SSD, Logic Board, or Something Else?

Question

MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2012 Repair

2.3GHz, 2.6GHz, or 2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.7GHz) with 6MB shared L3 cache.

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Pamela Wilson @pamelayne

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crwdns2931729:0crwdne2931729:0: Sun 27, 2024

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SSD, Logic Board, or Something Else?

My mid-2012 15” Retina MacBook Pro Reboots with increasing frequency unrelated to anything consistent that I can discern. It usually comes back up on its own very quickly and with everything I was working on saved and applications open. This has been occurring for a couple of months as I’ve been saving to replace the hard drive, noted by DriveDX, below.

A new behavior makes me wonder about the logic board or something else I don’t yet understand. Occasionally it does not come up on its own nor will it turn on no matter what I do except refresh the SMC. When I do this it will boot normally. Also I can’t leave it open and unattended with any apps open as I’ll always return to the fans at maximum speed with a black screen and no lighted keyboard. I’ve eliminated all kexts that might cause a kernel panic yet still it persists. If one or more popups happen to be active in Safari I’ll get the max fan phenom within a few minutes. The screen goes black and fans are scarily loud even when I close the lid. Only powering it down quiets them, hence the trouble noted by Drive DX.

I want desperately to run Apple Hardware Test but I’m prohibited by the issue affecting many MBPs around 2012. I’ve tried using a USB stick as instructed by the GitHub resource (taking care to choose the correct files for my Mac) yet no matter what I try I get the same “Cannot load EFI/Drivers/TestSupport.efi.” I understand this is unfortunately very common in these MBPs. I replaced the Upper Case Assembly (C-Stock) and the battery runs at about 89%.

Here’s the beginning of a crash report from Console after one of these. The reports come up after these “reboots” sometimes but not always.

Sleep Wake failure in EFI Failure code:: 0xffffffff 0x0000001f Please IGNORE the below stackshot ================================================================ Date/Time: 2024-01-25 04:28:46 -0500 OS Version: ??? ??? (Build ???) Architecture: x86_64 Report Version: 29 Data Source: Stackshots Shared Cache: 0x474b000 A56B3AAC-F960-3974-88C4-941AD60C5BA0 Event: Sleep Wake Failure Duration: 0.00s Steps: 1 Time Awake Since Boot: 38s Process: swd [337] Architecture: x86_64 Footprint: 452 KB Start time: 2024-01-25 04:28:46 -0500 End time: 2024-01-25 04:28:46 -0500 Num samples: 1 (1) Thread 0x81c 1 sample (1) priority 4 (base 4) <thread QoS background (requested background), thread darwinbg, process darwinbg, IO tier 2> 1 start + 1 (libdyld.dylib + 109769) [0x7fff6a9eccc9] 1 1 ??? [0x10d3aa454] 1 1 ??? [0x10d3aa1dd] 1 1 __stack_snapshot_with_config + 10 (libsystem_kernel.dylib + 135846) [0x7fff6ab4e2a6] 1 *1 ??? [0xffffff80002c2206] 1 *1 ??? [0xffffff8000983517] 1 *1 ??? [0xffffff800089bf91] 1 *1 ??? [0xffffff80002e59b7] (running) 1 Binary Images: 0x7fff6a9d2000 - 0x7fff6aa08fff libdyld.dylib (750.7) <AB99C9EE-7127-3451-89AB-339F8F2CEE61> /usr/lib/system/libdyld.dylib 0x7fff6ab2d000 - 0x7fff6ab59fff libsystem_kernel.dylib (6153.141.66) <FF081F3A-F653-3F8F-9E64-9F34792EEDB3> /usr/ lib/system/libsystem_kernel.dylib Model: MacBookPro10,1, BootROM 429.0.0.0.0, 4 processors, Quad-Core Intel Core i7, 2.7 GHz, 8 GB, SMC 2.3f36 Graphics: kHW_IntelHD4000Item, Intel HD Graphics 4000, spdisplays_builtin Graphics: kHW_NVidiaGeForceGT650MItem, NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M, spdisplays_pcie_device, 1 GB Memory Module: BANK 0/DIMM0, 4 GB, DDR3, 1600 MHz, 0x80AD, 0x484D54333531533642465238432D50422020 Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM0, 4 GB, DDR3, 1600 MHz, 0x80AD, 0x484D54333531533642465238432D50422020

Above is the DriveDX report. It was unable to finish a longer scan, got stuck at about 98%. Does anyone have any ideas before I invest in a new SSD? Is the EMC temporary workaround consistent with Logic Board trouble? Someone described similar crashes repaired by cleaning a proximity sensor. I’m a disabled senior dependent on my Mac so your help means a lot. Thanks for your kind reading!

