kernel_task very high CPU usage when external monitor is connected

MacOS Sierra 10.12 (16A323)

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013)


Model Name: MacBook Pro

Model Identifier: MacBookPro11,3

Processor Name: Intel Core i7

Processor Speed: 2.3 GHz

Number of Processors: 1

Total Number of Cores: 4

L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB

L3 Cache: 6 MB

Memory: 16 GB

Boot ROM Version: MBP112.0138.B17

SMC Version (system): 2.19f12



When using an External Monitor connected either to the Mini Display Port or to the HDMI connector, kernel_task will start to use all the CPU going even > 1000% and the system becomes unusable until the external monitor is disconnected from the computer.

It can be also reproduced booting in Safe Mode.


What I tried and didn't fixed it:


  • Reset SMC, PRAM and NVRAM
  • Safe Mode
  • Disk First Aid check.
  • Close all the apps.


Inserted Image shows the CPU Load graph while monitor connected and after it was disconnected.


User uploaded file



Any help appreciated.


Regards.

Esteban

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013), macOS Sierra (10.12), null

Posted on Oct 7, 2016 5:02 AM

Reply
6 replies

Oct 7, 2016 5:31 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT

EtreCheck version: 3.0.6 (315)

Report generated 2016-10-07 17:58:55

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime 2:10

Performance: Excellent


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

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


Problem: Other problem


Hardware Information:

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013)

[Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro11,3

1 2.3 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 4-core

16 GB RAM Not upgradeable

BANK 0/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

Wireless: en0: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac

Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 100


Video Information:

Intel Iris Pro

NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M - VRAM: 2048 MB

Color LCD 2880 x 1800

DELL U2414H 1920 x 1080


System Software:

macOS Sierra 10.12 (16A323) - Time since boot: about one day


Disk Information:

APPLE SSD SM0512F disk0 : (500.28 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

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

Macintosh HD (disk1) / [Startup]: 499.05 GB (121.71 GB free)

Core Storage: disk0s2 499.42 GB Online


USB Information:

Toshiba External USB 3.0

VIA Labs, Inc. USB3.0 Hub

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

VIA Labs, Inc. USB2.0 Hub

Heng Yu Technology Poker Pro S

Logitech USB Receiver


Thunderbolt Information:

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus


Configuration files:

/etc/hosts - Count: 2


Gatekeeper:

Mac App Store and identified developers


Kernel Extensions:

/Applications/ExpressVPN.app

[not loaded] expressvpn.tap (20150118 - 2016-09-07) [Support]

[not loaded] expressvpn.tun (20150118 - 2016-09-07) [Support]


/Applications/Parallels Desktop.app

[not loaded] com.parallels.kext.hypervisor (11.2.2 32651 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-10-05) [Support]

[not loaded] com.parallels.kext.netbridge (11.2.2 32651 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-10-05) [Support]

[not loaded] com.parallels.kext.usbconnect (11.2.2 32651 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-10-05) [Support]

[not loaded] com.parallels.kext.vnic (11.2.2 32651 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-10-05) [Support]


/Library/Application Support/VirtualBox

[loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxDrv (5.0.4 - 2015-09-24) [Support]

[loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetAdp (5.0.4 - 2015-09-24) [Support]

[loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetFlt (5.0.4 - 2015-09-24) [Support]

[loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxUSB (5.0.4 - 2015-09-24) [Support]


/Library/Application Support/org.pqrs/Karabiner

[loaded] org.pqrs.driver.Karabiner (10.11.0 - SDK 10.11 - 2015-10-10) [Support]


