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Mac Pro (Late 2013) GPU (Driver) Issues

What do you think is the source of the graphics issues on Mac Pro (Late 2013) ?

  • Hardware

    Votes: 69 51.9%

  • Software

    Votes: 31 23.3%

  • Hardware & Software

    Votes: 32 24.1%

  • Other

    Votes: 1 0.8%
  • Total voters
    133
Why isn't there a massive class action suit against Apple for all of these MP6,1 GPU issues?

Not punitive, but give every MP6,1 buyer a free MP7,1 for the "pain and suffering".
 
eepyikes said:
After having both graphics boards and a cable replaced, my case was sent to Apple engineers. They claim to have discovered that it's a software issue, not hardware, and to "keep the computer updated, a fix should be coming". Basically, a cop-out, so they don't have to replace the computer. Note that no fix is promised, only that "they're working on it". It's basically a delaying tactic until the new Mac Pros come out, and until applecare runs out, so they won't have to deal with the problem. Long before I bought an Apple product (which I had to for work), I recognized that this was their tactic, and that people buy it hook, line, and sinker every time. Even since the first few versions of OSX, I could see that it was every bit as unreliable as Windows, it's just that Apple didn't display any error messages, so it just *looks* like it's more reliable. I am so disappointed about this and I don't see myself buying the 2019 Mac Pro, as I had planned. No way. Not with this level of support and denial of responsibility for selling me a lemon.
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Another reason to test and document on a “bare” OS image with the bare computer. Eliminates any excuses.
 
MarkJames68 said:
Another reason to test and document on a “bare” OS image with the bare computer. Eliminates any excuses.
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OK Apple, rush me another machine - I will run it in test-mode. The one i bought from you is intended for work.
... I am not the "free of charge" Apple-Test-Lab.
 
eepyikes said:
… They claim to have discovered that it's a software issue, not hardware, and to "keep the computer updated, a fix should be coming". Basically, a cop-out, so they don't have to replace the computer. Note that no fix is promised, only that "they're working on it". …
Click to expand...

For me this sounds a little bit like my experience with the freezing PowerMac G5 1.8 GHz long ago. There had been several attempts to repair the machine - all failed. Then after several phone calls with Apple support they told me a fix was underway. However they where not able to supply an ETA, so we finally agreed on replacing the machine with a 2.0 GHz dualcore machine.

But the good news is, a firmware update was released a few weeks after I exchanged the system. So Apple support was true to its word. Perhaps we are lucky and one of the next updates will remedy the problem. If Apple only would be so kind to add a little bit more specific release notes so that we know which update Apple thinks is going to fix the problem.
 
axantas said:
OK Apple, rush me another machine - I will run it in test-mode. The one i bought from you is intended for work.
... I am not the "free of charge" Apple-Test-Lab.
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I understand your frustration, but standard procedure for diagnostics is to eliminate all other potential causes first.

Unfortunately if it passes Apple diagnostics or isn’t easily reproducible then their position is it must be software. If you have a bare image and can make it freeze there is nowhere else they can point you to.
 
MarkJames68 said:
I understand your frustration, but standard procedure for diagnostics is to eliminate all other potential causes first.

Unfortunately if it passes Apple diagnostics or isn’t easily reproducible then their position is it must be software. If you have a bare image and can make it freeze there is nowhere else they can point you to.
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Since Apple bundles the OS with the machine, we have no choice. Therefore, they are responsible for the problem, be it software or hardware and they are responsible for either replacing the entire machine or a refund. Many of us on this forum have reproduced the problem with bare OS install, ranging from El Capitan to High Sierra. Frankly, it would be cheaper for them to replace the machines, as currently they are spending hundreds/thousands in labor costs and hundreds/thousands on replaced graphics boards per machine. And then there is the reality that they can hardly give these machines away right now because the reputation is so bad. They're driving away potential customers for the next Mac Pro, whereas replacing the machines would secure a more comfortable long-term relationship with the customer.
 
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eepyikes said:
Since Apple bundles the OS with the machine, we have no choice. Therefore, they are responsible for the problem, be it software or hardware and they are responsible for either replacing the entire machine or a refund. Many of us on this forum have reproduced the problem with bare OS install, ranging from El Capitan to High Sierra. Frankly, it would be cheaper for them to replace the machines, as currently they are spending hundreds/thousands in labor costs and hundreds/thousands on replaced graphics boards per machine. And then there is the reality that they can hardly give these machines away right now because the reputation is so bad. They're driving away potential customers for the next Mac Pro, whereas replacing the machines would secure a more comfortable long-term relationship with the customer.
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Which is why I said a bare OS image - Apple then controls the entire ecosystem, and I agree, you can point fingers only at them.

I also don’t disagree with your logic about replace vs deny/grudgingly repair.

My earlier point was that if non-Apple software was running and it locked up during that program Apple could make the case that it was software and not their issue. And their “onboard diagnostics” program is hardly thorough.
 
Mine has started into a pattern of sorts, lately. Previously it had randomly frozen up. Now (after having both cards replaced and a cable), it seems to be freezing up a few times when I first boot it up in the morning, and then running fine for the rest of the day. I tried just leaving it on for a few days and it worked fine. Then I shut down at night and came back the next day and again, several freezes and then ran fine for a few more days. So, at least right now, it appears that turning off the computer affects it in some way. But of course, it will probably just freeze up while I'm working today. Anyways, has anyone else had this pattern?
 
I try to avoid shut downs as one quirk or another shows up that takes some time to sort itself out. I just leave it in the sleep state as a habit.

I am still running 10.11.6 El Capitan and it seems to been fine after the last two power outages, however. Perhaps an OS update fixed the bug affecting me, or just a coincidence.
 
