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Found way to know what GPU is in use!
- Thread starter gatepc
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Annoying indeed...
And my next observation may be even more annoying!
It also seems like I am getting 'stuck' on the 330m after a bit of usage. I noticed that after closing Aperture (on battery), I am still using the 330m. Figured it may be some other application requiring it so I quit everything that was running, including System Profiler and then relaunched just System Profiler, and I am still on the 330m.
Right now the only way I can get back over to the Intel GPU is by logging out (I think) or rebooting.
I hope other users are willing to look at their systems and see if what I am observing is 'normal', because I doubt I am the only one experiencing it. This all comes at a sacrifice to battery life and Apple really needs to address it quickly...
And my next observation may be even more annoying!
It also seems like I am getting 'stuck' on the 330m after a bit of usage. I noticed that after closing Aperture (on battery), I am still using the 330m. Figured it may be some other application requiring it so I quit everything that was running, including System Profiler and then relaunched just System Profiler, and I am still on the 330m.
Right now the only way I can get back over to the Intel GPU is by logging out (I think) or rebooting.
I hope other users are willing to look at their systems and see if what I am observing is 'normal', because I doubt I am the only one experiencing it. This all comes at a sacrifice to battery life and Apple really needs to address it quickly...
I'm just hoping that the System Profiler reporting of which GPU is in use is a bit wonky. I mean, I'm not sure it was intended to be used that way. I'm just hoping the 330 doesn't get turned on when going to things like iGoogle...
Damn...I am kind of feeling disappointed with the lack of graphical balance...wish
didnt use the Intel HD and used some other more powerful card that is capable of running the operating system fluidly and also be able to handle minor sites such has igoogle and twitter. ****, I m a little sad and also Asus and Sony have been a little appealing to me too. The MBP 15 will be my first mac and I do not want any buyers remorse and therefore I am a little questionable when comparing building quality and hardware capability. Apple has an marvels aesthetics in design but lacks true hardware innovation and power vs. Asus have stronger cards and decent build quality.
Damn...I am kind of feeling disappointed with the lack of graphical balance...wish
I should clarify. I only notice it sometimes. Most of the time the animations are fine, but it seems that if I don't use them for a while the first one is always a bit choppy.
atebits isn't aware of that
I've contacted support@atebits.com and they told me that tweetie shouldn't do that...
Please report to this discution:
http://support.atebits.com/discussi...oken=c229946b1a6fcd65a7a251c1ba7bf0011a4ca06f
I've contacted support@atebits.com and they told me that tweetie shouldn't do that...
Please report to this discution:
http://support.atebits.com/discussi...oken=c229946b1a6fcd65a7a251c1ba7bf0011a4ca06f
I just tried to, it seems that they have already closed out that discussion
" * Cannot update a resolved discussion unless you are on the support team or you are the original discussion author."
Damn...I am kind of feeling disappointed with the lack of graphical balance...wish
Also to clarify, I am not referring to twitter.com, I am talking about a Twitter desktop client called Tweetie.
Damn...I am kind of feeling disappointed with the lack of graphical balance...wish
Are you kidding? Apple has true hardware innovation. Their own!
None of what Asus and other PC makers does does it really their own. I think I know what you mean, though... That PC makers do tend to use the latest chips. I like they use the latest and greatest of OTHER companies innovations (namely those of Intel, Nvidia and ATI), and sort of wish Apple did, too.
For raw power for a few apps that are available on the PC side, I've considered one of those quad core PCs notebooks with some sort of Jedi graphics card, but there's actually there's actually one Apple innovation I can't seem to get around:
The multitrack touch pad!
Nobody seems to have anything remotely close (not at any of the computer stores and kiosks, anyway). The real bugger is that these atomic powered PCs have a human interface and user experience (UX) is utterly inferior to the Mac.
Ultimately, it doesn't matter if you got 4 cores and an amazing graphics chip, if the human can't properly interface with the machine. Many PCs are sort of like having a 600hp race engine in a cheap little car. Watch Top Gear, and you'll see how this doesn't out very well. You need the right support gear to make proper use of that power.
Anyway, I'm sure you'll be happy with your first Mac. You'll get more done than ever with OS X, and the lack of maintenance you have to do -- allowing you for the first time to actually focus on your work, instead of on your computer. Believe me, I still get the "bug" every now and then to do unnecessary maintenance. Often the Mac has beat me to it!
Don't sweat the small stuff. Even if you're stuck in 330 all the time, you're still going to get better battery life than most PC notebooks ever will. That's another thing Apple trumps PCs on a lot lately, too. It's positively addictive having a computer that lasts 5 to 9 hours on a charge.
I paid an additional $250 to get the biggest battery possible for the last PC laptop I had (a Sony Vaio FW, as featured in the Microsoft commercials), which was supposed to give me 5 hours or so of battery. The thing was really big, it actually made the computer bigger, taller. However, even with it's impressive size, the Sony lasted around 2 hours in reality. It was also very hard to use since the keyboard and trackpad were cheap crap, and I couldn't watch Blu-Rays since the speakers were nearly useless (Nice super HD screen, though, I'll give it that!)
The MBPs actually do give you about a minimum of about 5 hours with medium load, which is incredible for a compact machine of this power and capability. I get around 7 hours on my first generation 17" unibody just browsing, making notes, and listening to some audio, which constantly amazes me. On the PC side, it's mostly Atoms and ULV powered computers with battery life like this -- really limp stuff compared to the current MBPs.
