Early 2011 MacBook Pro running super slow after logic board repair.

[jwfuller]

Hello all, I am new here. Okay.. Well last August when finishing up my summer class my mac died and wouldn't reboot got the green screen etc. Took it to the apple store and they tested and said logic board was bad. Well they wanted 1240 to fix it. I obviously had no intention of paying that amount of money to fix a computer that old. Well i was able to find a logic board elsewhere for substantially less. Now I know some here probably think I had no business replacing the logic board on my own, but im not here to debate that, just seeking info as to what could be wrong with it now. Well after replacing the logic board and upgrading to sierra, I noticed I couldn't "right click" on the track pad because it was protruding up higher that the left side. I assumed the battery was bad so I replaced that as well. After replacing the battery I had difficulty even getting the computer to turn on, well it finally did and now I have noticed it is SUPER SLOW, looking at activity monitor: kernal task is constantly using like 700-900 % of the CPU, the CPU load is pretty much full, and it is using ~500 MB of Memory. For anyone that has any helpful information thank you so much! Im obviously in over my head.

 

[pm-r]

Have you tried booting up using Safe Boot Mode??

Press and hold the shift key just when you hear the startup chime and booting from a cold start.

That should disable all non-apple stuff in case it might be the cause of the problem.

And, what shape is the boot drive in??? Super full, old,…???






- Patrick
======

 

[jwfuller]

I have tried the safe boot, but I didn't "do anything" in it.

The hard drive is the original one 500 GB HDD with 380 GB available.

When I step away form the amine and then come back to it, the kernel_task goes back down to a normal cpu usage sometimes.

 

[pigoo3]

- 1st. Why did the first logic board need replacing?
- 2nd. Was it because of a severe fall or bump...or because of a liquid spill? It's very possible other hardware (in addition to the logic board) could have been damaged.
- 3rd. Are you 100% sure you got the proper replacement logic board?
- 4th. Are you 100% sure the logic board you got was 100% operational?
- 5th. Are you 100% sure the removal of the old logic board went without any errors or damage?
- 6th. Are you 100% sure the install of the replacement logic board went without any errors or damage?

Assuming you say "No" to question #2...and "Yes" to each of other questions...and assuming that an SMC Reset, booting into Safe Mode, an NVRAM Reset, or a fresh install of the OS doesn't solve the issue...then it's almost definitely a hardware issue.

Which then also means that the answer (to at least one of the question's 3 thru 6) has got to be "No"...since an error free removal & error free install of a 100% compatible logic board would not cause the high CPU kernel task issue.

I've seen this sort of issue a number of times. And each time it's a hardware issue. Caused by damage or error during removal...damage or error during install...incompatible hardware...or defective hardware.

- Nick

p.s. It wasn't mentioned....also going to assume this computer is experiencing very high cooling fan rpm's (loud fans) when the CPU use is at 700+%.

 

[jwfuller]

Nick, thanks so much for your response.

First of all no, the fans are not running hardly at all.
1) Coffee was spilled on it like 3 years prior to it going bad, I'm not sure if that is directly related or not, I know early 2011 MacBook Pro models were notorious for this.
2) Above
3) pretty sure
4) not sure at all
5 & 6) I am pretty sure, but I make no claim to know what I'm doing. How would I know the answer to 4,5, or 6?

I did take the machine to the Apple Store when it wouldn't boot, that is where I was told it needed a new logic board, but they seemed to indicate everything else was good.

thanks again nick

 

[pigoo3]

First of all no, the fans are not running hardly at all.

This is VERY surprising. Since if the CPU cores are running at 700+%...they should also be generating a bunch of heat...which needs to be dissipated.

1) Coffee was spilled on it like 3 years prior to it going bad, I'm not sure if that is directly related or not, I know early 2011 MacBook Pro models were notorious for this.

Notorious for what...having coffee spilled on them? Certainly not the computers fault for having coffee spilt on it? Maybe you were referring to something else 2011 MBP's are notorious for.

3) pretty sure

Only asked this question since sometimes there's more than 1 logic board replacement possibility. And if the incorrect board is purchased...could be issues.

4) not sure at all

This of course is a VERY VERY important thing to be 100% about. If the replacement logic board you got was defective in some way...then of course this would lead to issue's.

I don't know the details of how you obtained the replacement logic board. But I'm going to guess that it cost less (or much less) than the $1240 Apple was going to charge. If this means you got it from someone you didn't know...probably a used logic board...maybe from eBay. It's possible it could have had a pre-existing issue.

5 & 6) I am pretty sure, but I make no claim to know what I'm doing. How would I know the answer to 4,5, or 6?

