I saw someone say that over on the Apple discussion boards, among other things. It can focus on graphics drivers all it wants...but if it doesn't allow us to lock one card on at a time, it's no good in my book.
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Found way to know what GPU is in use!
- Thread starter gatepc
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I saw someone say that over on the Apple discussion boards, among other things. It can focus on graphics drivers all it wants...but if it doesn't allow us to lock one card on at a time, it's no good in my book.
Check this out, I figured out how to get it to list everything:
ps cx | egrep $(echo ${$(ioreg -l | grep task-list | sed -e 's/(//' | sed -e 's/)//' | awk ' { print $6 }')/','/'|'})
This will show the entire list, whether there is one process or there are multiple processes.
That's fair enough. I can't see why they wouldn't allow us the option. Hopefully sometime down the line they'll enable it through an update.
I found through process of elimination that having MagicPrefs for the Magic mouse running locks the nVidia card on 100% of the time which would explain things my end.
I'm new to macs and the terminal command returned the below when I pasted it in and pressed enter/return.
Usage: grep [OPTION]... PATTERN [FILE]...
Try `grep --help' for more information.
Any pointers for a newbie?
If you get that, it means there are no processes explicitly using the 330M. Are you on the Intel HD Graphics when you get that output? If so, that's what's supposed to happen.
I get the same message and I am running the 330m right now (I have Aperture open).
Yeah, I get it whether it says I'm running Intel or nVidia.
Great little app by the way bitninja.
Huh...interesting. I'll try downloading Aperture (there is a trial right?) and testing.
VaderMonkey said:
Thanks! I'll do some more testing with that...it was just a quick one-off thing, maybe it works differently in different shells. I'm using zsh...I'll try it in bash.
For your info, I was running iMovie and tried the command in bash and I get that message.
Should have posted this originally but this is everything that is returned after trying to run it.
-bash: ${$(ioreg -l | grep task-list | sed -e 's/(//' | sed -e 's/)//' | awk ' { print $6 }')/','/'|'}: bad substitution
Usage: egrep [OPTION]... PATTERN [FILE]...
Try `egrep --help' for more information.
Can you do me a favor and run that command in zsh and see what you get? I'm away from my MacBook at the moment.
Sure! That solves the bug I've been trying to figure out with integrating this into gfxCardStatus...I need to run it in zsh. Ha!
wow bitninja that's a helpful way to gauge what graphics is being used. Did u create it yourself? I just looked into "growl" but so far there is not way to manually adjust the cards to your personal preferences...to be honest I haven't been reading every post cuz I have been really busy, wondering if my prior statement is true. 
But glad that there now is a way to at lest easily view what its using
But glad that there now is a way to at lest easily view what its using
wow bitninja that's a helpful way to gauge what graphics is being used. Did u create it yourself? I just looked into "growl" but so far there is not way to manually adjust the cards to your personal preferences...to be honest I haven't been reading every post cuz I have been really busy, wondering if my prior statement is true.
I did indeed! I'm glad it helps you out.
Also see the screenshot I just posted - that should make it even easier in case you don't know what's keeping the 330M on. The last piece of the puzzle I have to work out is when to update that list...I hate the idea of polling continually, because that uses an unnecessary amount of resources (very little, but still). Maybe a background thread when the menu item is clicked...yes. I think that will work.
gfxCardStatus users! How do you think this looks? Thoughts? Suggestions?
Super awesome!
In the "GPU changed" popup balloon will it say what process triggered the change?
gfxCardStatus users! How do you think this looks? Thoughts? Suggestions?
Stuck on You...
Apple has DOA'd my 17" that can't see the Intel GPU and will be replacing it. I'm still getting quite good battery life on the NVidia. They're pretty sure it's a Hardware fault - probably a faulty Intel GPU.
Hopefully things will be better second time round. The gfx Card status Menu app is looking really great. Can't wait for the list of dependent processes. Also can't wait to actually see it change as I only have the 330M working. I'm really glad it's not the other way round, while I wait for the replacement.
Nice work Cody.
Apple has DOA'd my 17" that can't see the Intel GPU and will be replacing it. I'm still getting quite good battery life on the NVidia. They're pretty sure it's a Hardware fault - probably a faulty Intel GPU.
