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kernel_task high CPU usage on new 2017 iMac

TouchMint.com

TouchMint.com

macrumors 68000
Original poster
May 25, 2012
1,631
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Phoenix
for some reason randomly while running pretty light programs my Kernel_task process starts topping 300% and my fans start going full blast. This is confusing since it's a brand new computer and I am hardly running anything. I can't seem to find a solution really. I have seen a few others with this problem but mostly on older machines. Is anyone else having this problem with their new imac?

I'm running Xcode gimp and safari so nothing crazy. It goes from speeding along to crawling and fans full blast. This is a new machine but I did transfer data from my old iMac. Any ideas?
 
BasicGreatGuy said:
Did you try logging in and using the Mac under a different account to see if the problem continues?

Did you do a full system transfer?
Click to expand...


I am giving a new account a shot and yes I did do a complete migration.

Not sure if this helps but everything seems to me running smooth under windows so that makes me think it isn't a hardware proble.
 
Weaselboy said:
Sounds like you imported some app or utility that is not compatible with Sierra. Try holding the shift key at boot to start in safe mode. That stops all launch and startup items from running.

Come back and tell us if that fixes it, then we can help you sort it out.
Click to expand...

I would go as far as trying this then doing a SMC and PRAM reset, booting normally and verifying the problem returns. If not then by some miracle the SMC or PRAM reset actually fixed something!

You thinking a kernel extension?
 
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Hey guys sorry about the delay I had a very busy weekend. Anyways I don't seem to be having the problem in windows or on the new user account (although I have not pushed it super hard on the new account). So I think we are on to something I am going to boot up in safe mode. if there is a process going on that isn't compatible what should I be looking for?
 
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TouchMint.com said:
Hey guys sorry about the delay I had a very busy weekend. Anyways I don't seem to be having the problem in windows or on the new user account (although I have not pushed it super hard on the new account). So I think we are on to something I am going to boot up in safe mode. if there is a process going on that isn't compatible what should I be looking for?
Click to expand...
Download EtreCheck (free app) and give it a go. It does an excellent job of showing you if you have any hardware problems, as well as software incompatibility issues going on. It checks Daemons and agents.
 
cynics said:
I would go as far as trying this then doing a SMC and PRAM reset, booting normally and verifying the problem returns. If not then by some miracle the SMC or PRAM reset actually fixed something!

You thinking a kernel extension?
Click to expand...

So after I noticed my test account working fine I did the whole smc and pram reset and after using the mac for about 2 hours I have not had any of the problems. I'm not getting my hopes up just yet but I'm going to try to get a full days work in with heavy usage in Xcode and gimp. Fingers cross thanks for the help so far guys!
 
So after a few days I decided to attempt to run parallels and I ran into this issue again.

It seems like certain tasks are setting this off but I really cant narrow it down. I tried to install parallels on a test account and didnt get this problem. Not sure if that helps or not tho.
 
Well looking a little closer I am thinking there might be a hardware problem? Looking at a few forums it seems to maybe be a hardware problem?

I am getting this error on EtreCheck:

Code: 
Diagnostics Information: ⓘ
    2017-09-07 02:31:45    Kernel Panic [Open] [Details]
        3rd Party Kernel Extensions: None


Anonymous UUID:       3FCE261A-7790-E91F-A879-678EC04544A3

Thu Sep  7 02:31:45 2017

*** MCA Error Report ***
CPU Machine Check Architecture Error Dump (CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-7600K CPU @ 3.80GHz, CPUID: 0x906E9)
CATERR detected! No MCA data found.


