It looks like there might be a GPU problem with the new MacBook Pro 2011 i7 systems. I can consistently hang the system using BOINC and I was able to hang it once using Dragon Age Origins.

Just FYI - it was a clean OSX re-install from DVDs and Migration Assistant user data (not full time machine restore). Went through all the troubleshooting with Apple and had them run their diags in their shop for 24 hours straight - all passed.

Until a fix/patch comes out, is there a way to completely disable the GPU or is there a way to further troubleshoot the BOINC hang issue?

Disable:
Make a cc_config.xml file with a simple text editor in your BOINC Data directory (where client_state.xml lives). Add into it the following lines:

<cc_config>
<log_flags>
</log_flags>
<options>
<no_gpus>1</no_gpus>
</options>
</cc_config>

Save file, as ANSI and make sure it has only got the .xml extension. Do know this isn't real XML, so you really do not need an XML editor to make it. As I said, a simple text edit/ASCII editor is enough. Probably the most default on OS X, as comparable to Notepad on Windows.

Next thing to do is exit BOINC fully and restart it.

I'll forward your posts to the developer for the Mac. Perhaps that he's heard some whispers in the wind. ;)

---

It looks like there might be a GPU problem with the new MacBook Pro 2011 i7 systems. I can consistently hang the system using BOINC and I was able to hang it once using Dragon Age Origins.

I suspect that your problem may be caused by the MacBook Pro's automatic graphics switching. It may be switching the active graphics processor from the CUDA-capable NVIDIA GPU to the less capable Intel GPU while running a CUDA application.

For more information, please see [trac]#996[/trac] and http://boinc.berkeley.edu/wiki/GPU_computing#Things_to_be_aware_of, which now says:

"Some newer MacBooks have dual GPUs with automatic switching. BOINC won't detect the NVIDIA GPU unless it is currently selected. You can force selection either permanently or temporarily using a third-party utility."

Please be sure to post back to this thread to let us know whether this fixes your problem. If it does fix it, that will allow us to file a system crash bug with Apple, which may give it a higher priority with them.

---

Charlie Fenton
BOINC / SETI@home Macintosh & Windows Programmer

[
Please be sure to post back to this thread to let us know whether this fixes your problem. If it does fix it, that will allow us to file a system crash bug with Apple, which may give it a higher priority with them.

I'm installing a fresh OSX onto it right now.

BTW the chip isn't an NVIDIA chip anymore. its AMD/ATI. The NVIDIA works fine on my mid 2010 system... no crashes. However, neither system appears to recognize the GPU. here's the log from BOINC v6.12.18 on my mid 2010 using NVIDIA. The early 2011 has the same basic log. "No usable GPUs found"

I restarted BOINC after forcing the discrete graphics using gfxCardStatus.

Thu Mar 10 21:24:36 2011 | | Starting BOINC client version 6.12.18 for x86_64-apple-darwin
Thu Mar 10 21:24:36 2011 | | log flags: file_xfer, sched_ops, task
Thu Mar 10 21:24:36 2011 | | Libraries: libcurl/7.19.7 OpenSSL/0.9.7l zlib/1.2.3 c-ares/1.6.0
Thu Mar 10 21:24:36 2011 | | Data directory: /Library/Application Support/BOINC Data
Thu Mar 10 21:24:36 2011 | | Processor: 4 GenuineIntel Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU M 620 @ 2.67GHz [x86 Family 6 Model 37 Stepping 5]
Thu Mar 10 21:24:36 2011 | | Processor features: FPU VME DE PSE TSC MSR PAE MCE CX8 APIC SEP MTRR PGE MCA CMOV PAT PSE36 CLFSH DS ACPI MMX FXSR SSE SSE2 SS HTT TM SSE3 PCLMULQDQ MON DSCPL VMX SMX EST TM2 SSSE3 CX16 TPR PDCM SSE4.1 SSE4.2 POPCNT AES
Thu Mar 10 21:24:36 2011 | | OS: Mac OS X 10.6.6 (Darwin 10.6.0)
Thu Mar 10 21:24:36 2011 | | Memory: 8.00 GB physical, 112.71 GB virtual
Thu Mar 10 21:24:36 2011 | | Disk: 465.44 GB total, 112.47 GB free
Thu Mar 10 21:24:36 2011 | | Local time is UTC -5 hours
Thu Mar 10 21:24:36 2011 | | No usable GPUs found

However, neither system appears to recognize the GPU. here's the log from BOINC v6.12.18 on my mid 2010 using NVIDIA. The early 2011 has the same basic log. "No usable GPUs found"

Does the gfxCardStatus approach allow BOINC to recognize the NVIDIA GPU on the mid 2010 system?

I'll check on how we detect ATI chips, but I do know they don't support CUDA.

---

Charlie Fenton
BOINC / SETI@home Macintosh & Windows Programmer

Release notes from their web site:
gfxCardStatus, v2.0.1
by Cody Krieger, web: http://codykrieger.com, email: cody [at] codykrieger [dot] com
New In This Version
Support for 2011 MacBook Pros w/ Intel HD 3000/AMD Radeon chipsets!
Icons are now "d" for discrete, "i" for integrated across the board.
Made settings and modes more generic (e.g. "Discrete Only" instead of "NVIDIA Only") to make them applicable to all supported machines
Fixed a few memory leaks
Known Issues
There are a couple of strings not localized in the menu and in the preferences window
The power source-based switching is working intermittently for some. The next update should include a totally overhauled power source monitor.