MBP 1,1-10,2 GPU Kernel Panic in mid-2010; what's the best fix?

[Lines]

As my kernel panics occur more and more, it seems that a capacitor replacement is inevitable. I’ve watched the videos and read this thread, but can someone clarify something for me?

I see that the EEF-LT0D331R is a very popular capacitor for this project, but does the EEF-ST0D331R also work? I see from the data sheet that the ST and LT are nearly identical except that the ST has 2 terminals versus the LT’s 3.

Today I just replaced this capacitor and it´s working well now. Thanks to this forum I could solve this issue.
Regarding your question: I used the CAP 330µF, 2V, 20% and ordered at Amazon. The reseller got it from Farnell/element14. Order code: 2354864, manufacturer: Panasonic, the size was fitting well - good luck

 

[Andyberth]

Kernel panic mid 2010 fix

MacBook Pro mid-2010, 8 Go, 2.66 GHz
It worked perfectly till High Sierra installation at end of sept 2017. I had then between 3 and 10 GPU kernel panics a day. I had begun to have a look to replace it by a new machine.
I arrived on this site one week ago and read the two-last-year inputs in this topic.
I apply today the fix. It seems that it works :
- AppleGraphicsPowerManagement is now signed by unknown
- Cinebench test run perfectly : 10.62 fps
I hope that this nightmare is behind me.

Thanks a lot to every one.

Andy

 

[BerndM66]

I would like to say a big 'Thank you!' to all who published details to the hardware fix!
The task is not the easiest thing to do, but it's worth every minute you spend on it!
The first one fixed with the panasonic cap is now running without errors for month.
Yesterday, I repaired the third 2010 MacBook pro and it's running perfectly again.
These MacBooks are still good to work with and not all changes by Apple in the last years were really improvements.
With a patch, you can also run Mojave on it!

Thank you again!

Bernd

 

[Andyberth]

Sorry for having not answer in English language to Modile. I understand what is the issue.
He wrote his call for help in French, talking to me because I am also in Paris area.
I thought that he didn't well understand the two ways proposed in the forum to solve the GPU panic, so I explained to him in French.

Sorry again.

Andy

 

[Smokiepope]

I would like to say a big 'Thank you!' to all who published details to the hardware fix!
The task is not the easiest thing to do, but it's worth every minute you spend on it!
The first one fixed with the panasonic cap is now running without errors for month.
Yesterday, I repaired the third 2010 MacBook pro and it's running perfectly again.
These MacBooks are still good to work with and not all changes by Apple in the last years were really improvements.
With a patch, you can also run Mojave on it!

Thank you again!

Bernd

Hello Bernd,

based on your experience to fix some MacBooks with the GPU Issue I would like to ask you some questions.

My Situation is a little bit confused for me, because until a clean install of high Sierra 10.13.6 a few weeks ago, my mbpro mid 2010 with gt 330M works perfectly without any gpu panic issues. For that I'm not sure to take the risk to get more damages or other critical failures during changing the mentioned capacitor.

I have read a lot of posts in this treat but I'm not sure which capacitor is the right one, because in the posts 2 different types are mentioned. Which one you have used to get a perfect result on the MacBooks you have repaired? Could you please post the exact type code and where you have found the capacitor to order in the web?

Furthermore it is very interesting also which working patch do you use to install Mojave on this old macpro.

It would be nice if you could give me some helpful infos.

Thank you

Marco

 

[Christian hiti]

Hi,

I really need some help reguarding running a diagnostic on the GPU issue. I don't know if my google skills are ****, but i can't seem to find what consist of a GPU kernel Panic. i just bought a 2010 6.2 macbook for about 100 USD with an 86 % battery and 4 month of use time on the original HDD. So the computer despite its age pretty much runs like new on Yosemite.

Now i'm reading all over since 2 days about the GPU issues and found this thread. The computer never experienced any crash or reboots. But while running word on the integrated graphics i did see from gfxcardstatus's task bar widget that the computer was switching between integrated and dedicated GPU very fast until i minimized word, had a beachball and then forced the integrated GPU.

