2011 MBP 17 so far (mini review)...
Re: 2011 MBP 17 so far (mini review)...
@steko - thanks - SMC reset did nothing, will try clearing other stuff ot as well. Part of me thinks the lockup are an AMD GPU driver issue. Ableton Live forces the MBP to switch to the radeon GPU. If I force Live to work with only the intel GPU, then its UI is less responsive, and overall audio performance is not quite as good.
@swan - yes - my PC is definately more responsive, but Im not sure it can reliably handle the same audio load as I can throw at Live on the MBP (using same audio interface). For stress testing, Im using the live perf test on 64 tracks. No dropouts.
Anyway - for now I seem to have found a fan control utility that is having the desire effect making the machine useable until this gets sorted ot properly (software updates or total replacement or hatvere end up happening).
@swan - yes - my PC is definately more responsive, but Im not sure it can reliably handle the same audio load as I can throw at Live on the MBP (using same audio interface). For stress testing, Im using the live perf test on 64 tracks. No dropouts.
Anyway - for now I seem to have found a fan control utility that is having the desire effect making the machine useable until this gets sorted ot properly (software updates or total replacement or hatvere end up happening).
Last edited by Khazul on Sun Mar 20, 2011 11:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
Nothing to see here - move along!
Re: 2011 MBP 17 so far (mini review)...
Appreciate the heads-up on this heat issue. I was recently convinced to NOT wait for next year's redesign and to buy the current quad. But i will watch this and wait until it is resolved.
Re: 2011 MBP 17 so far (mini review)...
Here's a link to the huge thread on Apple forums
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jsp ... &start=540
Last post at the moment from Mike282 claims:
"There is a confirmed way to avoid freezing w/o 3rd party software:
Go to: System Preferences > Energy Saver > and UNCHECK "Automatic graphics switching"
Bingo, no more freezing!"
No idea if it works or not...
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jsp ... &start=540
Last post at the moment from Mike282 claims:
"There is a confirmed way to avoid freezing w/o 3rd party software:
Go to: System Preferences > Energy Saver > and UNCHECK "Automatic graphics switching"
Bingo, no more freezing!"
No idea if it works or not...
Re: 2011 MBP 17 so far (mini review)...
Ableton Live will trigger a switch to the AMD GPU, and apparently for some good reson as live's audio performance especially UI responsiveness is noticeably better with the AMD GPU. Also you need the AMD GPU active if using an external monitor.
I must admit, Im a little surprised by the performance difference - wouldnt have though there would be much difference to 2D rendering unless OX is like windows 7 and using 3d rendering for nearly everything now.
The best temporary fix Ive found is something called Fan Control (not smcFanControl however as that just seems to mess up the max speed of the fans). Using that Ive been running it with heavy audio load and even had Starcraft2 running without any problems.
I must admit, Im a little surprised by the performance difference - wouldnt have though there would be much difference to 2D rendering unless OX is like windows 7 and using 3d rendering for nearly everything now.
The best temporary fix Ive found is something called Fan Control (not smcFanControl however as that just seems to mess up the max speed of the fans). Using that Ive been running it with heavy audio load and even had Starcraft2 running without any problems.
Nothing to see here - move along!
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Re: 2011 MBP 17 so far (mini review)...
Wow, I read through most of that thread on the apple forum and it seems like this problem affects pretty much every high end macbook pro out there.
I was going to order a new 15 inch last week but didn't get around to it. I think I'll wait a while to see if a firmware update fixes the problems before ordering. I'll just stick with my C2D in the meantime. Was really looking forward to the quad core though.
Keep us posted!
I was going to order a new 15 inch last week but didn't get around to it. I think I'll wait a while to see if a firmware update fixes the problems before ordering. I'll just stick with my C2D in the meantime. Was really looking forward to the quad core though.
Keep us posted!
Professional Shark Jumper.
Re: 2011 MBP 17 so far (mini review)...
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread. ... st12197298
http://mbp-freeze.wikispaces.com/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another idea: the new MBPs boot the 64 bit kernel by default. You could try switching to the 32 bit kernel. (bootcamp - 3rd-party extensions)
Switching to 32 bit kernel mode: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3773
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4287
http://mbp-freeze.wikispaces.com/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another idea: the new MBPs boot the 64 bit kernel by default. You could try switching to the 32 bit kernel. (bootcamp - 3rd-party extensions)
Switching to 32 bit kernel mode: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3773
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4287
Rahad Jackson wrote:My Awesome Mix Tape #6
Re: 2011 MBP 17 so far (mini review)...
Rahad Jackson wrote:My Awesome Mix Tape #6
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Re: 2011 MBP 17 so far (mini review)...
It appears to have fixed the problems for everyone on the apple discussion page. Good news indeed.
Professional Shark Jumper.
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Re: 2011 MBP 17 so far (mini review)...
I'd love to know if people who already bought the new MBP, are finding the issues resolved by the update.
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Re: 2011 MBP 17 so far (mini review)...
http://www.dailytech.com/New+MacBook+Pr ... e21184.htmJuanSOLO wrote:I'd love to know if people who already bought the new MBP, are finding the issues resolved by the update.
Update: Monday March 21, 2011 6:00 p.m.
Late today Apple rolled out an update to OS X 10.6 "Snow Leopard", which included a number of updated features and fixes. A special version of the update was crafted for the early 2011 MacBook Pros (discussed in this article). While ostensibly to fix other issues, many believed that this update would fix the freezing problems.
