Macbook Pro Mid 2012 lags after unlocked EFI

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Level 1

4 points

Macbook Pro Mid 2012 lags after unlocked EFI

So, last week someone hacked my iCloud and locked my macbook pro mid 2012 15". I sent it to Apple official repair center and they unlocked EFI. When I got my macbook back, I turned it on and I saw that it lags as **** (kernel_task 600+%, system cpu 80+%). I tried with fresh installation and probelm stays where it was, still lags. After that I tried to check how Windows on bootcamp works and as a surprise there is no lag, everything works as it should. Diagnostic doesnt show me anything, without errors. Repair center asked me, to send my macbook back so they can so detailed/specialised diagnostic.

Anyone else had same issue and how it ends?

Btw I also tried another HDD as I had feeling that something is wrong with my SSD, problem still exist.

My full macbook specs:

Mid 2012 15"

16GB ram

500GB SSD Samsung 850 (8 months old)

Posted on Jul 12, 2017 8:23 AM

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Answer 1

DennisDeeJay Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 14, 2017 4:34 AM in response to DennisDeeJay

Sorry for late reply, I was without my Macbook, as I sent it back to repair center. After all they told me that after all tests (different HDD, different RAM, turning off some components etc) it looks like its motherboard fault. Here is the copy of report, but all I see from it with red is kernel_task 528%. Also keep in mind, now its installed with Mavericks as they did all these tests. Computer itself doesn't lags anymore, but still knowing that kernel_task is high, this aint good..

EtreCheck version: 3.4 (420)

Report generated 2017-07-14 13:28:47

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime: 4:54

Performance: Good

Click the [Lookup] links for more information from Apple Support Communities.

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

Problem: Computer is too slow

Hardware Information:ⓘ

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012)

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

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro9,1

1 2.3 GHz Intel Core i7 (i7-3615QM) CPU: 4-core

16 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]

BANK 0/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

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

Video Information:ⓘ

Intel HD Graphics 4000 - VRAM: 1024 MB

Color LCD 1440 x 900

NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M - VRAM: 512 MB

Disk Information:ⓘ

Samsung SSD 850 EVO 500GB disk0: (500,11 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: No)

[Show SMART report]

(disk0s1) <not mounted> [EFI]: 210 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2 - Journaled HFS+) / [Startup]: 451.25 GB (439.84 GB free)

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

BOOTCAMP (disk0s4 - NTFS) /Volumes/BOOTCAMP : 48.00 GB (24.09 GB free)

USB Information:ⓘ

XHCI Root Hub SS Simulation

EHCI Root Hub Simulation

hub_device

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

EHCI Root Hub Simulation

hub_device

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

XHCI Root Hub USB 2.0 Simulation

Thunderbolt Information:ⓘ

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

System Software:ⓘ

OS X Mavericks 10.9.5 (13F34) - Time since boot: less than an hour

Gatekeeper:ⓘ

Mac App Store and identified developers

System Launch Agents:ⓘ

[not loaded] 4 Apple tasks

[loaded] 152 Apple tasks

[running] 28 Apple tasks

System Launch Daemons:ⓘ

[not loaded] 50 Apple tasks

[loaded] 144 Apple tasks

[running] 54 Apple tasks

Internet Plug-ins:ⓘ

Default Browser: 537 (installed 2017-07-13)

QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (installed 2017-07-13)

3rd Party Preference Panes:ⓘ

None

Time Machine:ⓘ

Time Machine not configured!

Top Processes by CPU:ⓘ

528% kernel_task

5% mds

5% WindowServer

4% mds_stores

3% mdworker

Top Processes by Memory:ⓘ

815 MB kernel_task

76 MB CVMCompiler

71 MB com.apple.IconServicesAgent

46 MB WindowServer

44 MB mds_stores

Top Processes by Energy Use:ⓘ

5.08 mds

4.84 WindowServer

4.08 mds_stores

3.80 mdworker

Virtual Memory Information:ⓘ

14.36 GB Available RAM

13.52 GB Free RAM

1.64 GB Used RAM

861 MB Cached files

0 B Swap Used

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Answer 2

BobHarris

Level 9

53,159 points

Jul 14, 2017 5:55 AM in response to DennisDeeJay

528% kernel_task

I have read in another forum post from EtreSoft (author of EtreCheck) that macOS thinks the Mac is running too hot, it will fake a high kernel CPU so the scheduler will give less CPU to other processes.

<https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7941341?answerId=31702490022#31702490022>

If this is the case, it could be a failing temperature sensor, dust blocking air flow, a failed/failing fan, or a part that is just not operating properly.

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Answer 3

BobHarris

Level 9

53,159 points

Jul 14, 2017 6:58 AM in response to DennisDeeJay

So maybe the thread I pointed to is more appropriate than I realized

<https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7941341?answerId=31702490022#31702490022>

The problem that user was having was with their battery. When they got it replaced by an authorized Apple repair center, all their problems went away.

