[CURRENT ISSUE] Freezing, possible system lockup on Macs with AMD Vega GPUs

A friend was having the same problem as me on a PC, she unchecked enable Origin in Sims4 In the origin settings, problem immediately resolved; her computer was maxing out its GPU.

My game performance hugely improved following her lead. Day and night difference disabling that option in the Origin settings. Attached is my config.log file; Let me know if the game has to be closed when attaching, I just restarted it up after a friend messaged me about the enable origin in sims4 fix that helped her computer not want to die trying to play the game.

On the other hand, it’s not preventing the crashes but the game is performing MUCH better between crashes. It just crashed again. Attached is the amusing death throes of my computer image.

poor computer.

Oh nice. Got an error display on boot up so took a picture. I did get a screenshot of this as well but here is the system crash log. I am on my phone for this since it blew up my computer spectacularly. 

error is a kernel panic from my CPU (not GPU)

next comment will have complete error log text. 

Sims4 is NOT reporting any crash logs in the backend. Most recent one I have is from September 1, 2020, which reads as follows:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><report><version>2</version><sessionid>3fe5ce8bad3615a85f4e954e</sessionid><type>crash</type><sku>ea.maxis.sims4.15.mac</sku><createtime>2020-09-01 20:29:07</createtime><buildsignature>Local.Unknown.Unknown.1.65.77.1220-1.200.000.459.Release</buildsignature><systemconfig></systemconfig><categoryid> 0x58e6ad</categoryid><stack> 0x58e6ad 0x591de7 0x5b5887 0x5b56d4 0x59f89e 0x5e4db8 0x59929d 0x598821 0x5f0df5 0x121e80 0x6109 0x1b8b</stack><threads></threads><screenshot></screenshot><memdump></memdump><contextdata>Client Session Time: 6596.82<br />Num Save Errors: 0<br />Num Load Errors: 0<br />Current Game State: 0xbe7da869<br />Origin Version: 10,5,82,43225<br />Modded: False<br />SystemInfo: Mac OS X Version 10.15.5 (Build 19F101) GPU: Radeon Pro Vega 56 macOS Metal driver 0.0.0.0<br />(baseaddr) 0x133442000,'Simulation.dylib' 0x133442000,'Simulation.dylib' 0x133442000,'Simulation.dylib' 0x133442000,'Simulation.dylib' 0x133442000,'Simulation.dylib' 0x133442000,'Simulation.dylib' 0x133442000,'Simulation.dylib' 0x133442000,'Simulation.dylib' 0x133442000,'Simulation.dylib' 0x133442000,'Simulation.dylib' 0x7fff72495000,'libsystem_pthread.dylib' 0x7fff72495000,'libsystem_pthread.dylib'(/baseaddr)</contextdata></report>

Here is the system crash log when the game made my CPU ditch out.

panic(cpu 6 caller 0xffffff7f9eda1ad5): userspace watchdog timeout: no successful checkins from com.apple.WindowServer in 120 seconds
service: com.apple.logd, total successful checkins since load (12000 seconds ago): 1201, last successful checkin: 0 seconds ago
service: com.apple.WindowServer, total successful checkins since load (11970 seconds ago): 1185, last successful checkin: 120 seconds ago

Backtrace (CPU 6), Frame : Return Address
0xffffffa3ec1eb720 : 0xffffff801e31a65d
0xffffffa3ec1eb770 : 0xffffff801e454a75
0xffffffa3ec1eb7b0 : 0xffffff801e4465fe
0xffffffa3ec1eb800 : 0xffffff801e2c0a40
0xffffffa3ec1eb820 : 0xffffff801e319d27
0xffffffa3ec1eb920 : 0xffffff801e31a117
0xffffffa3ec1eb970 : 0xffffff801eac1b28
0xffffffa3ec1eb9e0 : 0xffffff7f9eda1ad5
0xffffffa3ec1eb9f0 : 0xffffff7f9eda17fa
0xffffffa3ec1eba10 : 0xffffff801ea539ce
0xffffffa3ec1eba60 : 0xffffff7f9eda0cfe
0xffffffa3ec1ebb60 : 0xffffff801ea5cbf3
0xffffffa3ec1ebca0 : 0xffffff801e4035e2
0xffffffa3ec1ebdb0 : 0xffffff801e3203c8
0xffffffa3ec1ebe10 : 0xffffff801e2f6d15
0xffffffa3ec1ebe70 : 0xffffff801e30db22
0xffffffa3ec1ebf00 : 0xffffff801e42c065
0xffffffa3ec1ebfa0 : 0xffffff801e2c1226
Kernel Extensions in backtrace:
com.apple.driver.watchdog(1.0)[832CC890-EE61-33E0-8FD4-8D354BCD0921]@0xffffff7f9eda0000->0xffffff7f9eda8fff

