Big Sur kernel Panic - MacBook Pro 16

[youngmac]

I was using my MBP 16 and suddenly freezes and shutdown. Just watching YouTube. Then the laptop goes into a loop, restarting itself, fan runs like crazy for a second then shutdown. Again and again.
I have not installed anything new lately.
when I go into safe mode, I see the error below. I am on big sur beta, latest one.
No idea what’s going on with the laptop.
Anyone had same experience? How did you solve this issue.

 

[IceStormNG]

Someone I know had the same. For him it was the Radeon GPU dying. The Logic board gets replaced by Apple.

Install Catalina (on a second partition) to see whether it's an actual hardware issue or whether the beta is buggy. If it also happens on Catalina, contact Apple for a repair.

 

[youngmac]

ok thanks. If it was the gpu, you wouldn’t be able to go into safe mode, I guess or I could be wrong. At the moment I can log in into safe mode. Just contacting apple support. And I will report back, might help some people. I see that it happened to many people.

Someone I know had the same. For him it was the Radeon GPU dying. The Logic board gets replaced by Apple.

Install Catalina (on a second partition) to see whether it's an actual hardware issue or whether the beta is buggy. If it also happens on Catalina, contact Apple for a repair.

 

[IceStormNG]

ok thanks. If it was the gpu, you wouldn’t be able to go into safe mode, I guess or I could be wrong. At the moment I can log in into safe mode. Just contacting apple support. And I will report back, might help some people. I see that it happened to many people.

You can. The GPU drivers are not loaded in Safe mode. That's why it's laggy and the transparency effects are not working. For said person I know, it was also possible to boot to safe mode (and also to recovery mode), but as soon as the machine booted regularly, the kernel panics kicked in.

 

[youngmac]

update: I downgraded to Catalina as advised by apple support on the phone. Issue didn’t disappear. They ask me to run a diagnostic test, came back all fine. Went to an apple authorised repair centre near me, they said something about some big sur driver still in there even though I did fresh install and erased the HD. Then they said they can not service it because of the beta and best to bring to apple. I managed to get a slot next week for the Genius Bar. Never had this much issue with an apple device.

 

[IceStormNG]

Yeah. That's could be caused by the BridgeOS update that Big Sur contains. You cannot (easily) revert that, Apple can do that but they might probably just replace the Logic Board... if they do something at all.

But Catalina still has its own kernel panics and the 16" is known to be a mess in terms of issues and stability. So it doesn't have to be the BridgeOS update at all.

 

[youngmac]

Thank you for your feedback. My laptop still under 1 year warranty, do you think they are going to charge me as installed a beta?really annoying that this can happen to almost brand new laptop. I won’t using any beta in the future, learned my lesson

Yeah. That's could be caused by the BridgeOS update that Big Sur contains. You cannot (easily) revert that, Apple can do that but they might probably just replace the Logic Board... if they do something at all.

But Catalina still has its own kernel panics and the 16" is known to be a mess in terms of issues and stability. So it doesn't have to be the BridgeOS update at all.

 

[IceStormNG]

If it’s a hardware fault they won’t. The beta software is officially from Apple. It doesn’t void your hardware warranty.
If it’s a software fault, they will very likely tell you to wait for the release.

 

[tommiy]

Have a look under the Catalina thread for kernel panics. This is consistent with all 16inch MACs by the looks. There are those who have had the logic board replaced and still get Kernel Panics. Some have even performed their own kernel debugging and sent all the details to Apple who in the end just refunded them the cost of the MAC and said they have no idea as to how to fix it. Simple answer here by the looks is that you need to live with a device that will kernel panic randomly on you and does not just work. If you have Apple care or its under warranty get it replaced until you get one that works. Have a look at @johnalan experience in trying to fix this. To myself its a firmware and maybe a OS issue. In none 16inch devices people have reported that they had perfect machines and upgrading to Catalina resulted n kernel panics and then downgrading resulted in same kernel panics. Catalina/BigSur update alot of firmware and this you can not return backwards to the version of the original OS when you have ever had a future OS version running. So you inherit problems even testing anything with a MAC. Simple answer here is it is unreliable and once you get some thing that works never upgrade unless absolutely sure of no problems.

 

[youngmac]

Have a look under the Catalina thread for kernel panics. This is consistent with all 16inch MACs by the looks. There are those who have had the logic board replaced and still get Kernel Panics. Some have even performed their own kernel debugging and sent all the details to Apple who in the end just refunded them the cost of the MAC and said they have no idea as to how to fix it. Simple answer here by the looks is that you need to live with a device that will kernel panic randomly on you and does not just work. If you have Apple care or its under warranty get it replaced until you get one that works. Have a look at @johnalan experience in trying to fix this. To myself its a firmware and maybe a OS issue. In none 16inch devices people have reported that they had perfect machines and upgrading to Catalina resulted n kernel panics and then downgrading resulted in same kernel panics. Catalina/BigSur update alot of firmware and this you can not return backwards to the version of the original OS when you have ever had a future OS version running. So you inherit problems even testing anything with a MAC. Simple answer here is it is unreliable and once you get some thing that works never upgrade unless absolutely sure of no problems.

I had a look and I can see of course. However, looks like some have different source to the problem like power nap feature or something. Very strange indeed. So many people are happy with the 16 inch MBP though, i am too.
I will report back, if it could help other people affected. Managed to get a booking tomorrow afternoon.