*** Device Tree ***
{
    "pcie_cfg_base" : "0xe0000000",
    "pci_devices" :
    {
        "0x0" : "MCHC@0",
        "0x8000" : "PEG0@1",
        "0x10000" : "IGPU@2",
        "0x100000" : "PEG0@1/IOPP/GFX0@0",
        "0x101000" : "PEG0@1/IOPP/HDAU@0,1",
        "0xa0000" : "XHC1@14",
        "0xb0000" : "IMEI@16",
        "0xb8000" : "SATA@17",
        "0xd8000" : "RP17@1B",
        "0xe0000" : "RP01@1C",
        "0x200000" : "RP17@1B/IOPP/SSD0@0",
        "0xfb000" : "HDEF@1F,3",
        "0xfc000" : "SBUS@1F,4",
        "0x300000" : "RP01@1C/IOPP/ARPT@0",
        "0xe1000" : "RP02@1C,1",
        "0xe4000" : "RP05@1C,4",
        "0xf8000" : "LPCB@1F",
        "0xfa000" : "PMCR@1F,2",
        "0x400000" : "RP02@1C,1/IOPP/GIGE@0",
        "0x401000" : "RP02@1C,1/IOPP/SDXC@0,1",
        "0x500000" : "RP05@1C,4/IOPP/UPSB@0",
        "0x600000" : "RP05@1C,4/IOPP/UPSB@0/IOPP/DSB0@0",
        "0x608000" : "RP05@1C,4/IOPP/UPSB@0/IOPP/DSB1@1",
        "0x610000" : "RP05@1C,4/IOPP/UPSB@0/IOPP/DSB2@2",
        "0x620000" : "RP05@1C,4/IOPP/UPSB@0/IOPP/DSB4@4",
        "0x800000" : "RP05@1C,4/IOPP/UPSB@0/IOPP/DSB0@0/IOPP/NHI0@0",
        "0x700000" : "RP05@1C,4/IOPP/UPSB@0/IOPP/DSB2@2/IOPP/XHC2@0"
    },
    "device_mmio" :
    {
        "PCI0@0" :
        [
            { "a" : "0xcf8", "s" : "0x8" }
        ],
        "PCI0@0/AppleACPIPCI/PEG0@1/IOPP/GFX0@0" :
        [
            { "a" : "0x7f80000000", "s" : "0x10000000" },
            { "a" : "0x7f90000000", "s" : "0x200000" },
            { "a" : "0x92600000", "s" : "0x40000" },
            { "a" : "0x92640000", "s" : "0x20000" }
        ],
        "PCI0@0/AppleACPIPCI/PEG0@1/IOPP/HDAU@0,1" :
        [
            { "a" : "0x92660000", "s" : "0x4000" }
        ],
        "PCI0@0/AppleACPIPCI/IGPU@2" :
        [
            { "a" : "0x7f91000000", "s" : "0x1000000" },
            { "a" : "0x7fa0000000", "s" : "0x10000000" }
        ],
        "PCI0@0/AppleACPIPCI/XHC1@14" :
        [
            { "a" : "0x7f90310000", "s" : "0x10000" }
        ],
        "PCI0@0/AppleACPIPCI/IMEI@16" :
        [
            { "a" : "0x7f90324000", "s" : "0x1000" }
        ],
        "PCI0@0/AppleACPIPCI/SATA@17" :
        [
            { "a" : "0x92728000", "s" : "0x2000" },
            { "a" : "0x9272c000", "s" : "0x100" },
            { "a" : "0x9272b800", "s" : "0x800" }
        ],
        "PCI0@0/AppleACPIPCI/RP17@1B/IOPP/SSD0@0" :
        [
            { "a" : "0x92500000", "s" : "0x4000" }
        ],
        "PCI0@0/AppleACPIPCI/RP01@1C/IOPP/ARPT@0" :
        [
            { "a" : "0x92400000", "s" : "0x8000" },
            { "a" : "0x92000000", "s" : "0x400000" }
        ],
        "PCI0@0/AppleACPIPCI/RP02@1C,1/IOPP/GIGE@0" :
        [
            { "a" : "0x7f90200000", "s" : "0x10000" },
            { "a" : "0x7f90210000", "s" : "0x10000" }
        ],
        "PCI0@0/AppleACPIPCI/RP02@1C,1/IOPP/SDXC@0,1" :
        [
            { "a" : "0x7f90220000", "s" : "0x10000" }
        ],
        "PCI0@0/AppleACPIPCI/RP05@1C,4/IOPP/UPSB@0/IOPP/DSB0@0/IOPP/NHI0@0" :
        [
            { "a" : "0x92900000", "s" : "0x40000" },
            { "a" : "0x92940000", "s" : "0x1000" }
        ],
        "PCI0@0/AppleACPIPCI/RP05@1C,4/IOPP/UPSB@0/IOPP/DSB2@2/IOPP/XHC2@0" :
        [
            { "a" : "0x92800000", "s" : "0x10000" }
        ],
        "PCI0@0/AppleACPIPCI/PMCR@1F,2" :
        [
            { "a" : "0x92724000", "s" : "0x4000" }
        ],
        "PCI0@0/AppleACPIPCI/HDEF@1F,3" :
        [
            { "a" : "0x7f90320000", "s" : "0x4000" },
            { "a" : "0x7f90300000", "s" : "0x10000" }
        ],
        "PCI0@0/AppleACPIPCI/SBUS@1F,4" :
        [
            { "a" : "0x7f90325000", "s" : "0x100" }
        ],
        "DMAC" :
        [
            { "a" : "0x0", "s" : "0x20" },
            { "a" : "0x81", "s" : "0x11" },
            { "a" : "0x93", "s" : "0xd" },
            { "a" : "0xc0", "s" : "0x20" }
        ],
        "FWHD" :
        [
            { "a" : "0xff000000", "s" : "0x1000000" }
        ],
        "IPIC" :
        [
            { "a" : "0x20", "s" : "0x2" },
            { "a" : "0x24", "s" : "0x2" },
            { "a" : "0x28", "s" : "0x2" },
            { "a" : "0x2c", "s" : "0x2" },
            { "a" : "0x30", "s" : "0x2" },
            { "a" : "0x34", "s" : "0x2" },
            { "a" : "0x38", "s" : "0x2" },
            { "a" : "0x3c", "s" : "0x2" },
            { "a" : "0xa0", "s" : "0x2" },
            { "a" : "0xa4", "s" : "0x2" },
            { "a" : "0xa8", "s" : "0x2" },
            { "a" : "0xac", "s" : "0x2" },
            { "a" : "0xb0", "s" : "0x2" },
            { "a" : "0xb4", "s" : "0x2" },
            { "a" : "0xb8", "s" : "0x2" },
            { "a" : "0xbc", "s" : "0x2" },
            { "a" : "0x4d0", "s" : "0x2" }
        ],
        "MATH" :
        [
            { "a" : "0xf0", "s" : "0x1" }
        ],
        "LDRC" :
        [
            { "a" : "0x2e", "s" : "0x2" },
            { "a" : "0x4e", "s" : "0x2" },
            { "a" : "0x61", "s" : "0x1" },
            { "a" : "0x63", "s" : "0x1" },
            { "a" : "0x65", "s" : "0x1" },
            { "a" : "0x67", "s" : "0x1" },
            { "a" : "0x80", "s" : "0x1" },
            { "a" : "0x92", "s" : "0x1" },
            { "a" : "0xb2", "s" : "0x2" },
            { "a" : "0xffff", "s" : "0x1" },
            { "a" : "0x1800", "s" : "0xff" },
            { "a" : "0x800", "s" : "0x80" }
        ],
        "RTC" :
        [
            { "a" : "0x70", "s" : "0x8" }
        ],
        "TIMR" :
        [
            { "a" : "0x40", "s" : "0x4" },
            { "a" : "0x50", "s" : "0x4" }
        ],
        "SMC" :
        [
            { "a" : "0x300", "s" : "0x20" },
            { "a" : "0xfef00000", "s" : "0x10000" }
        ],
        "EC" :
        [
            { "a" : "0x62", "s" : "0x1" },
            { "a" : "0x66", "s" : "0x1" }
        ],
        "PDRC" :
        [
            { "a" : "0xfed10000", "s" : "0x8000" },
            { "a" : "0xfed18000", "s" : "0x1000" },
            { "a" : "0xfed19000", "s" : "0x1000" },
            { "a" : "0xe0000000", "s" : "0x10000000" },
            { "a" : "0xfd000000", "s" : "0x1800000" },
            { "a" : "0xfed20000", "s" : "0x20000" },
            { "a" : "0xfed90000", "s" : "0x4000" },
            { "a" : "0xfed45000", "s" : "0x4b000" },
            { "a" : "0xff000000", "s" : "0x1000000" },
            { "a" : "0xfee00000", "s" : "0x100000" }
        ]
    }
}
 
