Mac Pro (Late 2013) GPU (Driver) Issues

[Xde]

I can˙t believe that this cannot be fixed because there are a lot of MP6.1s which work 100% stable.

I don't know, sometimes I have the impression, that there are only a few or hundred people out there with problems.
Some of them with self made problems.

In case there is really a serious widespread problem (nobody can confirm that today)...

I too can't believe that the problem cannot be fixed.
But..., I hope for not to say I doubt, a service provider can find the problem, depending on repeatability of the failure.
Their monitor-setup is different to yours, this makes it not easier.
The test-software may not find any problem, so maybe they start to change hardware parts. Try and error.
Finally, hopefully not, you are the tester to say, if the problem is fixed or continues.
Such a thing should be a case for Apples hardware developement departement. Only these people
have microcomputer-knowledge and test equipment for a research. Maybe Apple will not like a research,
as this could bump a repair extension programme for hundrets or thausends of machines.
In a worst case a developement of (for example) a new circuit board if it is a construction failure.
As I said earlier, a class action could solve such a problem, but how many people are really affected to do so.

Some month ago I opened a thread in a german Mac forum to ask people about known problems:
Not one answer.
Anyway, I hope and wish for everyone,that this bug is more simple. Maybe a change of a part will really fix it at all.
Keep us up to date.
Q:
Do you have problems with Mavericks as well?
Is there a possibility, that a home setup, power-line, interferences etc could be a reason?

 

[Christian Schumacher]

I don't know, sometimes I have the impression, that there are only a few or hundred people out there with problems. Some of them with self made problems.

Perhaps all people having problems with the MP are directly related to the software and/or workflows they are running on it

 

[bax2003]

Perhaps all people having problems with the MP are directly related to the software and/or workflows they are running on it

If you carefully read whole thread you would see that is not the case.

 

[Christian Schumacher]

If you carefully read whole thread you would see that is not the case.

OK, but I replied to the post that stated people were having "self-made problems". I understand that there are no specific software to blame for this, but my point was that power users, with their softwares and workflows, are the ones who are pushing the machine to its limits, thus introducing several different issues - which in turn are probably related to the Mac Pro's thermal problems.

 

[teohyc]

OK, but I replied to the post that stated people were having "self-made problems". I understand that there are no specific software to blame for this, but my point was that power users, with their softwares and workflows, are the ones who are pushing the machine to its limits, thus introducing several different issues - which in turn are probably related to the Mac Pro's thermal problems.

It's been 3 years. We still don't know what's the problem.

If there's any way to reproduce the problem, Apple would have already found out. Instead, they are still using the stress-testing method to force a crash when people send their Mac Pros in. As if it's stress is causing the crashes.

I was just surfing the web on Google Chrome a few minutes ago and mine crashed again.

 

[Christian Schumacher]

Instead, they are still using the stress-testing method to force a crash when people send their Mac Pros in. As if it's stress is causing the crashes.

Maybe they are onto something...

 

[filmak]

overheating?

 

[bax2003]

Maybe they are onto something...

The fact that Apple sent a special tool to Authorised Service Provider for gathering logs (merging them into DMG) tells me that Apple is willing to track down a cause. They are obviously not shure which part is causing problems regarding the fact that GPUs are replaced few months ago. In my opinion we got to the point where 2 x $600 for another pair of GPUs cannot be spent without evidence that they are culprit. There is a problem with machine, I just hope that some smart L3 (or even higher) guy/team got my logs.

 

[Xde]

Is it really a fact, that the tool has to do with the MacPro, or is this a standard service tool?
If a L3 get the information, what can he do? He can force service to go on to investigate, but service probably cannot reach to the problem.
Maybe it is a software bug, if known, could be fixed.
Or it is a hardware bug, if so, it is
A) a failed board or connector, this can be found by replacing everything, the easier option.
B) a design fault of the hardware, this is nearly no to find, if not constructors are doing a complete research, hardcore.
From my point of view.
You can hope that service is still being insisted trying to get crashes.
Maybe you can demand a complete change of the Mac, but...

What is the actual state of service now? Is every OS affected from 10.9 up?

 

[MMcCraryNJ]

.