This IS a great app; thanks Dan! Is it bad enough to explain symptoms? Eager to understand the difference between the two numbers.

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Dan @danj

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Self employed contract worker

35

338

973

crwdns2931729:0crwdne2931729:0: Sun 27, 2024

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Given the age of the system have, you replaced the battery? I’m on my fourth battery on my 2012 system.

Download this gem of an App CoconutBattery take a snapshot of the main window posing it here so we can see it. A weak battery can cause this issue.

@pamelayne - Yes, CoconutBattery is a great App! We can see a lot of useful info.

So while the Design Cap is still on the higher side, the age of the battery tells us a different story☹️ I can see you are mostly a cord user, that’s someone who often uses the system plugged in most of the time, the Cycle count being so low given the batteries age (2013) tells us this. This is where the battery has lost its flex as it doesn’t fully discharge often enough.

Sadly, it’s time to replace the battery like how many people need a hip joint replaced! Not the end of the world, I’m betting you have a good three more years if not more of life in this system!

Here’s the needed part MacBook Pro 15" Retina (Mid 2012-Early 2013) Battery and here’s the guide to put it in MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2012 Battery Replacement

crwdns2886500:0Replace a 8680 mAh battery compatible with MacBook Pro 15" Retina Mid 2012 to Early 2013 A1398 model laptops. 11.26 Volts (V). 99 Wh (Watt Hours). Battery model A1417.crwdne2886500:0

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MacBook Pro 15" Retina (Mid 2012-Early 2013) Battery

$79.99

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Thanks again Dan. So are you confident this accounts for all the symptoms, including resetting SMC and all the rest? I assumed the DriveDX report about the SSD was pretty definitive about the condition of the drive? If I had to replace both the battery and SSD I'd have to look for another Mac. Ofc the worst thing would be to replace the battery and THEN find it needs more. Sorry to need so much reassurance...I know this would be a lot easier if I knew this world.

crwdns2934271:0Sun 28, 2024crwdnd2934271:0 Pamela Wilson crwdne2934271:0

@pamelayne - What is your use here (often called workflow)? While the SSD is showing a bit of wear you need to put it into perspective!

Your current issue is power as the MagSafe charger is not enough power to run the system at your consumption level. You need both the charger and battery to meet the need. The unsafe shutdowns is the lack of power. If we look at the SSD’s health it’s not too bad when you divide out the count into the years of use. That’s how I came to the year count moving forward based on the wear you’ve already have on the drive.

The other fact here is this is only an 8GB RAM system so running a lot of programs concurrently is not recommended. As the lack of physical RAM forces the OS to leverage Virtual RAM which is a file sitting on your drive (SSD in this case) that adds more wear load to the SSD unlike a HDD, due to the nature of SSDs.

crwdns2934271:0Sun 28, 2024crwdnd2934271:0 Dan crwdne2934271:0

It's clear you know what you're talking about, Dan. Thanks for elaborating. (I misunderstood your reference to the time it has left completely!) In fact the problem occurs when I'm just moving files around in Finder or doing a simple graphic mod in Preview. Hasn't happened once in PhotoShop, though. If this tells you anything that changes plans please let me know. Otherwise thanks again for your expert help!

crwdns2934271:0Sun 28, 2024crwdnd2934271:0 Pamela Wilson crwdne2934271:0

Sorry to bother you again Dan. Could you possibly explain why, if it's the battery for sure, the computer comes right back up after one of these, oftentimes all by itself with just a restart? Other times it will go black and the fans immediately go to the highest setting. Want to make sure your confidence is high we're not looking at a logic board or other issue.

crwdns2934271:0Yan 19, 2024crwdnd2934271:0 Pamela Wilson crwdne2934271:0

@pamelayne - Let’s use an example here to illustrate the issue. You flush your toilet, clearly, it takes some time for the tank to refill before you can flush again. The time to recover enough to get what you need isn’t as great as waiting for the tank to get full. In some ways batteries react the same way!