Q4 = If the replacement logic board was 100% operational & was the correct logic board & was installed correctly. My guess is there would be no issues.

Q5 & Q6. I'm assuming you did the logic board removal & install. You would be the best person to know if something went wrong (or right) with the LB removal or install. Wouldn't be the first time someone broke a small plastic part, forgot to connect a wire, damaged a wire connecting socket, forgot a screw or two...or something else.

I did take the machine to the Apple Store when it wouldn't boot, that is where I was told it needed a new logic board, but they seemed to indicate everything else was good.

If this were true...I'm guessing you wouldn't have run into the battery & trackpad issues mentioned in post #1.

Again. Look at it this way. If the replacement logic board was the correct one. If it was 100% operational. The old LB was removed error free...and the replacement LB was installed error free. Then the computer would be working 100% fine. Right.

The only other possibility is. The coffee spill that happened could have damaged something else (other than the logic board). Sometimes liquid spill damage can suddenly surface long after the spill. The damage that liquid spills do can be very unpredictable...and doesn't necessarily have to "show it's ugly head" immediately. Can be like a ticking time bomb. We have an ongoing 5 year-old 25 page "liquid spill" thread here at Mac-Forums with all sorts of liquid spill stories. Most of them (unfortunately) not happy endings:

http://www.mac-forums.com/apple-notebooks/271875-official-spilled-liquid-macbook-thread.html

Hope this helps understand things,

- Nick

 

[jwfuller]

This is VERY surprising. Since if the CPU cores are running at 700+%...they should also be generating a bunch of heat...which needs to be dissipated.

Yeah I thought so too, especially considering the fans were running like crazy for probably at least a year prior to the board failure.

Notorious for what...having coffee spilled on them? Certainly not the computers fault for having coffee spilt on it? Maybe you were referring to something else 2011 MBP's are notorious for.

I thought it was fairly obvious I was referring to the Logic Board issues... guess not. I apologize.

Only asked this question since sometimes there's more than 1 logic board replacement possibility. And if the incorrect board is purchased...could be issues.

Yeah that makes sense. I did some research on the board, I am pretty sure it was the correct one, it looked the exact same.

This of course is a VERY VERY important thing to be 100% about. If the replacement logic board you got was defective in some way...then of course this would lead to issue's.

Yeah I get that, I however know of no way I could know this.

I don't know the details of how you obtained the replacement logic board. But I'm going to guess that it cost less (or much less) than the $1240 Apple was going to charge. If this means you got it from someone you didn't know...probably a used logic board...maybe from eBay. It's possible it could have had a pre-existing issue.

170 bucks on eBay.

Q5 & Q6. I'm assuming you did the logic board removal & install. You would be the best person to know if something went wrong (or right) with the LB removal or install. Wouldn't be the first time someone broke a small plastic part, forgot to connect a wire, damaged a wire connecting socket, forgot a screw or two...or something else.

Yes I did, and makes no claims to be an expert, nor do I have the time to become one (unfortunately) because I am a law student. I am positive no screws were left out of plastic pieces were broken. The wire (zf connector?) that is for the trackpad was hard to get in and it did get slightly bent, but I don't think this affected anything. Positive I dint forget to connect a wire, triple checked things like that.

If this were true...I'm guessing you wouldn't have run into the battery & trackpad issues mentioned in post #1.

Correct me if i am wrong, but I thought that was due to the computer sitting on the shelf from Aug 2016 - Feb 2017 and being exposed to the temperatures in my apartment over winter break when I went back to Tennessee.

Again. Look at it this way. If the replacement logic board was the correct one. If it was 100% operational. The old LB was removed error free...and the replacement LB was installed error free. Then the computer would be working 100% fine. Right.

Yeah of course.. I guess my question that remains unanswered is what do I do now? I am sure you people who know these machines like you know the English are frustrated by people like me who don't know anything, but I really appreciate you helping.

The only other possibility is. The coffee spill that happened could have damaged something else (other than the logic board). Sometimes liquid spill damage can suddenly surface long after the spill. The damage that liquid spills do can be very unpredictable...and doesn't necessarily have to "show it's ugly head" immediately. Can be like a ticking time bomb. We have an ongoing 5 year-old 25 page "liquid spill" thread here at Mac-Forums with all sorts of liquid spill stories. Most of them (unfortunately) not happy endings:

Yeah man, I am just lucky I got as many good years out of it as I did. I spilled an entire Venti Starbucks drink on it like 3 years ago while pulling an all nighter studying for some stupid Immunology Exam or something.. talk about a bad night...

Thanks again man sorry for the remaining questions
Will

 

[jwfuller]

It only runs wild sometimes too not all the time?

 

[pigoo3]

I thought it was fairly obvious I was referring to the Logic Board issues... guess not. I apologize.