/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.ZTE.driver.ZTEUSBCDCACMData (ZTEDriver_MacV1.6.1 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.ZTE.driver.ZTEUSBMassStorageFilter (ZTEDriver_MacV1.6.1 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.cyberic.SmoothMouse (1.0.10 - SDK 10.8 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.mbbecm.driver.MBBDataCardEcmDriver (5.00.00.00 - SDK 10.8 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.mice.driver.Wireless360Controller (1.0.0d14 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.mice.driver.WirelessGamingReceiver (1.0.0d14 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.wacom.kext.ftdi (1.0 - SDK 10.10 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.zg.driver.OverrideAppleUSBCDC (4.2.1 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.zg.driver.OverrideAppleUSBCDCECMControl (4.2.1 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.zg.driver.OverrideAppleUSBCDCECMData (4.2.1 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.zte.driver.cdc_ecm_qmi (1.4.1 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.zte.driver.cdc_usb_bus (1.4.1 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-09-22) [Support]


/Library/Extensions/HuaweiDataCardDriver_10_9.kext/Contents/PlugIns

[not loaded] com.MBB.driver.MBBACMData (5.01.01.00 - SDK 10.8 - 2015-02-18) [Support]

[not loaded] com.MBB.driver.MBBActivateDriver (5.01.00 - SDK 10.8 - 2015-02-18) [Support]

[not loaded] com.MBB.driver.MBBEthernetData (5.01.01.00 - SDK 10.8 - 2015-02-18) [Support]


/Library/Extensions/MBBDataCardECMDriver_10_9.kext/Contents/PlugIns

[not loaded] com.mbbApp.driver.MBBAppUSBCDCECMControl (4.2.1 - SDK 10.8 - 2015-02-18) [Support]

[not loaded] com.mbbApp.driver.MBBAppUSBCDCECMData (4.2.1 - SDK 10.8 - 2015-02-18) [Support]


/System/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] au.com.glassechidna.heimdall_usb_shield (6.0 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungComposite (1.4.17 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.driver.KYTXUSBModemCDC (1.0.0 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.driver.KYTXUSBModemCDC64 (4.0.2 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.driver.KYTXUSBModemData (1.0.0 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.driver.KYTXUSBModemData64 (4.0.2 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.mice.driver.Xbox360Controller (1.0.0d14 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[loaded] com.valvesoftware.SteamInput (3083.39.61 - SDK 10.8 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] com.wacom.kext.wacomtablet (Wacom Tablet 6.3.9-5 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] lja.driver.KYTXMassStorage (1.0.0 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[not loaded] lja.driver.KYTXMassStorage64 (2.5.0 - 2016-09-22) [Support]

[loaded] net.telestream.driver.TelestreamAudio (1.1.0 - SDK 10.8 - 2016-09-22) [Support]


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

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungACMControl (1.4.17 - SDK 10.6 - 2014-01-03) [Support]

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungACMData (1.4.17 - SDK 10.6 - 2014-01-03) [Support]

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungMTP (1.4.17 - SDK 10.5 - 2014-01-03) [Support]

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.SamsungSerial (1.4.17 - SDK 10.6 - 2014-01-03) [Support]


Startup Items:

ChmodBPF: Path: /Library/StartupItems/ChmodBPF

tap: Path: /Library/StartupItems/tap

tun: Path: /Library/StartupItems/tun

Startup items no longer function in OS X Yosemite or later


System Launch Agents:

[not loaded] 8 Apple tasks

[loaded] 161 Apple tasks

[running] 102 Apple tasks


System Launch Daemons:

[running] de.novamedia.nmnetmgrd.plist (2015-08-25) [Support]

[not loaded] 41 Apple tasks

[loaded] 157 Apple tasks

[running] 106 Apple tasks


Launch Agents:

[running] com.Monity.Helper.plist (2015-08-12) [Support]

[running] com.amazon.sendtokindle.launcher.plist (2015-11-14) [Support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]

[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer.plist (2013-06-20) [Support]

[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_desktop.plist (2013-06-20) [Support]

[running] com.wacom.wacomtablet.plist (2015-07-09) [Support]

[running] de.novamedia.VodafoneDeviceObserver.plist (2014-10-22) [Support]

[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.startx.plist (2016-05-05) [Support]


