Performance reduced after EFI update on MacBook Pro Retina

Oh, yes. You're right. I just checked: Power Nap was enabled July 27th on rMBPs. That's a couple of days after 10.8.0's release.

The 2010 MacBook Air does require 10.8.2 for Power Nap, though. But I don't think that's related.

I have no idea what to think about Wifi thing. Haha. The problem is becoming weirder and weirder.

inket said:

Oh, yes. You're right. I just checked: Power Nap was enabled July 27th on rMBPs. That's a couple of days after 10.8.0's release.

The 2010 MacBook Air does require 10.8.2 for Power Nap, though. But I don't think that's related.

I have no idea what to think about Wifi thing. Haha. The problem is becoming weirder and weirder.

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I mentioned wifi because the function power nap requires an active wifi connection for it to perform the power nap tasks (such as checking for e-mails etc.). My guess is that this prevents the Mac from going into the regular sleep. However, once the Mac loses an active connection it just goes into regular sleep for lack of ability to perform its tasks.

Make sense?

Makes sense. You think the bug appears when the rMBP goes into regular sleep after failing Power Nap ?

inket said:

Makes sense. You think the bug appears when the rMBP goes into regular sleep after failing Power Nap ?

Click to expand...

Exactly. I think enabling power nap only prevents the bug from happening because the Mac does not go into regular sleep when performing power nap.

Hey, you can almost call that a feature. xD

Just a thought: If this should be related to the 10.8.2 update, which is a software update only, how can it affect performance under windows, which many use for gaming? The EFI has deeper influence on the system's behaviour.

ibd said:

Just a thought: If this should be related to the 10.8.2 update, which is a software update only, how can it affect performance under windows, which many use for gaming? The EFI has deeper influence on the system's behaviour.

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I agree that it seems weird. That's also the reason why the title in this thread suggests that EFI might be the problem. And for a long time I also thought that EFI is the culprit.

However, I did a downgrade to 10.8.1 to test whether that's actually true. I did not downgrade the latest EFI version (which to my knowledge isn't really possible ^^) and could observe that the bug does not occur under 10.8.1. That led me to the conclusion that EFI can be ruled out as the reason this bug exists.

But then again, I can't guarantee that I'm right of course.

Junkyman, from what you've said so far (and if 10.8.1 still resolves the problem for you.. does it?), could you try this if you have time?

- Backup "AppleSMC.kext" (found in /System/Library/Extensions/) on your 10.8.1 install
- Upgrade to 10.8.2 and verify the problem is back
- Backup new the AppleSMC.kext in case you want to revert back
- Copy the 10.8.1 AppleSMC.kext over the existing 10.8.2 one
- Restart your Mac

My theory is that this will fix the issue in 10.8.2.

Also, does downgrading to 10.8.1 fix the problem while booted into Windows?

timmerk said:

Junkyman, from what you've said so far (and if 10.8.1 still resolves the problem for you.. does it?), could you try this if you have time?

- Backup "AppleSMC.kext" (found in /System/Library/Extensions/) on your 10.8.1 install
- Upgrade to 10.8.2 and verify the problem is back
- Backup new the AppleSMC.kext in case you want to revert back
- Copy the 10.8.1 AppleSMC.kext over the existing 10.8.2 one
- Restart your Mac

My theory is that this will fix the issue in 10.8.2.

Also, does downgrading to 10.8.1 fix the problem while booted into Windows?

Click to expand...

Appreciate your insight. However, I have already updated to 10.8.2 again. Also, I don't have the time right now to go through a downgrade again and do all that. I may try it at a later point.

Yes, the issue is resolved under 10.8.1 for Windows in BootCamp.

Anyone else might wanna pitch in and try that?

If no one wants to pitch in, I could send you the 10.8.1 kext if you'd like which would save you downgrading plus some of the steps above. Just pop that baby in and cross your fingers!

timmerk said:

If no one wants to pitch in, I could send you the 10.8.1 kext if you'd like which would save you downgrading plus some of the steps above. Just pop that baby in and cross your fingers!

Click to expand...

Why wouldn't you try it with your machine?

I will once I have a Retina! I'm just trying to get a resolution to this before I get it. It's most disappointing buying a defective $3k machine, as I'm sure you know.

timmerk said:

I will once I have a Retina! I'm just trying to get a resolution to this before I get it. It's most disappointing buying a defective $3k machine, as I'm sure you know.

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I can relate. ;-)

You'll get yours tomorrow, right? I would suggest you check out your resolution and report back what you can find out! We would really appreciate that. ;-)

Have a good night!

Just a second! Why does this occur under Windows Boot Camp then if this should be ML related?

naujoks said:

Just a second! Why does this occur under Windows Boot Camp then if this should be ML related?

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It's EFI related.

Purant said:

It's EFI related.

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It seems to be EFI related, but the 10.8.1 downgrade seems to fix it both in Windows and OS X. I suspect this happens because the AppleSMC.kext is setting EFI parameters which causes the problem in Windows.

Can someone upload AppleSMC.kext from 10.8.1 ?

inket said:

Can someone upload AppleSMC.kext from 10.8.1 ?

Click to expand...

I'll upload a copy of it shortly.

Stock 10.8.0/10.8.1 AppleSMC.kext:

http://cl.ly/3i0E0F0q1o3X

10.8.1 didn't update the file, hence why I call it 10.8.0/10.8.1.

timmerk said:

Stock 10.8.0/10.8.1 AppleSMC.kext:

http://cl.ly/3i0E0F0q1o3X

10.8.1 didn't update the file, hence why I call it 10.8.0/10.8.1.

Click to expand...

Did 10.8.2 update the file? Did you observe the bug under 10.8.2?

Is the file a "hidden file"? I couldn't find it in the folder you directed us to. ^^

Junkyman said:

Did 10.8.2 update the file? Did you observe the bug under 10.8.2?

Is the file a "hidden file"? I couldn't find it in the folder you directed us to. ^^

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Yes, 10.8.2 updated that kext. The /System/Library/Extensions/ directory is hidden, but you should be able to get there by using the "Go to Folder" menu item in the Finder's Go menu.

I haven't gotten my Retina yet, but I will try once I get it (should be today or tomorrow).

timmerk said:

Yes, 10.8.2 updated that kext. The /System/Library/Extensions/ directory is hidden, but you should be able to get there by using the "Go to Folder" menu item in the Finder's Go menu.

I haven't gotten my Retina yet, but I will try once I get it (should be today or tomorrow).

Click to expand...

I was able to locate that folder (system library, correct?). However, the folder does not contain any files.

Nevermind, I found the file.

Were you able to reproduce the bug under 10.8.2? Have you eliminated the bug by overwriting the file?

Be careful with replacing that AppleSMC.kext. I replaced mine and set the permissions properly - I was stuck in a permanent kernel panic / boot loop. I had to boot into recovery mode to restore the backup of that kext.

Ok, my Retina finally comes today. How can I tell if it's going slow or not if it already comes with 10.8.2? I have no frame of reference since I'm upgrading from a 2006 Mac.

Search for 3dmark scores (3dmark 06/vantage/11) in this forum. Also check the windows experience index. These are free ways to see if your rMBP performs as it should. If you have any games, run these! You will find tons of fps stats here and on youtube to compare to.

timmerk said:

Ok, my Retina finally comes today. How can I tell if it's going slow or not if it already comes with 10.8.2? I have no frame of reference since I'm upgrading from a 2006 Mac.

Click to expand...

Wait a minute. What AppleSMC.kext did you upload if you hadn't have your retina by then?