Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

x86 CPU CATERR: What is this?

S

singularity0993

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 15, 2020
161
794
Yesterday my 16-inch MBP got a kernel panic while asleep. The fan spin loudly for 1 second and when I open the lid I found the system rebooted. The error report says “x86 CPU CATERR detected”. No other useful information was present in the report.

I did a quick search, and found that CATERR stands for Intel Catastrophic Error, something not related to software. It could be related to peripherals, but the MBP wasn’t connected to any external monitors or docks at the time, only my iPhone (and the power adapter).

This made me somehow worried. Could this be a hardware defect? Such error weren’t seen on any of my previous Windows computers. Should I take my Mac to Genius bar?
 
mrt.plt

mrt.plt

macrumors regular
Oct 22, 2015
105
62
Toronto, Canada
I know this is an old thread, but I've been having this issue for a while now. It's been happening since I started using it with two external monitors, but it does it even when it's not connected to any external monitors.
It doesn't do it when running Windows on Boot Camp, and it doesn't give me any problems under load either.
 
M

matram

macrumors 6502a
Sep 18, 2011
781
416
Sweden
You should check the logs. They may give more details about the underlying cause. It is a fault in the kernel which cannot be recovered, could be a bug in a driver.
 
MarineBand5524

MarineBand5524

macrumors 6502
Dec 17, 2021
343
113
I have a 2019 16" mbp and have been having this problem extensively. So much so that nothing has helped. I don't use anything not Apple related, no external monitors etc. Apple has now replaced my logic board, touchpad/bar 3 times now and I thought this last time was it, but yesterday woke up to it yet again having crashed.

panic(cpu 0 caller 0xfffffff02521f224): x86 CPU CATERR detected
Debugger message: panic
Memory ID: 0x6
OS release type: User
OS version: 19P744
macOS version: 21D62
Kernel version: Darwin Kernel Version 21.3.0: Wed Jan 5 20:03:37 PST 2022; root:xnu-8019.80.24~19/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
Kernel UUID: 5C49B2CB-9833-3D8A-8E98-E628559A4D1E
iBoot version: iBoot-7429.81.3
secure boot?: YES
x86 EFI Boot State: 0x16
x86 System State: 0x0
x86 Power State: 0x0
x86 Shutdown Cause: 0x1
x86 Previous Power Transitions: 0x10001000100
PCIeUp link state: 0x89473614
Paniclog version: 13
Kernel slide: 0x000000001d180000
Kernel text base: 0xfffffff024184000
mach_absolute_time: 0x63086017ef0
Epoch Time: sec usec
Boot : 0x620bfa44 0x0001e0a1
Sleep : 0x622bacca 0x0001c1d7
Wake : 0x622bbad3 0x0003e73a
Calendar: 0x622be455 0x00054094

Zone info:
Foreign : 0xfffffff0941b0000 - 0xfffffff0941c0000
Native : 0xffffffe000168000 - 0xffffffe600168000
Readonly : 0xffffffe0e67cc000 - 0xffffffe133490000
Metadata : 0xffffffeb00878000 - 0xffffffeb04acc000
Bitmaps : 0xffffffeb02078000 - 0xffffffeb022e4000
CORE 0 is the one that panicked. Check the full backtrace for details.
CORE 1: PC=0xfffffff0249a9b84, LR=0xfffffff0249a9b84, FP=0xffffffeb04a33ef0
Panicked task 0xffffffe4ccce4628: 0 pages, 231 threads: pid 0: kernel_task
Panicked thread: 0xffffffe219a58000, backtrace: 0xffffffeb3029b670, tid: 381
lr: 0xfffffff0249776bc fp: 0xffffffeb3029b6b0
lr: 0xfffffff02497744c fp: 0xffffffeb3029b720
lr: 0xfffffff024ab3008 fp: 0xffffffeb3029b7a0
lr: 0xfffffff024ab21d0 fp: 0xffffffeb3029b850
lr: 0xfffffff024fdd5fc fp: 0xffffffeb3029b860
lr: 0xfffffff024977160 fp: 0xffffffeb3029bbf0
lr: 0xfffffff024977160 fp: 0xffffffeb3029bc50
lr: 0xfffffff025ad7488 fp: 0xffffffeb3029bc70
lr: 0xfffffff02521f224 fp: 0xffffffeb3029bca0
lr: 0xfffffff02520be2c fp: 0xffffffeb3029bd00
lr: 0xfffffff0252122e0 fp: 0xffffffeb3029bd50
lr: 0xfffffff02520dd18 fp: 0xffffffeb3029bdf0
lr: 0xfffffff02520b510 fp: 0xffffffeb3029be70
lr: 0xfffffff0250bd104 fp: 0xffffffeb3029bea0
lr: 0xfffffff024f25d58 fp: 0xffffffeb3029bee0
lr: 0xfffffff024f2557c fp: 0xffffffeb3029bf20
lr: 0xfffffff024fe85a0 fp: 0x0000000000000000
 
