MB 12" 2015 daily Kernel Panics !

Hello!


My 2015/M5/512 12" MacBook is experiencing frequent Kernel Panics, two or three a day. I have done a bunch of clean installs, updated to Sierra, even High Sierra Beta and downgrading after to ElCap but it has been pointless. I've reseted SMC, PRAM, ran Apple Diagnostics tools(which found nothing) and verified the disk through Disk Utility(ok). Everything is fine except the fact that I still have these annoying KP's. The KP's are very different and I have not been able to identify a problem. Check out a bunch of KP's from this install(ElCap):

Number One
*** Panic Report ***
panic(cpu 0 caller 0xffffff8005dce6fa): Kernel trap at 0xffffff7ffddc2010, type 14=page fault, registers:
CR0: 0x000000008001003b, CR2: 0xffffff7ffddc2010, CR3: 0x000000003c8c00a2, CR4: 0x00000000003627e0
RAX: 0x0000000000000000, RBX: 0xffffff80064eb348, RCX: 0x0000000000000000, RDX: 0xffffff80064eb348
RSP: 0xffffff911120b5e8, RBP: 0xffffff911120b610, RSI: 0x0000000000000001, RDI: 0xffffff80064eb238
R8: 0xffffff802c90c800, R9: 0x0000000000000000, R10: 0xffffff80062bdc10, R11: 0xffffff80062bdc10
R12: 0xffffff80064eb228, R13: 0x0000000000000018, R14: 0xffffff802c883800, R15: 0x00000000000adfff
RFL: 0x0000000000010246, RIP: 0xffffff7ffddc2010, CS: 0x0000000000000008, SS: 0x0000000000000010
Fault CR2: 0xffffff7ffddc2010, Error code: 0x0000000000000010, Fault CPU: 0x0, PL: 0

Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address
0xffffff911120b270 : 0xffffff8005cdab52
0xffffff911120b2f0 : 0xffffff8005dce6fa
0xffffff911120b4d0 : 0xffffff8005dec563
0xffffff911120b4f0 : 0xffffff7ffddc2010
0xffffff911120b610 : 0xffffff8005d7e115
0xffffff911120b660 : 0xffffff8005d74e17
0xffffff911120b9e0 : 0xffffff80061d8266
0xffffff911120ba10 : 0xffffff8005ef03d7
0xffffff911120bac0 : 0xffffff8005eede44
0xffffff911120bbf0 : 0xffffff8005eeb47b
0xffffff911120bc60 : 0xffffff800613663b
0xffffff911120bd00 : 0xffffff800613b171
0xffffff911120bd30 : 0xffffff8005f1aac7
0xffffff911120bda0 : 0xffffff8005f1c759
0xffffff911120be50 : 0xffffff8006186980
0xffffff911120bec0 : 0xffffff80061824b0
0xffffff911120bf20 : 0xffffff8006186624
0xffffff911120bf60 : 0xffffff8006228701
0xffffff911120bfb0 : 0xffffff8005decd66

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: ditto

Number Two
*** Panic Report ***
panic(cpu 2 caller 0xffffff800e5cf1ba): "Double fault at 0xffffff800e542333, registersn" "CR0: 0x0000000080010033, CR2: 0x000000003e8ebc38, CR3: 0x00000001efbaf048, CR4: 0x00000000003627e0\n" "RAX: 0x0000000013800cbd, RBX: 0xfffffead78828000, RCX: 0xffffff913e8ebca4, RDX: 0x0000000000000001\n" "RSP: 0x000000003e8ebc40, RBP: 0xffffff913e8ebc90, RSI: 0xffffff8020f02044, RDI: 0xffffff800ece584c\n" "R8: 0x0000000000000001, R9: 0xffffff913e8ebe28, R10: 0x0000000000000018, R11: 0x000000010338c008\n" "R12: 0xffffff8020f02044, R13: 0xfffffead78828000, R14: 0xffffff800ece584c, R15: 0x0000000000000001\n" "RFL: 0x0000000000010246, RIP: 0xffffff800e542333, CS: 0x0000000000000008, SS: 0x0000000000000000\n" "Error code: 0x0000000000000000\n"@/Library/Caches/com.apple.xbs/Sources/xnu/xnu-3248.60.10/osfmk/i386/trap_native.c:168
Backtrace (CPU 2), Frame : Return Address
0xffffff810f7f5e90 : 0xffffff800e4dab52
0xffffff810f7f5f10 : 0xffffff800e5cf1ba
0xffffff810f7f6070 : 0xffffff800e5ece1f
0xffffff913e8ebc90 : 0xffffff800e540f47
0xffffff913e8ebcd0 : 0xffffff800e5435eb
0xffffff913e8ebd00 : 0xffffff800e54db87
0xffffff913e8ebf20 : 0xffffff800e5cecef
0xffffff913e8ebfb0 : 0xffffff800e5ec475