It's really not that obvious. When posting on internet forums is usually a very good idea to always be detailed & specific. Then anyone reading will not be confused or assume anything incorrectly.

You are correct. Some 2011 MacBook Pro's did have logic board issues. But these issues were video related issues (nothing else). In post #1 you said your MacBook Pro "died and wouldn't reboot". This is not a video reated issue.

Plus you mentioned that you spilled an entire Venti Starbuck's drink on the computer. Whether some 2011 MacBook Pro's had logic board issues or not. Spiiling an entire cup of a Starbuck's beverage on it...clearly sidesteps any logic board issues that may or may not have been present.

Yeah that makes sense. I did some research on the board, I am pretty sure it was the correct one, it looked the exact same.

Given all the other unknowns in this situation. We'll just assume you got the correct logic board.

Yeah I get that, I however know of no way I could know this.

Yes there is (or was) a way the functionality of the replacement logic board could have been determined. As soon as you received the replacement logic board...it could have been immediately installed...and then the computer tested. If the computer worked 100%...then we would have known that the replacement logic board was fine. If the computer did not work 100% after the replacement...then this would have been a strong indication that the replacement logic board was faulty.

With this info (if the computer did not work after replacement)...you could have complained to the eBay seller...and either gotten a 2nd replacement logic board...or gotten your $170 refunded.

170 bucks on eBay.

This was actually a very very good price. 100% working replacement/used logic boards for 2011 MacBook Pro's can generally cost $350 and up. But...considering that Apple was going to charge $1240 to fix things...and a 100% working logic board usually costs $350+. When you see a logic board for $170...the #1 rule applies. "If it seems too good to be true...it probably is."

But this "low cost risk"...could have been avoided if the replacement had been done quickly...and if the computer did not work. The logic board could have been returned for a refund.

The wire (zf connector?) that is for the trackpad was hard to get in and it did get slightly bent, but I don't think this affected anything.

This may not have affected anything. But you would be surprised what can effect the proper running of a computer. I had a 2010 13" MacBook Pro that I purchased used (for a good price). Got it home...and had the same high CPU use you have. Long story short. It was a bad fan. Apple replaced it for free...since the computer still had Applecare on it.

Correct me if i am wrong, but I thought that was due to the computer sitting on the shelf from Aug 2016 - Feb 2017 and being exposed to the temperatures in my apartment over winter break when I went back to Tennessee.

These details were never mentioned previously in this thread. So there's no way I could have known this when I read your posts...and wrote my earlier replies. The conditions you described may or may not have not lead to the battery/trackpad issues. Hard to say at this point.

Yeah of course.. I guess my question that remains unanswered is what do I do now?

Forget about it. When laptop computers have a full cup of a Starbuck's beverage spilled on them...you can almost be guaranteed there will be issues (at the time of the spill...or in the future).

And...it's really not financially logical to replace the logic board on a 5-6 year old Apple computer (unless a 100% working low-cost logic board can be found). The cost of a 100% working logic board (even if you install it yourself). Will almost always meet or exceed the full market value of the computer. You're better off just purchasing an exact copy of the computer for the same price. And in this case (because of the liquid spill). There's almost always additional hardware damage beyond the logic board.

Yeah man, I am just lucky I got as many good years out of it as I did. I spilled an entire Venti Starbucks drink on it like 3 years ago while pulling an all nighter studying for some stupid Immunology Exam or something.. talk about a bad night...

I totally totally agree!!! You REALLY did get VERY lucky the computer worked for as long as it did. I could almost guarantee you that in at least 95% (if not 99%) of similar cases...the computers would not have worked 1 millisecond after spilling a full Starbuck's beverage on it.

Thanks again man sorry for the remaining questions

Hey you had to ask. But this could have been a MUCH shorter conversation (for both of us) if we were told in post #1 that a full cup of a Starbuck's beverage was spilled on it.

- Nick

p.s. By the way. If we assume that the $170 replacement logic board was faulty. At least you only paid $170. If you HAD paid more like $400-$500 for a replacement logic board (and it was faulty). That would have been more financially painful.

 

[pm-r]

Hmmm… I'm a bit confused here. Not hard to do, but:
jwfuller now says:

It only runs wild sometimes too not all the time?

Yet in post #1, I read:

… now I have noticed it is SUPER SLOW, looking at activity monitor: kernel task is constantly using like 700-900 % of the CPU, the CPU load is pretty much full, and it is using ~500 MB of Memory …

So if it's now really "It only runs wild sometimes too not all the time?", I'd grin and bare it I guess and just carry on until it might get too frustrating.






