I have the 2011 15" base (2.0). Just tried the yes test and no freeze. But right after I got this computer, I did get the "soft freeze." I was in Aperture, not doing anything too intensive, just trying to get to the Places view I think, and I could move the mouse, but everything was frozen. Had to do a hard reset.
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2011 MacBook Pros Crashing Under Load?
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I did some more tests and now I believe the issue is caused by the firmware controlling the fans not working properly.
First, I open photo booth (this is to activate the discrete graphic card) and do six "yes > /dev/null &" in terminal, the computer freezes within five seconds. Reproducible every time. The UI does not respond to anything. Just to make sure, I always have music playing in the background, and the music would continue to play, even change songs.
Next I use smcFanControl to force both of the fans to operate at their maximum speed, then repeat the above test. Now I couldn't freeze my computer any more, even with twelve "yes > /dev/null &" in terminal. I tested this for up to ten minutes and not a single freeze (considering without the fan speed tweaked the freeze occurs within seconds).
No the computer does not freeze in Windows in Bootcamp either, even when playing very demanding games for extended periods.
First, I open photo booth (this is to activate the discrete graphic card) and do six "yes > /dev/null &" in terminal, the computer freezes within five seconds. Reproducible every time. The UI does not respond to anything. Just to make sure, I always have music playing in the background, and the music would continue to play, even change songs.
Next I use smcFanControl to force both of the fans to operate at their maximum speed, then repeat the above test. Now I couldn't freeze my computer any more, even with twelve "yes > /dev/null &" in terminal. I tested this for up to ten minutes and not a single freeze (considering without the fan speed tweaked the freeze occurs within seconds).
No the computer does not freeze in Windows in Bootcamp either, even when playing very demanding games for extended periods.
Haha. reminds me of an email i got to long ago. when its ok to say ....!
everyone knows they run hot. They run hot and they run like blowdryers under load. Only those in denial after spending the money on them defended the fact they were "cool". yea right on what planet.
everyone knows they run hot. They run hot and they run like blowdryers under load. Only those in denial after spending the money on them defended the fact they were "cool". yea right on what planet.
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These lockups/freezes don't happen only during a heavy load.
My 15" 2.2 i7 freezes whenever it uses AMD gpu, no other conditions needed. Just like that.
I use the gfxCardStatus tool and work with Integrated Only option and it works 100% right 100% of the time, no issues here.
When I use Dynamic Switching or Discrete only - it is an instant freeze and nothing can help it then but a hard reset
In my case also Windows 7 installed via boot camp assistant is affected, leaving the gpu driver not usable and crashing the video all the time
I bet on firmware/driver issue and hope for a working fix
My 15" 2.2 i7 freezes whenever it uses AMD gpu, no other conditions needed. Just like that.
I use the gfxCardStatus tool and work with Integrated Only option and it works 100% right 100% of the time, no issues here.
When I use Dynamic Switching or Discrete only - it is an instant freeze and nothing can help it then but a hard reset
In my case also Windows 7 installed via boot camp assistant is affected, leaving the gpu driver not usable and crashing the video all the time
I bet on firmware/driver issue and hope for a working fix
The 10.6.7 update seem to take long to get released to the public.
It includes updated graphic card drivers. Maybe they'll do something about this issue unless the problem wasn't discovered too late that is.
I remember having problems with the 2008 MacBook Pro I have. There where lookups in the graphics (one could log in via SSH and everything was running) but these issues got fixed with Mac OS X updates. Hopefully it will be the same here.
One can argue that Apple should do better when it comes to these kind of issue since they are behind both the hardware and the software. At the same time I guess they have a limited amount of people doing the testing and therefore some problems don't show up until a product is released to the public.
Pubilc beta of Lion perhaps?
Though I can imagine it's difficult to sort through all the possible variations of error/crash logs that would get sent from users.
It includes updated graphic card drivers. Maybe they'll do something about this issue unless the problem wasn't discovered too late that is.
I remember having problems with the 2008 MacBook Pro I have. There where lookups in the graphics (one could log in via SSH and everything was running) but these issues got fixed with Mac OS X updates. Hopefully it will be the same here.
One can argue that Apple should do better when it comes to these kind of issue since they are behind both the hardware and the software. At the same time I guess they have a limited amount of people doing the testing and therefore some problems don't show up until a product is released to the public.
Pubilc beta of Lion perhaps?
