Found way to know what GPU is in use!

gatepc · Apr 20, 2010

Alright just thought I would post this information for people who might not know. If you open up the system profiler and select Graphics/Displays on the left pane you then you should see both GPUs and it will tell you in the description if it is running or not!

( note you can tell by looking at which displays are running on that GPU )

BTW loving my new Macbook Pro ( specs in sig )

Cheers!

User Bitninja (who is a god) made a nice little app to be able to tell what gpu is currently in use, and it works wonderfully!

http://codykrieger.com/gfxCardStatus/

Also User Tegeril also created a menu style app which you can get here:

http://gpuinfomenu.dotstrosity.net/GPUInfoMenu.zip

Thankyou Bitninja

Sneakz · Apr 20, 2010

Thanks. A simple enough way to check. Great find.

Wehrwolf · Apr 20, 2010

Interesting. But if that's true, then you should be able to grab a screenshot showing the opposite condition -- that the displays are connected to the Intel HD. Have you been able to observe this?

gatepc · Apr 20, 2010

Wehrwolf said:
Interesting. But if that's true, then you should be able to grab a screenshot showing the opposite condition -- that the displays are connected to the Intel HD. Have you been able to observe this?

I will check in a little bit. I can't right now I am exporting some stuff from aperture and I think I have to turn off duel screen for the intel graphics to work. Once I finish what I am doing though I will check for you guys and post the results.

hockey9999 · Apr 20, 2010

Wehrwolf said:
Interesting. But if that's true, then you should be able to grab a screenshot showing the opposite condition -- that the displays are connected to the Intel HD. Have you been able to observe this?

Mine says no display connected on both..

Nevermind, I didnt notice that what I was reading was referring to an external display.

gatepc · Apr 20, 2010

hockey9999 said:
Mine says no display connected on both..

If this is the case then apparently if both show no display its the Intel GPU and if the GT 330m shows a display then its the 330m. I will have to check this like I said when I get a chance.

hockey9999 · Apr 20, 2010

Actually it does show which is active. I unplugged it from power and refreshed System Profiler.

Intel HD Graphics:

Chipset Model: Intel HD Graphics
Type: GPU
Bus: Built-In
VRAM (Total): 288 MB
Vendor: Intel (0x8086)
Device ID: 0x0046
Revision ID: 0x0012
gMux Version: 1.9.22
Displays:
Color LCD:
Resolution: 1920 x 1200
Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Built-In: Yes

gatepc · Apr 20, 2010

I can also confirm that it works the other way around as well! I can't believe I was one of the first people to notice this lol.

hockey9999 · Apr 20, 2010

Really strange observation...

Launching Tweetie, even when it is the only application open, makes the computer use the 330M. As soon as I quit it, it switches back to the Intel unless of course Aperture or something like that is open..

Right now with Firefox and a few tabs, Mail, Adium, Terminal, Calendar, Address Book, Word, Power Point, Excel and system profiler open (Just started launching random stuff to test), I am on the Intel. The second I launch Tweetie - 330M.

I wonder why?

gatepc · Apr 20, 2010

hockey9999 said:
Really strange observation...

Launching Tweetie, even when it is the only application open, makes the computer use the 330M. As soon as I quit it, it switches back to the Intel unless of course Aperture or something like that is open..

Right now with Firefox and a few tabs, Mail, Adium, Terminal, Calendar, Address Book, Word, Power Point, Excel and system profiler open (Just started launching random stuff to test), I am on the Intel. The second I launch Tweetie - 330M.

I wonder why?

Is tweetie an adobe air application? if so doesn't it run basically flash? and if thats true doesn't the new flash support GPU acceleration?

hockey9999 · Apr 20, 2010

gatepc said:
Is tweetie an adobe air application? if so doesn't it run basically flash? and if thats true doesn't the new flash support GPU acceleration?

Actually it's not (I had to double check to be sure), but TweetDeck is and it doesnt happen with it. Even with the aforementioned applications running with TweetDeck open, the 330M doesnt come on. Must be an issue with Tweetie.

BrianMR · Apr 20, 2010

hockey9999 said:
Actually it's not (I had to double check to be sure), but TweetDeck is and it doesnt happen with it. Even with the aforementioned applications running with TweetDeck open, the 330M doesnt come on. Must be an issue with Tweetie.

Ouch, if this is true, its back to Twitterific for me.

hockey9999 · Apr 20, 2010

Anyone else out there with an i5/i7 that can test this with Tweetie?

alphaod · Apr 20, 2010

That's not a simply way by any means because System Profiler does not auto-refresh; so to check if it changed, you need to quit the window and open a new one.

hockey9999 · Apr 20, 2010

alphaod said:
That's not a simply way by any means because System Profiler does not auto-refresh; so to check if it changed, you need to quit the window and open a new one.

Command+R refreshes it.

murdercitydevil · Apr 20, 2010

gatepc said:
I can also confirm that it works the other way around as well! I can't believe I was one of the first people to notice this lol.

