I'm kind of suspicious whether OS X always reverts back to the integrated graphics when the app closes. Twice I've had it now where I've opened google earth, the nvidia graphics kicks in, then when quitting i'm still on discrete graphics. I hadn't touched or launched any other apps during the process.
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Found way to know what GPU is in use!
- Thread starter gatepc
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I just shut down Firefox in prep for a reboot to see if I could un-stick 330M mode. And as soon as I did, I switched to integrated. I'm back in Firefox now, nothing else has changed on my laptop, and I'm STILL in integrated mode. So something in Firefox was causing the graphics to stick it appears.
Thanks! I'm toying with a few different icon designs right now (and auto updating!!), yours will be carefully considered.
+1 That would be great if you could do that, gatepc!
Alright you are now on the original post, sorry about that I did not even think of it.
Thanks. 24 hours into my new MBP, I noticed battery issues, Googled, discovered it was graphics related, figured out by trial and error which apps were causing it (Snapz and ARD). Then I thought, someone should make an app to tell which card was running...
Wound up here
Thanks again - fantastic little app.
BTW, the version number of V1.1 still says 1.0 in the menu of the app.
Give em more FEEDBACK!
Nothing is gonna happen unless you tell Apple:
http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbookpro.html
http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html
The more of us report the problems with the Automatic Graphics Switching, the more likely they are to fix the problem with some kind of firmware update.
These might be the points you might want to consider for a WELL designed Graphics switching:
1) Mac OS X should use the discrete Nvidia GT 330M NOT just by detecting any OpenGL, OpenCL, Quartz Composer, Core Animation and Core Graphics. It should also judge if the application running one of these technologies really needs the resources of the Nvidia GT 330M (such as tweetie, igoogle, iPhoto, Skype....).
2)Mac OS X system preferences should provide a setting for the user to completely turn off the Nvidia GT 330M (like the previous generation Macbook Pro).
3)Furthermore, in advanced settings, the user should be able to choose which applications should trigger the Nvidia GPU to wake up and which shouldn't. This can help conserve the valuable battery life and allow the user to use Nvidia GPU at the times demanded by the user AUTOMATICALLY.
4)Fix the stupid issue of the Nvidia GT 330M not turning off with all the applications closed (so we don't have to reboot!)
Nothing is gonna happen unless you tell Apple:
http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbookpro.html
http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html
The more of us report the problems with the Automatic Graphics Switching, the more likely they are to fix the problem with some kind of firmware update.
These might be the points you might want to consider for a WELL designed Graphics switching:
1) Mac OS X should use the discrete Nvidia GT 330M NOT just by detecting any OpenGL, OpenCL, Quartz Composer, Core Animation and Core Graphics. It should also judge if the application running one of these technologies really needs the resources of the Nvidia GT 330M (such as tweetie, igoogle, iPhoto, Skype....).
2)Mac OS X system preferences should provide a setting for the user to completely turn off the Nvidia GT 330M (like the previous generation Macbook Pro).
3)Furthermore, in advanced settings, the user should be able to choose which applications should trigger the Nvidia GPU to wake up and which shouldn't. This can help conserve the valuable battery life and allow the user to use Nvidia GPU at the times demanded by the user AUTOMATICALLY.
4)Fix the stupid issue of the Nvidia GT 330M not turning off with all the applications closed (so we don't have to reboot!)
Haha no problem - I think my OS X native printer drivers/software may cause this problem too. I have my printer networked, so maybe if I just temporarily hook it up to my laptop then I can reproduce the issue.
gatepc said:
Thanks so much! I appreciate it.
offdwall said:
No problem at all! And thanks for that - I changed it to 1.1 on the website when I changed the current version of the app that I'm developing, but haven't uploaded that one yet. Good call! v1.2, which I'm just going to skip right to, has automatic updating and a timer that updates every x seconds (x being a number I haven't determined yet). Also consolidated some of the menu items a bit to save space.
Totally agree. I've posted about sending Apple feedback twice earlier in this thread but I'm afraid it fell on deaf ears :\
I think so, too! Working on all of this right now, actually. I went and literally wrote this whole version management webservice and updater class for gfxCardStatus...and then I discovered there was a pre-built solution for all of this that's free and is used by a ton of great Mac apps. I cried a little bit after that (not really). So I'm basically scrapping everything I wrote myself, haha!
Microsoft Auto Update Daemon causes 330M to run
I quit all apps and still had the 330M running while on battery power. I started quitting my Login Items programs and found that the Microsoft AU Daemon was causing the switch to the 330M. I hope this helps someone.
I quit all apps and still had the 330M running while on battery power. I started quitting my Login Items programs and found that the Microsoft AU Daemon was causing the switch to the 330M. I hope this helps someone.
First, thanks to Cody for his neat menu addition.
Apple aren't SO stupid that they would implement something so heavy-handed, unless... they didn't bother to write full support for the intel GPU (yet). Otherwise, why wouldn't they do the OBVIOUS thing and add the Intel-only for battery life option alongside the "smart" change?