Though I can imagine it's difficult to sort through all the possible variations of error/crash logs that would get sent from users.
I understand the frustration, especially with a new machine. People should definitely have things replaced if the problems are frequent enough. That being said, my 2006 Core Duo laptop has been through hell and back and it still kicks till this day:
- 3 logic boards replaced
- random shutdowns (fixed via above)
- 2 batteries
after AppleCare expired:
- spilled wine; didn't work for 3 months, then it did again
- afterwards: backlit keyboard doesn't work, can't burn DVDs, left fan died, display problems when hot, frequent freezes (often when plugging in a USB audio device)
- my CPU idles in the 70s C
I think it's amazing that the computer works relatively fine despite having very little hard drive space left (<3GB) for years now, and the fact that it freezes often enough (every few days) where I hold the power button and restart.
Sure, it's frustrating on a new computer, but I've pushed my computer hard for five years, and while it chokes every now and then, it's still usable. The fact that it works after the wine spillage is in and of itself remarkable (this thing used to almost never turn on until I pressed the power button sometimes over 100 times!).
I should think that these computers are durable. I think if it keeps freezing, sure replace it. But I do think the heat issue is overrated. If it climbs beyond the CPU limit and shuts you down, yes it's a problem, but otherwise, I think it's fine. I've been idling in the 70s C for months now, with just one fan, and when I work it hard it stays in the 90s C. But it still works fine. It hasn't melted. Yes the fan gets loud (6000 RPM) when it works, but I expect that, and I work with audio.
I am planning on upgrading to a new MBP soon, but unless I have serious troubles, I see myself waving off a lot of the reported issues and just dealing with the computer.
- 3 logic boards replaced
- random shutdowns (fixed via above)
- 2 batteries
after AppleCare expired:
- spilled wine; didn't work for 3 months, then it did again
- afterwards: backlit keyboard doesn't work, can't burn DVDs, left fan died, display problems when hot, frequent freezes (often when plugging in a USB audio device)
- my CPU idles in the 70s C
I think it's amazing that the computer works relatively fine despite having very little hard drive space left (<3GB) for years now, and the fact that it freezes often enough (every few days) where I hold the power button and restart.
Sure, it's frustrating on a new computer, but I've pushed my computer hard for five years, and while it chokes every now and then, it's still usable. The fact that it works after the wine spillage is in and of itself remarkable (this thing used to almost never turn on until I pressed the power button sometimes over 100 times!).
I should think that these computers are durable. I think if it keeps freezing, sure replace it. But I do think the heat issue is overrated. If it climbs beyond the CPU limit and shuts you down, yes it's a problem, but otherwise, I think it's fine. I've been idling in the 70s C for months now, with just one fan, and when I work it hard it stays in the 90s C. But it still works fine. It hasn't melted. Yes the fan gets loud (6000 RPM) when it works, but I expect that, and I work with audio.
I am planning on upgrading to a new MBP soon, but unless I have serious troubles, I see myself waving off a lot of the reported issues and just dealing with the computer.
oh man im scared now. supposed to be upgrading to a shiny new 2.2 i7 and 6750 with the high res matte screen soon! (thank you, fat ass apple developer discount, saving me 600 dollars 
)
)This issues reminds me of the Millenium Falcon. That craft was the fastest in the galaxy, but the hyperdrive was always broken. But they tried to deal with it, but eventually took it in for repair at Cloud City, and then it still didn't work, and so they then fixed it themselves.
My MBP performs great!
Being a new MacBook Pro (2011 15" 2.2 GHz) owner, I was worried when I saw reports of this problem. But after fairly extensive testing, I can say that my computer has no problems performing intensive tasks.
For the past hour (approximately) the following has been running on my computer (along with a number of small applications which are always running):
- Handbrake encode: 1080p MKV to iPhone 4 preset (m4v)
- HD video playback: one 1080p MKV in full screen (VLC), one 720p MKV on top of it (MPlayerX)
- yes > /dev/null &: Executed four times as recommended in http://mbp-freeze.wikispaces.com/
- iPhoto: browsing, rotating and so on went fine
- Safari:6 windows
All this went perfectly fine, video playback was smooth, Handbrake encoded without problems, I was able to switch between spaces with smooth animations, and so on.
I have attached screenshots of my four spaces with this running, as well as one of iStat Pro.
If anyone would like to see tests of something else, let me know! So far it has done everything I have thrown at it.
