diagnosing kernel task/CPU problem on Macbook Air

[nick_harambee]

hi

i am experiencing an intermittent problem with my macbook air, with kernel_task taking up most of my CPU. i have done some research and found that the most common cause of this is overheating, and indeed i am well aware of overheating issues. i have already had parts of my macbook air replaced because of one of the cores locking up and apps freezing. since the repair all worked well for a few weeks and now i am getting the kernel_task problem intermittently. it doesn't seem to be dependent on the temperature (CPUA is around 62 degrees) and the problem comes and goes at this temperature. the macbook air is not freezing as before and i get the problem even when no apps are running.

i have also heard that this problem can be experienced with USB peripherals, but all i have connected is an external hard drive and the problem remains after this is disconnected.

so, basically i am wondering if there is a way of pinpointing what is causing this problem, using the info in console perhaps. i don't know whether i should be trying to install coolbook, taking my macbook air for a replacement, or trying something else.

i would be grateful for any advice

thanks

nick

 

[lincolnchee]

Which MBA are you having ? The Revision 1 or 2 ?
Have you installed the latest firmware/OS updates ?

 

[nick_harambee]

i have the first version of macbook air 1.6GHz. i have installed all software updates

 

[duke1587]

I am having the same problems with a 1st revision 1.6Ghz Air. Every update is installed as of tonight. It has become increasingly worse over the past week. It happens with or without a VGA cable or iPhone plugged in. Plugging/unplugging devices also does not help.

I'd appreciate any suggestions for how to look into this further or potential solutions.

 

[h1d]

CoolBook fixes that. Had the problem ever since I had rev A, installed CoolBook, kernel_task behaving like a good child. No more slowdowns/cpu core hangups ever.

 

[Ironic]

I am having the same problems with a 1st revision 1.6Ghz Air. Every update is installed as of tonight. It has become increasingly worse over the past week. It happens with or without a VGA cable or iPhone plugged in. Plugging/unplugging devices also does not help.

I'd appreciate any suggestions for how to look into this further or potential solutions.

Some updates are not compatible with coolbook,

 

[h1d]

Apple does claim third party apps are not compatible to their core shutdown problem, but the truth here is, Apple could never fix it on Rev A (afaik) and while core remains turned on, kernel_task still goes fubar from time to time without CoolBook and I've been using CoolBook for months to this day and everything works without a problem.

 

[goshya]

Hi.

I'm still having the kernel_task issue on the second generation MBA.

I had the first gen 1,6 model before and now a 1,6 Rev. B with ssd.

Right now I'm copying about 15 gig of data to an external 2,5 HD.

Firefox, Textedit are the only open applications.

I just flew to Asia from Germany. In Germany it was very cold and I didn't have the problem. (At least I didn't realize it the first few days I had the new MBA) Here it's about 25° Celsius (75 F) and I'm having the

"Uah! kernel_task again! I can't work with this computer and want to throw it out of the window" issue all the time.

How dare they sell such a machine?

After the fiasco with the first gen MBA I thought they fixed the problem with the second gen, because every honest company would rather stop making the product than selling something broken, but

I lost all the trust in this company and I have been a loyal costumer for more than 13 years. Can apple please do something about that?

Why oh why didn't I buy a MacBook Pro again?

 

[Mactagonist]

http://www.apple.com/feedback

 

[h1d]

Doesn't coolbook fix that in rev B too? While it's sad they can't fix such a thing, if it's fixable with 3rd party app, it's not the biggest issue imo, unlike something unfixable...

 

[Mactagonist]

Doesn't coolbook fix that in rev B too? While it's sad they can't fix such a thing, if it's fixable with 3rd party app, it's not the biggest issue imo, unlike something unfixable...

AFAIK coolbook is not compatible with Nvidia based machines.