Problem with Kernel Task - El Capitan

Same issue. Macmini7,1 & the list goes up to 5,1.

Tried SMC,

PRAM,

First Aid,

backup entire kext extensions folder,

disable all login items.

One note of interest: anyone running a Thunderbolt Studio Display? Tried both ports on the mini with same kernel_task issue using too many resources to make the machine run effectively.

After some time, all available memory will be used & can no longer run normal tasks or applications without rebooting.

A 2014 Mac mini with 8GB of RAM shouldn't have these problems.

The advice in here & multiple sites all suggest removing the kext, but radio silence to anyone who has a model not listed in the package contents.

Extremely frustrating to have a "worked for me" but "sorry you're out of luck, take it to Apple" for the rest of us, especially if we're just out of the one year warranty.

This doesn't work as the file name for my computer wasn't in that folder at all. there were a whole lot of others right up until mine!

:/

as many of us have written, we can't find the name for our computer in the package folder. they have every other name but not mine!

so I can't do this.

I have the same issue here. The % CPU is fine with round about 2-5% but the kernel_task is using 75 GB of virtual ram. My biggest issue with my Mac is, that sometimes I have a big stutter and lag when I switch between my spaces. I'm trying to find the issue

I have the same problem and it's a MacBook Air and wiped the disk and installed a system without anything else. Still no good and no appropriate kext to remove.

I finally took my iMac into the Apple store, struggling with this issue and after phone support wasn't able to help me. They've diagnosed my issue to be a bad temperature sensor on the LCD screen, reading 125 C - which is telling the fans to run full speed. The Apple technician this will drive the Kernel_Task to work really hard too, but I'm not so sure about that. My machine had to be admitted into their hospital awaiting the surgeon. I'm hoping to get it back in a couple days!

I just started having this issue today and followed your directions the problem still occurs. Only this time the Kernel _Task will drop down as well as the fan and idle for a short period then it will spike back up to an average of 60% with no applications being used.

Macbook Air 13 - inch Mid 2013

OS X El Capitan

Also at the moment I can not do a SMC reset at work with no charger. I will attempt when I am home

Mac temperature 84 degrees @6500rpm

This solved the issue I was facing. Thanks Badgermonkey, you are a saviour!!🙂🙂

I have the same problem, but I cant find my model (MacBookAir6,2) in the folder, so...ideas?

Hi Badgermonkey. I probably know enough to just be dangerous so apologies for lack of knowledge. I have this very same issue and I know via terminal my Model identifier is Macmini6,1 However when I take the step to find Macmini6,1.plist it is not there? any suggestions for this? Am I missing something? I appreciate any info.

with new mac you cannot find the Model file to delete. Let's wait for another solution. no help from apple. I will buy a windows no mac from now.

I've followed your steps but my activity monitor still shows kernel_task using about 500MB of RAM. Someone knows why? Should I be worried?

Thanks.

angelefc wrote:

I've followed your steps but my activity monitor still shows kernel_task using about 500MB of RAM. Someone knows why? Should I be worried?

Thanks.

kernel_task is your operating system. How much total RAM do you have installed? That will tell you if 553.8 MB is excessive or not.