MBP Late 2013/2014 15" Power Issues - VRM

[Roman78]

Does someone got some information about the Power Issues on a MBP Late 2013-2014?

I only found this: http://knownappleissues.com/2020/01/07/2013-2015-13-15-macbook-pro-power-issues/

The only information given to fix it, is to replace the VRM. But i did not found any other information about this. I planned to get a late 2013 or mid 2014 for testing this out for my Blog https://www.die-oswalds.de/blog/

I just bought a 17" 2009 and 15" 2012 Retina for making some other Blog enteries.. and maybe a VLOG.

 

[Audit13]

I had a recent experience with a mid-2014 15" without discrete graphics. I could load the OS and it would always chime and boot to the desktop. Within a few seconds to a few minutes of using the unit, it would suddenly turn off. It didn't matter what program I did or did not open, battery level, OS version, or whether the charger was connected.

I found an obscure article that talked about the CPU not being able to handle low voltages. When the voltage dropped too much, the machine would turn off. The article suggested using a SSUBX drive in place of a SSUAX drive because the SSUBX draws a bit more power than the SSUAX and this extra power draw keeps the CPU voltage from dropping too low. I thought this was crazy so I removed the SSUAX and installed a spare SSUBX I had on hand. Surprisingly, the machine functioned normally for hours at a time with no issues at all. I re-installed in the SSUAX and it started turning off at random times. Put back in the SSUBX and the random turn offs stopped. The SSUBX has been in the machine for 3 weeks and is being used everyday with no issues.

 

[Roman78]

That is odd... what would a an M2 adapter and a normal M2.SSD do? Did you tried that?

 

[Audit13]

Nope, I did not try using a NVMe drive because I did not have an adapter on hand.

 

[Roman78]

Now i got a 2015 13" here fitting this issue (was just a matter of time ). There is a SSUBX already installed.

 

[Audit13]

Now i got a 2015 13" here fitting this issue (was just a matter of time ). There is a SSUBX already installed.

The MacBook suddenly shuts off too?

 

[Roman78]

Hmmm i did not had it on that long, so i can not say. But sometimes it does not turn on, only after pressing the power button several times.

 

[Audit13]

Try this: disconnect the battery, connect charger, don't touch the keyboard, wait for it to turn itself on in about 60 seconds. This could mean the battery isn't good.

Or this: disconnect the battery, disconnect keyboard and trackpad, connect charger, wait for it to turn itself on in about 60 seconds. This could mean the keyboard is a problem.

 

[Roman78]

Ill try that.

But i noticed it just turns off. CPU was around 100°C and another component also went over 100°c But this only happened once. Other times the machine turned off without a very high temperature.

One of the chip beneath the SSD went over 100°C, I suppose the second from the left.

 

[Roman78]

Ill tried you suggestions: While battery is disconnected the machine startup after 20-40 seconds sfter connecting the PSU. But it still freeses or just turns of an restarts. Now the fan is also not running anymore.

 

[Audit13]

Tried an SMC and NVRam reset?

Does it chime?

 

[Roman78]

SMC and NVRam reset done. After the first SMC the fan ran at 100%, after the second SMC the Fan ran normal, but now it just stopped.

It chime every time it boots.

 

[Audit13]

Hmm, are you able to run the ASD (Apple service diagnostics) from a usb?