D

dvdwsn

macrumors newbie
Jul 5, 2022
4
0
MarineBand5524 said:
Apple has now replaced my logic board, touchpad/bar 3 times now and I thought this last time was it, but yesterday woke up to it yet again having crashed.
Click to expand...
@MarineBand5524 any updates on this issue? Having the same error on a different platform. Wondering if Apple has replaced any other components, or if you've been able to narrow down the cause any further?
 
MarineBand5524

MarineBand5524

macrumors 6502
Dec 17, 2021
343
113
dvdwsn said:
@MarineBand5524 any updates on this issue? Having the same error on a different platform. Wondering if Apple has replaced any other components, or if you've been able to narrow down the cause any further?
Click to expand...
They replaced my logic board, touch, and touchpad 3 separate times, they never figured it out. Had to wait 2-2.5 months for a brand new system. Thank god for Apple Care+ If you have multiple issues in the same year, they will give you a new machine. And because the new ones just released, I got a free upgrade to the M1 =)
 
D

dvdwsn

macrumors newbie
Jul 5, 2022
4
0
Oh nice. That's pretty sweet.

For my system my guess was mainboard or cpu, but both of those are covered by a logic board swap. Maybe the post earlier about it being power supply related is onto somthing.
 
MarineBand5524

MarineBand5524

macrumors 6502
Dec 17, 2021
343
113
dvdwsn said:
Oh nice. That's pretty sweet.

For my system my guess was mainboard or cpu, but both of those are covered by a logic board swap. Maybe the post earlier about it being power supply related is onto somthing.
Click to expand...
It was so bad that I loathed turning on my machine. I can't tell you how many times I'd open the lid to see this issue. Every time I did what Apple said and every time, "take it into an Apple Store for Service."

By chance when you touch your laptop does it feel like it's vibrating? Mine did and also currently the new one does too. I have hardwood floors but wonder if it's somehow static electricity?
 
D

dvdwsn

macrumors newbie
Jul 5, 2022
4
0
MarineBand5524 said:
By chance when you touch your laptop does it feel like it's vibrating? Mine did and also currently the new one does too. I have hardwood floors but wonder if it's somehow static electricity?
Click to expand...
Weird. I wonder if you could borrow a multimeter from someone and check the metal casing? If the laptop is unplugged, does it still happen? If it does, have you tried touching it and then grounding yourself to see if it discharges?

For my situation it's not with a laptop. I was doing a google search for CPU CATERR and this thread came up.
 
MarineBand5524

MarineBand5524

macrumors 6502
Dec 17, 2021
343
113
dvdwsn said:
Weird. I wonder if you could borrow a multimeter from someone and check the metal casing? If the laptop is unplugged, does it still happen? If it does, have you tried touching it and then grounding yourself to see if it discharges?

For my situation it's not with a laptop. I was doing a google search for CPU CATERR and this thread came up.
Click to expand...
I completely get that but I feel that's the culprit in all this that's somehow doing that to the CPU?

And yes when I touch other metal things it helps.
 
