Troubleshooting Sudden "Mega Crash" and Fixes for macOS Performance Issues on MacBook Pro 11.1 (Late 2013)

Guide: Understanding and Resolving the Lag and Crashes on MacBook Pro 11.1 (Late 2013)

Experiencing a sudden crash with a half black, half white screen followed by extreme lag, graphical glitches, and desktop freezes on your MacBook Pro 11.1 (Late 2013) can be frustrating, especially when everything was working smoothly before. The crash you experienced could be caused by several factors, including GPU, CPU issues, or problems introduced during the patch process (e.g., PIpatch). Here's how to troubleshoot the situation and get your system back to working order.

Possible Causes of the "Mega Crash"

1. Graphics Issues (GPU or iGPU):

   • The MacBook Pro 11.1 uses an Intel Iris Pro GPU, and sometimes these can have compatibility issues with patched graphics kexts. In particular, issues may arise with hardware acceleration or incorrect patches like PIpatch (which modifies the graphics settings).
   • The graphical glitches (like the rainbow wheel and the half-black screen) could point to a GPU crash, often due to an incompatible patch or missing driver (kext) for the integrated GPU.

2. macOS Update and Patch Issues:

   • If macOS was trying to update in the background when the crash occurred, a pending update could have caused the system to behave erratically, especially when the system tries to apply updates that are incompatible with the current kexts or patches.
   • If you hadn’t disabled the automatic update feature or applied certain patches (like PIpatch), this could have triggered the system freeze or crash.

3. Resource-Intensive Application (SketchUp):

   • SketchUp is a relatively resource-heavy application, and running it after a patch could have triggered the GPU or CPU to overheat or run into performance issues, especially if the system was patched improperly or if the GPU wasn’t fully supported in the patch.

Step-by-Step Guide to Solve the Issue

Step 1: Boot into Safe Mode

1. Reboot your system while holding down the Shift key.
2. This will boot macOS into Safe Mode, where only essential kexts and drivers are loaded. If the system works fine in Safe Mode, the issue is most likely related to a faulty kext or patch.
3. If your system is stable in Safe Mode, proceed to the next steps. If the system still crashes, there may be a deeper issue with your hardware.

Step 2: Check GPU Settings and Remove Problematic Kexts

1. Remove or Disable GPU Patches:

   • Since you mentioned using PIpatch and having issues, try disabling it or removing the associated kexts.
   • In your config.plist, disable or remove any settings related to graphics (e.g., device-id, framebuffer, etc.).

   Example of removing GPU patches:

   xml
   Copy code
   <key>Graphics</key>
   <dict>
       <key>DisableGraphics</key>
       <true/>
   </dict>
   

2. Reset the NVRAM/PRAM:

   • After removing the patch, reset the NVRAM to clear any residual settings that might cause graphical glitches or configuration errors:
   • Turn off the Mac, and then hold Command + Option + P + R during boot until the system restarts.
   • This will reset display settings, volume, and other parameters that might be causing graphical issues.

Step 3: Check for Pending Updates and Disable Them

1. Disable Automatic Updates:

   • As you encountered the "update pending" issue, it’s possible that macOS tried to apply an update when it wasn’t ready. To avoid future problems, disable automatic updates.

   • You can do this by going to System Preferences > Software Update, then uncheck the box that allows macOS to automatically download and install updates.

2. Manually Check for Updates:

   • Once the system is stable, you can manually check for updates by going to System Preferences > Software Update and installing only those that are compatible with your patched system.

Step 4: Reapply the Patch Correctly

1. Reinstall PIpatch: After ensuring the system is stable, reinstall the PIpatch (or other GPU patches). But ensure that you are using the correct kexts for your hardware, specifically the Intel Iris Pro GPU.

2. Use OpenCore or OC Patcher:

   • If you are using OpenCore Patcher (as a tool to patch macOS), ensure that the config.plist is properly set up for your MacBook Pro 11.1 (Late 2013). Double-check the SMBIOS, GPU-related patches, and ensure the correct kexts are present.

Step 5: Check System Logs for Clues

1. Check the Console Logs:
   • After rebooting and before applying patches, open Console.app (Applications > Utilities > Console) and check for any kernel panics, crash reports, or other warnings that could indicate the cause of the issue.
   • Look specifically for errors related to GPU, kexts, or graphics acceleration.

Step 6: Consider Using a Different Patch or Version of macOS

1. Test Different Patches:
   • If PIpatch continues to cause issues, consider using a different patch or method for enabling GPU acceleration. For example, WhateverGreen.kext is a popular alternative for handling Intel GPUs.
2. Try an Older macOS Version:
   • If you're running macOS Sonoma or another newer version and experiencing issues, consider downgrading to a stable version like macOS Ventura or macOS Monterey, which might be more compatible with your hardware.

Step 7: Hardware Check (Optional)

1. Test the Hardware:
   • If you've tried all of the above steps and the issue persists, there could be a hardware-related issue. Check the RAM, SSD, and GPU using diagnostic tools or Apple Diagnostics to rule out any faulty components.

Conclusion

The "Mega Crash" you encountered was likely a combination of GPU-related issues, pending updates, and possibly a patch conflict. By following these steps, you can remove problematic patches, ensure system stability, and prevent the issue from happening again. Start with the basics: remove any unnecessary graphics patches, reset the NVRAM, disable automatic updates, and gradually reapply patches as needed.

If the issue continues despite these steps, consider testing a different patching method or downgrading to a more stable version of macOS.