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: watchdogd
Boot args: chunklist-security-epoch=0 -chunklist-no-rev2-dev

Mac OS version:
19G2021

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 19.6.0: Thu Jun 18 20:49:00 PDT 2020; root:xnu-6153.141.1~1/RELEASE_X86_64
Kernel UUID: 1D3A0F3D-D908-397B-BD16-8F48C0823A2E
Kernel slide: 0x000000001e000000
Kernel text base: 0xffffff801e200000
__HIB text base: 0xffffff801e100000
System model name: iMacPro1,1 (Mac-7BA5B2D9E42DDD94)
System shutdown begun: NO

System uptime in nanoseconds: 12010956778434
last loaded kext at 20446663272: >!AHIDKeyboard 209 (addr 0xffffff7fa0ae3000, size 45056)
last unloaded kext at 268226958186: >usb.!UHostPacketFilter 1.0 (addr 0xffffff7fa0bf3000, size 24576)
loaded kexts:
>!ATopCaseHIDEventDriver 3430.1
>!AUpstreamUserClient 3.6.8
@kext.AMDFramebuffer 3.1.0
@kext.AMDRadeonX5000 3.1.0
@kext.AMDRadeonServiceManager 3.1.0
>!AGraphicsDevicePolicy 5.2.6
@fileutil 20.036.15
@filesystems.autofs 3.0
@AGDCPluginDisplayMetrics 5.2.6
>!AHV 1
|IOUserEthernet 1.0.1
|IO!BSerialManager 7.0.6f7
>AGPM 111.4.4
>!APlatformEnabler 2.7.0d0
>X86PlatformShim 1.0.0
>pmtelemetry 1
@Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X 7.0.0
@kext.AMD10000!C 3.1.0
>BridgeAudioCommunication 6.70.7
>!AThunderboltIP 3.1.4
>!AHIDALSService 1
>!AGFXHDA 100.1.429
>!ABridgeAudio!C 6.70.7
>!A!IPCHPMC 2.0.1
>!AAVEBridge 6.1
>!A!IMCEReporter 115
>!A!ISlowAdaptiveClocking 4.0.0
>!AMCCSControl 1.14
>!UCardReader 489.120.1
>BCMWLANFirmware4355.Hashstore 1
>BCMWLANFirmware4364.Hashstore 1
>BCMWLANFirmware4377.Hashstore 1
@filesystems.apfs 1412.141.1
@filesystems.hfs.kext 522.100.5
>!ABCMWLANBusInterfacePCIe 1
@BootCache 40
@!AFSCompression.!AFSCompressionTypeDataless 1.0.0d1
@!AFSCompression.!AFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0
>!AVirtIO 1.0
@private.KextAudit 1.0
>!AACPIButtons 6.1
>!ASMBIOS 2.1
>!AACPIEC 6.1
>!AAPIC 1.7
$!AImage4 1
@nke.applicationfirewall 303
$TMSafetyNet 8
@!ASystemPolicy 2.0.0
|EndpointSecurity 1
>!AHIDKeyboard 209
>!AActuatorDriver 3440.1
>!AMultitouchDriver 3440.1
>!AInputDeviceSupport 3440.8
>!AHS!BDriver 3430.1
>IO!BHIDDriver 7.0.6f7
@kext.AMDRadeonX5100HWLibs 1.0
|IOAccelerator!F2 438.7.3
@kext.AMDRadeonX5000HWServices 3.1.0
@kext.triggers 1.0
|IOAVB!F 850.1
