Use MBP2011 Integrated Graphics with External Monitor?

[Whitelightning]

I noticed that when using an external monitor, it uses discrete, but when specifying to use only integrated with the gfxcardstatus... the external display shuts off and doesnt use it....

Is there a way to have an external display with the integrated graphics only? If so.. how? Integrated graphics may not be good as dedicated, but supporting an external display shouldn't be a problem....

 

[kappaknight]

Instead of fussing with this, why not just let the MBP do its thing? The separate graphics card is built in just for this purpose and it's meant to be accessible to the system and the OS.

What would be the point of figuring out this problem other than to say it's possible?

 

[VTMac]

Instead of fussing with this, why not just let the MBP do its thing? The separate graphics card is built in just for this purpose and it's meant to be accessible to the system and the OS.

What would be the point of figuring out this problem other than to say it's possible?

Because the discrete card chomps battery life. If you're on battery in conference room giving a presentation and there isn't a handy power plug, it would be extremely useful to stay on the integrated card while using an external projector. This is my real world use case. It happens all the time when visiting client sites.

So if anyone has a constructive answer on how to make this happen, it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[DeChrii]

try using gfxstatus, it tells you which graphics card your computer is running and you can also manually choose the one you want running.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

Erm, this isn't a constructive answer, but rather some well wishing. You're trying to do something Apple doesn't want you to do... good luck trying to get anywhere at all.

 

[Ccrew]

Because the discrete card chomps battery life. If you're on battery in conference room giving a presentation and there isn't a handy power plug, it would be extremely useful to stay on the integrated card while using an external projector.

Dunno.. I tend to try to keep my presentations a bit shorter than the 5-6 hours you'd get out of the diminished battery life

 

[kappaknight]

Dunno.. I tend to try to keep my presentations a bit shorter than the 5-6 hours you'd get out of the diminished battery life

LOL. Seriously, while I'm not trying to be a smart ass, buying an extension cable may be an easier solution than trying to outsmart OS X.

 

[Derango]

On the 15/17" MBP, the intel graphics card is physically incapable (due to how the graphics switching is set up) of sending a signal out through the displayport/thunderbolt port.

Even if you try using gfxstatus and set it to intel only it'll blank out the external display (as you found)

You're out of luck.

 

[wingsabr]

I tried yesterday to connect my 11' MBP via MiniDP to VGA to projector and it wouldn't connect. I tried everything and was about to give up until I checked the GFXCardstatus and noted that it was set to integrated only. When I switched to automatic, blammo it worked.

 

[yjchua95]

I tried yesterday to connect my 11' MBP via MiniDP to VGA to projector and it wouldn't connect. I tried everything and was about to give up until I checked the GFXCardstatus and noted that it was set to integrated only. When I switched to automatic, blammo it worked.

Yes, but it is in fact using the Radeon card. So we are at the same spot, either way. The best way is just keep your 17"/15" at home and take a 13" for presentations instead, like me.
I always do everything on my 15" and bring my 13" to school for presentations