I noticed this within minutes of using my MBP. The problem is that it isn't the most convenient way of checking. An easier way (for me), to know which is running is to open my Applications stack in finder. If the animation is perfectly fluid, 330M is working.

SchneiderMan · Apr 20, 2010

I'm only using Safari but have my external display hooked up, and it's always using the 330M

WisdomWolf · Apr 20, 2010

SchneiderMan said:
I'm only using Safari but have my external display hooked up, and it's always using the 330M

This is by design. If an external display is connected the 330M will always be in use.

runebinder · Apr 20, 2010

Great find dude, cheers.

2high2aim · Apr 20, 2010

WisdomWolf said:
This is by design. If an external display is connected the 330M will always be in use.

Makes sense because if your using a external display your more than likely to plug it in and therefore saving power would not be a priority.

murdercitydevil said:
I noticed this within minutes of using my MBP. The problem is that it isn't the most convenient way of checking. An easier way (for me), to know which is running is to open my Applications stack in finder. If the animation is perfectly fluid, 330M is working.

Wow, Twitter activates the 330m. Wow is the Intel HD that crappy that it wont fluidly open your app stack? And by the looks of things many programs activate the 330m. Is it truly helping in SAVING and EXTENDING battery life. By individuals inputs this is what I have concluded about the Intel HD integrated graphics is not up to the job for basic graphical processing and the 330m is on more so then a balance. If my prior statement is true do you think apple will do something like a update (software) to make the switches a little more customized. Like maybe have 5 preset settings with 50% saving 50% performance as being the middle number 3 and then the extremes slowly go to the extremes such as 100% performance or 100% battery priority. Besides this they might want to re-program the switch so that is focusing on the load then the individual application being used to determine the switching process. :apple:

C64 · Apr 20, 2010

Now just wait for a little menu bar app that tells you which one is on.

MBHockey · Apr 21, 2010

2high2aim said:
Makes sense because if your using a external display your more than likely to plug it in and therefore saving power would not be a priority.

Wow, Twitter activates the 330m. Wow is the Intel HD that crappy that it wont fluidly open your app stack? And by the looks of things many programs activate the 330m. Is it truly helping in SAVING and EXTENDING battery life. By individuals inputs this is what I have concluded about the Intel HD integrated graphics is not up to the job for basic graphical processing and the 330m is on more so then a balance. If my prior statement is true do you think apple will do something like a update (software) to make the switches a little more customized. Like maybe have 5 preset settings with 50% saving 50% performance as being the middle number 3 and then the extremes slowly go to the extremes such as 100% performance or 100% battery priority. Besides this they might want to re-program the switch so that is focusing on the load then the individual application being used to determine the switching process.

Wouldn't be surprised. On battery power the 9400m in my 13" MBP struggles with OS animations too.

rawd · Apr 21, 2010

Awesome find, bookmarking this page

hockey9999 · Apr 21, 2010

C64 said:
Now just wait for a little menu bar app that tells you which one is on.

I hope that someone comes up with a way of giving the user more control over which card is active, whether it be Apple or someone else.

I am noticing more weird instances of switching to the 330m, and in my opinion unnecessarily.

For instance, in Firefox, I can have a bunch of tabs open (Right now - Facebook, Macrumors, TUAW, Gizmodo, Engadget) but as soon as I go to my iGoogle page the 330m kicks in. As soon as I close it's tab, the Intel goes back on. My 2007 Macbook was able to handle iGoogle without a problem, is it really necessary to use a discrete GPU for Google??... NO

It's also interesting to watch the battery while doing this. Right now, at 96% it says 7:22 remaining, upon opening a tab with Google, it goes down to about 6:00 remaining whether the tab is in the foreground or not.

Note - I am only referring to iGoogle - the classic Google page does not force the use of the 330m.

MBHockey · Apr 21, 2010

hockey9999 said:
I hope that someone comes up with a way of giving the user more control over which card is active, whether it be Apple or someone else.

I am noticing more weird instances of switching to the 330m, and in my opinion unnecessarily.

For instance, in Firefox, I can have a bunch of tabs open (Right now - Facebook, Macrumors, TUAW, Gizmodo, Engadget) but as soon as I go to my iGoogle page the 330m kicks in. As soon as I close it's tab, the Intel goes back on. My 2007 Macbook was able to handle iGoogle without a problem, is it really necessary to use a discrete GPU for Google??... NO

It's also interesting to watch the battery while doing this. Right now, at 96% it says 7:22 remaining, upon opening a tab with Google, it goes down to about 6:00 remaining whether the tab is in the foreground or not.

Note - I am only referring to iGoogle - the classic Google page does not force the use of the 330m.

Hmmm, that's annoying. I really hope there's some way to force the use of just Intel HD graphics when on battery power.

Found way to know what GPU is in use!

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