Hopefully things will be better second time round. The gfx Card status Menu app is looking really great. Can't wait for the list of dependent processes. Also can't wait to actually see it change as I only have the 330M working. I'm really glad it's not the other way round, while I wait for the replacement.
Nice work Cody.
Instead of the letters I and N Cody, I believe it looks better if you would use the Intel and nVidia logos. Is this possible for you to change?
+1
That's one thing I love about GPUinfomenu.
Edit: Many thanks for all the effort to Cody.
Sure thing! My pleasure.
yonajon said:
Cool, thanks for the feedback!
PeterC-7 said:Apple has DOA'd my 17" that can't see the Intel GPU and will be replacing it. I'm still getting quite good battery life on the NVidia. They're pretty sure it's a Hardware fault - probably a faulty Intel GPU.
Hopefully things will be better second time round. The gfx Card status Menu app is looking really great. Can't wait for the list of dependent processes. Also can't wait to actually see it change as I only have the 330M working. I'm really glad it's not the other way round, while I wait for the replacement.
Nice work Cody.
Thanks a bunch! Sorry for your luck - at least this next update should help you see which apps to use selectively when you get one with a working Intel GPU!
Arie said:
FangBianMian said:
Thanks for the suggestion guys. Unfortunately, I don't think this is possible...I fear I'd run into legal issues. You'll notice I put the ® symbol next to the respective companies' registered trademarks where appropriate. From the small bit of research I've done, using their names, as long as it falls under fair use and I'm not trying to use their name in a competing product, then it's okay. Past that, though, and I think I could get into trouble. If you know of any documentation that says otherwise, please feel free to point me in the right direction - if it's not a legal issue, I'd be happy to put an option in preferences to use the company logos instead of the letters. I hesitate to replace the letters completely...I think they're rather elegant.
Thanks!
Cody
Sure thing! My pleasure.
Thanks for the suggestion guys. Unfortunately, I don't think this is possible...I fear I'd run into legal issues. You'll notice I put the ® symbol next to the respective companies' registered trademarks where appropriate. From the small bit of research I've done, using their names, as long as it falls under fair use and I'm not trying to use their name in a competing product, then it's okay. Past that, though, and I think I could get into trouble. If you know of any documentation that says otherwise, please feel free to point me in the right direction - if it's not a legal issue, I'd be happy to put an option in preferences to use the company logos instead of the letters. I hesitate to replace the letters completely...I think they're rather elegant.
Thanks!
Cody
Completely understand. It's difficult making comments - I feel like an ingrate, because you've done a great job with it so far and it's really appreciated.
How about a font (the font is my real issue)/colour option like an Emerald Green Nvidia 'N' and a Blue 'I' to mimic their corporate colours?
Or even...(?):
Thanks! Glad you like it.
FangBianMian said:
Thanks! I don't think that would be too difficult to implement. That would at least make it more distinguishable when you glance at the icon real quick. I'll try to remember to add it in the next release with the dependent process list.
Bitninja - again, thanks for the awesome app. I travel all the time, and this is completely saving my day since I know immediately when something kicks the power guzzling GPU into gear and can kill it without a second thought.
There is a weird little quirk though: whenever I am watching a video in QuickTime and go into fullscreen, I get the Growl notification that the GPU has changed, but the GPU hasn't. Same when I leave fullscreen. Same when I come back from screensaver. The message in Growl is that the GPU has changed to the Intel - but it was already on Intel In short, the text is right, the event just didn't happen. Not a big deal at all, just makes my heart skip a beat when I think this evil GPU is going to kill my battery and then I realize it's still on the friendly Intel.
There is a weird little quirk though: whenever I am watching a video in QuickTime and go into fullscreen, I get the Growl notification that the GPU has changed, but the GPU hasn't. Same when I leave fullscreen. Same when I come back from screensaver. The message in Growl is that the GPU has changed to the Intel - but it was already on Intel
In short, the text is right, the event just didn't happen. Not a big deal at all, just makes my heart skip a beat when I think this evil GPU is going to kill my battery and then I realize it's still on the friendly Intel.