 

[Artificial]

Same issues as everyone else. Chrome/Safari are the biggest culprits, although if I leave a screensaver running and set the computer to never sleep, it would crash it too eventually. I can go 3 months without a single crash, and then I'll have a succession of 2-3 crashes in a few days, and then back to normal for awhile. This has happened on every OS X version, but I'm currently on Sierra. The crashes on Sierra are different than they were previously in that they now seem to automatically take me to the login screen if I let the computer sit for a few seconds when the crash happens, but re-logging in means the computer runs slowly until a full reboot (before, I could get the same symptoms if I unplug and replug the monitor...machine will eventually un-crash itself, but it would run slow as hell until a reboot). Logs still show WindowServer and GPU_Reset errors as they did on previous OS X versions.

This happens on a fresh install of OS X, too. I doubt it's a particular piece of software. Fresh install OS X, leave the screensaver running for a week or two, and I'm betting it'll crash eventually.

I have 11 more months of AppleCare support, within the next month or two I plan to make an appointment and see what's up. Prepared for the long haul of replacing GPUs, boards, etc. What I hope ends up happening is that they offer me another Mac Pro, in which case I will see if they can give me a gift card for the value so I can pick a different machine, or just straight up take a well-equipped Retina iMac. If they can't do that, I'll take the Mac Pro they are offering and sell it as a new replacement on Ebay or something.

It's just insane this computer is having these issues. And it's amazing, NONE of my pro apps crash the machine. I'm running Pro Tools sessions with 120 tracks, loaded with effects. My 6-core CPU is at 75% usage all throughout. I've done 8 hour mixing/editing sessions with no hiccups. Final Cut Pro, Logic, etc. same thing. But the second I watch a YouTube video or leave the stupid screensaver up, it'll crash.

Configuration is: Mac Pro 6-core, D500, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD. Connected to an LG 34UM95 Thunderbolt monitor at 3440x1440. Also have a Universal Audio Apollo Twin Duo connected to the monitor, which I thought was the culprit but it happens with/without it.

Again, I just really want a machine swap at this point for an iMac of similar caliper. I'll worry about selling my monitor elsewhere or something, but this is ridiculous that so many people have this issue and Apple can't figure it out.

[doublepost=1487525584][/doublepost]I think everyone here now needs to be aware that there is a court case against Apple regarding this machine and it will be in all of our interests to support it.

It is clear this machine has faults and people are now legally fighting..Time to step up and join in..

 

[bax2003]

[doublepost=1487525584][/doublepost]I think everyone here now needs to be aware that there is a court case against Apple regarding this machine and it will be in all of our interests to support it.

It is clear this machine has faults and people are now legally fighting..Time to step up and join in..

https://www.law360.com/articles/843760/apple-hit-with-class-action-over-alleged-mac-pro-defects

http://www.doddlenews.com/blogs/apple-faces-class-action-lawsuit-over-defective-mac-pro/

Is there any official info ?

 

[Artificial]

https://www.law360.com/articles/843760/apple-hit-with-class-action-over-alleged-mac-pro-defects

http://www.doddlenews.com/blogs/apple-faces-class-action-lawsuit-over-defective-mac-pro/

Is there any official info ?

[doublepost=1487534244][/doublepost]

https://www.law360.com/articles/843760/apple-hit-with-class-action-over-alleged-mac-pro-defects

http://www.doddlenews.com/blogs/apple-faces-class-action-lawsuit-over-defective-mac-pro/

Is there any official info ?

Hi B.

I've contacted the lawyers and I'll be talking to them hopefully Monday. I'll be posting once I know what they are updating me with and how we all should proceed. We all knew there was something wrong so now we need to all stick together. I would suggest the following: get your information. Video etc all together so everyone can back up the claim. I know this sounds a little cliche but united we stand divided we fall!

 

[Codestud]

I've had these problems on my 2013 Mac Pro as well. I have the base Quad Core model with the D300 graphics. I would be getting random crashes of the WindowServer process in VLC player, and web browsing etc.

Hopefully I'm not going to jinx things by writing this post, but for the past few days or so I've been rock-solid ever since I removed a utility I was using called BetterSnapTool from my machine. I was using it to get the nice snap functionality you get on Windows.