Now i put Gfxcardstatus on automatic and the computer works normally. It's switching only on the dedicated GPU on heavy tasks like running chrome or powerpoint.

Would this be a sign that my capacitor is failing ? Is there anything i can do to prevent it to developing the kernel panic issue ?

 

[Audit13]

Would this be a sign that my capacitor is failing ? Is there anything i can do to prevent it to developing the kernel panic issue ?

Run the cinebench OpenGL test:https://www.maxon.net/en/products/cinebench-r20-overview/

If it crashes, it is a gpu issue and can be fixed by replacing the c9560 capacitor with a larger capacitor.

 

[Christian hiti]

Run the cinebench OpenGL test:https://www.maxon.net/en/products/cinebench-r20-overview/

If it crashes, it is a gpu issue and can be fixed by replacing the c9560 capacitor with a larger capacitor.

But won't running the benchmark stress the GPU / capacitor ?

 

[Audit13]

But won't running the benchmark stress the GPU / capacitor ?

Yes, that is the point of the test to see if it panics under stress. If it panics under stress, using any program that causes the Mac to switch to nVidia graphics will cause a kernel panic which, in turn, can severely limit the graphics capability of the MacBook.

 

[Christian hiti]

ok thanks, i never ran GPU tests on my MacBooks.

I juste ran it 2 times but basically, it only goes to "preparing object" then to "rendering Pass 1". But it only displays a black square on a grey background. I will be including a few screenshots here :

I'm not sure how to interpret this, i do get a result but it is displayed next to CPU as in : CPU = 161415 cb.

I tried to press the "run all selected test" in case i was missing something and i did get a different CB result of : 162946

 

[Audit13]

Try running OpenGL tests with R15: https://www.techspot.com/downloads/6709-cinebench.html

My mid-2010 15" MBP would always panic when running the OpenGL test.

 

[Christian hiti]

i just ran the cinebench test and got those results.
I didn't have any reboot or screen crashes

 

[Audit13]

i just ran the cinebench test and got those results.
I didn't have any reboot or screen crashes

Were you running the Fabioroberto's graphics patch? If yes, try running it without the patch.

My MBP would panic if the patch was not applied before running the test. Eventually, the patch would not work for me and I went with a capacitor replacement to prevent patches and get better graphics performance.

 

[Christian hiti]

I did try to install the patch by simply running the App, but as i was not able to comprehend how to enter the code before using the mbpgpufix app, i had a "failed to install patch replace capacitor" message being displayed. So indeed i was not running the patch when i ran the test.

I think the computer wasn't used long enough to tax the capacitor. Its has only 4 months of HDD usage on the original ( drive )and the original battery seems to last about 5 hours. But i do want to try to prevent it from developing the GPU failures.

 

[Audit13]

I did try to install the patch by simply running the App, but as i was not able to comprehend how to enter the code before using the mbpgpufix app, i had a "failed to install patch replace capacitor" message being displayed. So indeed i was not running the patch when i ran the test.

I think the computer wasn't used long enough to tax the capacitor. Its has only 4 months of HDD usage on the original ( drive )and the original battery seems to last about 5 hours. But i do want to try to prevent it from developing the GPU failures.

To prevent a failure, I recommend replacing the original capacitor with a higher-rated capacitor. I had no problem using the patch to prevent panics but I wanted a more permanent solution.

 

[Christian hiti]

To prevent a failure, I recommend replacing the original capacitor with a higher-rated capacitor. I had no problem using the patch to prevent panics but I wanted a more permanent solution.

Ok thanks again for your help! I will look into replacing it

 

[freshj]

Hi. I have a Mid 2010 15" MacBook Pro. A few years ago I had the GPU issue: restarts, kernel panics etc. Apple replaced the mobo under the extension program.

Now, a few years later my Mac has started exhibiting a slightly different symptom; When I open certain apps (e.g. Chrome, Logic Pro), the app freezes/hangs and doesn't open for roughly 30 minutes. At first I thought this was an SSD issue. However, if I disable Automatic Graphics Switching, this problem disappears. I assume these apps are asking the mac to switch from Intel graphics to Nvidia graphics, and this switch is causing an issue?

