Fear for the Base 15" 2016 rMBP because of dGPU ?

[maratus]

There is no App with this function, the Dev stopped this functionality years ago as either macOS disregards the App or it results in other App`s crashing.

I'm using gfxCardStatus 2.2.1 on an early-2013 rMBP with 10.11.6 and it's working like a charm.

 

[Queen6]

I'm using gfxCardStatus 2.2.1 on an early-2013 rMBP with 10.11.6 and it's working like a charm.

Yeah I was wrong, the Dev depreciated switching on power. I just don't bother with gfxCardStatus these days, as the Retina MacBooks have proved to be fairly reliable.

Q-6

 

[el-John-o]

What concerns me more is, having to also drive the touch bar - and all of this with a reduced battery capacity of 74 whr, the older model had a fantastic 99 whr capacity.

The chips are also a lot more efficient. We'll know more when independent reviewers get their hands on them; but Apple actually claims an INCREASE of battery life on the 15" model.

Specs can be confusing because lots of numbers are essentially meaningless. For example, the 2.0GHz Core i5 int he 2016 13" Base is actually faster than the 2.6GHz Core i5 in the 2015 base model.

So even though the battery is smaller; the chips and other component are proportionally more efficient. The end result is you get a lighter laptop with less battery; and more battery life. Sure, lots of us would've liked a bigger battery and something like the 16 hours the new Surface Book claims; but despite having less watt hours than "last year", we have no lost battery life. (Or so they claim...)

 

[augustya]

Can anyone else confirm is the new version of the GFXCARDSTATUS has stopped forcing the switching between iGPU and dGPU ? then what version does that ? is the old version still available for download ?

 

[fokmik]

since my gpu from my 2016 razer blade got burn....i return it and i saw that another nvidia gpu got burn like 1070 and 1080, i think make the right move not to go with this nvidia and i am getting the base 15" MBP

 

[augustya]

since my gpu from my 2016 razer blade got burn....i return it and i saw that another nvidia gpu got burn like 1070 and 1080, i think make the right move not to go with this nvidia and i am getting the base 15" MBP

But the base 15"rMBP comes with a dGPU.

 

[fokmik]

But the base 15"rMBP comes with a dGPU.

yes but since they got by default a dgpu, im glad that is not the current nvidia..and im glad that is there a dgpu since INTEL didnt provide for Apple the Iris pro and we got only 530

 

[Donka]

If you want it, buy it. I would stop worrying about something that may never happen. Life really is too short.

 

[augustya]

yes but since they got by default a dgpu, im glad that is not the current nvidia..and im glad that is there a dgpu since INTEL didnt provide for Apple the Iris pro and we got only 530

Didn't quite understand what you are saying 🙂 you are saying you are happy it's got an AMD dGPU and you are happy that it didn't have a Intel Iris Pro Graphics ( Which it does have) ?
[doublepost=1477815104][/doublepost]

If you want it, buy it. I would stop worrying about something that may never happen. Life really is too short.

Well I know I can do that. But only if mac running too hot, fans making noise and running extra fast is not frightening lol ! Because of the over worked dGPU !

 

[Ma2k5]

The chips are also a lot more efficient. We'll know more when independent reviewers get their hands on them; but Apple actually claims an INCREASE of battery life on the 15" model.

Specs can be confusing because lots of numbers are essentially meaningless. For example, the 2.0GHz Core i5 int he 2016 13" Base is actually faster than the 2.6GHz Core i5 in the 2015 base model.

So even though the battery is smaller; the chips and other component are proportionally more efficient. The end result is you get a lighter laptop with less battery; and more battery life. Sure, lots of us would've liked a bigger battery and something like the 16 hours the new Surface Book claims; but despite having less watt hours than "last year", we have no lost battery life. (Or so they claim...)

They are more efficient, but not a lot more efficient where they will increase battery life anymore than 5-10%.. Also the main driver behind keeping battery life on par wasn't the CPU efficiency, but the fact the the screen uses 30% less power. My issue with this resolution is, if I am doing very CPU heavy tasks rather than display based tasks, my net battery life will be maybe 15-20% worse when factoring in cpu efficiency, - and 25-30% worse on the 13 inch with touch bar (went from 75kwh to 49kwh, - 35% drop!)

 

[fokmik]

Didn't quite understand what you are saying 🙂 you are saying you are happy it's got an AMD dGPU and you are happy that it didn't have a Intel Iris Pro Graphics ( Which it does have) ?
[doublepost=1477815104][/doublepost]

Well I know I can do that. But only if mac running too hot, fans making noise and running extra fast is not frightening lol ! Because of the over worked dGPU !

nope, the 15" does NOT have IRIS PRO (HD580) but HD 530, and that
would have been
really slow if we didnt had a dgpu. So without a dGPU the iGPU from 15" is actually slower than the iGPU from 13" MBP
[doublepost=1477817406][/doublepost]And im glad its AMD 450 and 455 (460 seems to draw more power and probably will get a lot hotter) and not nvidia
[doublepost=1477820030][/doublepost]is like you are saing that some time, in the past Apple used to price the new MBP from 1500$ and now they doubled the price

 

[Donka]

Well I know I can do that. But only if mac running too hot, fans making noise and running extra fast is not frightening lol ! Because of the over worked dGPU !

If it runs too hot you can just return it for a full refund.

 

[augustya]

If it runs too hot you can just return it for a full refund.

