Macbook Pro fan running constantly and CPU running slow

Question

Macbook Pro fan running constantly and CPU running slow

So, I have a Macbook Pro 2010 2.3 i7 that has started running really slow and the fan is running constantly.

In activity monitor it shows a kernel_task running constantly at around or above 200%.

I have tried all the regular tasks. PRam reset, SMC reset and nothing seems to fix it.

I have also tried a system reinstall to no avail.

Maybe I'm on the wrong track, but from what I have read, the kernel_task might be trying to slow my CPU down because it thinks it is being overworked?

Maybe the fans are also being activated because it thinks the computer is too hot?

Anyway, if anyone has any idea as to what I can do to figure out what is going on, let me know. Thanks

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Apr 27, 2015 11:22 PM

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Answer 1

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Apr 28, 2015 3:26 AM in response to billy fantabulous

Run an Apple Hardware Test:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201257

Note that an error free AHT is not definitive.

Ciao.

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Answer 2

Apr 28, 2015 7:08 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

I did try this and couldn't get the hardware test to work.

If I hold down d while starting up, it just doesn't work. If I hold down option-d while starting up, it gives me an error.

I'm not even sure how to get the hardware test to work.

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Answer 3

Apr 28, 2015 7:18 AM in response to billy fantabulous

Please post your etrecheck report.

Download it, run it and post the report results here.....

Here is the link.......http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck

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Answer 4

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Apr 28, 2015 7:18 AM in response to billy fantabulous

Use the original installation disk that came with your MBP that has the AHT instructions on it.

Or down load the appropriate one from here:

https://github.com/upekkha/AppleHardwareTest

Ciao.

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Answer 5

Apr 28, 2015 7:44 AM in response to Grane Duke

Here is the EtreCheck results:

Problem description:

fans running constantly and CPU slowing down

EtreCheck version: 2.2 (132)

Report generated 4/28/15 7:42 AM

Download EtreCheck from http://etresoft.com/etrecheck

Click the [Click for support] links for help with non-Apple products.

Click the [Click for details] links for more information about that line.

The following internal tasks failed to complete:

/usr/sbin/system_profiler -xml SPFontsDataType

Hardware Information: ℹ️

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010) (Technical Specifications)

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro6,2

1 2.66 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 2-core

8 GB RAM

BANK 0/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n

Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 141 - SN = W0020PTD7BWZA

Video Information: ℹ️

Intel HD Graphics - VRAM: 288 MB

NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M - VRAM: 512 MB

Color LCD 1440 x 900

System Software: ℹ️

OS X 10.8.5 (12F45) - Time since boot: 0:39:23

Disk Information: ℹ️

TOSHIBA MK5065GSXF disk0 : (500.11 GB)

disk0s1 (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 499.25 GB (73.74 GB free)

Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB

MATSHITADVD-R UJ-898

USB Information: ℹ️

Apple Internal Memory Card Reader

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Gatekeeper: ℹ️

Anywhere

Kernel Extensions: ℹ️

/Applications/KeyRemap4MacBook.app

[loaded] org.pqrs.driver.KeyRemap4MacBook (8.4.0 - SDK 10.8) [Click for support]

/Applications/Roxio Toast 6 Titanium/Toast 6 Titanium.app

[not loaded] com.roxio.TDIXController (1.3) [Click for support]

/System/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.IKMultimedia.driver.StompIO1 (1.0.0) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.avid.usb.mbox.driver (1.0.18) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.digidesign.fwfamily.driver (9.0f4) [Click for support]

[loaded] com.digidesign.iokit.DigiDal (10.3.4f181 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.digidesign.usb.elevenrack.driver (1.0.1) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.ikmultimedia.driver.StealthPedal (1.0.0) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.master (5.9 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]

[not loaded] jp.co.roland.RDUSB0138Dev (1.0.0 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]

/System/Library/Extensions/PACESupportFamily.kext/Contents/PlugIns

[not loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.leopard (5.9 - SDK 10.4) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.panther (5.9 - SDK 10.-1) [Click for support]

[loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.snowleopard (5.9 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.tiger (5.9 - SDK 10.4) [Click for support]

Startup Items: ℹ️

DigidesignLoader: Path: /Library/StartupItems/DigidesignLoader

RDUSB0138Startup: Path: /Library/StartupItems/RDUSB0138Startup

Startup items are obsolete in OS X Yosemite

Launch Agents: ℹ️

[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.avid.mbox.helper.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist [Click for support]

[unknown] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] org.pqrs.KeyRemap4MacBook.server.plist [Click for support]

Launch Daemons: ℹ️

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.digidesign.elevenrack.helper.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.digidesign.fwfamily.heler.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist [Click for support]

[unknown] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper.plist [Click for support]

[running] com.paceap.eden.licensed.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] org.pqrs.KeyRemap4MacBook.load.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] PACESupport.plist [Click for support]

User Login Items: ℹ️

Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)

apple-scc-20150427-140055 UNKNOWN (missing value)

Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

o1dbrowserplugin: Version: 5.41.0.0 - SDK 10.8 [Click for support]

AdobeExManDetect: Version: AdobeExManDetect 1.1.0.0 - SDK 10.7 [Click for support]