This doesn't even feel like a version 1.0 product. I will be sending this MBP back (and maybe eating the restocking fee) unless I hear something soon from Apple.
I mean, here we are, DUMPING applications we like in order to get the battery life advertised. Ridiculous state of affairs!
Want to get even more pissed? Read the pure marketing BS from Apple.com:
"The 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro models come standard with automatic graphics switching. Its a breakthrough technology from Apple that switches graphics processors on the fly to give you performance when you need it (when youre playing the latest 3D game, for example) and better battery efficiency when you dont (such as when youre reading email). MacBook Pro transfers the workload between the powerful discrete NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M graphics processor and integrated Intel HD Graphics so seamlessly, you wont even notice."
UNLESS you have the battery life indicator on of course. More BS:
"The new 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro models give you even more power for graphics-intensive 3D games and pro applications, and longer battery life for everyday tasks like checking email or surfing the web. Depending on which application youre running, these models automatically switch between the blazingly fast discrete NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M processor and power-efficient integrated Intel HD Graphics. So you dont have to compromise performance for battery life and vice versa."
Shame I run (ran?) The Hit List all the time... so filled with eye candy it needs the 330M apparently. Or maybe the developer just did what Apple has been telling him to do for years.
So, will this rev of MBP be the black sheep with half-assed technology, or will Apple stand behind their product and deliver even 7 hours battery life to its customers? Where's my RMA...
Apple aren't SO stupid that they would implement something so heavy-handed, unless... they didn't bother to write full support for the intel GPU (yet). Otherwise, why wouldn't they do the OBVIOUS thing and add the Intel-only for battery life option alongside the "smart" change?
This doesn't even feel like a version 1.0 product. I will be sending this MBP back (and maybe eating the restocking fee) unless I hear something soon from Apple.
I mean, here we are, DUMPING applications we like in order to get the battery life advertised. Ridiculous state of affairs!
Want to get even more pissed? Read the pure marketing BS from Apple.com:
"The 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro models come standard with automatic graphics switching. Its a breakthrough technology from Apple that switches graphics processors on the fly to give you performance when you need it (when youre playing the latest 3D game, for example) and better battery efficiency when you dont (such as when youre reading email). MacBook Pro transfers the workload between the powerful discrete NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M graphics processor and integrated Intel HD Graphics so seamlessly, you wont even notice."
UNLESS you have the battery life indicator on of course. More BS:
"The new 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro models give you even more power for graphics-intensive 3D games and pro applications, and longer battery life for everyday tasks like checking email or surfing the web. Depending on which application youre running, these models automatically switch between the blazingly fast discrete NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M processor and power-efficient integrated Intel HD Graphics. So you dont have to compromise performance for battery life and vice versa."
Shame I run (ran?) The Hit List all the time... so filled with eye candy it needs the 330M apparently. Or maybe the developer just did what Apple has been telling him to do for years.
So, will this rev of MBP be the black sheep with half-assed technology, or will Apple stand behind their product and deliver even 7 hours battery life to its customers? Where's my RMA...
I posted on Apple's forums....there are several threads on the subject already. I'm sure this can be addressed via an update. Lets hope they get to it soon.
Thanks ReallyBigFeet. Can you post the link so we can also speak up in that forum, which perhaps Apple reads?
No problem! In regards to the last piece of your post, I most certainly hope not. This is my first new MacBook Pro in a while...I fully intend on it lasting me quite a long time. I'm not going to RMA it, because it's still got better battery life than my 2.4GHz C2D Santa Rosa MBP did, but still. I want the advertised battery life.
yonajon said:
Ditto - I'd gladly post there as well.
I've written a menulet-style application that will inform you, real-time, which GPU is currently running.
Can pick it up here:
http://gpuinfomenu.dotstrosity.net/GPUInfoMenu.zip
Currently identifies (tested) Intel/Nvidia on systems with Intel HD and Nvidia 330m. Should also gracefully detect ATI based cards and also can handle an unknown situation. Auto updating is built in, and it can toggle a run at startup.
Can pick it up here:
http://gpuinfomenu.dotstrosity.net/GPUInfoMenu.zip
Currently identifies (tested) Intel/Nvidia on systems with Intel HD and Nvidia 330m. Should also gracefully detect ATI based cards and also can handle an unknown situation. Auto updating is built in, and it can toggle a run at startup.
Yeah, I know. Good thing is, though...the feature that was requested before (I think by Libertine Lush) has been implemented! You can now set an interval upon which the application will check for updates in addition to the opening/closing of applications. And...automatic updating! And an application icon!!
Hit up the link in my signature to go download this version...it should be the last one you should ever need to manually download.
Have fun guys, let me know what you think!
Here's the thread....my post took awhile to show up (likely because I just registered to post on this topic):
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2407482&start=0&tstart=0
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2407482&start=0&tstart=0
Check this out...someone already made a video about my app! I feel honored.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snM8JuZi4MA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snM8JuZi4MA