The bottom line is -- don't underestimate the power of a great UI, crazy long battery life, and a near maintenance free OS in making your life better, and your work and business life richer (often literally). Even when Apple doesn't use the latest great whodizzit, which irks the old PC guy inside me, there's no doubt that in Appleland the sum is far greater than it's parts. With Macs, it's important to be pound wise, and penny foolish -- i.e., to focus on the big stuff, and not majoring in minor things. Your *total experience*, and subsequently, your newfound total work & creative output will amaze you. I guarantee that. You can't be anything but crazy-happy with a Mac if you look at the *big picture*.
Are you kidding? Apple has true hardware innovation. Their own!
I think I know what you mean, though... That PC makers do tend to use the latest chips. I like they use the latest and greatest of OTHER companies innovations (namely those of Intel, Nvidia and ATI), and sort of wish Apple did, too.
For raw power for a few apps that are available on the PC side, I've considered one of those quad core PCs notebooks with some sort of Jedi graphics card, but there's actually there's actually one Apple innovation I can't seem to get around:
The multitrack touch pad!
Nobody seems to have anything remotely close (not at any of the computer stores and kiosks, anyway). The real bugger is that these atomic powered PCs have a human interface and user experience (UX) is utterly inferior to the Mac.
Ultimately, it doesn't matter if you got 4 cores and an amazing graphics chip, if the human can't properly interface with the machine.
Anyway, I'm sure you'll be happy with your first Mac. You'll get more done than ever with OS X, and the lack of maintenance you have to do -- allowing you for the first time to actually focus on your work, instead of on your computer. Believe me, I still get the "bug" every now and then to do unnecessary maintenance. Often the Mac has beat me to it!
Don't sweat the small stuff. Even if you're stuck in 330 all the time, you're still going to get better battery life than most PC notebooks ever will. That's another thing Apple trumps PCs on a lot lately, too. It's positively addictive having a computer that lasts 5 to 9 hours on a charge.
I paid an additional $250 to get the biggest battery possible for the last PC laptop I had (a Sony Vaio FW, as featured in the Microsoft commercials), which was supposed to give me 5 hours or so of battery. The thing was really big, it actually made the computer bigger, taller. However, even with it's impressive size, it the Sony lasted around 2 hours in reality.
The MBPs actually do give you about a minimum of 5 hours, which is incredible for an compact machine like this. I get around 7 hours on my first generation 17" unibody just browsing and making notes, which constantly amazes me. On the PC side, it's mostly Atoms and ULV powered computers with battery life like this -- really limp stuff compared to the current MBPs.
The bottom line is -- don't underestimate the power of a great UI, crazy long battery life, and a near maintenance free OS in making your life better, and your work and business life richer (often literally). Even when Apple doesn't use the latest great whodizzit, which irks the old PC guy inside me, there's no doubt that in Appleland the sum is far greater than it's parts. With Macs, it's important to be pound wise, and penny foolish -- i.e., to focus on the big stuff, and not majoring in minor things. Your *total experience*, and subsequently, your newfound total work & creative output will amaze you. I guarantee that. If you can't be anything but gobsmacked happy with a Mac if you look at the big picture.
I do not want to open a can of worms and I have class but the track pad is a great developement, built in batterys is great...longer batter life, build quality is great...I agree with you here what I am saying is these designs have been made quite awhile ago and therefore I was saying more along the lines of standard hardware such as Hi Res screens, Video Cards, and Processors. I have a lot more to say but have class right now so ttyl peace and I do not want to start a heated online debate.
Mmm, it's probably due to some gadget you have on your iGoogle page. My (pretty plain) iGoogle page doesn't fire up the 330. Nor, in fact, have I been able to find any website that does.
Any guess what kind of features a website needs to have to get the 330 interested?
I had a quick search and couldn't find anything in the SDKs, but it was a quick search, mind.
Wouldn't be surprised if they're private until 10.6.4.
Behold the comment section feeding frenzy
Shame.
I think the switching is sweet, but we need a way to save battery life. On the plus side remember reading that the battery life claims were taking into account the usage of the 330M. So one hopes that the battery life can only improve from there.
I wonder if it is possible to hit the ten hour mark using just the Intel HD GPU...
I wish Apple released a list of frameworks to inform the user what would activate the 330M.
OpenGL, OpenCL, Quartz Composer, Core Animation and Core Graphics are some of them.
OpenGL, OpenCL, Quartz Composer, Core Animation and Core Graphics are some of them.
Here is an option we Really Need:
On battery: Switch to Intel
Plugged In: Switch to 330m
Then, maybe a list of apps that can override the battery setting, or auto switch on/off.
I don't know why Apple is making it so the user has no control.
On battery: Switch to Intel
Plugged In: Switch to 330m
Then, maybe a list of apps that can override the battery setting, or auto switch on/off.
I don't know why Apple is making it so the user has no control.
I believe Preview.app uses the Quartz graphic layer, which according to Apple will activate the 330M.
Here is an option we Really Need:
On battery: Switch to Intel
Plugged In: Switch to 330m
Then, maybe a list of apps that can override the battery setting, or auto switch on/off.
I don't know why Apple is making it so the user has no control.
+1
Here is an option we Really Need:
On battery: Switch to Intel
Plugged In: Switch to 330m
Then, maybe a list of apps that can override the battery setting, or auto switch on/off.
I don't know why Apple is making it so the user has no control.
I don't know why this wasn't included in the first place. If users aren't aware/don't care about it fine. But give the option to the people who don't mind digging through System Prefs to change it.
I'm sure it's Apple's fault for trying to be too clever and not writing the APIs properly nor allowing user override. My 1.66GHz laptop with intel 950GMA graphics (I would guess 4-5x slower than i5 integrated), can run 720p content...