am writing this on a new MBP mid 2014. My "late 2011" is on standby until I sort this issue out with Apple. They need me to take it to a Genius so they can verify the problem. I will do that in january when I have some time.

Thanks for sharing all the issues people with 2011 17" books.... I guess I won't be making an update until they fix things, which in my experience with Apple is never.

I do not use external displays, only low resolution beamers when teaching. And the graphics problems under Ubunut were the exact same than in Yosemite: black screen, immediate cold start.

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012)

Processor: 2.3 GHz Intel Core i7

Memory: 4 GB 1600 MHz DDR3

Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4000 1024 MB

I've used 192.8 GB

Operating System: 10.10.1 (14B25) YOSEMITE UPDATE

I've been experiencing problems with my Macbook Pro shortly after the two year mark of when I've purchased it. There are a few things that are going on. I recently verified my Macintosh HD disk through disk utility and it stated in red that there was an incorrect number of file hard links & then error: This disk needs to be repaired and to restart and then press "R". However, everything before that seemed to have passed. I have everything backed up on an external hard drive and use the time machine frequently. Another thing that has been happening, usually when I'm opening one my adobe programs, is that my screen will go white for a minute along with unidentifiable pink glitchy shapes that don't move. My computer has not been running like it used to and is running slow, freezing, and periodically going white --- as I just mentioned before. I just know that something isn't it right. I've been having to restart my computer by manually pressing the power button more than I've ever had over the past two years. I always work on my computer on a hard surface in a cool area & my fans seem to behaving okay. I also recently installed the Yosemite update for the mac sometime during this past November too and noticed slower running speed, more freezing, and longer times to boot up afterwards.

I just posted this another forum I started but now I'm beginning to think that a lot of the problems I'm experiencing maybe besides the hard drive has to do with the new Yosemite update. My computer is just not the same. It's been running slow, freezing, and glitching when I run my adobe products sometimes forcing to a hard reboot. I'm definitely not too happy with my first experience purchasing an apple product so far. I hope more people decide to speak up about this.

Well, after many crashes and freezes, nothing seemed to help and finally it just wouldn't start. Took it in to the Genius Bar (was going to pop the case off but could only get 9 of the custom Apple screws out) and they confirmed, there is more to it. They had to send it out and replace the logic board. $310 and you should be good to go. They aren't going to publicize they had a crappy board and I never checked what the original model or # was but ever since I have had it back, it is flawless. Part of the cons of being an early adopter like myself. Sometimes, s*** happens, and will anyway, but you have to be prepared. Don't waste your time with all of the reset options and stuff, just get the proper board and talk to them.

Chris

Ever since upgrading to Yosemite I have similar issues as other people here. BUT, I got my logic card and mother board replaced 7 months ago ...

Hi Stefan,

What is the status of your problem? Just a quick rundown please.

Leo

I installed the application gfxCardStatus where I can change preferences for the graphic card. I am trying different settings, have not been logged out (yet) today.

Apple claim it is hardware problem ...

Stefan Lillis wrote:

I installed the application gfxCardStatus where I can change preferences for the graphic card. I am trying different settings, have not been logged out (yet) today.

Apple claim it is hardware problem ...

Stefan,

They are correct. The problem is with the discrete GPU that is in the Mac. I have been through that on one of our Macs. The gfx utility is a handy little program. Just set it on the Integrated Graphics and leave it. Sometimes it will switch back to Auto by itself, then just switch it back. But you have to be quick, otherwise the problem will manifest itself where the Mac switches from Hi-res to Lo-res. Because of the bad connection between the GPU and where it is mounted, the Software see a failure, as the connection can not comply with the high data rate, and you experience that as a failure when the software falls over, and it gives you all the gen in the failure report.

There were lots of rumours about Apple having timing circuits for failures, etc which is all Boole...! And I am not referring to the brilliant Mathematician! It is simple physics and can be solved by having Apple or another specialist repair that. The chip itself on the GPU minicard is rarely the problem. Some find their solutions in reflow or reballing.

Have fun

Leo

What are you exactly experiencing? Which model do you own? Are you using an external display?