I appreciate that for many of you, you still get these issues on a clean install of OS X, but anyway I hope that this helps someone on this thread.

 

[Riwam]

I've had these problems on my 2013 Mac Pro as well. I have the base Quad Core model with the D300 graphics. I would be getting random crashes of the WindowServer process in VLC player, and web browsing etc.

Hopefully I'm not going to jinx things by writing this post, but for the past few days or so I've been rock-solid ever since I removed a utility I was using called BetterSnapTool from my machine. I was using it to get the nice snap functionality you get on Windows.

I appreciate that for many of you, you still get these issues on a clean install of OS X, but anyway I hope that this helps someone on this thread.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I must have an entirely abnormal MP late 2013. A bug free one.
My 3 year Apple Care ends unfortunately next April and since I don't recall any serious bug happening until now, I do not find any argument to open any complain file about non existing failures, which might allow me to extend free support once my Apple Care is over.
Since in this thread many people complain about crashes, which do not happen in my computer, I call it accordingly abnormal.
I should be glad but extending with any reason whatsoever the soon ending 3 years of free support would be reassuring and I do not see how to get that safety feeling I will soon lose...
Ed

 

[Flint Ironstag]

They are obviously not shure which part is causing problems regarding the fact that GPUs are replaced few months ago. In my opinion we got to the point where 2 x $600 for another pair of GPUs cannot be spent without evidence that they are culprit.

Good gravy - replacement d300 are $600 each??

 

[bizzle]

Good gravy - replacement d300 are $600 each??

No, they aren't. I just looked in GSX and exchange price is $139 USD each for D300 for AASPs. Just about all AASPs charge some kind of mark up on the parts, and labor, so if it was $600 all in for both that would be what I'd consider the high end of reasonable. They are crazy expensive if you try to buy them from some parts dealers online, but if you get them replaced by Apple or AASP it'll be way less.

 

[Xde]

On Reddit someone posted some month ago, that his Mac Pro was in service twice to change both
GPUs. At second time, an Apple employee told him, that the whole batch of cards were recalled by
Apple. But the second change brought neither success.
So, if the GPUs are really bad, than in his single case, there are 6 faulty GPU cards.

Finally, service changed his logic board and problem was worse than before.

In my opinion it is to fear that IF a big number of GPUs are really bad, that much of them are circulating in Apple
service and stock. I doubt, that they shred them at nearly end of Mac Pro 6.1 production.
And when you need one, probably you get a faulty one.

Are there any news to the class action?

 

[axantas]

You, know Xde - i suppose everyone is telling you something different, because they all are absolutely clueless - including Apple.

What I really don't understand:
- I had a perfectly working machine with 12.0 and 12.1 for more than a month not a single Crash - 12.2. brought the crashes back. (Reported to Apple)
- I usually run Windows 10 for Office work - could be 9 hours continuously with NO crashes
- Running OS X it usually wants to Crash once a day for sure, i can wait for it - afterwards it becomes quite acceptable.
- Windows (worst case) has a crashing Graphics driver with heavy Multimedia work or graphically advertisment-overloaded Websites. It recovers itself and sometimes needs to be rebooted.

New Test: I got the most recent Windows AMD Driver from bootcampdrivers.com, removed everyhing properly and have AMD Crimson-ReLive-17.2.1 in Windows 10 running now. I will report back. Yes, I know, running Windows is not the main task of a MacPro...

 

[Artificial]

Hi guys. I am still waiting for the lawyers. They have gone completely quiet after their intial contact. No idea why? I'll let everyone know if I hear anything regarding the Mac Pro court case. Does everyone think perhaps a European civil case started by us would be a good idea?

Other than this. Can anyone help with this error I am getting. This is the second Mac Pro and I am crashing and returning to auto log in - code below...

Exception Type: EXC_CRASH (SIGABRT)
Exception Codes: 0x0000000000000000, 0x0000000000000000
Exception Note: EXC_CORPSE_NOTIFY

Application Specific Information:
Assertion failed: (false && "10 seconds of continuous GPU Driver unreadiness, relaunching WindowServer"), function void IMGGraphicsStackReadinessFailure(), file Server/Windows/Updater.cc, line 2860.