EDIT: I threw a 1080p YouTube video on top of it all, and it still runs great with everything. It could not, however, handle a 4K res YouTube video as well - but I suppose that's understandable.
Being a new MacBook Pro (2011 15" 2.2 GHz) owner, I was worried when I saw reports of this problem. But after fairly extensive testing, I can say that my computer has no problems performing intensive tasks.
For the past hour (approximately) the following has been running on my computer (along with a number of small applications which are always running):
- Handbrake encode: 1080p MKV to iPhone 4 preset (m4v)
- HD video playback: one 1080p MKV in full screen (VLC), one 720p MKV on top of it (MPlayerX)
- yes > /dev/null &: Executed four times as recommended in http://mbp-freeze.wikispaces.com/
- iPhoto: browsing, rotating and so on went fine
- Safari:6 windows
All this went perfectly fine, video playback was smooth, Handbrake encoded without problems, I was able to switch between spaces with smooth animations, and so on.
I have attached screenshots of my four spaces with this running, as well as one of iStat Pro.
If anyone would like to see tests of something else, let me know! So far it has done everything I have thrown at it.
EDIT: I threw a 1080p YouTube video on top of it all, and it still runs great with everything. It could not, however, handle a 4K res YouTube video as well - but I suppose that's understandable.
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I think to get freezes the point is not to have many applications open, as if you increase your work load gradually the fan will be already working. The point is to increase the workload suddenly: first shutdown the computer, let it cool to a reasonably low temperature, then turn on, open nothing but photo booth and the terminal, and suddenly do a lot of "yes > /dev/null &". This works for me every time. If I try to nurse the fan up to speed the freeze is only intermittent.
Being a new MacBook Pro (2011 15" 2.2 GHz) owner, I was worried when I saw reports of this problem. But after fairly extensive testing, I can say that my computer has no problems performing intensive tasks.
For the past hour (approximately) the following has been running on my computer (along with a number of small applications which are always running):
- Handbrake encode: 1080p MKV to iPhone 4 preset (m4v)
- HD video playback: one 1080p MKV in full screen (VLC), one 720p MKV on top of it (MPlayerX)
- yes > /dev/null &: Executed four times as recommended in http://mbp-freeze.wikispaces.com/
- iPhoto: browsing, rotating and so on went fine
- Safari:6 windows
All this went perfectly fine, video playback was smooth, Handbrake encoded without problems, I was able to switch between spaces with smooth animations, and so on.
I have attached screenshots of my four spaces with this running, as well as one of iStat Pro.
If anyone would like to see tests of something else, let me know! So far it has done everything I have thrown at it.
if the rumors are true - that would sorta suk - fortunately i have not bought one yet - maybe when all this is sorted out- i'll think of buying the 13
Sounds like it can be fixed in software, that's good. Hopefully it will be resolved before I buy one
been looking at a 13" MBP and this sounds like a non-issue
i've used different computers since the 1990s and have seen this a lot of times. sometimes the CPU or GPU gets too hot from the workload. sometimes it's dust in the fan causing heat. other times it's too much I/O workload and you just have to wait
i've used different computers since the 1990s and have seen this a lot of times. sometimes the CPU or GPU gets too hot from the workload. sometimes it's dust in the fan causing heat. other times it's too much I/O workload and you just have to wait
My custom built Windows 7 rig can run circles around all your macs. Virus/problem free.
Oh yeah, it doesn't crash under load either
+1 check the handbrake encoding test thread from a few days ago. My $500 AMD system laid waste to every imac and MBP in the thread. If you want a pretty computer you buy an imac, but If you want an affordable workhorse that will lap the competition you BYOS.
I have the same machine. Results for yes > /dev/null & are about the same. No issues there.
Running install boost however does crash the system at the moment all cores kick in. As CPU temp suddenly gets a lot higher then, I would guess that the fans kick in too late.
Get ready to be underclocked with a software update
I'm wondering if this is how Apple will address the issue as well. If it's an issue of inadequate cooling due to the inherent design of the MBP then I see little choice but to under clock it. If however it's the fan profiles causing the overheating/locking up then they shouldn't need to under clock anything.
Usually when you're one of the first batches of people to buy a new item launch, you have a good chance of running into these kinds of issues. I guess the risk you have to take to have the latest and greatest before most other people do.
Hmm, yeah the paste issue isn't new with Macs but it's never a good feeling to know it could be in your machine.
Hopefully my machine isn't affected, I haven't had it long...