I got a 2017 15" MBP base model with automatic graphics switching, and in iStat Menus Sensors menu it shows how many Watts the radeon GPU uses ("Radeon High Side"), after a fresh reboot its at 0W. And battery life is fantastic, for light browsing / low brightness. Whole machine ("System Total") can use 5-6W in this mode with screen at 50%.
Then if I plug in some external monitors it forces the Radeon GPU to take over, and it starts using power of course, no issue there. But once I unplug and it switches back to Intel the radeon gpu never goes powers down completely. Gets stuck at around 2W which is a lot. This adds onto the previous 5-6W and causes a really noticeable battery life loss.
Only way to solve it is to reboot afaik, or is there another way?
Then if I plug in some external monitors it forces the Radeon GPU to take over, and it starts using power of course, no issue there. But once I unplug and it switches back to Intel the radeon gpu never goes powers down completely. Gets stuck at around 2W which is a lot. This adds onto the previous 5-6W and causes a really noticeable battery life loss.
Only way to solve it is to reboot afaik, or is there another way?