I could post the rest but I think this is the main section for anyone who knows of this problem. I really could do with the feedback guys as after the GPU hang on the first machine that was returned, to this now on the new machine with two component replacements, I am at breaking point in truth..

 

[Idolum]

It could very well be that this issue is related to an OS X software bug which would fall under the standard limitation of liability clauses. You will find numerous posts of users in this very thread stating that the Mac Pro works without any issues with OS X 10.9.

 

[Artificial]

I aslo had a kernel panic today as well...I pasted at paste bin to not make this long a test reply..I don't this is OS X problem, and I haven't seen too many say this machine works well at all. Not here on this thread anyway...I live in hope though. Would you know what the Kernel is reporting?

http://pastebin.com/ZsRLpYqX

 

[Idolum]

I haven't seen too many say this machine works well at all.

Naturally users with GPU issues have a stronger motivation to comment on this thread. All I am saying is that it might be worth checking if you still have the crashes under OS X 10.9 on your machine before filing a European civil case.

 

[julik_tar]

To confirm - I have the exact same issue (in some apps "GPURestart" etc) and WindowServer dying with "10 seconds of continuous GPU unreadiness" etc. D700 GPUs. Crashes with anything that uses OpenGL (Parallels, X-Plane, Autodesk Flame). Given I bought the can for doing Flame and X-Plane in particular and the shape of this issue I actually see myself switching back to PC after 20 years. Only 1 2.5K monitor connected via MiniDP. I've tried connecting it through HDMI didn't seem to make a lot of difference and the HDMI cable seemed to be flaky. It happened with a single 1080 monitor connected via HDMI as well. Tried to plug it into different TB ports (on different buses), didn't make any difference either. About 1 crash a day on average, and on unlucky days sometimes 2, sometimes 4 times.

So far: Brought the box to a VAR which I was previously very happy with (srsly they are really good), they say they subjected the thing to stress tests but were not able to reproduce. The problem is rather you don't need a stress test, the damn thing goes down on me with the Flurry screensaver sometimes. Since the VAR were unable to diagnose the issue I now have to pay them out-of-pocket for diagnostics as they apparently can't declare the MP as being under the RMA which is now in progress on these units (for GPU failures, lol). Next stop - genius bar.

All I can say is I'm glad I bought the trashcan 2nd hand and not new (about 3K euro less). What is especially sad is that except for this particular defect the machine is absolutely perfect. The inability of Apple to ship a computer with a working discrete GPU is astonishing. Tangentially, when I gave the trashcan away for the check at the VAR and connected my old MBP2011 (which already had a logic board swap due to GPU failure, known issue) within 3 days I had it's GPU fail as well. So now I have literally 0 computer to use. The future is bleak and I see Windows or CentOS in it, and a lot of fan noise. And working GPUs/drivers. Will report on the proceedings. Thank god I also got a laptop from work that I can type this rant on.


@bax2003 my special thanks to you for maintaining this thread. This is an embarrassment of a computer.

 

[mkrofuz]

Hello from Canada. ;o) After last two weeks of upgrading my trashcan Mac Pro from Mavericks to Yosemite and above, I am joining you to share my overal frustration over the current status quo. It seem like I have been a lucky user until now, apparently due to my persistence on using the original version of the OS a trash can was built on. No issues with freezing, smooth video editing, everything fine. But when the latest MS Office update announced it requires higher version of the OS, I said to myself maybe it's time to do so. Yosemite variants have been available for quite some time now, so the bugs should be ironed out - that was my thinking. Well, there you go. Now I understand what it means when system keeps freezing, I have to restart dead machine a couple of times a day. I carefully started with Yosemite, ending up on Sierra with the same symptom... Back to Mavericks? It seems like Apple is creating some sort of sentimental users' group that keeps using their old OSX, FCPs, etc. But how long will this last? I don't think too long. Every loss is painful, but I will certainly get used to the Windows if I will be forced to. And it looks like that time is about to come... But hey Apple, I'm really excited about that red iPhone 7....