BSD process name corresponding to current thread:thermald

Number Three
*** Panic Report ***
panic(cpu 0 caller 0xffffff8015314ccd): "Invalid queue element linkage for 0xffffff80f6c93370: next 0xffffff802876a240 next->prev 0xfffff780f6c93370 prev 0xffffff8027981920 prev->next 0xffffff80f6c93370"@/Library/Caches/com.apple.xbs/Sources/xnu/xnu-3248.60.10/osfmk/kern/queue.h:245
Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address
0xffffff81201e3e20 : 0xffffff80152dab52
0xffffff81201e3ea0 : 0xffffff8015314ccd
0xffffff81201e3f00 : 0xffffff801531714f
0xffffff81201e3f50 : 0xffffff80152eeef5
0xffffff81201e3f80 : 0xffffff80158b3142
0xffffff81201e3fb0 : 0xffffff80153c9117

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task


These are just the last three of them from yesterday and today. Notice how every time there is a different process corresponding to the thread in cause and the panic is different. This happens randomly, from what I've been able to tell there are no software/external devices issues. For example when number one happened I was watching a movie in VLC then at one point I stopped the movie and started a copy/paste process in the background from one folder to another(on the internal ssd) 5 seconds later it KP'ed on me. Now as you can see in number one the process that cause it is named "ditto".From my knowledge ditto is a unix function related to file transfer so it's clear that the copy paste process caused it. After the KP and reboot I restarted the copy process and it went ok. To me it seems like there are some "bad registers" and every time the processor tries to attribute some function on those the systems crashes(is this even a thing?!?!?!?). As I've said the crashes are completely random and independent of the app used or any peripherals.

From what I've seen online one option and problem recognized by apple on these machines is the usb c ribbon cable connecting the usbc port to the logic board. Is there any way to test this before buying a new cable and swapping it out?

I have some knowledge in macs/electronics and I've opened up many of them before. That's why I'm searching for a technical opinion and not to refer me to a Apple service because in my country Apple does't even have official Apple stores. So, for me, genius bar/apple stores and these sort of things are not an option.

What do you guys think? is there anything else that I could try? Hardware or otherwise?


Thank you and have a nice day!

The problem may be something that you have no control over. Your MacBook has soldered in memory which could be causing the errors. That would require replacing the logic board. You really need to take it in to a service center that can work on your MacBook.

You can try running your MacBook in safe mode to see if the panics do not occur there. Safe mode start up would be by holding down the shift key on reboot. Let us know.

Just booted in sm, one thing that I can report now is that it's slow. i mean i expected it to be slow because the graphic accelerations drivers are not fully working but it s so slow that when i click on the applications folder in the dock I can see for about 5 -10 seconds how it renders the graphics frame by frame. Is this normal?

Also given that my kp's are random and often occuring twice a day while I do my daily buissness with the laptop it's gonna be really hard getting a kp in safe mode because they always pop up while I m doing something(browsing the web, watching a movie, word processing etc...

I ll try doing random **** in safe mode for as long as i can and keep you posted. A good ideea would be to find a way to stress the cpu and ram in safe mode maybe? Smth like selecting all the apps and hit enter perhaps...

Just booted in sm, one thing that I can report now is that it's slow.

Click to expand...

Booting up using Safe Boot Mode is just a diagnostic procedure to basically see if any third party software that gets disabled with SBM might be there problem.