@!AGPUWrangler 5.2.6
|IONDRVSupport 576.1
>!AGraphicsControl 5.2.6
|IO!BHost!CUARTTransport 7.0.6f7
|IO!BHost!CTransport 7.0.6f7
>!A!ILpssUARTv1 3.0.60
>!A!ILpssUARTCommon 3.0.60
>!AOnboardSerial 1.0
@kext.AMDSupport 3.1.0
@!AGraphicsDeviceControl 5.2.6
>X86PlatformPlugin 1.0.0
>IOPlatformPlugin!F 6.0.0d8
|IOSlowAdaptiveClocking!F 1.0.0
>!ASMBus!C 1.0.18d1
|IOGraphics!F 576.1
@plugin.IOgPTPPlugin 840.3
|IOEthernetAVB!C 1.1.0
>usb.cdc.ncm 5.0.0
>usb.cdc 5.0.0
>usb.networking 5.0.0
>usb.!UHostCompositeDevice 1.2
>usb.!UVHCIBCE 1.2
>usb.!UVHCI 1.2
>usb.!UVHCICommonBCE 1.0
>usb.!UVHCICommon 1.0
>!AEffaceableNOR 1.0
|IONVMe!F 2.1.0
|IOBufferCopy!C 1.1.0
|IOBufferCopyEngine!F 1
>!ABCMWLANCore 1.0.0
>IOImageLoader 1.0.0
|IO80211!FV2 1200.12.2b1
>corecapture 1.0.4
|IOSkywalk!F 1
|IOSurface 269.11
@filesystems.hfs.encodings.kext 1
|IOAudio!F 300.2
@vecLib.kext 1.2.0
|IOSerial!F 11
>!AThunderboltDPInAdapter 6.2.6
>!AThunderboltDPAdapter!F 6.2.6
>!AThunderboltPCIDownAdapter 2.5.4
>!AHPM 3.4.4
>!A!ILpssI2C!C 3.0.60
>!A!ILpssDmac 3.0.60
>!A!ILpssI2C 3.0.60
>!AThunderboltNHI 5.8.6
|IOThunderbolt!F 7.6.1
|IOUSB!F 900.4.2
>usb.!UXHCIPCI 1.2
>usb.!UXHCI 1.2
>!AEthernetAquantiaAqtion 1.0.64
>mDNSOffloadUserClient 1.0.1b8
>!AEFINVRAM 2.1
>!AEFIRuntime 2.1
>!ASMCRTC 1.0
|IOSMBus!F 1.1
|IOHID!F 2.0.0
$quarantine 4
$sandbox 300.0
@kext.!AMatch 1.0.0d1
>!AKeyStore 2
>!UTDM 489.120.1
|IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice 422.120.3
>!ACredentialManager 1.0
>!AFDEKeyStore 28.30
>!AEffaceable!S 1.0
>!AMobileFileIntegrity 1.0.5
@kext.CoreTrust 1
|CoreAnalytics!F 1
|IOTimeSync!F 840.3
|IONetworking!F 3.4
>DiskImages 493.0.0
|IO!B!F 7.0.6f7
|IO!BPacketLogger 7.0.6f7
>!ASSE 1.0
>KernelRelayHost 1
>!ASEPManager 1.0.1
>IOSlaveProcessor 1
|IOUSBMass!SDriver 157.140.1
|IOSCSIArchitectureModel!F 422.120.3
|IO!S!F 2.1
|IOUSBHost!F 1.2
>usb.!UCommon 1.0
>!UHostMergeProperties 1.2
>!ABusPower!C 1.0
|IOReport!F 47
>!AACPIPlatform 6.1
>!ASMC 3.1.9
>watchdog 1
|IOPCI!F 2.9
|IOACPI!F 1.4
@kec.pthread 1
@kec.corecrypto 1.0
@kec.Libm 1

I can confirm windowed mode makes the crashes even worse and more frequent. In windowed mode, the game locks and freezes immediately upon attempting to do... basically anything.

so, once my computer finishes crashing again I will not be using windowed mode.

