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MBPr 15" Iris Pro vs GT750M
- Thread starter ChrisVie
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Alright, how about this.
First, you open an app. If that app forces the dGPU, quit the app first and use gfxcardstatus to use the iGPU only. You may have to click on 'Integrated-only' twice, as gfxcardstatus has a queer bug where when select integrated-only at first, it remains at dynamic switching. Clicking on integrated-only a second time does the trick.
After that, open the app and you'll see that it will keep using the iGPU.
alright, then both scenarios of me are correct and i understand how to force iGPU via gfxCardStatus.. only exception are external monitors and windows?!
That's correct.
This is because the Thunderbolt ports aren't physically connected to the iGPU, so with an external monitor, the dGPU must be used.
As for Boot Camp/Windows, if the EFI detects that a dGPU is present when booting into Windows via Boot Camp, the EFI will automatically disable the iGPU. There is no way to change this.
Tanks for your help
for other interested in the topic.. review with power consumption test:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple-MacBook-Pro-Retina-15-Late-2013-Notebook-Review.120330.0.html
I've got a first generation macbook pro retina with a 650m video card. I've got the gfxstatus installed on my system and whenever I leave it in dynamic mode, it always fires up the dedicated graphics card and kills my battery life.
My next retina macbook pro, I'll make sure to pick up the integrated version but probably upgrade to the same level as the higher end one. It's just really not worth fiddling around with a dedicated video card.
The Iris Pro is actually a fairly strong integrated chip. It can run program that needs acceleration and can even play moderate games like Starcraft 2. In the two years that I've owned this laptop, that's the only game I bothered installing.
It's really up to you what to pick up but if it were my money, I'd just go with the low end and upgrade what I need.
EDIT: I absolutely hate chrome helper. Randomly on websites that don't even have flash, chrome kicks on the graphics card. In theory, a dedicated graphics switching laptop is pretty cool but in practice, whenever you're on battery, you're always trying to kill that thing.
I can still get 6+ hours on a full charge if on integrated and wifi with medium brightness. If the video card is on, I can barely get 3. Usually around 2.5 hours.
My next retina macbook pro, I'll make sure to pick up the integrated version but probably upgrade to the same level as the higher end one. It's just really not worth fiddling around with a dedicated video card.
The Iris Pro is actually a fairly strong integrated chip. It can run program that needs acceleration and can even play moderate games like Starcraft 2. In the two years that I've owned this laptop, that's the only game I bothered installing.
It's really up to you what to pick up but if it were my money, I'd just go with the low end and upgrade what I need.
EDIT: I absolutely hate chrome helper. Randomly on websites that don't even have flash, chrome kicks on the graphics card. In theory, a dedicated graphics switching laptop is pretty cool but in practice, whenever you're on battery, you're always trying to kill that thing.
I can still get 6+ hours on a full charge if on integrated and wifi with medium brightness. If the video card is on, I can barely get 3. Usually around 2.5 hours.
Dynamic switching is the default behavior, there is no reasons to select that mode and still use gfxstatus. I don't have the 650m, but the 750m rMBP definitely respects the gfxstatus setting you have chosen as long as you make your selections with no apps currently using the dGPU.
In my experience, gfxCardStatus isn't reliable. It has caused my computer to be unable to switch GPUs without a reboot / SMC reset with it locking into the wrong mode sometimes. I've stopped using it to lock the GPU into a certain mode but it still stays loaded to inform me of GPU switches. According to coconutbattery the computer drains about 13W on the iGPU versus 23W on the dGPU.
However, depending on your usage, OSX is pretty good about switching only when necessary. Chrome does cause it to get stuck in dGPU mode sometimes but closing the application fixes that. Safari is much better in that regard.
In your case, if it were up to me, I'd take the 750M since it's free and not much of a burden but it were at a premium, I wouldn't since I don't require the extra GPU power for anything I do.
However, depending on your usage, OSX is pretty good about switching only when necessary. Chrome does cause it to get stuck in dGPU mode sometimes but closing the application fixes that. Safari is much better in that regard.
In your case, if it were up to me, I'd take the 750M since it's free and not much of a burden but it were at a premium, I wouldn't since I don't require the extra GPU power for anything I do.
The 800 series were released in February/March and are supposed to be more energy efficient than the 700 series.
It's reasonable to believe that a rMBP refresh would include both the 2014 Haswell CPU and the 2014 850M dGPU. As for price, I highly doubt a refresh will cost more money. We saw the MBA drop in price when it received a simple refresh
I am having the same debate as you, and since my current laptop is still alive, I intend to wait for October...
Most probably only CPU will be updated:
Post #736 and 737
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1622520/
That's exactly what I've been experiencing and almost 90% of the time the GPU starts up, I'd rather be on integrated. For the other 10% that I do benefit from the GPU, the Iris Pro can easily handle the load. On my laptop, it's either a 650m or a HD4000 so the gap is much larger.
Even provided for free, I'd still opt for the Iris Pro. It appears that the future broadwell future iGPU is much stronger too.
Understood. I will still wait and see. I always take people's strong opinions on this website with a grain of salt because of how wrong they often are.
For example, I remember before Haswell's release there were countless threads about how Apple would drop dGPU's and go with a pure Intel set up on the 15 inch model. Such as this thread: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1622087/
I'm not saying that there is xx% chance of an 850M upgrade, but it is the newest chip in a line that Apple has used for 2 years of laptops. If they leave it out, I believe it will be more surprising than if they include it, which is why I will wait.
Apple's signature laptop is the 15 inch rMBP. I'm not overly convinced the only change it will see at the October media event is a small processor upgrade. We will wait and see.
Good luck with your decision!