And yup, random kernel panics can be a real time consuming PITA to diagnose.

One choice is to to just start over with a basic clean install, but that's pretty drastic if and when one needs other third party apps and user data, some of which can be corrupt.

It can be a real B…. to get things fixed as if you don't already know. Just saying and reinforcing the info. :Blushing:






- Patrick
======

Patrick, as I ve said in my first post I did like 3 clean installs. Last night after chscag's faulty ram suggestion I ran memtest in Single User mode, and guess what- no problem with the ram...this was the most comprehensive method to test the ram that I could think of....

Just a quick thought, I ll try installing Win 10 on a separate partition and see if I experience any sort of BSOD or something on windows


EDIT: while downloading smth with transmission sudden freeze and the display froze like in the picture. Rebooted, transmission opened at login then after 10 seconds an identical freeze screen. Rebooted again and quickly quit transmission at login, and the laptop works fine. I m starting to think it may be the ssd, maybe writing on the drive makes it crash?

P.S i added the ram test photos as well

Why not just take it in to the Apple Genius bar and have them test it? They have more extensive testing software than is available to you.

Apple does not have an official Apple store in my country, only a bunch of "authorized resellers".Maybe I ll give them a try

squareroot777 said:

Apple does not have an official Apple store in my country, only a bunch of "authorized resellers".Maybe I ll give them a try

Click to expand...

Quite often they can have more experience and better training than some Apple Store techs, and they should also have access to all the specalized Apple tests/software, if they are "Apple Authorized".

PS: We don't know where you live, but if it's in some super hot area, that may have some bearing on your Mac's problem if it's operating in extreme temperatures, but below maximum shutdown temperatures.

Just a thought…






- Patrick
======

Good insight! It's actually kind of hot(~34 Celsius) and the little guy does get pretty hot. It's interesting to try this theory out. Btw, you know these new MB's have that fancy graphite heatsink and I've seen on ifixit's tutorial that when you open the heatsink and take it off there is thermal paste. Has anyone tried replacing the thermal paste on these machines? I wasn't able to find anything on the web.

Is it known that operating under high temps can cause KP's?I ll try to keep it cool the next few days to see if the KP occur again. Thanks for the ideea!

Is it known that operating under high temps can cause KP's?

Click to expand...

I would think almost anything out of normal could cause them but maybe a goggle search could supply a proper answer???:

https://www.google.ca/search?client...&oe=UTF-8&gfe_rd=cr&ei=W3hqWc-QLOfe8AfFy6GgDw

But I must admit that from your description above, your KPs are sure all over the place and seemingly random.

Your thermal paste questions deserve a whole new subject I'd suggest, but I'd doubt if you have any related problems with a 2015 Mac.

Definitely some much older Macs had some pretty bad, sloppy messy and bad thermal paste application screwups.






- Patrick
======

I have an ideea. If I could log the cpu temperature in time using terminal(like this guy did here on linux:http://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...eed-;-kernel-panic-but-not-always-4175438287/) I could get an insight if temperature has anything to do with the kp's. But I have no ideea how to do that. The only thing I've been able to do is copy into the applications folder "Temperature Monitor"(http://www.bresink.com/osx/LegacyProducts.html) (that does't work on Sierra) and use the command line "/Applications/TemperatureMonitor.app/Contents/MacOS/tempmonitor -a -l -f" but this only displays the data at the current time. How can I do to log this into a file and obtain something like that guy did on Linux? It would be very helpful I think..



SOLVED: using TG Pro, a temp. monitoring software that creates .csv logs. Nice stuff!

Yeah, it's the cpu temp... After installing the software mentioned above, I've monitored the temperatures closely and at one point I;ve seen the temp going high rasing to 83,84...87 and then BAM! KP !( on intel's website this processor has a 95 degrees max Tjunction temp) , quick reboot and another KP after login when opening recent apps(and there were a lot of them). After cooling down stared up fine and no problem. I've also checked the logs from TG Pro and it's pretty clear, the software stopped recording at 89degrees, I have the logs from the last 16 hours and this is the highest peak in temperature and I ve not received any other KP since the log was recording. It can't be a coincidence, I ll redo the thermal paste tonight and check up with you later. If this doesn't fix it i think i ll get rid of this laptop
Given the max temp for this processor and taking into account how fast it throttles up in temp(5-10 degrees in one second) it's plausible that it reached that temperature right before the computer froze and kp's and the software could't catch preciseley 95 degrees when the crash happened. The thermal paste could be a proper factor. I think it's worth a shot.