New system error report upon crashing, this time from windowed mode:

panic(cpu 4 caller 0xffffff7f93fa1ad5): userspace watchdog timeout: no successful checkins from com.apple.WindowServer in 120 seconds
service: com.apple.logd, total successful checkins since load (1190 seconds ago): 120, last successful checkin: 0 seconds ago
service: com.apple.WindowServer, total successful checkins since load (1160 seconds ago): 104, last successful checkin: 120 seconds ago

Backtrace (CPU 4), Frame : Return Address
0xffffffa3e2a6b720 : 0xffffff801351a65d
0xffffffa3e2a6b770 : 0xffffff8013654a75
0xffffffa3e2a6b7b0 : 0xffffff80136465fe
0xffffffa3e2a6b800 : 0xffffff80134c0a40
0xffffffa3e2a6b820 : 0xffffff8013519d27
0xffffffa3e2a6b920 : 0xffffff801351a117
0xffffffa3e2a6b970 : 0xffffff8013cc1b28
0xffffffa3e2a6b9e0 : 0xffffff7f93fa1ad5
0xffffffa3e2a6b9f0 : 0xffffff7f93fa17fa
0xffffffa3e2a6ba10 : 0xffffff8013c539ce
0xffffffa3e2a6ba60 : 0xffffff7f93fa0cfe
0xffffffa3e2a6bb60 : 0xffffff8013c5cbf3
0xffffffa3e2a6bca0 : 0xffffff80136035e2
0xffffffa3e2a6bdb0 : 0xffffff80135203c8
0xffffffa3e2a6be10 : 0xffffff80134f6d15
0xffffffa3e2a6be70 : 0xffffff801350db22
0xffffffa3e2a6bf00 : 0xffffff801362c065
0xffffffa3e2a6bfa0 : 0xffffff80134c1226
Kernel Extensions in backtrace:
com.apple.driver.watchdog(1.0)[832CC890-EE61-33E0-8FD4-8D354BCD0921]@0xffffff7f93fa0000->0xffffff7f93fa8fff

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: watchdogd
Boot args: chunklist-security-epoch=0 -chunklist-no-rev2-dev chunklist-security-epoch=0 -chunklist-no-rev2-dev

Mac OS version:
19G2021

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 19.6.0: Thu Jun 18 20:49:00 PDT 2020; root:xnu-6153.141.1~1/RELEASE_X86_64
Kernel UUID: 1D3A0F3D-D908-397B-BD16-8F48C0823A2E
Kernel slide: 0x0000000013200000
Kernel text base: 0xffffff8013400000
__HIB text base: 0xffffff8013300000
System model name: iMacPro1,1 (Mac-7BA5B2D9E42DDD94)
System shutdown begun: NO