Launch Daemons:

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-06-29) [Support]

[loaded] com.barebones.authd.plist (2012-07-24) [Support]

[failed] com.expressvpn.tap.plist (2016-09-07)

[failed] com.expressvpn.tun.plist (2016-09-07)

[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (2016-09-02) [Support]

[running] com.mice.360Daemon.plist (2014-10-09) [Support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper.plist (2014-05-30) [Support]

[failed] com.radiosilenceapp.nke.PrivateEye.plist (2011-10-06)

[loaded] com.surteesstudios.Bartender.BartenderInstallHelper.plist (2015-10-08) [Support]

[not loaded] com.teamviewer.teamviewer_service.plist (2013-04-25) [Support]

[loaded] net.telestream.LicensingHelper.plist (2016-07-27) [Support]

[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.privileged_startx.plist (2016-05-05) [Support]

[not loaded] org.pqrs.Karabiner.load.plist (2015-10-10) [Support]

[not loaded] org.virtualbox.startup.plist (2015-09-24) [Support]


User Launch Agents:

[loaded] com.citrixonline.GoToMeeting.G2MUpdate.plist (2016-06-02) [Support]

[failed] com.cyberic.smoothmouseupdater.plist (2014-07-31) [Support]

[running] com.spotify.webhelper.plist (2015-05-29) [Support]

[loaded] com.valvesoftware.steamclean.plist (2016-10-07) [Support]

[not loaded] org.virtualbox.vboxwebsrv.plist (2015-09-24) [Support]


User Login Items:

TinyGrab Application (/Applications/TinyGrab.app)

Flux Application (/Applications/Flux.app)

Bartender 2 Application (/Applications/Bartender 2.app)

Dash Application (/Applications/Dash.app)

Alfred 3 Application (/Applications/Alfred 3.app)

ExpressVPN Application (/Applications/ExpressVPN.app)

Flickr Uploadr Application (/Applications/Flickr Uploadr.app)


Internet Plug-ins:

WacomTabletPlugin: WacomTabletPlugin 2.1.0.6 - SDK 10.9 (2015-07-09) [Support]

FlashPlayer-10.6: 22.0.0.209 - SDK 10.9 (2016-07-23) [Support]

QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-09-14)

Flash Player: 22.0.0.209 - SDK 10.9 (2016-07-23) Outdated! Update

WacomNetscape: 2.1.0-1 - SDK 10.8 (2013-10-12) [Support]

o1dbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 - SDK 10.8 (2015-12-16) [Support]

npgtpo3dautoplugin: 0.1.44.29 - SDK 10.5 (2013-09-27) [Support]

googletalkbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 - SDK 10.8 (2015-12-11) [Support]

Silverlight: 5.1.30317.0 - SDK 10.6 (2014-04-24) [Support]

Unity Web Player: UnityPlayer version 5.3.5f1 - SDK 10.6 (2016-05-08) [Support]

JavaAppletPlugin: Java 7 Update 65 (2014-07-16) Check version


User internet Plug-ins:

CitrixOnlineWebDeploymentPlugin: 1.0.105 (2013-04-26) [Support]

NPRoblox: 1, 2, 8, 25 - SDK 10.11 (2016-07-08) [Support]

Google Earth Web Plug-in: 7.1 (2013-10-08) [Support]


Safari Extensions:

LastPass - LastPass - https://lastpass.com (2015-08-30)

Save to Pocket - Read It Later, Inc. - http://getpocket.com/ (2014-10-15)

Open in Internet Explorer - Parallels - http://www.parallels.com (2013-11-13)

Pin It Button - Pinterest, Inc. - http://www.pinterest.com/ (2015-07-10)

Stache - d3i - http://getstache.com/ (2016-03-21)

1Password - AgileBits - https://agilebits.com/onepassword (2015-08-30)

AdBlock - BetaFish, Inc. - https://getadblock.com (2016-07-04)