And the iStat Menus has '-' for Battery sensor. I'm guessing macOS is taking that as a bad sign, and assuming the worse for battery temp.

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Answer 4

BobHarris

Level 9

53,159 points

Jul 14, 2017 10:08 AM in response to DennisDeeJay

Yes, I understand. And if you read the <https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7941341?answerId=31702490022#31702490022> thread, you can see that that user's problem was their battery as well, and that their system was behaving very similar to yours.

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Answer 5

Eric Root

Level 10

684,045 points

Jul 12, 2017 5:44 PM in response to DennisDeeJay

Try running this program in your normal account, then copy and paste the output in a reply. The program was created by etresoft, a frequent contributor. Please use copy and paste as screen shots can be hard to read. On the screen with Options, please open Options and check the bottom 2 boxes before running. Click “Share Report” button in the toolbar, select “Copy Report” and then paste into a reply. This will show what is running on your computer. No personal information is shown.

Etrecheck – System Information

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Answer 6

BobHarris

Level 9

53,159 points

Jul 14, 2017 5:57 AM in response to DennisDeeJay

NOT related to your system performance, but you might want to consider enabling TRIM

Samsung SSD 850 EVO 500GB disk0: (500,11 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: No)

It is NOT essential

<https://www.imore.com/os-x-10104-and-trim-support-should-you-turn-it>

And enabling it will NOT change anything about your high kernel CPU

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Answer 7

DennisDeeJay Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 14, 2017 6:03 AM in response to BobHarris

I used to have TRIM on, it is just off at the moment. Is it possible that check all of this in Windows OS? Machine is also never hot, always cold. I will clean fans again today, but I did that 2-3 months ago already, I do that at least 2x per year.

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Answer 8

BobHarris

Level 9

53,159 points

Jul 14, 2017 6:13 AM in response to DennisDeeJay

Windows is not running, so it is just bits on your disk. It would not contribute to the high kernel task.

A temp sensor not reporting properly could be the issue.

NOTE: I only have EtreSoft's one post about fake high kernel CPU usage, but is sure would make sense on your system, as you do not have anything on your system that would account for the high CPU.

iStat Menus is suppose to be able to report on all the temperature sensors on the Mac. I have NEVER used it so I do not have any 1st hand experience with it. I'm just thinking maybe it would so a temp sensor that is reporting too high.

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Answer 9

DennisDeeJay Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 14, 2017 6:36 AM in response to BobHarris

BobHarris thanks for that fast reply. I installed iStat Menus trial and here is the result, what Ive got for temperature sensors. Don't mind about battery sensor, because I took battery out as it is dead.

http://imgur.com/a/KLYuv

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Answer 10

DennisDeeJay Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 14, 2017 7:32 AM in response to BobHarris

Battery isnt in macbook at all right now, thats why it says '-'. So it ia possible that kernel_task is at high % because there is no battery? I will try to ask repair center if they have battery to test this out too, but next week as they are already closed.

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Answer 11

DennisDeeJay Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 13, 2017 3:30 PM in response to BobHarris

Hi guys, me again :). I almost throw away my macbook as Apple service in Slovenia told me that its logic board fault and they didnt want to insert new battery just for test unless I buy it. But instead of move it to trash, I used it as home PC with Windows until today without any problem. I was tierd of not using its full potentional, so I ordered aftermarket battery (Patona) just to see if it will work as it should.

And now let me tell you, what ia going on:

- New battery installed, but on charging cable still only green light. Also battery indicator shows nothing that battery is alive.

- In mac os X on place of battery still presented and says "no battery available" (same goes with new battery in Windows)

- kernel_task still on high %

- if I remove charging cable, mac run on battery

- if I shut down and try to turn on, I cant - nothing happens

- running Apple Hardware Test shows 0 errors (no trouble found.)

- SMC restarted few times

- so did PRAM

So now Im confused, what it could be?

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Answer 12

DennisDeeJay Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 13, 2017 5:24 PM in response to BobHarris

Is it possible because of lower Wh (5200mAh, 10.95V, 57Wh) on 3rd party battery? I kinda feel not to waste 200 eur for original one, if its not the battery. And by unknown policy, as I wrote before, slovenian Apple service refused to test battery, only if I buy it.

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Answer 13

BobHarris

Level 9

53,159 points

Dec 14, 2017 7:26 PM in response to DennisDeeJay

If the battery meets specs, then that specific bit would not matter. If the batter is not properly rated for your specific MacBook Pro, that would matter. The mAh is just about how log it will last.

The battery has its own electronics to make sure it is not over charged, and to keep track of remaining charge. This electronics must speak to macOS. If it is not behaving properly, macOS may decide it is not functioning.

I'm just looking at what you most recently changed, and that is the battery.

Can you get the manufacture to swap out the 1st one they gave you with another?

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Answer 14

BobHarris

Level 9

53,159 points

Dec 13, 2017 5:14 PM in response to DennisDeeJay

I would suspect the 3rd party battery, or that there is a connector not attached correctly (I have not replaced a battery in a Mac since the days when they were removable.

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