You can read all about the problem from Apple Support Discussions:
Unfortunately, at the moment there is no clear solution how to fix the problem.
From the forum: “I believe this is a hardware problem. I also was suffering from the same channel exception errors (and screen corruption/freezes) and, on a whim I applied to the NVIDIA Settlement repair program. I sent my laptop in, they repaired the GPU and some other odds and ends (though they didn't specify what else they changed) and sent it back. Since its return, no channel errors and no screen corruption. I strongly suggest looking here to see if you qualify for the free repair: http://www.nvidiasettlement.com/”
Still there is a debate about this being a hardware or a software problem.
I have my MacBook Pro repaired at Apple Service and it did help a lot, and yet I still have this problem.
I haven't find the solution, BUT I might have found one problem source. Can you guess? Yep, that's right, Flash. I had Flash version 10.2.152.21 and I downgraded it to version 10.1.102.64. For couple days now there hasn't been any freezing.
How to Downgrade Adobe Flash
- Go to Adobe Flash Player – Downloads page.
- Click download older versions of Adobe Flash Player link.
- On Archived Flash Player versions page there are instructions to uninstall current Flash and a link to download previous Flash version.
Update: After downgrading the Flash, problem still remains. My MacBook Pro still freezes about once or twice a week.
Second update: Ok, I kind of gave up and reinstalled OS X. And you know what, in my case it looks like that did the trick. Maybe it is because majority of the applications and drivers I used to have are no gone. BUT, now I have an other problem: [link id='668′ text='”KCGErrorFailure” with Unexpected Log Out']. And I think this one is even more annoying error…
Do you have the problem? Have you find a solution?
gfxCardStatus
Are you are an owner of any these MacBook models:
- 2010 i5/i7 MacBook Pro with Intel HD/NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M GPUs
- 2009 MacBook Pro with NVIDIA GeForce 9400M/9600M GT GPUs
- Late 2008 MacBook Pro with NVIDIA GeForce 9400M/9600M GT GPUs
If you are, you may use application to narrow down you problem with the NVDA error. gfxCardStatus is a menu bar application that keeps track of which graphics card your MacBook Pro is using at any given time. It also allows you to switch between them on demand.
Hi Kristian,
I have been with this problem about few months ago. This begun after upgrade to Lion. I thought it was a general problem related with the new OS. Anyway, I returned to Snow Leopard to avoid unwanted freezes and for my surprise the problem was present there too (Snow Leopard never did freeze before this event).
I don’t know… There are people that says it is related to the cooling paste of the NVidia chip… Other explanation is the driver or some unrecognized issue of the OS. I tried to use gfxCardStatus, but when I use a program which usually activates the discrete chip, the system freezes (in fact, this is the only time when I can reproduce the failure).
If you have any new information I’ll be very grateful if you share it.
Greetings.
Hi Jorge,
Reinstalling OS X finally helped in my case, but what was the main reason for the problem? I have to say that I don’t know.
Apple has issued a video update for MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010) and that has helped some with the display problem in Lion, but I’m afraid I don’t know any other new information.
Hi Kristian,
Could it have some relation with Safari 5.1?
Greetings.
Guys,
after months of complete despair I found a solution.
Simply rename AppleGraphicsPowerManagement.kext to AppleGraphicsPowerManagement.kext.disable in /System/Library/Extensions.
After that, boot with -f argument to rebuild kexts cache.
Cheers.
Well,
since I have a MacPro4,1, it didnt solve the problem for good.
But…
Reading and doing this:
http://www.tonymacx86.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=20367&start=0&hilit=Channel+exception
SOLVED! 🙂
I also recommend:
http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=266036
Thanks Adriano for fresh information! Great to see that there really are effective solutions for the problem.
There is no software solution to this problem yet and I don’t think there are going to be a solution much soon either. The gfxCardStatus App is just a App that switches between your two graphic cards and let you select on which graphics you want to run your machine on. I am using this App myself at the moment but this is just a temporary fix to the problem.
I read a lot of articles during the past 6 weeks and NOTHING could help me. I tried everything I could on my own but never took it in for repair because of the high costs. I finally diagnosed the problem and I think the problem lies with the graphics card. Even if you format and reinstall a clean copy of Lion it won’t solve the problem. Don’t switch back to Snow Leopard OS because that is just dumb! Lion is awesome and functions perfectly without this specific graphics card.
So use the App but why keep going on like this? Why struggle with slow performance and slow rendering while you can have the ultimate performance? Use you MBP as it was meant to be used, just get a new graphics card.
I know this is an old thread, but I wanted to follow up in case anyone gets here by way of search. I had the NVDA Channel Exception errors all the time. They caused my iMac to freeze, graphic issues, etc. This has been happening for a few years, and happens sometimes as often as several times a day, but at a minimum it happens a few times a week.
A few weeks ago, in installed Fan Control. It controls the 3 fans in my iMac to make sure to keep the Mac cool enough. I adjusted the fan RPMs and the temperature levels, and since that time I have had no NVDA errors and no graphics freezes.
http://www.derman.com/iMac-Fan-Control
For Loïc about freezing NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M: I would change logic board for MacBook Pro 2010 if other option would be to go back to an older Snow Leopard OS X version. It’s still quite new your Mac. That’s my thought.
i found the fix that safari 5.7 corrupts open gl drivers on nvidia cards !
go to system/library/extensions remove the natik plug and nvinjector plug
install nvidia 64 kext repair permission reboot wala
See apple note TS4088 (http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4088)
It seems that Apple is finally accepting this issue and is offering a repair free of charge.
Does anyone see this problem on mid 2012 mac pros ? I have an mod 2012 macpro and I see this crash, and also freezes on safari at least a few times every day. After upgrading to yosemite, I see a graphics problem report every time on boot.
NVDA(OpenGL): Channel exception! Exception type = 0x8 DMA Engine Error (FIFO Error 8)
Channel Info: [4, 0x9, 0x2, 0x1]
Version Info: [com.apple.GeForce, 10.0.0, 0x746c6943485b52, 18831271, 310.41.05f01, 1]