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Mac Pro (Late 2013) GPU (Driver) Issues
- Thread starter bax2003
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Apple's escalation support team said they want to first get GPU card A replaced then GPU B if it still has an issue.
A similar process was done with the original machine. If it still persists after both GPU cards have been replaced, they'll want to collect more information. Whatever that means since they never say how they intend to do that. Capture Data was suggested but I remind them that it's not usable for this situation.
I think my bigger issue is not understanding why Apple is so rigid and secretive about support while being unwilling to admit this may be a broader problem that "hardware roulette" probably won't solve.
A similar process was done with the original machine. If it still persists after both GPU cards have been replaced, they'll want to collect more information. Whatever that means since they never say how they intend to do that. Capture Data was suggested but I remind them that it's not usable for this situation.
I think my bigger issue is not understanding why Apple is so rigid and secretive about support while being unwilling to admit this may be a broader problem that "hardware roulette" probably won't solve.
Since Apple is moving to an all inclusive USB-C port which will replace all other ports this issue is a probably not a high priority anymore.
I went to the Genius Bar to update the firmware of the Dual-DVI adapter. It turns out that is not even possible anymore so I purchased a new Dual-DVI adapter on Ebay. Problem solved.
Interestingly enough the Mac Pro 2013 which was on display at their main store in California has been removed to make room for the new MacBook Pro models.
I went to the Genius Bar to update the firmware of the Dual-DVI adapter. It turns out that is not even possible anymore so I purchased a new Dual-DVI adapter on Ebay. Problem solved.
Interestingly enough the Mac Pro 2013 which was on display at their main store in California has been removed to make room for the new MacBook Pro models.
Just where in California is this "main store"??
That's simply a ludicrous statement....
Nice one, AidenShaw. The statement might be less confusing to others: Glendale Galleria - store R001.
The Glendale Galleria location opened on May 19, 2001 and was the second Apple Retail Store to open, as Tysons Corner opened earlier that day on the East Coast.
https://www.macrumors.com/2011/07/27/apple-to-open-new-store-500-from-glendale-galleria-location/
And how on earth do you interpret "opening date" to mean "main store" instead of simply "early store"?
Apple has many stores considered to be "flagship" stores. Of those, I'd guess that the 5th Avenue, Michigan Avenue and Union Square stores would top the list. Not some store in a strip mall in Southern California.
And how on earth do you interpret "opening date" to mean "main store" instead of simply "early store"?
Apple has many stores considered to be "flagship" stores. Of those, I'd guess that the 5th Avenue, Michigan Avenue and Union Square stores would top the list. Not some store in a strip mall in Southern California.
Come on, AidenShaw. You know what my point was. The only relevant question is whether the Mac Pro is still being displayed at said 'top of the list' stores since the MacBook Pro 2016 hit the shelves. I count the very first and one of the most lucrative stores in California as an important store. You might not. I haven't checked the 5th Avenue, Michigan Avenue and Union Square stores. Have you?
Last ime I was in NYC, no 6,1s on display. None at the Houston stores lately either. I bet half the staff have only heard of it, and never seen one in the flesh.
I sorry that I misunderstood.
When you said "Interestingly enough the Mac Pro 2013 which was on display at their main store in California has been removed to make room for the new MacBook Pro models", I mistakenly thought that you were referring to a "main store" - not just one of the earlier or larger stores.
I've been to Union Square and Michigan Avenue, but not 5th Avenue.
@bax2003 -- Are they replacing both GPU cards at once? If so, that's different than the prescribed path for my replacement Mac Pro. But it was the same for my original Mac Pro.
In my view, Apple and their stores have a weak parts supply chain. A few points from my experience:
1. They won't order parts until you actually show up. Nor do they know if they even have it in stock. That automatically adds a day or two to the repair process.
2. They don't even stock RAM to replace a module that is newly failing.
You'd think they can afford to have a few major part types on hand in each store.
In my view, Apple and their stores have a weak parts supply chain. A few points from my experience:
1. They won't order parts until you actually show up. Nor do they know if they even have it in stock. That automatically adds a day or two to the repair process.
2. They don't even stock RAM to replace a module that is newly failing.
You'd think they can afford to have a few major part types on hand in each store.
First and Second MP Late 2013 - both with D300s....the funniest part is that those cards are not in Apple Repair Program (D500s and D700s are). You have to supply evidence of problems (logs, pics, videos that are directly connected to your MP serial number) or wait for them to do test of their own (ASD, AST nad who nknows what else).
See if you can check the production ID/model number of the new D300s once your machine is back. I would love to find out if there has been a hardware revision of the D300s.
Visible identification of GPU is vissible on the heatsink (thermal core) side:
So GPU B (90% culprit) is part number: 820-3627-05, 661-7549
There is nothing on the back side (no identification numbers):
GPU A (Compute GPU) is 820-3630-05, 661-7533.