Here the power your demanding from the system is exceeding what it can deliver, this manifests in different ways. The failure within sleep or when the task is drawing more power the system burbs!

Your systems RAM is on the low end and the SSD doesn’t have much life left as the Wear Level count is life getting low.

I think you’re expecting more performance that this system was designed to offer as running Photoshop can push the need of RAM beyond what your system has so it needs to use Virtual RAM which then uses drive storage to emulate the RAM need. This in turn can add even more wear to the drive. Running multiple programs concurrently also adds pressure. So you will want to free up space on your drive to lessen things.

That doesn’t lessen the need of the new battery. This is the original battery, would you eat a frozen dinner stuck in the back of your freezer 10 years? While it won’t kill you between the lack of flavor and texture it’s wouldn’t be very appetizing!

crwdns2934271:0Yan 19, 2024crwdnd2934271:0 Dan crwdne2934271:0

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Thanks again Dan. So are you confident this accounts for all the symptoms, including resetting SMC and all the rest? I assumed the DriveDX report about the SSD was pretty definitive about the condition of the drive? If I had to replace both the battery and SSD I'd have to look for another Mac. Ofc the worst thing would be to replace the battery and THEN find it needs more. Sorry to need so much reassurance...I know this would be a lot easier if I knew this world. — Pamela Wilson
@pamelayne - What is your use here (often called workflow)? While the SSD is showing a bit of wear you need to put it into perspective!

Your current issue is power as the MagSafe charger is not enough power to run the system at your consumption level. You need both the charger and battery to meet the need. The unsafe shutdowns is the lack of power. If we look at the SSD’s health it’s not too bad when you divide out the count into the years of use. That’s how I came to the year count moving forward based on the wear you’ve already have on the drive.

The other fact here is this is only an 8GB RAM system so running a lot of programs concurrently is not recommended. As the lack of physical RAM forces the OS to leverage Virtual RAM which is a file sitting on your drive (SSD in this case) that adds more wear load to the SSD unlike a HDD, due to the nature of SSDs. — Dan
It's clear you know what you're talking about, Dan. Thanks for elaborating. (I misunderstood your reference to the time it has left completely!) In fact the problem occurs when I'm just moving files around in Finder or doing a simple graphic mod in Preview. Hasn't happened once in PhotoShop, though. If this tells you anything that changes plans please let me know. Otherwise thanks again for your expert help! — Pamela Wilson
Sorry to bother you again Dan. Could you possibly explain why, if it's the battery for sure, the computer comes right back up after one of these, oftentimes all by itself with just a restart? Other times it will go black and the fans immediately go to the highest setting. Want to make sure your confidence is high we're not looking at a logic board or other issue. — Pamela Wilson
@pamelayne - Let’s use an example here to illustrate the issue. You flush your toilet, clearly, it takes some time for the tank to refill before you can flush again. The time to recover enough to get what you need isn’t as great as waiting for the tank to get full. In some ways batteries react the same way!

Here the power your demanding from the system is exceeding what it can deliver, this manifests in different ways. The failure within sleep or when the task is drawing more power the system burbs!

Your systems RAM is on the low end and the SSD doesn’t have much life left as the Wear Level count is life getting low.

I think you’re expecting more performance that this system was designed to offer as running Photoshop can push the need of RAM beyond what your system has so it needs to use Virtual RAM which then uses drive storage to emulate the RAM need. This in turn can add even more wear to the drive. Running multiple programs concurrently also adds pressure. So you will want to free up space on your drive to lessen things.

That doesn’t lessen the need of the new battery. This is the original battery, would you eat a frozen dinner stuck in the back of your freezer 10 years? While it won’t kill you between the lack of flavor and texture it’s wouldn’t be very appetizing! — Dan

MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2012 Repair

SSD, Logic Board, or Something Else?

Update (01/27/24)

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Update (01/28/24)

MacBook Pro 15" Retina (Mid 2012-Early 2013) Battery

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