Scrolling Safari uses dGPU in 2019 MBP?

[workerbee]

So, I *almost* bought an 2019 i9 15" MBP two days ago. Luckily, the seller had someone else lined up, I was delayed by a long client meeting, and now I'm still on the best Mac ever, my trusty mid-2012 Retina MBP.

However, I did come across a Mac retailer on Monday afternoon, and couldn't help going in and playing a bit with a 2019 6-core 15" with Radeon 555x GPU.

One thing I found a bit surprising: when I opened one of those fancy everyting-animated-by-JavaScript web pages in Safari (namely https://stockholm21.select-themes.com) and scrolled around like a colibri on speed, i.e. fast and a lot, I saw the 555x GPU usage go up to around 70 to 80% – without any external screen being attached. On my MBP, doing the same makes for pretty jerky viewing, but the GPU doesn't even register.

Do the new MBPs use the GPU that much more or faster?

 

[MrGunnyPT]

So, I *almost* bought an 2019 i9 15" MBP two days ago. Luckily, the seller had someone else lined up, I was delayed by a long client meeting, and now I'm still on the best Mac ever, my trusty mid-2012 Retina MBP.

However, I did come across a Mac retailer on Monday afternoon, and couldn't help going in and playing a bit with a 2019 6-core 15" with Radeon 555x GPU.

One thing I found a bit surprising: when I opened one of those fancy everyting-animated-by-JavaScript web pages in Safari (namely https://stockholm21.select-themes.com) and scrolled around like a colibri on speed, i.e. fast and a lot, I saw the 555x GPU usage go up to around 70 to 80% – without any external screen being attached. On my MBP, doing the same makes for pretty jerky viewing, but the GPU doesn't even register.

Do the new MBPs use the GPU that much more or faster?

That would explain some battery issues some have complaint...

 

[jest3rd]

Yes, I notice on my 2018 MBP that it will kick the dGPU for Microsoft Teams. I actually have loaded app called gfx to help control the switching to some degree for battery life.

 

[workerbee]

That really doesn’t seem to be the smartest way to use power, especially if the same also happens when on battery power.

 

[MrGunnyPT]

Yes, I notice on my 2018 MBP that it will kick the dGPU for Microsoft Teams. I actually have loaded app called gfx to help control the switching to some degree for battery life.

Can you enable/disable depending on each app?

 

[jerryk]

It makes sense to do graphics operations with the graphics processor, so I am not at all surpised by this. Offloading redraws, overlay detection, display of elements, etc. to the dGPU should make the site more responsive.

The only downside is it also generates heat, so a very graphics or video heavy website can get the fans to spin up to an audible level.