If anything is different I will let you know.
There may be lingering issues for some, but it looks like macOS Sierra solved the problem for me.
https://www.macobserver.com/analysis/2013-mac-pro-gpu-freezes-sierra/
https://www.macobserver.com/analysis/2013-mac-pro-gpu-freezes-sierra/
Nice to get an update, John. I enjoyed your first article as well. You mentioned in your the second article: "I do occasionally get a spinning beach ball, mostly with Safari, but it always resolves in a few seconds." - did you check your logs if there is an entry of your graphics cards rebooting whenever the spinning beach ball occurs?
In my case problems persist also with sierra. On average (with moderate use of the mac) i have a freezing each 4 to 7 days, but in the last two days i made an intensive use of my mac pro (i followed some event in live streaming with chrome, meanwhile i had also firefox open on other sites and also at times I watched some music video on youtube with firefox). This has led to 4 or 5 crashes in two days, i cannot even count them precisely. It's like an overheating problem.
I've read this entire thread with a mixture of relief that I'm not the only one and despair that this problem will ever get fixed. I know that a few MacBook Pro users have weighed in too, so it's clearly not a problem limited to the Mac Pro, but I wanted to add my data point even though I'm on an iMac instead of a Mac Pro. It seems to me that that could be relevant information.
Here's my setup:
Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac17,1
Processor Name: Intel Core i5
Processor Speed: 3.3 GHz
Number of Processors: 1
Total Number of Cores: 4
L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB
L3 Cache: 6 MB
Memory: 24 GB
Boot ROM Version: IM171.0105.B09
SMC Version (system): 2.34f2
Chipset Model: AMD Radeon R9 M395
Type: GPU
Bus: PCIe
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 2048 MB
Vendor: ATI (0x1002)
Device ID: 0x6920
Revision ID: 0x0001
ROM Revision: 113-C905AA-799
EFI Driver Version: 01.00.799
Metal: Supported
Displays:
iMac:
Display Type: Retina LCD
Resolution: 5120 x 2880 Retina
Retina: Yes
Pixel Depth: 30-Bit Color (ARGB2101010)
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Automatically Adjust Brightness: No
Built-In: Yes
Despite a different GFX card and obviously an entirely different machine, I have had similar experiences as so many people on the thread. For a while it was kernel panics, but then (presumably after some intervention on my part) it switched to the .gpuRestart problem. Spinning beachball, frozen UI, mouse pointer will move but won't interact with anything, leaving the machine usually (but not always) reachable by SSH.
In my case, a symptom that may not afflict the Mac Pro but certainly seems related to these issues is that most times when I log out or shut down, I get a weird neon-colored pattern of lines on my screen before it shuts off. I showed a pic to the Apple Genius but he didn't seem all that impressed/concerned.
Obviously in my case it can't be the specific type of display or connector that causes the problem.
I've recreated my entire user account from scratch, to no avail. I've tried removing third party RAM, unplugging from my APC UPS, unplugging peripherals (I have no Thunderbolt devices, just USB), reinstalling the OS, etc., etc. I'm currently on the latest public release of Sierra and my problems persist.
As with so many on this thread, I have found it impossible to isolate the cause of the issue in particular running software. I do run Adobe CC (but so do all my coworkers with iMacs who have no similar problems), and I have Safari, Mail, Messages, iTunes and iPhoto running pretty much nonstop while I'm using the machine.
I keep flailing about, sometimes thinking I've solved the problem by uninstalling something or shutting some third-party app down, but it always rears its head again. For me, it seems to happen most often when I'm screen sharing, but there are times it happens when I'm not.
Thanks to some tips on this thread, I'm going to try running without Flash installed and with Safari shut down unless I'm actively using it, and see if that seems to help.
I'd be willing to cross reference third-party software or Safari extensions to see if we all have something in common but that's just as quixotic, I know. Seems that people have had this happen even when running nothing but a fresh install.
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Went to the Stanford Shopping Center today (need to replace all the cooktop pots/pans with induction-compatible ones - the SSC has many high-end cookware stores). The Stanford Shopping Center is a 20-30 minute walk from University Avenue.
The Apple Store had one mini, and one tube. Each connected to an Apple T-Bolt display, without any signage or other information. They were either powered off or in deep sleep.
On macOS Sierra, I ocasionally see graphics glitches in applications that I run on MBP mid 2012. However there is no GPU hangs.
Whats more, when I shut down Safari completely, and went with Opera instead, the beachballing completely stopped.
I would say it the GPU restarts are software related more than hardware.
Whats more, when I shut down Safari completely, and went with Opera instead, the beachballing completely stopped.
I would say it the GPU restarts are software related more than hardware.