If you’re the type of power user who pushes their computer to the limits, you might want to pull back just a bit if you own one of the newest MacBook Pro models that Apple released this year -- apparently they’re having issues locking up when the processor load is too much.
MacRumors is reporting that Apple’s discussion forums are lighting up with reports that the new 2011 MacBook Pros can’t handle a high processor load, choosing instead to fold like a deck of cards and lock up (or crash) the system. So what exactly does it take for your new MacBook Pro to cry uncle?
“Received a new 15" 2.2/6750M MBP last week and have been having some issues with the machine locking up under load,” MacRumors forum user lithast explains. “For example if I boot up a VM using Fusion the temperature will spike up above 90 degrees and the machine will lock up most of the time. The machine appears locked (cannot move the mouse at all and keyboard is unresponsive). I can SSH into the machine still and it still is running however. This is one example but it will freeze under a number of circumstances where the CPU/GPU load is very high (rendering, DJ Software, compiling so far in my travels).”
This is certainly not good news for power users looking to take advantage of the notebook’s superpowers, and while Apple is aware of the issue, MacRumors claims there is “no reliable solution” for the problem at the moment.
While MacBook Pro users have speculated that the problem could be related to the notebook’s graphics driver or possibly power management, the only good news is the issue is easily reproduced -- while hopefully means a fix will be on the way soon for beleaguered users.
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