If you got the logic board changed by Apple 7 months ago then maybe it is a software issue rather than an hardware one.

gfxcardstatus is useless: you can check which GPU is in use by using the Activity Monitor system application; it's on the energy panel.

To trigger the discrete GPU while using the laptop on its built-in display just run an application as Photoshop or anything else that will trigger it.

If you have the opportunity to also boot from a Mavericks install, then do it and check if you get any of those issues.

The solution, if you can call it that, seems to be to disable the discrete card completely. I was constantly getting these errors, and then wound up following these instructions:

http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/128180/how-to-disable-discrete-graphics -card-and-use-only-integrated-graphics-macbook-p

As a result, I now can't play games on the OSX side, but haven't had any issues for a month. Previously I had to wrap it in a towel and overheat it almost half the time I went to wake it up..

For those who think this is a hardware issue, I offer the following observations:

• This only happens on Yosemite, not Windows, even when playing GPU-heavy games and switching back to Aero.
• Temperature seems to have zero effect on frequency of occurrence, though deliberate overheating can be used to force the discrete card to be turned off, and to allow the system to start. Hardware problems with GPUs would normally exhibit some kind of temperature relationship.
• In this case the glitch causes overheating, but is not affected by it. During the fault, the CPU/GPU fan goes nuts and the system heats up a lot. The only software condition I can imagine to cause this is a hung loop of some kind.

So why does replacing the logic board work? Probably because this also involves changing the version and firmware of the GPUs. As a side note, it also seems pretty evident that the problem is not with the discrete card. It's probably the integrated card driver that has the flaw; note that this issue occurs on both ATI and nVidia systems, and in both cases the artifacting -- when it occurs -- is identical. The only shared features between those two cases is the OS and Intel HD card and driver. Perhaps someone with more time than me could swap in the Intel driver from Mavericks... just a guess.

gfxcardstatus doesn't help solve the problem, but it did help me get a sense of exactly how frequently the OS changes from card to card. Triggers include:

• Any Java application.
• Flash on web pages (you can disable hardware acceleration in Flash to prevent this). In fact, the graphics card switches each time you alt-tab into the browser and hit a flash-enabled page.
• WebGL pages.
• Some native apps that aren't written well (Coda 2 and Transmit used the 3D GPU, but this has been recently resolved)

It's really remarkable, too, how much of an effect this has on the battery. My laptop can run for a noticeably longer period of time now that the discrete card is disabled.

I am on a mid 2010, 2.4 GHz Intet Core i5. 8GB 1067, MHz DDR3. NINIDIA GeForce GT 330 256 MB. 500 GB SATA.

The problem (getting logged out) occurs when using an external monitor, an 27" Apple Cinema Display.

I have the exact same model. Going Back to 10.6.8 from backup and resetting the PRAM solved ALL problems I previously had. I haven't had much response on my previous posts, but my diagnosis seems right: a driver problem of NVIDIA since the NVIDIA drivers under Linux cause the same problems. Other drivers under linux are fine, as are older OSX versions. It is clear to me that I will never upgrade to Yosemite. If I have time, I will try Mavericks, otherwise keep 10.6.8 till the end of its life. Some people here believe they have hardware problems, I don't believe so, and at least one user had the problems reocurring after logic board exchange. Changing the logic board is a waste of money, its their problem, I won't pay for it.

Ok, I suggest you to first try a PRAM and SMC reset using the procedure described at this link: Guide: How to solve Yosemite memory leaks and CPU usage

Then disable the option "displays have separete Spaces" in the Mission Control preference pane (need to logout and re-login to take effect).

Lastly try with "reduce transparency" option in the Accesibility preference pane.

As last resort you can also use a "scaled resolution" for the external display (Dysplay preference pane).

The issue affects also who has an ATI discrete GPU as users with an early 2011 MacBook Pro laptop.

10.6.8 Mac OS X is a legacy system nowadays; Apple doesn't release any security update for it anymore. Thus, I'd suggest at least to move up to Mavericks if your hardware supports it (most likely than not).