steveschow / gfxcardstatus Goto Github PK

MacBook Pro Retina mid-2012, running Sierra. Discrete GPU died recently per previous discussion and system would crash every time discrete graphics card was activated. gfxCardStatus v 2.4.4i saved the day, set to integrated only. However, once I shut the lid of the computer and presumably system goes to sleep, the computer must access the discrete graphics card at some point and system crashes. Same issue if I shut down computer and try to restart. It is extremely difficult to reboot, usually need combination of deleting SRAM, NVRAM, multiple attempts to push down power time for various amouts of time, with it seeming to start again only at random, sometimes, it crashes again during startup and need to start over again. A 10-15 minute process each morning. Once it has started and integrated only mode is imposed by gfxCardStatus computer is completely stable. It will never crash as long as I don't shut lid. Is there a way to permanently disable access to discrete graphics card or some way to make sure that gfxCardStatus always has the upperhand. I have toggeld the energy saver automatic graphics switching on an off with no effect. I have set the computer to never go to sleep, but it must go to sleep with lid shut. Thanks! (I am not a computer programmer, so please excuse novice use of lingo and understanding). Just trying to save an otherwise perfectly good computer (minus ability to use an external monitor)

Hi mates,

I've recently purchased a MacBook Pro Mid-2010 second hand and the seller didn't tell me the laptop was faulty.
I found gfxCardStatus and now the Mac works perfectly, no more kernel panics, I keep using it with Integrated Graphics Only.

Thanks 👍 🥇

I have been using v2.4.3i in order to solve the problem of being unable to switch to integrated only on OSX Sierra, but now gfxCardStatus won't open at startup, no matter how many times I set it to in the preferences

Just a heads up 2.4.3i currently still working on the first dev beta of 10.13 this is on my mid 2012 retina 15 MacBook Pro.

mbpro 2010 keeps going to black screen and restarting.
also kernel panics and now i cannot keep safari open without crashing for more than 3 seconds.

apple communities sent me to this site but I'm totally lost on what i am supposed to do. please help . i can send a copy of kernel panic reports, crash rep, and or etre check . let me know pleeeeease.

I do not know if this will influence any version of gfxCardStatus in High Sierra 10.13.

High Sierra - 10.13 - IOFramebuffer.cpp - mentions gfxCardStatus:

https://opensource.apple.com/source/IOGraphics/IOGraphics-517.17/IOGraphicsFamily/IOFramebuffer.cpp.auto.html

/*
 <rdar://problem/33240449> 17A306d : Coin Flip app and gfxCardStatus go not responding, stuck in IOFramebuffer::_extEntry()
 When extCopySharedCursor() was introduced, the usage of extEntry/extExit was added.
 For now, comment these out and return to the previous functionality and
 lack-of-locking while maintaining the structure and usage of extCopySharedCursor().
 */

Hi I'm using GFXCardStatus v2.4.3i and it works great when in integrated only (Intel HD 4000), but certain programs will trigger discrete or dynamic switching then crash to an unresponsive black screen where I hear the fan . The worst part about this is sometimes I think the MacBook is off but the fan is still throwing heat, then I'll put it it in my backpack and risk completely melting the motherboard and cpu!

How do I get integrated only, to stay on integrated only? The advanced preferences say switching has been removed but my MacBook is always switching. I don't want switching! Is there a hardware hack for this model A1398 that can save my MacBook without having to downgrade to an ancient MacOS release? Mojave is better then Catalina, since Catalina was a very bad experience.. I thought my MacBook was completely totalled, it crashed on every login screen. How can the drivers for the Geforce GT650m be so horrible in Mojave, High Sierra, and Catalina? Can I use some Hackintosh driver "kexts" instead? I wish I could just remove this Nvidia chip because otherwise this MacBook has been rock solid for eight years.

...because the URL https://github.com/steveschow/gfxCardStatus/switching.html#power-source-based-switching does not exist (anymore).

Please either restore switching.html or remove the "Why?" button.

Dear all,
I just have an info for those of you who are experiencing the same issue like me for years now:
On my 2010 MBP Spotify always triggered the Nvidia card.
I had to use gfxCardStatus to force Spotify to use the integrated Intel graphics and not heat up my Mac to 70°C and add some fan noise to the music…

So, as I mentioned before, things have changed now :))

Version 1.0.80 is the version we all waited for!
Have a look in the Spotify menu in the macOS menu bar.
There you will now find the option to deactivate the hardware acceleration...
From now on, discrete GPU will not be triggered by Spotify!

Cheers!

I'm on a 2010 Macbook Pro. gfxCardStatus used to be my saviour but it stopped working sometime in the beginning of this year. I was still on 10.9 so I suspected a software update from Apple to be the culprit. I've then updated to the latest 10.12 to not run a super outdated machine but gfxCardStatus still doesn't work properly anymore.

The issue is that it's no longer possible to switch to integrated mode. When I start up my computer it's in "automatic". Changing to "integrated only" doesn't change the menu icon and it doesn't pop up a notifaction that a GPU change has occured. I'm using 2.4.3i.