It appears it did not, at least not for all those afflicted. Writes one user on the MacRumors forums:
this still does not fix the issues on the new MacBook Pro 2011 models (15" 2.3ghz) - just tested on the two machines we have here. Still they are getting too hot, constantly the fans are blowing (testing with Transmission/Bittorrent downloading the Ubuntu DVD). Also we had two freezes already (only under heavy load). I am posting updates on our findings to our blog ( http://j.mp/dLSqgy ) - and we are still waiting for replacements from apple.
Users are also reporting that the update fails to fix another crucial problem, blackouts when connecting to Apple's 24-inch Cinema Display. Writes another user:
Still experiencing blackouts. No graphics glitches but definitely got 2 blackouts post update...albeit less frequent. Back to the drawing board i guess.
In fact, the update seemed to cause crashes/freezes when using Apple's iTunes. Writes one user:
I'm on a new Macbook Air (13" maxxed out) and the update seems to be causing iTunes to freeze the whole system - clock, mouse, keyboard, etc. It happens about 5-6 seconds after I launch iTunes. I can start a song, and it will continue to play after the system locks up, but otherwise I'm stuck with a hard reset. I tried clearing the preference files in \Users\[me]\Library\Preferences, but that didn't help. I repaired disk permissions before and after the update. Any suggestions?
Adds another:
Since the update I've had 3 crashes with iTunes.
2011 15" 2.2 MBP.
Not sure its related to the update, but in the space of just over a year, I've never had a crash with iTunes on MacOS
In other words, it appears that the update not only failed to fix existing issues, but caused additional ones.
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Re: 2011 MBP 17 so far (mini review)...
That's strange since every person who's installed the update so far from that 60+ page thread on the apple forum has said that the update solved the problems.Breaks Dude wrote:http://www.dailytech.com/New+MacBook+Pr ... e21184.htmJuanSOLO wrote:I'd love to know if people who already bought the new MBP, are finding the issues resolved by the update.
Update: Monday March 21, 2011 6:00 p.m.
Late today Apple rolled out an update to OS X 10.6 "Snow Leopard", which included a number of updated features and fixes. A special version of the update was crafted for the early 2011 MacBook Pros (discussed in this article). While ostensibly to fix other issues, many believed that this update would fix the freezing problems.
It appears it did not, at least not for all those afflicted. Writes one user on the MacRumors forums:
this still does not fix the issues on the new MacBook Pro 2011 models (15" 2.3ghz) - just tested on the two machines we have here. Still they are getting too hot, constantly the fans are blowing (testing with Transmission/Bittorrent downloading the Ubuntu DVD). Also we had two freezes already (only under heavy load). I am posting updates on our findings to our blog ( http://j.mp/dLSqgy ) - and we are still waiting for replacements from apple.
Users are also reporting that the update fails to fix another crucial problem, blackouts when connecting to Apple's 24-inch Cinema Display. Writes another user:
Still experiencing blackouts. No graphics glitches but definitely got 2 blackouts post update...albeit less frequent. Back to the drawing board i guess.
In fact, the update seemed to cause crashes/freezes when using Apple's iTunes. Writes one user:
I'm on a new Macbook Air (13" maxxed out) and the update seems to be causing iTunes to freeze the whole system - clock, mouse, keyboard, etc. It happens about 5-6 seconds after I launch iTunes. I can start a song, and it will continue to play after the system locks up, but otherwise I'm stuck with a hard reset. I tried clearing the preference files in \Users\[me]\Library\Preferences, but that didn't help. I repaired disk permissions before and after the update. Any suggestions?
Adds another:
Since the update I've had 3 crashes with iTunes.
2011 15" 2.2 MBP.
Not sure its related to the update, but in the space of just over a year, I've never had a crash with iTunes on MacOS
In other words, it appears that the update not only failed to fix existing issues, but caused additional ones.
Professional Shark Jumper.
Re: 2011 MBP 17 so far (mini review)...
Touch wood, I havn't had and freezes since installing the update and removing all 3rd party fan control stuff, and itunes is quite happily sending audio to the apple tv box and local sound.
Been running some quite cpu heavy projects through live and logic and left the live perf test project looping over 64 tracks (select all tracks and duplicate 7 times) for 15 mins- that used to cause a freeze in seconds.
Even the iPhone remote app has finally started talking to itunes on the MBP
Been running some quite cpu heavy projects through live and logic and left the live perf test project looping over 64 tracks (select all tracks and duplicate 7 times) for 15 mins- that used to cause a freeze in seconds.
Even the iPhone remote app has finally started talking to itunes on the MBP
Nothing to see here - move along!
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- Location: The Ableton Live Forum
Re: 2011 MBP 17 so far (mini review)...
Good lord! 64 tracks in the live performance test?Khazul wrote:Touch wood, I havn't had and freezes since installing the update and removing all 3rd party fan control stuff, and itunes is quite happily sending audio to the apple tv box and local sound.
Been running some quite cpu heavy projects through live and logic and left the live perf test project looping over 64 tracks (select all tracks and duplicate 7 times) for 15 mins- that used to cause a freeze in seconds.
I get about 18 on my core2 duo mbp!
Shit, time to order one of these puppies. I'll finally be able to use alchemy and aether together as much I'd like.
Professional Shark Jumper.
Re: 2011 MBP 17 so far (mini review)...
Rahad Jackson wrote:My Awesome Mix Tape #6
Re: 2011 MBP 17 so far (mini review)...
Khazul wrote:Touch wood...
the expression is "knock on wood". at least, that's what we say in the states.
touching wood seems like something entirely different.