System uptime in nanoseconds: 1200676966917
last loaded kext at 20339732993: >!AHIDKeyboard 209 (addr 0xffffff7f95ce3000, size 45056)
last unloaded kext at 514381638341: >usb.!UHostPacketFilter 1.0 (addr 0xffffff7f95df3000, size 24576)
loaded kexts:
>!ATopCaseHIDEventDriver 3430.1
>!AUpstreamUserClient 3.6.8
@kext.AMDFramebuffer 3.1.0
@kext.AMDRadeonX5000 3.1.0
@kext.AMDRadeonServiceManager 3.1.0
>!AGraphicsDevicePolicy 5.2.6
@fileutil 20.036.15
@AGDCPluginDisplayMetrics 5.2.6
>!AHV 1
|IOUserEthernet 1.0.1
|IO!BSerialManager 7.0.6f7
>AGPM 111.4.4
>!APlatformEnabler 2.7.0d0
>X86PlatformShim 1.0.0
>pmtelemetry 1
@Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X 7.0.0
@kext.AMD10000!C 3.1.0
>BridgeAudioCommunication 6.70.7
>!AThunderboltIP 3.1.4
>!AHIDALSService 1
>!AGFXHDA 100.1.429
>!ABridgeAudio!C 6.70.7
>!A!IPCHPMC 2.0.1
>!AAVEBridge 6.1
>!A!IMCEReporter 115
>!A!ISlowAdaptiveClocking 4.0.0
>!AMCCSControl 1.14
@filesystems.autofs 3.0
>!UCardReader 489.120.1
>BCMWLANFirmware4355.Hashstore 1
>BCMWLANFirmware4364.Hashstore 1
>BCMWLANFirmware4377.Hashstore 1
@filesystems.apfs 1412.141.1
@filesystems.hfs.kext 522.100.5
@BootCache 40
>!ABCMWLANBusInterfacePCIe 1
@!AFSCompression.!AFSCompressionTypeDataless 1.0.0d1
@!AFSCompression.!AFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0
>!AVirtIO 1.0
@private.KextAudit 1.0
>!AACPIButtons 6.1
>!ASMBIOS 2.1
>!AACPIEC 6.1
>!AAPIC 1.7
$!AImage4 1
@nke.applicationfirewall 303
$TMSafetyNet 8
@!ASystemPolicy 2.0.0
|EndpointSecurity 1
>!AHIDKeyboard 209
>!AActuatorDriver 3440.1
>!AMultitouchDriver 3440.1
>!AInputDeviceSupport 3440.8
>!AHS!BDriver 3430.1
>IO!BHIDDriver 7.0.6f7
@kext.AMDRadeonX5100HWLibs 1.0
|IOAccelerator!F2 438.7.3
@kext.AMDRadeonX5000HWServices 3.1.0
|IOAVB!F 850.1
@!AGPUWrangler 5.2.6
|IONDRVSupport 576.1
|IO!BHost!CUARTTransport 7.0.6f7
|IO!BHost!CTransport 7.0.6f7
>!A!ILpssUARTv1 3.0.60
>!A!ILpssUARTCommon 3.0.60
>!AOnboardSerial 1.0
@kext.AMDSupport 3.1.0
@!AGraphicsDeviceControl 5.2.6
>!AGraphicsControl 5.2.6
>X86PlatformPlugin 1.0.0
>IOPlatformPlugin!F 6.0.0d8
|IOSlowAdaptiveClocking!F 1.0.0
>!ASMBus!C 1.0.18d1
|IOGraphics!F 576.1
@plugin.IOgPTPPlugin 840.3
|IOEthernetAVB!C 1.1.0
@kext.triggers 1.0
>usb.cdc.ncm 5.0.0
>usb.cdc 5.0.0
>usb.networking 5.0.0
>usb.!UHostCompositeDevice 1.2
>usb.!UVHCIBCE 1.2
>usb.!UVHCI 1.2
>usb.!UVHCICommonBCE 1.0
>usb.!UVHCICommon 1.0
>!AEffaceableNOR 1.0
|IONVMe!F 2.1.0
|IOBufferCopy!C 1.1.0
|IOBufferCopyEngine!F 1
>!ABCMWLANCore 1.0.0
>IOImageLoader 1.0.0
|IO80211!FV2 1200.12.2b1
>corecapture 1.0.4
|IOSkywalk!F 1
|IOSurface 269.11
@filesystems.hfs.encodings.kext 1
|IOAudio!F 300.2
@vecLib.kext 1.2.0
|IOSerial!F 11
>!AThunderboltPCIDownAdapter 2.5.4
>!AThunderboltDPInAdapter 6.2.6
>!AThunderboltDPAdapter!F 6.2.6
>!AHPM 3.4.4
>!A!ILpssI2C!C 3.0.60
>!A!ILpssDmac 3.0.60
>!A!ILpssI2C 3.0.60
>!AThunderboltNHI 5.8.6
|IOThunderbolt!F 7.6.1
>!AEthernetAquantiaAqtion 1.0.64
>mDNSOffloadUserClient 1.0.1b8
|IOUSB!F 900.4.2
>usb.!UXHCIPCI 1.2
>usb.!UXHCI 1.2
>!AEFINVRAM 2.1
>!AEFIRuntime 2.1
>!ASMCRTC 1.0
|IOSMBus!F 1.1
|IOHID!F 2.0.0
$quarantine 4
$sandbox 300.0
@kext.!AMatch 1.0.0d1
>!AKeyStore 2
>!UTDM 489.120.1
|IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice 422.120.3
>!ACredentialManager 1.0
>!AFDEKeyStore 28.30
>!AEffaceable!S 1.0
>!AMobileFileIntegrity 1.0.5
@kext.CoreTrust 1
|CoreAnalytics!F 1
|IOTimeSync!F 840.3
|IONetworking!F 3.4
>DiskImages 493.0.0
|IO!B!F 7.0.6f7
|IO!BPacketLogger 7.0.6f7
>!ASSE 1.0
>KernelRelayHost 1
>!ASEPManager 1.0.1
>IOSlaveProcessor 1
|IOUSBMass!SDriver 157.140.1
|IOSCSIArchitectureModel!F 422.120.3
|IO!S!F 2.1
|IOUSBHost!F 1.2
>usb.!UCommon 1.0
>!UHostMergeProperties 1.2
>!ABusPower!C 1.0
|IOReport!F 47
>!AACPIPlatform 6.1
>!ASMC 3.1.9
>watchdog 1
|IOPCI!F 2.9
|IOACPI!F 1.4
@kec.pthread 1
@kec.corecrypto 1.0
@kec.Libm 1