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: Version: 2.3.8.1 [Click for support]

iLokClientHelper: Version: 3.5 - SDK 10.5 [Click for support]

Silverlight: Version: 4.0.60831.0 [Click for support]

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 17.0.0.169 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

Flash Player: Version: 17.0.0.169 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.1

googletalkbrowserplugin: Version: 5.41.0.0 - SDK 10.8 [Click for support]

iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0 - SDK 10.8

AdobePDFViewer: Version: 10.1.1 [Click for support]

JavaAppletPlugin: Version: 14.6.0 - SDK 10.8 Check version

Audio Plug-ins: ℹ️

Avid CoreAudio: Version: 10.3.4.181 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️

Digidesign Eleven Rack [Click for support]

Flash Player [Click for support]

Flip4Mac WMV [Click for support]

Mbox [Click for support]

RC-300 [Click for support]

Time Machine: ℹ️

Mobile backups: ON

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 499.25 GB Disk used: 425.51 GB

Destinations:

Shupester [Network]

Total size: 3.00 TB

Total number of backups: 66

Oldest backup: 2013-06-17 21:18:22 +0000

Last backup: 2015-03-19 06:26:07 +0000

Size of backup disk: Excellent

Backup size 3.00 TB > (Disk size 499.25 GB X 3)

/sbin excluded from backup!

/usr excluded from backup!

/System excluded from backup!

/bin excluded from backup!

/private excluded from backup!

/Library excluded from backup!

/Applications excluded from backup!

Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️

31% mtmd

19% Safari

8% Finder

6% mds

4% Dropbox

Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️

180 MB Mail

172 MB mds

139 MB Safari

131 MB WebProcess

106 MB Pages

Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️

4.72 GB Free RAM

3.28 GB Used RAM

0 B Swap Used

Diagnostics Information: ℹ️

Apr 28, 2015, 06:53:27 AM Self test - passed

Apr 27, 2015, 11:34:56 AM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Pro Tools_2015-04-27-113456_[redacted].crash

Apr 27, 2015, 11:34:23 AM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Pro Tools_2015-04-27-113423_[redacted].crash

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Answer 6

Apr 28, 2015 8:00 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

I also did find my original disk and ran the AHT twice.

I heard my fan's shut down for the first time when the test showed it was testing the Logic Board… I'm guessing that might not be a good sign.

Here is what AHT said:

Alert! Apple Hardware Test has detected an error

4SNS/1/C0000008: TC0D--124

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Answer 7

Apr 28, 2015 8:06 AM in response to billy fantabulous

Do you really need TITANIUM TOAST app...? Or else, uninstall the Titanium Toast app.

Uninstall Key remap for macbook. You don’t need any keyboard customiser for your macbook. Customise your keyboard from the keyboard settings instead.

If you don’t need Avid Mbox then please uninstall that app as the sound apps can be resource intensive, which in turn increases your CPU usage.

Digidesign is a part of Avid Mbox. If you don’t require it then remove it.

If you don’t require Roland app then please remove it.

Remove Flip4Mac WMV, silverlight, Google talk browser plugin from internet plugins. You do not need them.

By looking at your Etrecheck report, I feel that you are into Sound Engineering Industry... Right. You have got way too many Sound related apps which can be quite resource intensive, which in turn increase the CPU usage slowing down your mac.

Hope this helps.....

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Answer 8

Apr 28, 2015 8:10 AM in response to billy fantabulous

I am afraid, that code is related to the Temperature Sensors in your macbook.....

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Answer 9

Apr 28, 2015 8:13 AM in response to Grane Duke

Thats the reason, the temperature sensors can not detect the actual temperature in your macbook, causing the fans to spin at high speeds. If thats the case then its a hardware issue and you need to take your macbook to the Apple store......

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Answer 10

Apr 28, 2015 8:32 AM in response to Grane Duke

That makes sense. I also read somewhere that the kernel_task is trying to slow my CPU down from getting too hot.

So, do you know if they can they fix the sensor or do they have to replace the whole logic board?

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Answer 11

Apr 28, 2015 8:41 AM in response to billy fantabulous

Of course, Apple will replace the whole logic board. Apple never fixes any small parts individually. As, I can see that you are no longer in the warranty time frame. So, I would suggest you to try their flat depot repair for some $350. Or else, the repair is quite expensive, burning your pockets completely for around $700.

Hope this helps...

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Answer 12

Apr 28, 2015 8:55 AM in response to Grane Duke

OK, so it sounds like my Logic Board needs to be replaced. So, I found a fix somewhere that overrides the kernel_task so at least my computer would run fast again. Although the fans still keep going all the time, which is fine for now.

So, what would be the danger if my computer ended up running too hot? Just the logic board (which already needs to be replaced)? or will running the computer too hot also affect other things as well?

Really, I just need to get through an Audio Production project by next week. After that I can fix the computer if I need to.

Let me know what you think. Thanks

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Answer 13

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Apr 28, 2015 10:36 AM in response to billy fantabulous

Based on the error that the AHT produced, you best option is an appointment at an Apple store genius bar. Advise them of the specific error. There is no fix that you can make.

Ciao.

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