Good GPU switching application for MPB 16?

[berisen]

On my old 2012 Retina MBP I was using gfxCardStatus but it doesn't seem to work fully on the new 16 inch.

I don't know if it's because of Catalina or the actual laptop but the switching is not working. It's a bit buggy and it won't change to anything else then dynamic.

What application are you using for GPU-switching? I would like to be able to force usage of the integrated GPU sometimes to save battery.

Is gSwitch a better choice maybe?

 

[littlepud]

I just use the terminal.

Force iGPU on battery:
sudo pmset -b gpuswitch 0

Restore automatic GPU switching on battery:
sudo pmset -b gpuswitch 2

You can play with the flags as follows:

-b when on battery
-c when on AC power
-a always


0 iGPU only
1 dGPU only
2 automatic graphics switching

To reset everything back to default:
sudo pmset -a gpuswitch 2

 

[matram]

That was useful, thank you!

 

[me55]

Remember that when you force it to use the Intel GPU you cannot use an external display.

 

[hajime]

Remember that when you force it to use the Intel GPU you cannot use an external display.

If the user then connect an external display to the MBP 16", will the dGPU automatically be activated? I think the Thinkpad does that.
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On my old 2012 Retina MBP I was using gfxCardStatus but it doesn't seem to work fully on the new 16 inch.

I don't know if it's because of Catalina or the actual laptop but the switching is not working. It's a bit buggy and it won't change to anything else then dynamic.

What application are you using for GPU-switching? I would like to be able to force usage of the integrated GPU sometimes to save battery.

Is gSwitch a better choice maybe?

What are the advantages of switching to iGPU? To save battery power?

 

[me55]

If the user then connect an external display to the MBP 16", will the dGPU automatically be activated? I think the Thinkpad does that.

macOS by default always uses the iGPU, unless there is an external monitor connected or an app requesting high performance graphics. Changing that setting like that means that an app requesting high performance graphics will only get the iGPU and an external monitor won't work anymore unless you reset that setting back to default. Default setting is automatic switching between iGPU and dGPU.

What are the advantages of switching to iGPU? To save battery power?

Yes. Having the dGPU active halves battery life (2018 15"), but like I wrote above it usually is not used anyways.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

nvm, wrong thread.

 

[littlepud]

If the user then connect an external display to the MBP 16", will the dGPU automatically be activated? I think the Thinkpad does that.
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What are the advantages of switching to iGPU? To save battery power?

Using the dGPU also decreases maximum CPU performance slightly, since the CPU now has to share the system's power/thermal budget.

If you fire up Intel Power Gadget, you'll see that the CPU will have a lower thermal ceiling and turbo boost to a lower frequency (esp. for sustained loads) when the dGPU is active.

 

[hajime]

Using the dGPU also decreases maximum CPU performance slightly, since the CPU now has to share the system's power/thermal budget.

If you fire up Intel Power Gadget, you'll see that the CPU will have a lower thermal ceiling and turbo boost to a lower frequency (esp. for sustained loads) when the dGPU is active.

Thanks. I wonder how it works under Windows bootcamp.

 

[berisen]

I just use the terminal.

Force iGPU on battery:
sudo pmset -b gpuswitch 0

Restore automatic GPU switching on battery:
sudo pmset -b gpuswitch 2

You can play with the flags as follows:

-b when on battery
-c when on AC power
-a always


0 iGPU only
1 dGPU only
2 automatic graphics switching

To reset everything back to default:
sudo pmset -a gpuswitch 2

Thank you! Great tip, had no idea that you could do this from the terminal

 

[littlepud]

Thanks. I wonder how it works under Windows bootcamp.

I doubt Windows / Bootcamp will change anything. This sort of functionality will usually be firmware-controlled.