gfxCardStatus Allows Easy Control of MacBook Pro Graphics Cards

MacRumors · Jul 10, 2012

gfxCardStatus allows users to control which graphics card is enabled -- integrated or discrete -- on MacBook Pro models with multiple graphics cards. By more precisely controlling when each graphics card is enabled, users can improve system performance or battery life. gfxCardStatus is a menu bar application for OS X that allows MacBook Pro owners to view which GPU is in use at a glance, and switch between them on-demand.

Ars Technica has much more, including the fact that the Retina MacBook Pro can be pushed to nearly 10 hours of battery life with some minor battery saving techniques:

I was consistently able to get between 8 and 8.5 hours of continuous use from the Retina MacBook Pro when running integrated graphics only. Turning down screen brightness to just two "dots," a technique I often use to maximize battery life when using a MacBook Air during conferences, caused OS X to report potential battery life as high as 10 hours. I simply didn't have the stamina to test that claim, but I did make one nine-hour run with OS X reporting a nine percent remaining battery capacity.

gfxCardStatus is a free download from creator Cody Krieger's website.

Article Link: gfxCardStatus Allows Easy Control of MacBook Pro Graphics Cards

Skika · Jul 10, 2012

I have been using this for a while now on my early 2011 MBP. It works good, i only wish it could somehow force the integrated HD3000 when connected to an external display. Because now it always goes to the discrete with an external display.

AriX · Jul 10, 2012

I've been using this for years on my mid-2010 MBP... I think I first found it in a thread on this site.

kockgunner · Jul 10, 2012

This app saved me when by 2010 MBP with the 330GT graphics card's display kept turning black only solved by a reboot. The problem didn't appear on the Intel chip so I used this program to keep it on Intel until I had the chance to go to the Apple store to replace the logic board.

yetanotherdave · Jul 10, 2012

I'll try this out on my mid 2009 mbp, where you have to log out, back in to switch cards... not hoping for much, but it'd be very nice!

edit: Wow! It works! Or at least claims to, will have to do some testing. Why can't apple make it work this easy??????

Inconsequential · Jul 10, 2012

Skika said:
I have been using this for a while now on my early 2011 MBP. It works good, i only wish it could somehow force the integrated HD3000 when connected to an external display. Because now it always goes to the discrete with an external display.

You can't physically do that IIRC.

Makes sense too, as if your at a desk your likely to be plugged in to the mains so why does it matter the dGPU is running or not?

Battlefield Fan · Jul 10, 2012

I installed this program about 2 months ago. Love it when traveling as it helps to ensure that I save battery life!

kolax · Jul 10, 2012

I've found that using the integrated card can sometimes lower battery life if there's graphic intensive things going on.

Would this make sense? The discrete would do the same using less power, but draws more power when doing near idling graphics tasks?

The-Pro · Jul 10, 2012

Kilamite said:
I've found that using the integrated card can sometimes lower battery life if there's graphic intensive things going on.

Would this make sense? The discrete would do the same using less power, but draws more power when doing near idling graphics tasks?

Yes I have found that too. Its because when on the integrated, the CPU will do more work and that needs to work much harder than a GPU for the same result. When on the dedicated GPU the CPU is just resting there and the discrete GPU does the graphics work. I tested it ages ago, cant remember with what, and the CPU usage went from 5% to 40% when keeping on integrated, and down to 5-10% when back on dedicated.

I have been using gfxCardStatus since it was released and recommending it to users here on the forum, excellent tool, I am able to get 8-9 hours from my 15" MBP with minimal usage, integrated GPU only, low brightness.

NY Guitarist · Jul 10, 2012

Awesome!

This is very useful for me when I'm on my 2008 MBP.

alphaod · Jul 10, 2012

Concorde Rules said:
Makes sense too, as if your at a desk your likely to be plugged in to the mains so why does it matter the dGPU is running or not?

Because most of the time the dGPU runs hotter than the integrated GPU hence my computer spends more time sounding like a jet engine.

Inconsequential · Jul 10, 2012

alphaod said:
Because most of the time the dGPU runs hotter than the integrated GPU hence my computer spends more time sounding like a jet engine.

Exaggeration?

Your fans don't suddenly go to 4000+RPM just because you've turned the dGPU on.

In-fact, I've just turned my dDPU on for 5 minutes and the fan speeds didn't change one bit.

D.T. · Jul 10, 2012

Concorde Rules said:
You can't physically do that IIRC.

Makes sense too, as if your at a desk your likely to be plugged in to the mains so why does it matter the dGPU is running or not?

Yeah, I believe the DP/TB port is only connected to the dGPU (so the iGPU is effectively isolated).

Love the new[er] version of gfxCS with the popup mode switch indicator. Its interesting to watch when its on dynamic switching, and you fire up some apps and it switches back and forth a few times.

