Core shutdown & apple store help

[dibara2003]

my air has the intermittent core shut down where one core drops out every couple seconds or even completely shuts off when the fans kick up and the usual. i took it to the apple store where they though i said "computer shutdown" and ran tests... obviously they found nothing since that wasn't my problem. so they call me and i tell them it was a core shutting down, they said they'll do tests again since they know what the real problem is. come today, they said the did stress tests and it was fine, which i know it's not (even a genius said he saw the core dropping when they did first tests). any advice on what to do? they'll also have had my computer for 7 days tomorrow as well... apparently not fixing anything. another small note... my screen is a bit loose and they won't do anything about it as well.

sorry for the long rant, but i don't know what to do at this point and have a reservation tomorrow. thanks for the help!

 

[Scott6666]

If you have multiple stores in your area try a different store. There is a lot of discretion for individual managers to offer solutions. Sometimes a nicer manager offers a nicer solution.

[You might also come in to the other store without the laptop and explain your situation to a manager and see if you get a positive response to bring back the laptop]

Of course don't mention that you tried another store first.

 

[wordy]

Why not tell them exactly how to replicate the problem? Find a youtube video that's > 15mins, tell them to open activity monitor and choose the CPU tab, play youtube video for >10 mins, and watch the 2nd core in activity monitor.

When they see the actual issue, it's impossible for them to believe that's something normal.

 

[dibara2003]

Why not tell them exactly how to replicate the problem? Find a youtube video that's > 15mins, tell them to open activity monitor and choose the CPU tab, play youtube video for >10 mins, and watch the 2nd core in activity monitor.

When they see the actual issue, it's impossible for them to believe that's something normal.

You'd think it would be that easy... I told them once and it seems they refuse to acknowledge it, even though, on the side, one genius told me that he saw it intermittently dropping. When I called, they said it was in spec... I have an appointment today. If I get it to shut and they won't do anything, what's next?they had my comp for 7 days.

 

[The Toddfather]

The "genius" had my MBA for two days and said this computer was not designed to play graphic intensive games. Keep in mind I was playing Big Bang Chess.

My two experiences with Apple's incredible customer service have been very disappointing.

 

[PaulSorensen]

Why not tell them exactly how to replicate the problem? Find a youtube video that's > 15mins, tell them to open activity monitor and choose the CPU tab, play youtube video for >10 mins, and watch the 2nd core in activity monitor.

When they see the actual issue, it's impossible for them to believe that's something normal.

Is that typical of the problem? I can make my Air overheat to the point of shutting down the second core - but not just by playing a youtube video for 10-15mins. If I'm running stuff under VMWare Fusion that has animation in it as well as other things happening such as a time machine backup over the wireless network - then it might start happening.

 

[Particular]

does anyone have a link to a specific you tube video that always causes the problem?

 

[1appleAday]

what about CPUTest from the coolbook site? it's free and will max out your CPU pretty quickly. I'd imagine if you bring up activity monitor during the test you will see core shutdown fairly quickly.

 

[fuzzielitlpanda]

i'm testing my mba for core shutdown right now. what does it look like exactly? will there just be no activity on one of the processors under activity monitor?

 

[1appleAday]

when a core shuts down, you will see 1 core max out and another black out in activity monitor. i'd imagine without coolbook, when both core max out at 100% one of them should shutdown due to overheat fairly quickly. i have coolbook installed so i don't see any, but my Air does get hot and fan goes to max during test (which is expected)

 

[fuzzielitlpanda]

ok good ran cputest for 6 hours and both cores were active the whole time. fans were spinning full speed as expected.

 

[hkq37]

Sorry to hear about your Apple Care woes, if you are so inclined you could take matters into your own hands as many people such as myself have.
I believe a good answer can be found here as I have posted once before .

It seems the Apple Care people are telling you about a feature of the Santa Rosa platform that is supposed to shutdown a core to save energy, prevent overheating , save power etc. But basically they are ignoring the problem, giving you some rhetoric and pissing in your ear.

Some users, such as myself, performed the re-application of the thermal paste only to find the cores still shut down at relatively low temperatures ( e.g. 66c).

Because no 2 CPU's are identical and also will have different rates of cooling/heating. It is impossible to say 'X' will cause a core to shut down.

I can just say I use Coolbook now to undervolt the CPU ard re-adjust the throttling. My temperatures still get pretty high sometimes e.g. 85c and the cores are really working e.g. 75%+ but I don't get any more core shut downs.

It seems to me the only solution for stopping core shutdowns is Coolbook or changing your computing habits to do less CPU-intensive activities.

 

[Nicon]

when a core shuts down, you will see 1 core max out and another black out in activity monitor. i'd imagine without coolbook, when both core max out at 100% one of them should shutdown due to overheat fairly quickly. i have coolbook installed so i don't see any, but my Air does get hot and fan goes to max during test (which is expected)

How is the prossessor suppose to act?
Should the two cores max out at 100%, and stay there the whole time?

I ran CPUTest now, and the second core shutdown at test 25.
The iStat widget tells me that CPU A is only 70° Celsius, this is with AC. (It seems like iStat is monotoring the second core, the core thats shut down)

Does my MPA have this core shutdown problems?


Thanks in advance!

 

[1appleAday]

i remember when i was testing it, i only opened istatpro to monitor cpu and it was 99 - 100 % throughout the test.

I adjusted the voltage twice, and i ran a test after each adjustment, and both times it passed. but i would say if your Air failed the test with core shutdown repeatedly and your Air is not undervolted, then yeah i think it has a core shutdown issue. if i were you i would undervolt it and rerun the test to see if it makes a difference.

btw, have you notice any issues when you watch videos on your Air?