 

[chrfr]

Yeah. That's could be caused by the BridgeOS update that Big Sur contains. You cannot (easily) revert that

This is no longer true. https://mrmacintosh.com/how-to-restore-bridgeos-on-a-t2-mac-how-to-put-a-mac-into-dfu-mode/

 

[youngmac]

Update: I went to the genius bar today. All the initial checks they do came out all good except a firmware.
So it looks like the issue is software, not hardware related. They will keep the laptop and remove the firmware from the motherboard or change the motherboard, reinstall Catalina, do a stress test. Genius bar couldn't say this will solve the issue however if this solution doesn't work then they will replace the laptop.
There you go. anyone having the same issue as me, just bring your MBP to apple repairs.

 

[tommiy]

Yes thats the problem thats prevents people form being able to roll back. Apple decided in their wisdom to remove stand alone firmware/Bios updates. These now only come with a release. If you downgrade it keeps the version that you have. So you end up with a Hybrid. In many cases that is fine. However, in the cases of Catalina and external monitors there are many related issues to the mismatch firmware. Why Apple simply do not enable reinstall the firmware with a new install and overwrite the firmware if newer is beyond me. They want to make a Frankenstein outcome. As you say, only way to fix this is to take it and get Apple to change the logic board. If your out of warranty that will be $700 typically. Just because of the Apple firmware process.

 

[Kung gu]

If your out of warranty that will be $700 typically. Just because of the Apple firmware process.

unless of course u are in a country with strong consumer laws and know ur rights

source: from Australia

 

[chrfr]

Yes thats the problem thats prevents people form being able to roll back. Apple decided in their wisdom to remove stand alone firmware/Bios updates. These now only come with a release. If you downgrade it keeps the version that you have. So you end up with a Hybrid. In many cases that is fine. However, in the cases of Catalina and external monitors there are many related issues to the mismatch firmware. Why Apple simply do not enable reinstall the firmware with a new install and overwrite the firmware if newer is beyond me. They want to make a Frankenstein outcome. As you say, only way to fix this is to take it and get Apple to change the logic board. If your out of warranty that will be $700 typically. Just because of the Apple firmware process.

No, you can roll back the beta firmware to the release version from Catalina without replacing the logic board. See the link in my post at #11 in this thread.

 

[tommiy]

@chrfr that is just the T2 firmware however, not all the others.

 

[chrfr]

@chrfr that is just the T2 firmware however, not all the others.

On a T2 Mac, the T2 firmware is the BootROM. I just had to do this on a 2018 13" MBP that had been running Big Sur Beta 9.
Before the downgrade, the BootROM version was 1554.40.25.0.0 (iBridge: 18.16.12390.5.1,0). After the downgrade it was 1037.147.4.0.0 (iBridge: 17.16.16610.0.0,0).
The Controller version was 18P50390a before downgrade. After the downgrade it was 17P6610.

 

[youngmac]

Update: got an email today that the logic board was replaced and laptop ready to pick up after almost 2 weeks.
When I went to the store, the specialist couldn't switch on the laptop at all. He gave me the choice to send it back to repair or get a new one but didn't have in stock, the other option was to get a refund. I went with the refund.
I have a doubt now going with another 16, contemplating an iMac 27 now (with iPad for portability).
I might regret it when I start travelling, don't know when in this current situation.
If I go with another 16, maybe best to go with an upgraded one especially the ram that I regret not going for 32GB at least. However, it looks like 16 inch is coming to the end of the cycle.

 

[tommiy]

Thats pretty bad that after 2 weeks you get a refurbished logic board that does not even turn on. Sounds like they took it apart, swapped the board, put it back together and gave it back.

 

[NJRonbo]

I have had nothing but kernel panics on my 16" MBP since upgrading to Big Sur.

 

[youngmac]

I have had nothing but kernel panics on my 16" MBP since upgrading to Big Sur.

Sorry that you had to experience this too.
I think the issue is with Big Sur because since April 2020 that i had my MBP 16 never had any issues.
After my last post here, i went i bought another one as i needed a machine ASAP. I upragraded the RAM.
Then the announcement about the M1 silicone happens and missed the window of 14 days return. Apple accept my return after 3 weeks (Exception).
Today I'm picking up MBP pro 13 M1, 16GB and 1TB. I don't need to wait for delivery until mid December.
So in a way i just got lucky, something bad turned into positive. Pretty much got a free upgrade because of an issue and getting some money back too

 

[NJRonbo]

Sorry that you had to experience this too.
I think the issue is with Big Sur because since April 2020 that i had my MBP 16 never had any issues.
After my last post here, i went i bought another one as i needed a machine ASAP. I upragraded the RAM.
Then the announcement about the M1 silicone happens and missed the window of 14 days return. Apple accept my return after 3 weeks (Exception).
Today I'm picking up MBP pro 13 M1, 16GB and 1TB. I don't need to wait for delivery until mid December.
So in a way i just got lucky, something bad turned into positive. Pretty much got a free upgrade because of an issue and getting some money back too

Oh, it's definitely Big Sur.

I do think, however, as more software updates occur, the problem will lessen and go away.

When I was using the Developer Preview (BETA) of Big Sur I was getting kernel panics every 20 minutes.

I downgraded back to Catalina it was so bad.

However, now that I am back on Big Sur 11.0.1 the kernel panics only happen every few days. So, it has lessened considerably but not completely gone.

I am anticipating as new updates happen on both the Big Sur side and individual software I have installed, I will probably see these panics go away completely --- at least that is the hope.