Anyway, this symptom seems slightly different to the restarts that people report here, but it does seem to be related to the graphics in some way. Also, I believe the common problem with this Mac is that the Nvidia GPU CAUSES the problem, wheres mine seems to stop the problem. Can anyone give an opinion. Thanks!

 

[Audit13]

The common problem is the capacitor used on the logic board and not the nVidia GPU itself.

 

[BerndM66]

Which one you have used to get a perfect result on the MacBooks you have repaired? Could you please post the exact type code and where you have found the capacitor to order in the web?

Furthermore it is very interesting also which working patch do you use to install Mojave on this old macpro.

Hi Marco,

The last batch I ordered from Amazon, the exact 'name' was EEFLT0D331R !
The company (Home-Ideas) I got it from is located in GB, so I don't know if that is an option for you...
For sure you should be able to get it at all bigger electronic part vendors.
The cap is bigger than the original one, so you'll have to scratch some space free for the new one to fit.
That's in fact the most thrilling part... The picture below shows both the old and the new cap.


The mojave patch for older Macs you'll find at http://dosdude1.com/mojave/
You'll find a complete walkthrough, but I'm quite shure you should have the hardware fixed before you try that! ;-)
My son is using Mojave on a 2010 MacBook pro for two weeks now with no major issues.
The only problem is, when using an external screen the internal is still considered 'active'!
So windows can open on the wrong screen, but you can get by with that when you're aware of this behaviour.

I hope this helps, let me know if you have more questions!

 

[freshj]

The common problem is the capacitor used on the logic board and not the nVidia GPU itself.

Ok thanks. Do you think this is likely affecting me, considering that I have no problems when Graphics Switching is disabled?

 

[Audit13]

Ok thanks. Do you think this is likely affecting me, considering that I have no problems when Graphics Switching is disabled?

Try this: open Chrome and the "About this Mac" screen. Does it does Intel or nVidia graphics?

 

[freshj]

Try this: open Chrome and the "About this Mac" screen. Does it does Intel or nVidia graphics?

So, it seems weird. If I disable AGS nothing ever crashes. About This Mac seems to show NVIDIA as the GPU. If I enable AGS, About seemed to show Intel Graphics. I launch Chrome and it crashes. Still says Intel Graphics. Quit Chrome and disable AGS. I can now launch Chrome fine, but About is still showing Intel Graphics. I suspect if I logged out or restarted, About would show NVIDIA Graphics. Either way, AGS is definitely causing the issue.

 

[Audit13]

So, it seems weird. If I disable AGS nothing ever crashes. About This Mac seems to show NVIDIA as the GPU. If I enable AGS, About seemed to show Intel Graphics. I launch Chrome and it crashes. Still says Intel Graphics. Quit Chrome and disable AGS. I can now launch Chrome fine, but About is still showing Intel Graphics. I suspect if I logged out or restarted, About would show NVIDIA Graphics. Either way, AGS is definitely causing the issue.

Very strange. Unfortunately, I can't really offer any further information as I no longer have my 2010 Macbook Pro.

 

[freshj]

Yeah weird isn't it! I wonder if Chrome is just incompatible with this Intel graphics, and it's just crashing it? With AGS enabled I have never had kernel panics, black screens, reboots, problems with external monitor. Just app crashes with certain apps like Chrome and Logic.

 

[jelkan]

I wrote a simple script to apply the kext patch or remove it.
Download here: https://github.com/fabioiop/MBP-2010-GPU-Panic-fix

(System Preferences and go to “Security & Privacy” and the “General” tab and allow it to run)

Just to be clear: AFTER you attempt to run the "Panic fix" app, you can see an option to allow it to run in the System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General tab.

I did the whole operation (boot with Cmd-R, csrutil disable, reboot, run fabioroberto's app, set the permission in System Preferences, run to completion, reboot with Cmd-R, csrutil enable, reboot). It was long because for some reason my Mac insisted on doing Internet Recovery (big download) instead of using the Recovery Partition, but otherwise it all looks good so far