Moved to medium mode and crippled all graphics.

crashing still happens, and when actually playing my sims, it is the instant the weather changes to have precipitation.

joy. I’m done experimenting. This is just unplayable in its current state. I’ve given a good base effort but... naaahhh. Hopefully patch will fix this hot mess.

I'm having the same issue, also on an iMac Pro (which I bought brand new 4 months ago)--the game crashes to reboot, for me. The crash immediately freezes the entire system, I can't even screenshot. The first time it happened, my entire screen turned green and I hard rebooted my mac. The following 2 times (both after a game repair) my computer just rebooted itself after sitting frozen for about 3 minutes.

My iMac is up to date and I haven't had any issue with Sims 4 prior to the most recent patch. I've tried repairing the game and it worked for a little while, but within an hour of playing it crashes again. So far it has happened while in build mode. I have no mods nor any custom content. I just have the base game and all of the expansion, game, and stuff packs. 

macOS Catalina 10.15.6

iMac Pro 2017

Procesor 3.2 GHz 8-Core Intel Xeon W

32 GB 2666 MHz DDR4

Radeon Pro Vega 64 16GB

@RJBlain 

Yeah, Origin in-game seems to serve no purpose other than to break things. Interesting that windowed mode actually made it worse.

Thanks for the Config file, really helpful. I can see that your GPU is not found in the database of supported cards. Would definitely be worth adding it to see if it helps:

1. Copy over the relevant files from the game app into the ConfigOverride folder in the Sims 4 folder. If you need help with this please look here https://bluebellflora.com/2020/09/03/what-is-the-configoverride-folder-editing-sims-4-graphics-files-the-easy-way/
2. Open the file and do a search for 0x687F. This will take you to the AMD section and highlight the DeviceID for a similar GPU to you. 
3. Create a line underneath and c/p the following: 

   card 0x6867 "AMD Vega 56" $cardLevelUber $resolutionHigh

4. Close the file, load the game then quit. Open the Config.log file and see if it now says Name (database): [Found: 1, Supported: 1]

This may help with the crashing but please do let me know 🙂

@ElleBeeLulu 

Could you also please attach your Config.log file here. Have you also disabled Origin in-game to see if it helps?

Is it bad news that there is something similar to that already in there?

card 0x687F "AMD Vega 64 and 56" $cardLevelUber $resolution

I did add the one specific for just 56, and I will check to see if this works.

Name (driver): Radeon Pro Vega 56
Name (database): AMD Vega 56 [Found: 1, Supported: 1]

is now what my config log states! I am going to see if I can break the game now.