todhunk

Q: GPU Panic on Macbook Pro 2010

My Macbook Pro crashes several times a day. It's a documented fault, though I can't recall seeing anything about it or being told about it when the machine was in its early years. It's a GPU panic - something to do with dynamic switching between the two graphics cards in the machine.

 

Since I went to El Capitan, I've gone from no crashes at all to many a day. It completely undermines confidence in the computer for presentations and the like.

 

I know this machine is 6 years old but its overall performance is still good and I would expect to get a few more years of reliable use out of it. It was my first experience of using Apple and frankly, I am now very disappointed. I have gone from being an ardent Apple evangelist to sceptic, and that's a pity.

 

Why should El Capitan expose a hardware issue? And what can I do since my Macbook Pro is not capable of upgrading to the new version of OS X due soon?

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6), 2010

Posted on Sep 20, 2016 12:33 AM

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Q: GPU Panic on Macbook Pro 2010

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  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Sep 20, 2016 4:47 AM in response to todhunk
    Level 9 (52,367 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 20, 2016 4:47 AM in response to todhunk

    You have the misfortune of having a model identifier 6.2 MBP that is experiencing GPU problems. There was a replacement program on these models but that has expired.

     

    You can have the logic board replaced, but that will be at your expense.

     

    You may download this application as an interim measure:

     

    https://gfx.io/

     

    This will allow you to disengage the discrete GPU and use only the integrated one. This will stop the kernel panics but at the expense of graphics performance.

     

    It is my understanding that the Sierra OSX will be able to be installed on 2010 MBPs.

     

    Ciao..