NightStorm · Jul 10, 2012

Love the app, although it seems to cause some issues with my retina Macbook Pro not sleeping properly. The dev said he has heard similar reports, but doesn't have one for him to test.

The-Pro · Jul 10, 2012

Concorde Rules said:
Exaggeration?

Your fans don't suddenly go to 4000+RPM just because you've turned the dGPU on.

In-fact, I've just turned my dDPU on for 5 minutes and the fan speeds didn't change one bit.

Well when an external screen in hooked up, the GPU runs at max frequencies the whole time to keep stuff cool. My 15" 2010 hooked up to a screen and doing some work, over 4000rpm the entire time, fans sin up to 4000 within a couple minutes of plugging in the screen. Usually my fans are at max.
When u just turn the dGPU on and dont do anything with it then it wont need to ramp up the fans. No work to do = no heat, simple.

MasterHowl · Jul 10, 2012

yetanotherdave said:
I'll try this out on my mid 2009 mbp, where you have to log out, back in to switch cards... not hoping for much, but it'd be very nice!

edit: Wow! It works! Or at least claims to, will have to do some testing. Why can't apple make it work this easy??????

I have a mid-2009 MBP... thanks for posting! This is going to be very useful if it works...

baryon · Jul 10, 2012

What an amazing app! Works great on my Late 2008 Unibody MBP! I can now switch to the 9600M, do some work, and then quickly switch back to 9400M before my system Kernel Panics! Before I would have had to log out each time, so I never switched to the 9600M to save time.

It's amazing how much faster Photoshop's Liquify is with the discreet GPU!

beez1717 · Jul 10, 2012

yay!

I'm trying this on my new Retina MacBook Pro. I think that now that I have the option to control how my graphics are being processed, I should be getting WAY more battery life, and better gaming performance when I need it. This is just an amazing little tweak for all MacBook Pros that should have come standard with the OS.

negativzero · Jul 10, 2012

Skika said:
I have been using this for a while now on my early 2011 MBP. It works good, i only wish it could somehow force the integrated HD3000 when connected to an external display. Because now it always goes to the discrete with an external display.

No way to do this though. The Thunderbolt port is hardwired to the discrete card so you're forced to run discrete when plugged into an external

Stevamundo · Jul 10, 2012

I absolutely love this application! With me turning on my intel 3000 graphics card and putting my MBP 2011 in sleep mode when I'm not using it, I can work literally all day with just my laptop battery EASY.

I sure hope that this application is mountain lion compatible. If not, I won't be upgrading to mountain lion until this application is compatible. That shows you how much I love this application.

macpeach55 · Jul 10, 2012

Perfect!

Just installed it on my late 2008 MacBook Pro. Works perfectly! It was so frustrating before being in the middle of work, finding the battery was getting low, and having to log out to switch!
Will be sending a donation today for sure!

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Stevamundo said:
I sure hope that this application is mountain lion compatible. If not, I won't be upgrading to mountain lion until this application is compatible. That shows you how much I love this application.

According to the Website, the latest version of this app IS Mountain Lion compatible!

Inconsequential · Jul 11, 2012

The-Pro said:
Well when an external screen in hooked up, the GPU runs at max frequencies the whole time to keep stuff cool. My 15" 2010 hooked up to a screen and doing some work, over 4000rpm the entire time, fans sin up to 4000 within a couple minutes of plugging in the screen. Usually my fans are at max.
When u just turn the dGPU on and dont do anything with it then it wont need to ramp up the fans. No work to do = no heat, simple.

It doesn't run at full 3D clocks with an external monitor hooked up, it just doesn't.

It'll probably jump between 2D and low 3D clocks, neither of which suddenly produce the 10-20W of power required to continuously run your fans at 4000+ RPM.

Secondly, why are you assuming that your iGPU wouldn't be working harder than the dGPU and therefore using almost the same amount of power to drive the external display?

Having just plugged my 2560x1440 screen in for 10 minutes (whilst browsing), my fans are barely above 2000RPM

doctor-don · Jul 11, 2012

AriX said:
I've been using this for years on my mid-2010 MBP... I think I first found it in a thread on this site.

For YEARS?

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on MacBook Pro models with multiple graphics cards.

How many people have multiple graphics cards?

randomhkkid · Jul 11, 2012

Been working great for me for the past year, I get around an hour longer with the integrated 9400m compared to the 9600m GT. Saves me from stupidly logging out and in that Apple's switching requires.

WestonHarvey1 · Jul 11, 2012

On my 2010 MBP, switching to integrated graphics causes the system to freeze for several seconds at a time, and eventually a black screen with only the mouse pointer visible, necessitating a reboot.

gfxCardStatus Allows Easy Control of MacBook Pro Graphics Cards

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