AfterDawn: News

Apple's new MacBook Pros continue to freeze, crash

Starting with the launch of Apple's new flagship MacBook Pros in late February, there have been hundred of reports of "hard freezes," the device locking up when users are running multiple programs.

Despite Apple's attempt to cure the problem with an update to OS X 10.6, users are reporting the issue still occurring.



The issue is stemming from the 15 and 17-inch models, each of which feature Sandy Bridge Core i7 quad-core CPUs and AMD Radeo HD graphics processors.

A thread entitled "MacBook Pro 2011 17" hard freeze" on the Apple discussion forum is nearing 70 pages, with most users complaining about the crashes whenever using multiple apps, especially video intensive ones like iMovie or gaming.

One user, dT explains, was able to pinpoint the problem:

The issue occurred when running CPU-heavy processes along with programs that caused graphics processing to shift from the new Sandy Bridge processor to the descrete AMD Radeon graphics processor.

The OS X 10.6.7 update included fixes for "graphics stability" but some users are still having issues.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 22 Mar 2011 15:05

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• 14 comments

• stuntman_

  apple's solution will probably be not to run multiple apps at the same time lol
  

  
  
  
  

  22.3.2011 15:26 #1

• Hyasuma

  lol, my pc still hasnt crash using multiple programs. maybe pc > apple

  22.3.2011 16:55 #2

• lupine25

  Sandy Bridges? Weren't those the processors that were recalled last month? I mean, I know the ones in the Macbook pros weren't part of the recall but.....makes one think? Either that or OSX isn't as stable as Apple claims it to be. :)
  

  22.3.2011 17:09 #3

• banzaigtv

  Hmmm...first the chipset recall, and now this? Looks like my X58 platform is more reliable than "Muddy Bridge" LOL
  

  Intel Core i7-950 3.06 GHz, 12 GB DDR3 RAM, ATI Radeon HD 5770, 1.5 TB 7200 RPM HDD, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit

  22.3.2011 17:20 #4

• lupine25

  Originally posted by banzaigtv: Hmmm...first the chipset recall, and now this? Looks like my X58 platform is more reliable than "Muddy Bridge" LOL Muddy Bridges? Hahaha, I've got to start using that one. Thanks!
  

  22.3.2011 17:58 #5

• llongtheD

  This just in...Apple will be offering free neoprene cases in hopes that it will fix the problem.
  

  If your fish seems sick, put it back in the water.

  22.3.2011 18:16 #6

• jookycola

  You guys are obviously holding it wrong.
  

  
  

  22.3.2011 19:54 #7

• keola37

  Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha HA!
  

  22.3.2011 21:17 #8

• flyingpen

  Ok, seriously, I'm not trying to troll but, What the hell did you expect? If there's a problem with an apple product they do ANYTHING they can to not admit it or help to fix it. Unless... they get class action law-suited like the iPhone4. They would rather resort to trying to slander another competitor than help their customers. $20 says Apple will release a statement saying that this is "a common issue. Just look at this acer laptop that does the same thing."
  

  Carpe Noctem

  22.3.2011 21:46 #9

• KillerBug

  This is just divine justice...
  
  If you buy an apple, you give money to apple. If you give money to apple, you deserve whatever POS you get in return.
  
  If you buy a Sandy Bridge, you are saying that it is OK for the manufacturer to build kill switches and backdoors right into the hardware itself...and you should not complain when the system turns off or crashes for no clear reason...after all, that is one of the features you paid for.
  

  
  

  22.3.2011 22:34 #10

• flyingpen

  Originally posted by KillerBug: This is just divine justice...
  
  If you buy an apple, you give money to apple. If you give money to apple, you deserve whatever POS you get in return.
  
  If you buy a Sandy Bridge, you are saying that it is OK for the manufacturer to build kill switches and backdoors right into the hardware itself...and you should not complain when the system turns off or crashes for no clear reason...after all, that is one of the features you paid for.
  QFT
  

  Carpe Noctem

  23.3.2011 01:20 #11

• plazma247

  HaHa
  
  I really couldnt help reading this story or the posts here without the though of....
  
  ... Do you think they will have to make a rubber bumper for the mac book pros it might be people are not resting them on the table properly.... or some other half baked transfer of blame to the user and not the fact its a design fault ...
  
  Ahhhr its good old apple still proverbially flying the Pirate Fag and that the manta still appears to reflect "Take what you can and give nothing back, Ahhhharrrar"
  
  The Flag
  
  Go Team macrofortress... eerrmmm ahh Team Mac :-p

  23.3.2011 07:17 #12

• mbp17 (unverified)

  what did the update do?
  increase fan speed?
  increase max temp before shutting down?
  driver bug?
  is it only a workaround, is there a hardware defect?
  
  come on apple at least tell us what happened here, at least Intel was straight forward on the sandy bridge defect.

  24.3.2011 01:03 #13

• core2kid

  I was so close to buying one of these. I basically got to the enter credit card page. So glad I didn't get one.
  
  Does this occur on the 13" MBP?

  25.3.2011 00:19 #14