I am not in a Country where you can get a refund if you don't like the product. Once Purchased I have to keep the product no matter I like it or not. yes if it is a faulty product I can get it replaced but not otherwise. There is no such Apple policy here.
[doublepost=1477827609][/doublepost]

I'm using gfxCardStatus 2.2.1 on an early-2013 rMBP with 10.11.6 and it's working like a charm.

This feature with the GFXCARDSTATUS of switching to iGPU and dGPU has been removed from ver 2.3. Now it is just a informational tool to tell you when is really iGPU switched on and when is the dGPU switched on that's about it !

 

[Donka]

I'm using v2.3 GFX Card Status and it lets me select which card to use. It even lists this feature on the website. https://gfx.io/

 

[augustya]

I'm using v2.3 GFX Card Status and it lets me select which card to use. It even lists this feature on the website. https://gfx.io/

Well I am not using it but since you are using it you may be correct but on the GFXCARDSTATUS website it also says that "Power source-based switching has been removed" ! What is that ?

 

[Queen6]

The answer is back on post #39, or just visit the Dev`s blog etc. it fully explained in detail.

Q-6

 

[RichardC300]

Thx stand corrected it was the power switching that he depreciated.
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Q-6

I think you were right initially. You just read the wrong FAQ. It's the dependencies list that is the issue (or my issue) with gfxCardStatus. There's no point in me using the app if my MBP is just going to force the dGPU to turn on while I'm in an app like MS PowerPoint even if I selected "integrated only".

But on-topic, I think you are definitely worrying too much about this issue. I started college in 2011, so between me and all my friends who had 15" 2010-2012 MBPs, NONE of them have had the graphics card issue. It is way over-exaggerated of an issue on these forums, because that's the nature of forums, people coming for help when they have an issue.

 

[Yaemon]

In theory those new AMD cards should be very energy efficient and won't generate a lot of heat.

 

[wegster]

How long have you been using your Mac like this ? switching on and off to iGPU and dGPU ? How long have you had your Mac ? And how long have you been using GFXCARDSTATUS ?

5 years here on a CTO 2011MBP. After seeing all of the 'concerns' on the relative hotness of the newer unibodies, I had added a 'Fin' (neat, actually buying one for my just-bought 2015, nice combo handle, heatsink, props laptop off the desk for more air under the laptop) + installed gfxcardstatus + monitored temps all around for a while. I still use it to toggle to iGPU when in a meeting I'm not presenting for.

 

[Queen6]

I think you were right initially. You just read the wrong FAQ. It's the dependencies list that is the issue (or my issue) with gfxCardStatus. There's no point in me using the app if my MBP is just going to force the dGPU to turn on while I'm in an app like MS PowerPoint even if I selected "integrated only".

But on-topic, I think you are definitely worrying too much about this issue. I started college in 2011, so between me and all my friends who had 15" 2010-2012 MBPs, NONE of them have had the graphics card issue. It is way over-exaggerated of an issue on these forums, because that's the nature of forums, people coming for help when they have an issue.

If I remember correctly you can still switch the GPU however you have to close then reopen all Apps on the dependancies list after the switch. I just stopped using GFXCardStatus as it`s basically not needed.

As for the answer; it`s been well and truly beaten to death 🙂 I do believe there is an elevated risk with the MBP of dGPU failure, equally Apple appears to be getting more reliable in this area and much is related to the usage and frequency of the heating & cooling cycles. I personally have concern with the 2016 MBP, however the dGPU melting down is not one of them.

Q-6

 

[augustya]

I think you were right initially. You just read the wrong FAQ. It's the dependencies list that is the issue (or my issue) with gfxCardStatus. There's no point in me using the app if my MBP is just going to force the dGPU to turn on while I'm in an app like MS PowerPoint even if I selected "integrated only".

No I still did not understand this the feature of switching to iGPU or dGPU this feature is still available but not for the dependencies list and what are these dependencies list ? Like you are saying if you are using a MS-Word it switches to dGPU does it really happen that way ? I still did not understand when the developer says "Power Source based switching has been removed"

 

[Macalway]

This may be a good point. I seems to remember quite a few posts about this

Thanks, forewarned is....

 

[UltimateSyn]

Does anyone know if the difference in GPU performance between the 455 and 460 will cause a significant drop in battery life? I'm trying to decide if the $90 upgrade is worth it.

 

[el-John-o]

Does anyone know if the difference in GPU performance between the 455 and 460 will cause a significant drop in battery life? I'm trying to decide if the $90 upgrade is worth it.

Too early to tell exactly how significant; it's all guesswork at this point. These chips aren't in any other machines yet so we have no idea. However the 460, though twice as fast as the 450, does of course use more power. So the answer is simply yes, it will use more battery. How much is anyones guess at this point.

Worth mentioning of course that there's also an integrated GPU. So battery life for basic productivity (web browsing, e-mail, word processors, etc.) won't be affected. It's when you fire up a game or an application like Maya, Photoshop or Final Cut Pro that you'll get the hit on battery life.

One cool thing about USB-C though is that you'll be able to buy external battery packs (if you don't mind lugging them) to extend the battery life that don't have to be specific to magsafe. Provided you find one that outputs enough watts.

 

[thadoggfather]

dont mean to derail this thread completely, but how much slower is base 13" 540 Iris graphics over Iris Pro in 2014 and 2015 15"?

And what about the 550 in the touchbar 13" models?

15" old style retina is seeming like more and more of a good deal