crwdns2936637:0crwdne2936637:0 crwdns2853008:0crwdne2853008:0 crwdns2918746:0crwdne2918746:0

The larger of Apple's MacBook Air laptops featuring dual microphones and 802.11ac Wi-Fi connectivity.

crwdns2934591:020crwdne2934591:0 crwdns2934593:0crwdne2934593:0 | crwdns2947278:033crwdne2947278:0 crwdns2947270:0crwdne2947270:0

crwdns2933897:0crwdne2933897:0

Loading issue on boot.. faulty RAM module?

MacBook Air 2013 A1466 - OS Big Sur 10.7.10

One came in yesterday, owner reported it suddenly shut down and wouldn't start again....left it dormant a few months.... I connected it up to the charger and it came back on as if it went into hibernation (Low battery)... I used it for a few hours, updated system etc, restarting it many times with no problems at all....I left it on all night and when I opened the lid this morning after the unit was in sleep all night only to be greeted with the message your computer encountered a problem, it boots and loads but the progress bar stays at no progress or it gets to the login screen and shuts down. The SSD loads fine in another MBA). Apple Diagnostics reports PPM002, PPM003 PPM 004 (indicates an issue with the onboard memory.) or (There may be an issue with the System Management Controller (SMC). I have reset SMC & PRAM a few times with no change, oddly after a PRAM reset it will chime but then crash again on loading, to then restart by itself with no chime. My guess it is a RAM issue but it hasn't never gave me the 3 beeps of death. Diagnosing which RAM module is failing is very time consuming, and new RAM is a bit expensive, re-balling donor RAMS may be an option, or is this MBA economically done for and do I therefore have yet more spare parts? Normal condition Battery 92% capacity so no issue there.

Block Image
Block Image
Block Image

Pictures under the Michael Scope of the GPU (No cracks confirmed)

Block Image


System report:

panic(cpu 0 caller 0xffffff80042965c6): [kext.kalloc.4096]: element modified after free (off:464, val:0x00fd1a0000000000, sz:4096, ptr:0xffffff9341ded000, prot:zero)

464: 0x00fd1a0000000000

472: 0x00d0220000000000

1488: 0x00135b0000000000

1496: 0x00315e0000000000

Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address

0xffffffa067afad10 : 0xffffff8003a802fd

0xffffffa067afad60 : 0xffffff8003bc9193

0xffffffa067afada0 : 0xffffff8003bb978a

0xffffffa067afadf0 : 0xffffff8003a24a2f

0xffffffa067afae10 : 0xffffff8003a7fb1d

0xffffffa067afaf30 : 0xffffff8003a7fe13

0xffffffa067afafa0 : 0xffffff800429459a

0xffffffa067afb010 : 0xffffff80042965c6

0xffffffa067afb490 : 0xffffff8003adedf6

0xffffffa067afb500 : 0xffffff8003a8fa0c

0xffffffa067afb550 : 0xffffff80041a5252

0xffffffa067afb570 : 0xffffff7f9dacd32a

0xffffffa067afb610 : 0xffffff7f9dacd86f

0xffffffa067afb660 : 0xffffff7f9e7fae1c

0xffffffa067afb900 : 0xffffff7f9da9ae5f

0xffffffa067afb930 : 0xffffff7f9e7fc018

0xffffffa067afb9c0 : 0xffffff7f9e7fa09b

0xffffffa067afba10 : 0xffffff7f9e7f9e8b

0xffffffa067afba60 : 0xffffff7f9e7f8f3d

0xffffffa067afbaa0 : 0xffffff8004214e5e

0xffffffa067afbaf0 : 0xffffff7f9da9ac80

0xffffffa067afbb20 : 0xffffff800421f10b

0xffffffa067afbc80 : 0xffffff8003b749d1

0xffffffa067afbd90 : 0xffffff8003a8597d

0xffffffa067afbe00 : 0xffffff8003a5bde5

0xffffffa067afbe60 : 0xffffff8003a73442

0xffffffa067afbef0 : 0xffffff8003b9d85d

0xffffffa067afbfa0 : 0xffffff8003a25216

Kernel Extensions in backtrace:

com.apple.iokit.IOAcceleratorFamily2(442.10)[6D532411-143F-3229-A317-DA8D10AF500A]@0xffffff7f9e7b5000->0xffffff7f9e81ffff

dependency: com.apple.driver.AppleMobileFileIntegrity(1.0.5)[0EF0D1BA-0189-3FD9-95ED-5B394F82C853]@0xffffff80050c0000->0xffffff80050d6fff