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Well, count another 6,1 D300 owner with the freeze issue. I did notice a crash reporter dialog today with the panic (
IOAccelDisplayMachine2::display_mode_did_change) for the first time so I fired that off to Apple. I can almost replicate the issue with near certainty by running a long transcoding session in Davinci Resolve, I've had three crashes today so far.

Has anyone noticed stability improvements by downgrading to Sierra? Or running a clean install of High Sierra? I've been mulling it but after reading through here, it doesn't seem to be worthwhile.

**Edit** Fresh install of 10.13.4 did not fix the issue. Running under load on 10.12.6 for 12 hours and no freeze (yet).

This really sucks as I bought this trashcan to replace an over-spec'd Hackintosh that I was running into issues with. Turns out the Hackintosh was more stable!
 
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swithdrawn said:
Well, count another 6,1 D300 owner with the freeze issue. I did notice a crash reporter dialog today with the panic (
IOAccelDisplayMachine2::display_mode_did_change) for the first time so I fired that off to Apple. I can almost replicate the issue with near certainty by running a long transcoding session in Davinci Resolve, I've had three crashes today so far.

Has anyone noticed stability improvements by downgrading to Sierra? Or running a clean install of High Sierra? I've been mulling it but after reading through here, it doesn't seem to be worthwhile.

This really sucks as I bought this trashcan to replace an over-spec'd Hackintosh that I was running into issues with. Turns out the Hackintosh was more stable!
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Rather than keep taxing that internal GPU, wouldn't an eGPU fix your issues and provide a performance boost in Resolve? Just saying.
 
jclmavg said:
Rather than keep taxing that internal GPU, wouldn't an eGPU fix your issues and provide a performance boost in Resolve? Just saying.
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Is there a way to completely disable the D300s when using an eGPU? Otherwise I'm not so sure it would help the kernel panic we've all been getting if the internal GPUs are in use *at all*. It does seem to happen more under load, but I've gotten it with just Safari open.

That being said... i've got a GTX 1080 Ti in my Hackintosh rig that is worth more now than when I bought it.. might be a nice down payment towards an iMac Pro. 😛
 
Because someone earlier mentioned Apple engineers promising a forthcoming fix... The file to watch would likely be IOAcceleratorFamily2.kext. Unfortunately, there is no version change between 10.13.4 and the new beta of 10.13.5. Current version is 378.18.1.
 
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I wouldn't hold my breath, but it's worth paying attention to. They've obviously known about the issue for a few years now, and even though they told me that the engineers were working on a fix, it is clear that the intent is to buy more time and exhaust the customer into purchasing a different solution. I haven't had a conversation yet with Apple that didn't entail someone trying to convince me to buy the insanely overpriced new imac pro. Not gonna happen. I'd have to be ******* to spend that kind of money on what could be a computer with issues just like the trashcan, with no support in sight. Fixing this issue is the only thing that will ever convince me to buy another mac.
 
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I'm still waiting for some miracle before dropping a few hundreds on an external GPU. So far I'm having one freeze every 2/3 days, always in the first hour of use in the morning. After that I can run it for the whole day without issues.

Today I've turned it on in the afternoon and it crashed 4 times in 4 hours. Crazy machine. (Still on Sierra)
 
Pardo83 said:
I'm still waiting for some miracle before dropping a few hundreds on an external GPU.
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Just dropped $900 on an eGPU enclosure (Radeon Pro WX7100, and I have a GTX 1080 Ti on-hand to test as well) with TB 3/2 adapter. We'll see how this goes, if it even works -- I've read conflicting reports of Adobe Premiere not working at all with eGPUs. I'm getting freezes every day running latest 10.13.5 beta.
 
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Running a D300 machine on 10.13.4. I haven't had a single crash since I upgraded to 10.13.4, so they must have fixed something in software! Fingers crossed.
 
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uller6 said:
Running a D300 machine on 10.13.4. I haven't had a single crash since I upgraded to 10.13.4, so they must have fixed something in software! Fingers crossed.
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That's awesome! Unfortunately, many are still experiencing issues on 10.13.4, so I think Apple is undeserving of the credit in this case.

jclmavg said:
Make sure you read the threads here: https://egpu.io/forums/mac-setup/
Click to expand...

Thanks, essential resources. I've read through the entire 13 page thread on 10.13.4/TB2. Looking forward to sharing my results.
 
Well, after nothing but kernel panics for months I decided to bring my nMP in for repair at my local authorized service center. They had to ship it out to Apple to be repaired as they aren't able to apparently. Guess I'll see what happens.
 
swithdrawn said:
I picked up a Sonnet eGFX 550 and an Apple TB3 -> TB2 adapter. I haven't confirmed this works yet - will know Monday.
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For a first try I would work from a separate (cloned) boot disk. You never know if something goes wrong. That said, here's how easy I got it to work.

1. Disable system integrity protection (SIP)
2. Boot from cloned startup disk
3. Use this all-in-one script from terminal: https://egpu.io/forums/mac-setup/sc...script-all-solutions-fully-automated/paged/1/
4. Follow instructions, give script the time (might take a while), then let it reboot
5. plugin eGPU on login screen and then login.
6. I had to install CUDA drivers separately by myself for CUDA to work.

Results in Geekbench:
Schermafbeelding 2018-05-13 om 13.50.03.png
Resolve 15 Studio sees it just fine as well.
Schermafbeelding 2018-05-13 om 13.45.23.png
[doublepost=1526212951][/doublepost]
MackyMcMac17 said:
I'm interested in this. Can you link me to the enclosure you bought? Thanks.
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I have the Asus ROG XG Station 2, but it's somewhat loud, too large and expensive IMO. There are better ones. See this buying guide: https://egpu.io/external-gpu-buyers-guide-2018/
 
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