You may be on to something. As you know, your MacBook has no fan and relies on the thermal heat sink to draw away residual heat. I'm not so sure I agree with the way Apple engineered the MacBook but their objective was to make it as thin and light as possible. Hence, fanless cooling. I'm wondering if Apple made changes in the second model of the 12" MacBook? Keep us posted.

Before you "redo the thermal paste", and there is a correct and incorrect method, and few novices get it right and are tempted to use too much, I sure tyy an alternate route.

Personally I'd install the Macs Fan Control.app, and increase the fan speed and maybe substantially in your case and it can give you various base temp sensors to use for a base temp.

And BTW: are the fans working properly and how dirty are they??

I'm not sure how accessible they are to check on that model but ifixit.com can sure show you how and what's involved.






- Patrick
======

@Patrick:

It must be too early in the morning for you. LOL His MacBook has NO FAN. Did you see the remark I made about fanless cooling?

More coffee? ;D

You may be on to something. As you know, your MacBook has no fan and relies on the thermal heat sink to draw away residual heat.

Click to expand...

Gee, I didn't know or realize that thanks chscag. I'd say that was some pretty stupid engineering on the part of Apple developers or was that just another stupid plan of Jonny Ive and his crew???




EDIT:
So I guess the Macs Fan Control.app might be a waste of time installing on that fanless 12" MacBook eh??? ;D






- Patrick
======

@chscag

It must be too early in the morning for you. LOL His MacBook has NO FAN. Did you see the remark I made about fanless cooling?

Click to expand...

Like ships passing in the night chscag, our posts passed by each other almost unnoticed.

But I will finish my nice morning coffee thanks, even if it has gone cold. But I also like it that way.






- Patrick
======

LOL, I already had a cup of brand new Cinnamon flavored coffee made by Folgers.

But yeah I agree. Apple did some off the wall engineering on that new 12" MacBook. Great retina display, weak CPU, small SSD, and no fan. No thanks. I do have to admit that it's light and thin and very easy to carry around. But to be honest, I would rather have the 11" MBA if I wanted light and small.

We now have a 10.5" iPad Pro to use (gift from my generous son) and I have to admit that it's really nice. Our old iPad 3 seemed like a clunker compared to the new iPad. It's not a replacement for a MacBook Pro but a lot can be done on it. We also purchased the smart keyboard-cover for it which is really nice.

chscag said:

LOL, I already had a cup of brand new Cinnamon flavored coffee made by Folgers.

But yeah I agree. Apple did some off the wall engineering on that new 12" MacBook. Great retina display, weak CPU, small SSD, and no fan. No thanks. I do have to admit that it's light and thin and very easy to carry around. But to be honest, I would rather have the 11" MBA if I wanted light and small.

We now have a 10.5" iPad Pro to use (gift from my generous son) and I have to admit that it's really nice. Our old iPad 3 seemed like a clunker compared to the new iPad. It's not a replacement for a MacBook Pro but a lot can be done on it. We also purchased the smart keyboard-cover for it which is really nice.

Click to expand...

Hmmm…??? I haven't added Cinnamon for a long time yet my wife does sometimes. Might have to try it again.

Our "old" iPad 2 and iPad 3 keep working for us for some things but I find the iOS still annoys me, but I did get some relief when I jailbroke my iPad 2 with iOS 7.x. But it's now back to Apple's "normal" iOS 9.

At least it was useful while I was in hospital for 3 1/2 weeks a few months ago and even when I got home but couldn't sit at my usual computer desk.

The iPad 2 model's 9.7" IPS screen isn't too bad for me, but most iPhones are too small for my eyes to use properly, but haven't had a chance to use any of the S or + models, so your 10.5" iPad Pro must be quite nice to use.






- Patrick
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