CPU Overload,Macbook pro late 2011

[ali_alpha]

Hi everyone , I'm having a MacBook pro late 2011 updated to 10.13.6 (high Sierra ).While using some applications such as google chrome or Logic pro x or even vlc player ,it becomes so much laggy and unworkable ,and when I opened activity monitor to see what is going on I noticed cpu Overload mostly by kernel_task . Then i decided to run geekbench to see the scores . Here are the results :

Single-Core Score:
526
Multi-Core Score:
520

single score average for this model is :591
multicore score average for this model is :1275

Multi-Core Performance​

Multi-Core Score	520
Crypto Score	940
Integer Score	487
Floating Point Score	522

Here are my device specifications :

Operating System	macOS 10.13.6 (Build 17G66)
Model	MacBook Pro (13-inch Late 2011)
Model ID	MacBookPro8,1

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Processor Information
Name	Intel Core i7-2640M
Topology	1 Processor, 2 Cores, 4 Threads
Identifier	GenuineIntel Family 6 Model 42 Stepping 7
Base Frequency	2.80 GHz

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Memory Information
Size	8.00 GB
Type	DDR3
Clock Frequency	800 MHz

would you please suggest any solutions for this situation?? Is it a software or hardware problem?

 

[chrfr]

Hi everyone , I'm having a MacBook pro late 2011 updated to 10.13.6 (high Sierra ).While using some applications such as google chrome or Logic pro x or even vlc player ,it becomes so much laggy and unworkable ,and when I opened activity monitor to see what is going on I noticed cpu Overload mostly by kernel_task . Then i decided to run geekbench to see the scores . Here are the results :

Single-Core Score:
526
Multi-Core Score:
520

single score average for this model is :591
multicore score average for this model is :1275

Here are my device specifications :

Operating System	macOS 10.13.6 (Build 17G66)
Model	MacBook Pro (13-inch Late 2011)
Model ID	MacBookPro8,1

Processor Information
Name	Intel Core i7-2640M
Topology	1 Processor, 2 Cores, 4 Threads
Identifier	GenuineIntel Family 6 Model 42 Stepping 7
Base Frequency	2.80 GHz

Memory Information
Size	8.00 GB
Type	DDR3
Clock Frequency	800 MHz

would you please suggest any solutions for this situation?? Is it a software or hardware problem?

edit: Does the computer's battery work? High kernel_task usage is indicative of the computer being slowed down by the operating system, often to keep the computer cool or to reduce processor speed such as you'd see if the computer had no battery.

 

[Amethyst1]

would you please suggest any solutions for this situation?? Is it a software or hardware problem?

Check the CPU temperatures. If the CPU overheats and throttles, kernel_task starts hogging the cores. Also check the fan speed - is it running at maximum when this happens?

800MHz is what you see when the computer has no battery, or a nonfunctional battery.

That's the memory speed, not the CPU speed.

 

[chrfr]

That's the memory speed, not the CPU speed.

I edited my post as you were writing because I'd noticed that late.

 

[ali_alpha]

edit: Does the computer's battery work? High kernel_task usage is indicative of the computer being slowed down by the operating system, often to keep the computer cool or to reduce processor speed such as you'd see if the computer had no battery.

yes the battery works fine, although its condition is ''replace soon'' . but even when I'm running on power adapter i have the same issue .

 

[ali_alpha]

Check the CPU temperatures. If the CPU overheats and throttles, kernel_task starts hogging the cores. Also check the fan speed - is it running at maximum when this happens?



That's the memory speed, not the CPU speed.

I have checked the temperature frequently its always between 78-81 degrees ,fan speed is not at maximum i guess .

 

[chrfr]

yes the battery works fine, although its condition is ''replace soon'' . but even when I'm running on power adapter i have the same issue .

It's probably not the battery if the computer doesn't shut down immediately when it's off external power. I have seen these problems also happen if the computer has had liquid damage. You could try resetting the SMC and NVRAM and running the built in diagnostics. I can't remember if these directions also apply to Macs as old as yours, but give it a try: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202731

 

[Amethyst1]

have checked the temperature frequently its always between 78-81 degrees ,fan speed is not at maximum i guess .

Can you run Geekbench again and check the temps while it's running?

 

[ali_alpha]

Can you run Geekbench again and check the temps while it's running?

yes sure I'll do that . One thing I noticed when you mentioned the fan , I downloaded macs fan control app to see the fan speed , I found out that the fan isn't running at all , I tried resetting the SMC and NVRAM , but still its not running , so can we conclude that this might be the reason of the whole thing going on on this mac's cpu and becoming so much laggy at times?

 

[ali_alpha]

It's probably not the battery if the computer doesn't shut down immediately when it's off external power. I have seen these problems also happen if the computer has had liquid damage. You could try resetting the SMC and NVRAM and running the built in diagnostics. I can't remember if these directions also apply to Macs as old as yours, but give it a try: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202731

I tried them all ,except the built in diagnosis which doesn't show up . when i hold ''D''before booting ,a page comes up searching for network connection (WIFI) ,and when I choose my wifi and enter the password, it just stops there and nothing comes up.

 

[Amethyst1]

found out that the fan isn't running at all , I tried resetting the SMC and NVRAM , but still its not running , so can we conclude that this might be the reason of the whole thing going on on this mac's cpu and becoming so much laggy at times?

If the fan isn't running at all (on my 2011 MBP it's always running - at 2000 rpm mostly, or higher when I'm really pushing it) it's either clogged up with dirt and dust or defective. And yes, it will overheat without the fan.

 

[Amethyst1]

I tried them all ,except the built in diagnosis which doesn't show up .

IIRC, for the 2011 MBP you need to boot the diagnostics from the grey DVDs that came with the machine.

 

[ali_alpha]

If the fan isn't running at all (on my 2011 MBP it's always running - at 2000 rpm mostly, or higher when I'm really pushing it) it's either clogged up with dirt and dust or defective. And yes, it will overheat without the fan.

then the overheating will cause the cpu overload by kernel_task and therefore the lagging ,right?

 

[ali_alpha]

IIRC, for the 2011 MBP you need to boot the diagnostics from the grey DVDs that came with the machine.

ok thank you so much for your great suggestions? . I'll try to find the DVDs .

 

[Amethyst1]

then the overheating will cause the cpu overload by kernel_task and therefore the lagging ,right

Yes. As for the diagnostics, as your MBP is a 2.8 GHz "Late 2011" one it came with Lion ie. no DVDs, but you can download the image from

GitHub - upekkha/AppleHardwareTest: Apple Hardware Test Download Links

Apple Hardware Test Download Links. Contribute to upekkha/AppleHardwareTest development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

 

[Fishrrman]

What kind of drive is in it?
Platter based, or SSD?

If it still has the original platter-based drive, replace that with an SSD.
Cheap and easy to do -- ANYONE can do this by themself.
Go to ifixit.com to see what's involved.
Be sure to use the right tools.

 

[ali_alpha]

Check the CPU temperatures. If the CPU overheats and throttles, kernel_task starts hogging the cores. Also check the fan speed - is it running at maximum when this happens?



That's the memory speed, not the CPU speed.

Just wanted to say thanks again, it was solved, the issue was the fan not running due to dust stuck in it. i got it cleaned and fan is running and everything is back to normal now ? ??