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(585.2)[79A962DF-0B0E-3899-8A50-34ABE4956666]@0xffffff7f9e937000->0xffffff7f9e965fff

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.9)[84D83EE4-59A6-35C1-9907-3701C626A47B]@0xffffff800656e000->0xffffff8006596fff

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOReportFamily(47)[DF647F4A-C99E-30F5-BA4C-278447AE3164]@0xffffff80065a5000->0xffffff80065a7fff

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOSurface(290.8.2)[4E410B29-070B-386E-9587-0BC1B838E11E]@0xffffff8006698000->0xffffff80066b4fff

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelHD5000Graphics(16.0.5)[09D0CA9F-3FF0-31EB-886E-2F5B69E93A7A]@0xffffff7f9da90000->0xffffff7f9daf5fff

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOAcceleratorFamily2(442.10)[6D532411-143F-3229-A317-DA8D10AF500A]@0xffffff7f9e7b5000->0xffffff7f9e81ffff

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(585.2)[79A962DF-0B0E-3899-8A50-34ABE4956666]@0xffffff7f9e937000->0xffffff7f9e965fff

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.9)[84D83EE4-59A6-35C1-9907-3701C626A47B]@0xffffff800656e000->0xffffff8006596fff

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOSurface(290.8.2)[4E410B29-070B-386E-9587-0BC1B838E11E]@0xffffff8006698000->0xffffff80066b4fff

Process name corresponding to current thread: WindowServer

Mac OS version:

20G1427

Kernel version:

Darwin Kernel Version 20.6.0: Thu Jul 6 22:12:47 PDT 2023; root:xnu-7195.141.49.702.12~1/RELEASE_X86_64

Kernel UUID: 519A0898-ED4B-3E72-8F00-1B49F715A474

KernelCache slide: 0x0000000003800000

KernelCache base: 0xffffff8003a00000

Kernel slide: 0x0000000003810000

Kernel text base: 0xffffff8003a10000

__HIB text base: 0xffffff8003900000

System model name: MacBookAir6,2 (Mac-7DF21CB3ED6977E5)

System shutdown begun: NO

Panic diags file available: YES (0x0)

Hibernation exit count: 0

System uptime in nanoseconds: 41423023713

Last Sleep: absolute base_tsc base_nano

Uptime : 0x00000009a501338c

Sleep : 0x0000000000000000 0x0000000000000000 0x0000000000000000

Wake : 0x0000000000000000 0x000000069f1c6d8a 0x0000000000000000

last started kext at 31351161298: >!AUpstreamUserClient 3.6.8 (addr 0xffffff7f9e61c000, size 12288)

loaded kexts:

>!AUpstreamUserClient 3.6.8

>AudioAUUC 1.70

@filesystems.autofs 3.0

>AGPM 122.1

>!APlatformEnabler 2.7.0d0

>X86PlatformShim 1.0.0

@fileutil 20.036.15

>!AGraphicsDevicePolicy 6.3.6

@AGDCPluginDisplayMetrics 6.3.6

>pmtelemetry 1

>!AHDAHardwareConfigDriver 283.15

|IOUserEthernet 1.0.1

>usb.!UUserHCI 1

>!AHDA 283.15

|IO!BSerialManager 8.0.5d7

@Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X 7.0.0

>!AHV 1

>!ADiskImages2 1

>AGDCBacklightControl 6.3.6

>!ACameraInterface 7.6.0

>eficheck 1

>!ABacklight 180.3

>!A!IHD5000Graphics 16.0.5

>!A!ISlowAdaptiveClocking 4.0.0

>!ALPC 3.1

>!AFIVRDriver 4.1.0

>ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin 1.0.0

>!ASMCLMU 212

>!A!IFramebufferAzul 16.0.5

>!AThunderboltIP 4.0.3

>!AMCCSControl 1.14

|IO!BUSBDFU 8.0.5d7

|SCSITaskUserClient 436.140.1

>!UCardReader 511.141.1

>!AFileSystemDriver 3.0.1

@filesystems.tmpfs 1

@filesystems.hfs.kext 556.100.12

@BootCache 40

@!AFSCompression.!AFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0

@!AFSCompression.!AFSCompressionTypeDataless 1.0.0d1

>!ATopCaseHIDEventDriver 4050.1

@filesystems.apfs 1677.141.3

>!AAHCIPort 346.100.2

>AirPort.BrcmNIC 1400.1.1

@private.KextAudit 1.0

>!ASmartBatteryManager 161.0.0

>!ARTC 2.0

>!AACPIButtons 6.1

>!AHPET 1.8

>!ASMBIOS 2.1

>!AACPIEC 6.1

>!AAPIC 1.7

@!ASystemPolicy 2.0.0

@nke.applicationfirewall 311

|IOKitRegistryCompatibility 1

|EndpointSecurity 1

@kext.triggers 1.0

>!AGraphicsControl 6.3.6

>DspFuncLib 283.15

@kext.OSvKernDSPLib 529

|IOSerial!F 11

|IOAVB!F 940.4

|IOEthernetAVB!C 1.1.0

@plugin.IOgPTPPlugin 985.2

>!ASMBusPCI 1.0.14d1

>!ABacklightExpert 1.1.0

@!AGPUWrangler 6.3.6

|IOSlowAdaptiveClocking!F 1.0.0

|IONDRVSupport 585.2

>IOPlatformPluginLegacy 1.0.0

>X86PlatformPlugin 1.0.0

>IOPlatformPlugin!F 6.0.0d8

>!AHDA!C 283.15

|IOHDA!F 283.15

|IOAudio!F 300.6.1

@vecLib.kext 1.2.0

|IOAccelerator!F2 442.10

@!AGraphicsDeviceControl 6.3.6

>!AThunderboltEDMSink 5.0.3

>!AThunderboltDPOutAdapter 8.1.4

|IOGraphics!F 585.2

>!ASMBus!C 1.0.18d1

|Broadcom!BHost!CUSBTransport 8.0.5d7

|IO!BHost!CUSBTransport 8.0.5d7

|IO!BHost!CTransport 8.0.5d7

>usb.IOUSBHostHIDDevice 1.2

>usb.!UHub 1.2

>usb.cdc 5.0.0

>usb.networking 5.0.0

>usb.!UHostCompositeDevice 1.2

>!AThunderboltDPInAdapter 8.1.4

>!AThunderboltDPAdapter!F 8.1.4

>!AThunderboltPCIDownAdapter 4.1.1

>!ABSDKextStarter 3

|IOSurface 290.8.2

@filesystems.hfs.encodings.kext 1

>!AMultitouchDriver 4440.3.1

>!AInputDeviceSupport 4400.35

>!AHS!BDriver 4050.1

>IO!BHIDDriver 8.0.5d7

>!AHIDKeyboard 224

>!AHSSPIHIDDriver 61

>!AXsanScheme 3

|IOAHCIBlock!S 332

|IOAHCI!F 294.100.1

>!AThunderboltNHI 7.2.8

|IOThunderbolt!F 9.3.2

|IO80211!F 1200.12.2b1

|IOSkywalk!F 1

>mDNSOffloadUserClient 1.0.1b8

>corecapture 1.0.4

>usb.!UHostPacketFilter 1.0

|IOUSB!F 900.4.2

>!AHSSPISupport 61

>!A!ILpssSpi!C 3.0.60

>!A!ILpssI2C 3.0.60

>usb.!UXHCIPCI 1.2

>usb.!UXHCI 1.2

>!A!ILpssGspi 3.0.60

>!A!ILpssDmac 3.0.60

>!AEFINVRAM 2.1

>!AEFIRuntime 2.1

|IOSMBus!F 1.1

|IOHID!F 2.0.0

$!AImage4 3.0.0

|IOTimeSync!F 985.2

|IONetworking!F 3.4

>DiskImages 493.0.0

|IO!B!F 8.0.5d7

|IOReport!F 47

|IO!BPacketLogger 8.0.5d7

$quarantine 4

$sandbox 300.0

@kext.!AMatch 1.0.0d1

|CoreAnalytics!F 1

>!ASSE 1.0

>!AKeyStore 2

>!UTDM 511.141.1

|IOUSBMass!SDriver 184.140.2

|IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice 436.140.1

|IO!S!F 2.1

|IOSCSIArchitectureModel!F 436.140.1

>!AMobileFileIntegrity 1.0.5

@kext.CoreTrust 1

>!AFDEKeyStore 28.30

>!AEffaceable!S 1.0

>!ACredentialManager 1.0

>KernelRelayHost 1

|IOUSBHost!F 1.2

>!UHostMergeProperties 1.2

>usb.!UCommon 1.0

>!ABusPower!C 1.0

>!ASEPManager 1.0.1

>IOSlaveProcessor 1

>!AACPIPlatform 6.1

>!ASMC 3.1.9

|IOPCI!F 2.9

|IOACPI!F 1.4

>watchdog 1

@kec.pthread 1

@kec.corecrypto 11.1

@kec.Libm 1

crwdns2934089:0crwdne2934089:0 crwdns2934093:0crwdne2934093:0

crwdns2934109:0crwdne2934109:0

crwdns2853045:0crwdne2853045:0 crwdns2853046:0crwdne2853046:0
crwdns2889612:0crwdne2889612:0 0

crwdns2944067:02crwdne2944067:0:

@livfe what does Apple diagnostics show you after your fan replacement?

crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0crwdne2934271:0

@oldturkey03 I haven't tried but it has gone back to it's previous behavior now.... fragile solder joint or a crack in the CPU as Dan suggests.....

crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0crwdne2934271:0

crwdns2934285:0crwdne2934285:0

crwdns2933313:01crwdne2933313:0

crwdns2934221:0crwdne2934221:0
crwdns2931211:0crwdne2931211:0 crwdns2931215:0crwdne2931215:0 crwdns2934225:0crwdne2934225:0

crwdns2933897:0crwdne2933897:0

If Diagnostic ran, that aims us to the iGPU logic within the CPU module. Remember part of the main RAM is use by it.

I would carefully remove the heatsink and the thermal plastic and carefully inspect the chips for a crack you may need a good magnifier as some times they can be hard to see.

crwdns2934105:0crwdne2934105:0

crwdns2853045:0crwdne2853045:0 crwdns2853046:0crwdne2853046:0
crwdns2889612:0crwdne2889612:0 0

crwdns2944067:017crwdne2944067:0:

I did replace the thermal paste as it was almost non existent and dry.... under the microscope the shiny part looks intact but with a few hairline scratches on it....Pictures of the CPU posted to the main question, sorry for the bad lighting, it was the best I could get. The surrounding green area has no visible damage under the microscope.

crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0crwdne2934271:0

We can confirm that the CPU chip is NOT cracked, checked under 3 different Hi-Res Microscopes.

I tried 300 degrees on the heat gun to see if that helps fix any fragile connection, at least it got past the log in screen for 10 seconds then shut down and rebooted by itself.... So I guess the next step would be to re-ball the RAMS & if the issue persists would be to transplant the RAM from a 2013 11" I have here as I believe they are identical (4 GB), OR re-ball the CPU?

crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0crwdne2934271:0

@livfe - The chip image I do believe is showing a crack running from the far left all edge all the way to the right, yes it’s very fine and can be confused by the slicing of the silicon ingot and handing marks also present on the backside of the chip which is the side we see here.


Reheating the RAM chips and applying fresh solder is a good approach to at least address a cold solder joint issue. While RAM chips/modules can fail, more often it’s the higher processing of the CPU or GPU logic that fails.


As the RAM is just on the other side of the CPU module, you might want to see if a bit of freeze spray alters things cooling the CPU module as much as you can. The cold can sometimes contract the surfaces enough so the signals get across.

crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0crwdne2934271:0

@danj The tech guy put the board under his quite powerful microscope and zoomed right in looking at all angles, he said the chip looked OK aside for some scratches on it.... I have spare RAMS, but a CPU will be more tricky as the donors I have are of newer and more stronger GHz so changing one of them requires a lot more to be done than a simple swap over.... If the CPU does have a crack as you say then it is over right? would putting some ink on the crack and wiping it off help to see? The ink would go into the crack maybe and be more visible?

crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0crwdne2934271:0

@livfe - I’ve encountered a fair amount of damaged CPU or I/O chips (Intel moved the iGPU over to the I/O chip in the newer models) in the Air’s as the heatsink often saturates when the system is pushed to far and to often, so the chip from the excessive heat fatigues and then fails.


Sadly replacing the CPU module is not practical as both the module and logic board need to be held at the same temp during the BGA soldering and then slowly cooled so you don’t create stress in the solder joints.


I haven’t found coloring helps as the cracks are so thin the ink won’t stick enough to be visible.

crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0crwdne2934271:0

crwdns2934275:012crwdne2934275:0

crwdns2934285:0crwdne2934285:0

crwdns2934229:0crwdne2934229:0

livfe crwdns2934231:0crwdne2934231:0
crwdns2936625:0crwdne2936625:0:

crwdns2936751:024crwdne2936751:0 0

crwdns2936753:07crwdne2936753:0 1

crwdns2936753:030crwdne2936753:0 6

crwdns2942667:0crwdne2942667:0 136