- Patrick
—————

 

[jwfuller]

Nick:
Like I said I thought it was fairly obvious, however it seems I did not tell the entire story. I'm not sure I understand how you would tell if it was "video issues," the guy that tested it at the Apple Store said that was in fact the case though. They were going to replace the logic board under that fault logic board repair program, but when they opened it up and saw liquid residue or whatever they changed their mind.

Again it could be my ignorance to this type of stuff but I had a really hard time believeing it could work properly for 3 years then die as a direct result of that singular event, but if that is the case that is fascinating. (And lucky)
When I said "died, and would not boot." What I really should have did was it died and continually tried to restart, I had some green screen looking stuff I don't really remember exactly what happened.

Yeah I understand the whole "too good to be true thing." I bought from a 15 plus year seller with over 1000 ratings and used best offer function (seller was asking 350). I really don't think this was a faulty logic board but it could have been.

I apologize for leaving details out, I am a bit scatterbrained/ADD and have a tendency to do that when writing long posts (or anything).

Well I don't particularly want to forget about it as this computer has nostalgia value to me, look I get that it isn't financially responsible to pay 1240 bucks for a new logic board, but I'd pay several hundred bucks to get it back in working order. Full disclosure I have a 6 month old 2015 MBP, so this old one was never intended to be my primary computer again I was really just tinkering. I had plans of using it as a docked desktop with and external monitor, mouse and keyboard, but again I'm really just trying to learn a little about computers and have some fun.

Thanks Nick

 

[jwfuller]

Patrick: thanks for your response, I am really just tinkering with this thing trying to figure out what is causing it to do this. I have a new computer that I use for law school. Yes it is hard for me to eloquently describe because I do not really understand what is going on. It will be running fine, then all the sudden it will slow down so much the cursor lags(sp?) guys when I see the outrageous numbers on activity monitor. I'll step away from it for 30 mins or so and it's back to normal!?? Sorry I am so bad at telling y'all what is going on but thanks again for the help.

 

[pigoo3]

They were going to replace the logic board under that fault logic board repair program, but when they opened it up and saw liquid residue or whatever they changed their mind.

Again it could be my ignorance to this type of stuff but I had a really hard time believeing it could work properly for 3 years then die as a direct result of that singular event, but if that is the case that is fascinating. (And lucky)

The bottom line here is:

- If the replacement logic board is good. Then something else is busted.
- If the replacement logic board is bad. Then the replacement logic board is bad...and you need a good one.

Problem is...you really don't have a reliable way of knowing if the replacement logic board is good or bad. Since it sounds like too much time has passed since the replacement logic board was purchased & installed....to be able to return it.

The only additional thing I can suggest is. Do a complete erase & reformat of the HD...and a fresh install of the OS. If the problems remain...this confirms that the problem is hardware & not software. And right now the #1 hardware problem has to be the logic board. Especially since it cannot be confirmed if the replacement logic board is good or bad.

- Nick

 

[jwfuller]

The bottom line here is:

- If the replacement logic board is good. Then something else is busted.
- If the replacement logic board is bad. Then the replacement logic board is bad...and you need a good one.

Problem is...you really don't have a reliable way of knowing if the replacement logic board is good or bad. Since it sounds like too much time has passed since the replacement logic board was purchased & installed....to be able to return it.

The only additional thing I can suggest is. Do a complete erase & reformat of the HD...and a fresh install of the OS. If the problems remain...this confirms that the problem is hardware & not software. And right now the #1 hardware problem has to be the logic board. Especially since it cannot be confirmed if the replacement logic board is good or bad.

- Nick

Cool thats something to try I guess. How do I do that?

 

[jwfuller]

Also, I just saw 49,000% cpu when watching a video online??

Pure speculation could there have been a graphics card on the logic board that is causing this issue?

 

[jwfuller]

The bottom line here is:

- If the replacement logic board is good. Then something else is busted.
- If the replacement logic board is bad. Then the replacement logic board is bad...and you need a good one.

Problem is...you really don't have a reliable way of knowing if the replacement logic board is good or bad. Since it sounds like too much time has passed since the replacement logic board was purchased & installed....to be able to return it.

The only additional thing I can suggest is. Do a complete erase & reformat of the HD...and a fresh install of the OS. If the problems remain...this confirms that the problem is hardware & not software. And right now the #1 hardware problem has to be the logic board. Especially since it cannot be confirmed if the replacement logic board is good or bad.

- Nick

Hey Nick,

I don't know if it matters but on "safe boot" I am getting significantly lower numbers.

This may be a stupid question, but should I have removed my cpu and graphics from my logic board and installed them onto the new board?

When I boot in safe mode it shows the AMD and Intel Graphics but in "normal" boot only the Intel Graphics show on this screen