Do you use your rMBP discrete graphics all the time?

[Traverse]

Note: this was first posted in the Mavericks forum by mistake. Moderators feel free to merge or delete the other post.

I have the 2013 Retina MacBook Pro with the 750M dGPU.

The thing is. Prior to this I had a 2011 Macbook Pro that I used with a 23" 1080p monitor and eventually a Thunderbolt display. I used it like this for about 3 months before the dGPU failed.

Since getting this computer I have used it with just the built in display. It is beautiful and vivd, but I miss my old clamshell (sometimes dual screen) setup. The thing is, I am very nervous about running the dGPU all the time. I realize that the 2011 models had a design flaw, but I'm still cautious. I wish this was the Iris Pro only machine for peace of mind, but aw well.

So: Do you use your Retina MB dGPU all the time? Do you think it would hurt? I know it shouldn't hurt, but Apple has a bad history.

 

[maflynn]

My rMBP is frequently connected to my external monitor so its on the dGPU much of the time.

 

[alphaod]

No, I use my integrated graphics all the time when I'm out and about. I prefer better battery life.

Actually if my computer wasn't a warranty replacement (I probably would still have my old one), I would have gotten the one without the dGPU.

In the past 6 months I'd say 40% of the time was hooked up to an monitor so it was forced in dGPU mode.

That said, I don't really concern myself with whether or not the GPU will fail or not.

 

[maflynn]

No, I use my integrated graphics all the time when I'm out and about. I prefer better battery life.

I do too, but it switches to the DGPU when I hook up my monitor. I thought it has too run the monitor on the dGPU. I'll try switching it when I get on my rMBP later this morning.

 

[Traverse]

Whenever I use utilities to force the iGPU and then connect an external display, the display remains black until I allow the dGPU.

 

[yjchua95]

Whenever I use utilities to force the iGPU and then connect an external display, the display remains black until I allow the dGPU.

On models with the dGPU, the dGPU must be active for external displays because the iGPU isn't connected physically to the Thunderbolt port.

 

[maflynn]

On models with the dGPU, the dGPU must be active for external displays because the iGPU isn't connected physically to the Thunderbolt port.

That makes sense, I probably never investigated why I couldn't use the iGPU when running my external monitor.

 

[ltorrelles]

I had a mid 2012 15 inch retina, and I'm a video editor/content creator. I have an external monitor both at the office and at home. I use them pretty much all the time.

I only run the integrated card when I'm watching a movie in bed, or want my battery to last for whatever reason, which isn't really that often.

So, I'd say I'm using the dGPU about 90% of the time.

The laptop will be 2 years old in a month, and it hasn't died on me just yet. I repasted both the CPU & GPU a couple of months ago, though.