D

dvdwsn

macrumors newbie
Jul 5, 2022
4
0
Other support threads have mentioned PSU as the cause of their CATERR. Also makes sense that stray voltage would wreak havoc on a system.
 
W

wojtek88

macrumors newbie
Dec 13, 2022
2
0
I am getting this error whenever I connect Mac Book Pro 15 early 2018 to Lenovo Thunderbolt 4 40" monitor, when laptop is sleeping. It will wake up, dump error and shutdown. Restarting and connecting goes fine.
 
j4lambert

j4lambert

macrumors newbie
Feb 6, 2023
5
3
Levittown
For the past few weeks, my MacBook Air has been experiencing kernel panic issues with x86 cpu caterr detected in the kernel panic log file. I took the laptop to the Genius Bar twice already and both times they said it was software issues. My Mac was sent out for kernel panic triage recently and the triage confirmed no hardware issues; updates to the firmware were requested. Despite this, the kernel panic issues resumed today, when I received the MacBook back, and they are happening regardless of whether it is connected to ac power or operating on battery power.

IMG_6376.jpeg

The technicians at Apple examined the laptop and found that there were no hardware related issues with it, but my Mac has been experiencing a higher than normal base temperature since at least November 2022, which could have been the main culprit of those kernel panics. While the Mac has been at higher than normal temperatures recently, the panics have continued, and the logic board is experiencing signs of trouble.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MarineBand5524
j4lambert

j4lambert

macrumors newbie
Feb 6, 2023
5
3
Levittown
j4lambert said:
For the past few weeks, my MacBook Air has been experiencing kernel panic issues with x86 cpu caterr detected in the kernel panic log file. I took the laptop to the Genius Bar twice already and both times they said it was software issues. My Mac was sent out for kernel panic triage recently and the triage confirmed no hardware issues; updates to the firmware were requested. Despite this, the kernel panic issues resumed today, when I received the MacBook back, and they are happening regardless of whether it is connected to ac power or operating on battery power.

View attachment 2154633
The technicians at Apple examined the laptop and found that there were no hardware related issues with it, but my Mac has been experiencing a higher than normal base temperature since at least November 2022, which could have been the main culprit of those kernel panics. While the Mac has been at higher than normal temperatures recently, the panics have continued, and the logic board is experiencing signs of trouble.
Click to expand...
I have been feeling that the laptop is vibrating much more than usual. Could those vibrations have something to do with the logic board?
 
  • Like
Reactions: MarineBand5524
dmccloud

dmccloud

macrumors 68040
Sep 7, 2009
3,146
1,902
Anchorage, AK
j4lambert said:
I have been feeling that the laptop is vibrating much more than usual. Could those vibrations have something to do with the logic board?
Click to expand...

It's more likely that one of the cooling fans is failing. That would account for both the vibrations and the heating issues you described.
 
MarineBand5524

MarineBand5524

macrumors 6502
Dec 17, 2021
343
113
j4lambert said:
For the past few weeks, my MacBook Air has been experiencing kernel panic issues with x86 cpu caterr detected in the kernel panic log file. I took the laptop to the Genius Bar twice already and both times they said it was software issues. My Mac was sent out for kernel panic triage recently and the triage confirmed no hardware issues; updates to the firmware were requested. Despite this, the kernel panic issues resumed today, when I received the MacBook back, and they are happening regardless of whether it is connected to ac power or operating on battery power.

View attachment 2154633
The technicians at Apple examined the laptop and found that there were no hardware related issues with it, but my Mac has been experiencing a higher than normal base temperature since at least November 2022, which could have been the main culprit of those kernel panics. While the Mac has been at higher than normal temperatures recently, the panics have continued, and the logic board is experiencing signs of trouble.
Click to expand...
What are the vibrations feeling like?

I know it's hard to describe. Mine, the vibrations didn't sound nor feel like it was from a fan dying. It felt, and I'm saying this you could feel the vibrations not even touching the thing. Just having your hand hover over you could feel it.

I'm trying to think of something that could do that so powerfully yet this early in the am my mind isn't awake yet and I'm making coffee.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom