My 2010 Macbook Pro keeps crashing- Cant diagnose if its Hardware or software

Question

Hello, This is my first post in the community. I apologize if this is a repeat question but I have looked through other threads and could not find a solution. My mid 2010 Macbook Pro 4GB Ram 120 GB SSD i5 keeps crashing for no reason. It crashes at completely different times and is not consistent. Sometimes if i am opening a new tab or multitasking, even if i am typing a document or copying and pasting text the mac would just randomly crash. At first I assumed it was a software problem so I deleted all files on the mac and installed the new OS yet the problem still continued. I have realized that if I do less tasks at a time it crashed less frequently but this is a mac and Im sure it is not normal if I can&#x27;t do research and write a paper at the same time. Below is the report of one of the crashes. It would be great if someone could tell me if this is a software or hardware issue as I don&#x27;t have warranty anymore and may need to purchase a new computer because I can&#x27;t count the amount of times it has crashed while I was doing an assignment. Anonymous UUID:       90BFB526-92D6-7AE0-DA41-3EC4FA494004Thu Mar 26 19:32:11 2015*** Panic Report ***panic(cpu 2 caller 0xffffff7f892cef63): "GPU Panic: [&lt;None&gt;] 3 3 7f 0 0 0 0 3 : NVRM[0/1:0:0]: Read Error 0x00000100: CFG 0xffffffff 0xffffffff 0xffffffff, BAR0 0xd2000000 0xffffff80adf61000 0x0a5480a2, D0, P2/4
"@/SourceCache/AppleGraphicsControl/AppleGraphicsControl-3.8.6/src/AppleM uxControl/kext/GPUPanic.cpp:127Backtrace (CPU 2), Frame : Return Address0xffffff809bde2c40 : 0xffffff800652fe41 0xffffff809bde2cc0 : 0xffffff7f892cef63 0xffffff809bde2da0 : 0xffffff7f872ecb9f 0xffffff809bde2e60 : 0xffffff7f873b618e 0xffffff809bde2ea0 : 0xffffff7f873b61fe 0xffffff809bde2f10 : 0xffffff7f87635056 0xffffff809bde3040 : 0xffffff7f873d982d 0xffffff809bde3060 : 0xffffff7f872f35f1 0xffffff809bde3110 : 0xffffff7f872f10fc 0xffffff809bde3310 : 0xffffff7f872f2a4b 0xffffff809bde33e0 : 0xffffff7f888abefa 0xffffff809bde3550 : 0xffffff7f8886d695 0xffffff809bde35b0 : 0xffffff7f888a2308 0xffffff809bde38f0 : 0xffffff7f8884f188 0xffffff809bde3920 : 0xffffff7f8885324d 0xffffff809bde3960 : 0xffffff7f87bcfd9a 0xffffff809bde3ae0 : 0xffffff7f87bcf7f4 0xffffff809bde3b10 : 0xffffff7f87bd4666 0xffffff809bde3b60 : 0xffffff8006b010cf 0xffffff809bde3bc0 : 0xffffff8006afe9c3 0xffffff809bde3d00 : 0xffffff80065e4a87 0xffffff809bde3e10 : 0xffffff8006533f8c 0xffffff809bde3e40 : 0xffffff8006518a93 0xffffff809bde3e90 : 0xffffff80065293bd 0xffffff809bde3f10 : 0xffffff80066059fa 0xffffff809bde3fb0 : 0xffffff8006636ea6       Kernel Extensions in backtrace:         com.apple.driver.AppleMuxControl(3.8.6)[BE610379-FAEA-3E8F-B6AF-F92B70B3C5CD]@0 xffffff7f892c0000-&gt;0xffffff7f892d3fff            dependency: com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl(3.8.6)[76B001B1-30F1-3D72-B264-85D77B254C 2F]@0xffffff7f892b8000            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily(1.4)[70E2B65E-A91A-3522-A1A0-79FD63EABB4C]@0xfffff f7f870d2000            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.9)[56AD16B5-4F29-3F74-93E7-D492B3966DE2]@0xffffff 7f86d24000            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.4.1)[619F6C9F-0461-3BA1-A75F-53BB0F87ACD3]@0 xffffff7f87245000            dependency: com.apple.driver.AppleBacklightExpert(1.1.0)[42706EB3-1447-3931-A668-FBAC58AAAA 7A]@0xffffff7f892bb000         com.apple.iokit.IOSurface(97.0)[B4E2654D-4087-3875-9D59-E899A0A04F0E]@0xffffff7 f87bcd000-&gt;0xffffff7f87bdffff         com.apple.nvidia.classic.NVDAResmanTesla(10.0)[796AE430-39FB-3255-8161-D52AFA28 EE2B]@0xffffff7f8729c000-&gt;0xffffff7f87505fff            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.9)[56AD16B5-4F29-3F74-93E7-D492B3966DE2]@0xffffff 7f86d24000            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.4.1)[E5A48E71-70F5-3B01-81D3-C2B037BBE80A]@0xff ffff7f8728c000            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.4.1)[619F6C9F-0461-3BA1-A75F-53BB0F87ACD3]@0 xffffff7f87245000         com.apple.nvidia.classic.NVDANV50HalTesla(10.0)[7FE40648-F15F-3E18-91E2-FDDDF4C DA355]@0xffffff7f87510000-&gt;0xffffff7f877b9fff            dependency: com.apple.nvidia.classic.NVDAResmanTesla(10.0.0)[796AE430-39FB-3255-8161-D52AFA 28EE2B]@0xffffff7f8729c000            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.9)[56AD16B5-4F29-3F74-93E7-D492B3966DE2]@0xffffff 7f86d24000         com.apple.GeForceTesla(10.0)[3EA67900-B4A9-30BB-964D-0904DA5421CC]@0xffffff7f88 846000-&gt;0xffffff7f88913fff            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.9)[56AD16B5-4F29-3F74-93E7-D492B3966DE2]@0xffffff 7f86d24000            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.4.1)[E5A48E71-70F5-3B01-81D3-C2B037BBE80A]@0xff ffff7f8728c000            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.4.1)[619F6C9F-0461-3BA1-A75F-53BB0F87ACD3]@0 xffffff7f87245000            dependency: com.apple.nvidia.classic.NVDAResmanTesla(10.0.0)[796AE430-39FB-3255-8161-D52AFA 28EE2B]@0xffffff7f8729c000BSD process name corresponding to current thread: com.apple.WebKitMac OS version:14C109Kernel version:Darwin Kernel Version 14.1.0: Mon Dec 22 23:10:38 PST 2014; root:xnu-2782.10.72~2/RELEASE_X86_64Kernel UUID: DCF5C2D5-16AE-37F5-B2BE-ED127048DFF5Kernel slide:     0x0000000006200000Kernel text base: 0xffffff8006400000__HIB  text base: 0xffffff8006300000System model name: MacBookPro6,2 (Mac-F22586C8)System uptime in nanoseconds: 273789312489116last loaded kext at 266227231049184: com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyEventDriver 240.2 (addr 0xffffff7f89416000, size 12288)last unloaded kext at 266396405693567: com.apple.driver.AppleUSBCDC 4.2.2b5 (addr 0xffffff7f89410000, size 16384)loaded kexts:com.avg.Antivirus.OnAccess.kext 2015.0com.apple.filesystems.smbfs 3.0.0com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC 1.70com.apple.filesystems.autofs 3.0com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor 1.9.5d0com.apple.driver.AGPM 100.15.5com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager 4.3.2f6com.apple.driver.AppleOSXWatchdog 1com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyHIDDriver 124com.apple.driver.AppleHDA 269.25com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient 3.6.1com.apple.iokit.IOUserEthernet 1.0.1com.apple.GeForceTesla 10.0.0com.apple.driver.AppleIntelHDGraphics 10.0.0com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X 7.0.0com.apple.driver.AppleIntelHDGraphicsFB 10.0.0com.apple.driver.AppleHWAccess 1com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin 1.0.0com.apple.driver.AppleSMCPDRC 1.0.0com.apple.driver.AppleSMCLMU 2.0.7d0com.apple.driver.AppleHV 1com.apple.driver.AppleLPC 1.7.3com.apple.iokit.BroadcomBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport 4.3.2f6com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyDriver 269.25com.apple.driver.AppleMuxControl 3.8.6com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl 1.2.11com.apple.driver.SMCMotionSensor 3.0.4d1com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCButtons 240.2com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyboard 240.2com.apple.driver.AppleIRController 327.5com.apple.driver.AppleUSBCardReader 3.5.1com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless 1.0.0d1com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0d1com.apple.BootCache 35com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient 3.7.3com.apple.driver.XsanFilter 404com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 2.7.0com.apple.driver.AirPort.Brcm4331 800.20.24com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub 705.4.2com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI 5.5.2com.apple.iokit.AppleBCM5701Ethernet 10.1.3com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 3.1.0com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI 705.4.14com.apple.driver.AppleSmartBatteryManager 161.0.0com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 2.0com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 3.1com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.8com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 2.1com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 3.1com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.7com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient 218.0.0com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 161com.apple.security.quarantine 3com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 8com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement 218.0.0com.apple.kext.triggers 1.0com.apple.AppleGraphicsDeviceControl 3.8.6com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily 11com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib 269.25com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib 1.15com.apple.nvidia.classic.NVDANV50HalTesla 10.0.0com.apple.nvidia.classic.NVDAResmanTesla 10.0.0com.apple.iokit.IOSurface 97com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginLegacy 1.0.0com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient 705.4.0com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP 2.2.6com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController 269.25com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily 269.25com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily 203.3com.apple.vecLib.kext 1.2.0com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily 5.8.1d38com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport 4.3.2f6com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily 4.3.2f6com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl 3.8.6com.apple.driver.AppleBacklightExpert 1.1.0com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport 2.4.1com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily 2.4.1com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusController 1.0.13d1com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI 1.0.12d1com.apple.driver.AppleSMC 3.1.9com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMultitouch 245.2com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver 705.4.0com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice 3.7.3com.apple.iokit.IOUSBMassStorageClass 3.7.1com.apple.driver.CoreStorage 471.10.6com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub 705.4.0com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite 705.4.9com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice 3.7.3com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily 1.7com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily 1.7.1com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily 1.7.1com.apple.iokit.IOAHCISerialATAPI 2.6.1com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily 3.7.3com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily 4.5.6com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family 710.55com.apple.iokit.IOEthernetAVBController 1.0.3b3com.apple.driver.mDNSOffloadUserClient 1.0.1b8com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 3.2com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 2.7.5com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 710.4.14com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 2.0com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 2.0com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 2.0.0com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1com.apple.security.sandbox 300.0com.apple.kext.AppleMatch 1.0.0d1com.apple.driver.AppleKeyStore 2com.apple.driver.AppleMobileFileIntegrity 1.0.5com.apple.driver.AppleCredentialManager 1.0com.apple.driver.DiskImages 396com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 2.0com.apple.iokit.IOReportFamily 31com.apple.driver.AppleFDEKeyStore 28.30com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 3.1com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.9com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.4com.apple.kec.Libm 1com.apple.kec.pthread 1com.apple.kec.corecrypto 1.0Model: MacBookPro6,2, BootROM MBP61.0057.B0F, 2 processors, Intel Core i5, 2.4 GHz, 4 GB, SMC 1.58f16Graphics: Intel HD Graphics, Intel HD Graphics, Built-In, 288 MBGraphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M, PCIe, 256 MBMemory Module: BANK 0/DIMM0, 2 GB, DDR3, 1067 MHz, 0x80CE, 0x4D34373142353637334648302D4346382020Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM0, 2 GB, DDR3, 1067 MHz, 0x80CE, 0x4D34373142353637334648302D4346382020AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x14E4, 0x93), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.106.98.100.24)Bluetooth: Version 4.3.2f6 15235, 3 services, 27 devices, 1 incoming serial portsNetwork Service: Ethernet, Ethernet, en0Network Service: Wi-Fi, AirPort, en1Serial ATA Device: APPLE SSD TS128B, 121.33 GBSerial ATA Device: MATSHITADVD-R   UJ-898USB Device: HubUSB Device: Internal Memory Card ReaderUSB Device: BRCM2070 HubUSB Device: Bluetooth USB Host ControllerUSB Device: Apple Internal Keyboard / TrackpadUSB Device: HubUSB Device: Built-in iSightUSB Device: IR ReceiverThunderbolt Bus:Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance

Linc Davis · Answer

You have the MacBookPro6,2—the Edsel of Macs. It may have the logic-board defect that was covered by a recall program that has now ended.Residents of the EU may be entitled to warranty service for up to six years after purchase.Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or go to another authorized service provider, to have the machine tested. The routine hardware diagnostics used by service providers do not detect the fault. There is a specific test for this issue that Apple calls "VST" (for "Video Switching Test.") Ask for it. A "Failed" result means that the fault is present.You may be quoted a price of about $300 (in the U.S.) for a "depot repair," which involves shipping the unit to a central repair facility and takes about two weeks. For that flat fee, anything found wrong with it should be fixed, not just the logic board.Sometimes the replacement part is also defective, so be prepared for that possibility. If you decide to pay for a new logic board, test thoroughly during the 90-day warranty period on the repair. Some owners have reported that they went through as many as three replacement boards before getting one that worked.If you don&#x27;t want to pay for the repair, you may (or may not) be able to work around the problem by disabling automatic graphics switching. To use the discrete graphics processor, you&#x27;ll need a third-party utility to switch to it manually.Often the problems start after an OS upgrade. If the upgrade was recent, and you have backups, then you can revert to a previous OS X version.