Adblock Plus - Eyeo GmbH - https://adblockplus.org/ (2016-09-29)


Audio Plug-ins:

BartenderAudioPlugIn: 1.0.0 - SDK 10.10 (2015-10-27) [Support]


3rd Party Preference Panes:

Flash Player (2016-06-29) [Support]

FUSE for OS X (OSXFUSE) (2015-10-26) [Support]

MagicPrefs (2012-10-17) [Support]

MenuMeters (2012-07-16) [Support]

WacomTablet (2015-07-09) [Support]

XBox 360 Controllers (2014-12-23) [Support]


Time Machine:

Skip System Files: NO

Mobile backups: OFF

Auto backup: NO - Auto backup turned off

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 499.05 GB Disk used: 377.34 GB

Destinations:

Backup2 [Local]

Total size: 999.86 GB

Total number of backups: 43

Oldest backup: 1/20/16, 1:27 AM

Last backup: 10/7/16, 12:17 AM

Size of backup disk: Too small

Backup size 999.86 GB < (Disk used 377.34 GB X 3)


Top Processes by CPU:

10% WindowServer

6% tmux(6)

4% python(5)

3% kernel_task

3% steam_osx(2)


Top Processes by Memory:

3.12 GB Google Chrome Helper(29)

1.23 GB kernel_task

999 MB idea

442 MB Airmail 3

360 MB MTLCompilerService(22)


Virtual Memory Information:

928 MB Free RAM

15.00 GB Used RAM (2.85 GB Cached)

0 B Swap Used


Diagnostics Information:

Oct 6, 2016, 08:55:14 PM Self test - passed

Oct 6, 2016, 08:26:36 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Atom Helper_2016-10-06-202636_[redacted].crash

/Applications/Atom.app/Contents/Frameworks/Atom Helper.app/Contents/MacOS/Atom Helper

Oct 5, 2016, 09:41:31 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Tweetbot_2016-10-05-214131_[redacted].crash

com.tapbots.TweetbotMac - /Applications/Tweetbot.app/Contents/MacOS/Tweetbot

Oct 5, 2016, 03:11:11 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/G2MUpdate_2016-10-05-151111_[redacted].crash

/Users/[redacted]/Library/Application Support/CitrixOnline/*/G2MUpdate

Oct 5, 2016, 02:10:11 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/G2MUpdate_2016-10-05-141011_[redacted].crash

Oct 5, 2016, 01:09:11 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/G2MUpdate_2016-10-05-130911_[redacted].crash

Oct 5, 2016, 12:08:15 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/G2MUpdate_2016-10-05-120815_[redacted].crash

Oct 5, 2016, 11:07:14 AM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/G2MUpdate_2016-10-05-110714_[redacted].crash

Oct 5, 2016, 10:06:09 AM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/G2MUpdate_2016-10-05-100609_[redacted].crash

Oct 5, 2016, 09:05:10 AM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/G2MUpdate_2016-10-05-090510_[redacted].crash

Oct 5, 2016, 08:04:10 AM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/G2MUpdate_2016-10-05-080410_[redacted].crash

Oct 5, 2016, 07:03:14 AM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/G2MUpdate_2016-10-05-070314_[redacted].crash

Oct 5, 2016, 06:02:14 AM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/G2MUpdate_2016-10-05-060214_[redacted].crash

Oct 4, 2016, 10:09:54 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/G2MUpdate_2016-10-04-220954_[redacted].crash

Oct 4, 2016, 09:08:54 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/G2MUpdate_2016-10-04-210854_[redacted].crash

Oct 4, 2016, 08:07:54 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/G2MUpdate_2016-10-04-200754_[redacted].crash

Oct 4, 2016, 07:06:54 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/G2MUpdate_2016-10-04-190654_[redacted].crash

Oct 4, 2016, 06:05:50 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/G2MUpdate_2016-10-04-180550_[redacted].crash



This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

kernel_task very high CPU usage when external monitor is connected

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.