Last edited by a moderator:
So I am still getting these problems after all the resets and reboots. I have not been able to reproduce in safeboot but I have in my test account and even my windows boot (all after the safe boot). I really cant narrow down what's causing it. It's not like the computer is getting hot either looking at the core temps they are fine the fan just starts going at like 250-300 rpm. Even if I restart the fan is still going! The only thing I can do to get it to stop is shutdown.

I'm getting a new external hdd tomorrow so to totally backup the machine. Is it even worth doing a clean install if the test account and windows is even having these problems? I really think it's hardware. Chatted with apple support and they suggested I bring it in as well too.

Will keep everyone updated in case this helps anyone else.
 
TouchMint.com said:
So I am still getting these problems after all the resets and reboots. I have not been able to reproduce in safeboot but I have in my test account and even my windows boot (all after the safe boot). I really cant narrow down what's causing it. It's not like the computer is getting hot either looking at the core temps they are fine the fan just starts going at like 250-300 rpm. Even if I restart the fan is still going! The only thing I can do to get it to stop is shutdown.

I'm getting a new external hdd tomorrow so to totally backup the machine. Is it even worth doing a clean install if the test account and windows is even having these problems? I really think it's hardware. Chatted with apple support and they suggested I bring it in as well too.

Will keep everyone updated in case this helps anyone else.
Click to expand...
i also code in osx but in react-native.. I rarely open xcode unless want to compile in phone.. Why not bring to the apple whatever in your country and sent warranty ? My 8 GB seem so small. I still not satisify with apple osx performance siera..
 
After doing everything suggested on here and other forums I ended up just taking it in to apple. I'm not sure they actually found anything wrong or were able to reproduce the error (said they can't say) but they are replacing the logic board and a fan and sensor. Said it's going to take about 3 days to get the parts and 3 days to do the work.

Hopefully this helps someone else out.
 
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