Sometimes, MacOS seems to switch to integrated on its own (or starts up in integrated) so I can then switch to "integrated only". Apps like Opera seem to respect that (there's no switch back to the nvidia GPU). But my Macbook still reboots unexpectedly, usually when waking up from sleep (might be a different issue though...).

Are you aware of any changes that Apple might have rolled out in recent updates that affect the GPU switching code?

Another mode I would like to introduce is a discrete-until-done mode, whereby the machine will be temporarily placed into dynamic switching mode. After it has switched to discrete mode once under dynamic mode, it will monitor for when it switches back to integrated, and at that time will automatically switch back to integrated-only again.

The reason for this will be so that a user that needs to run an app that requires discrete graphics can switch to this mode and run that app. When that app exits, then the machine can automatically go back to integrated-only mode.

Hey, I was just wondering if the 2.4.4i app could be updated to the new codykrieger version 2.5? Something like 2.5i

Switching to "integrated only" seems to have saved my early 2013 Macbook Pro that started crashing yesterday after a security update.

Was planning to switch to Catalina from High Sierra but worried the process might brick the computer...(Want to upgrade to the new version of Logic Pro, that doesn't run on High Sierra).

Any thoughts on this? Will the computer possibly try to switch to discrete GPU during the installation and get stuck?

MacBook Pro mid 2010 here. Crashing under integrated mode never happened to me before.

You did not recommend v2.4.3i for mid 2010, so I tried v2.4.2i instead, and it crashed under integrated only mode.

First off, Steve, thank you for your work on this! I'm now running 2.4.4i, and it's helped a lot with the annoying flickering I get on my 2015 MBP in certain apps (mainly Word 2011). I'm running Sierra (10.12.6), and half the time I use an external monitor, which forces the computer (and gfx) into discrete graphics mode. However, when I unplug from the external monitor and go back to using the MBP screen, gfx doesn't switch back to integrated mode, and when I try to do it manually, the "d" stays in place. I have to quit and restart the program to get it working properly. Not sure if there is any way to fix this, but if there is it would be amazing. Thanks!

Start with the app in "Integrated Only" mode, then plug in an external display. You'll notice that the app switches to "Discrete Only." I find that I often don't notice and forget to change it back upon unplugging, so I end up wasting battery life.

It would be better to have an external display force the app into "Dynamic Switching" mode.

Would it be possible to add the option to create and edit a list of applications and set whether it could use Integrated or Discrete graphics?

I envision the on/off option appearing under "Dynamic Switching" as, for example, "Dynamic Switching (Application Specific)". The list of approved applications would appear under the preference window panel.

It might not be possible to prevent an application from utilizing the Discrete card if the card is engaged by another application which is approved. In this case, would it be possible to allow only approved applications from turning on the Discrete in the first place.

Put another way: if the card is on - anyone can use it but only specific applications can turn it on.
However, I believe only the approved apps having access is more desirable.

Thanks!

I've previously used gfxCardStatus (still do) on my old MBP to keep it locked in integrated-only mode. Works great, thank you.

Now on my new MBP I just want to use gfxCardStatus as a monitoring app for GPU switching, and maybe occasionally switch to integrated-only, e.g. when on the road. But as the main setting, I'd like to keep it running the system-default Dynamic Switching.

So which version (or fork) should I use for that?

EDIT: currently on High Sierra (latest); will be on Mojave quickly.

i hava a 2017 macbook pro,but when i connect monitor,i find it auto connect discrete graphics，and i can't choose integrated graphics,so do u hava any idea?thanks

I have no idea what triggers it.

Use a potentially safer approach for switching to integrated, whereby gfxCardStatus will switch to dynamic switching rather then switching directly to integrated mode. This will allow OSX to switch the system to integrated mode when it sees fit. Once we detect the system has switched back to integrated mode, then turn the dynamic switching flag back off again.

Potentially provide a preference to choose this safer mode or not.

the build is broken, on Cody's main repo as well as this fork. Try to fix this problem and do a pull request for it, so do it on a branch.

The problem is that the main Xcode project is not configured to build the Pods first automatically. Additionally if you try to open the Pods subproject and build it, it will build, but the resulting libraries are not in the LIB path for the main gfxCardStatus project, so the main project still can't build.

The workaround is to copy the libs into the same folder where the gfxCardStatus exe will end up, then the main project will find the libs and build.

Also, as of now, I'm getting errors when trying to build the RELEASE version, can only build the DEBUG version for now until that is resolved.

This issue will contain various alternative ways to disable the nVidia graphics device for MBP having discrete graphics problems. These should avoid the need to use gfxCardStatus.

All methods and suggestions found here should be used AT YOUR OWN RISK. Please let us know what does and doesn't work for you.

When using Safari in fullscreen (other browsers work fine), the video will glitch and pixelate. If put in discrete graphics mode it works.

Hi, just wanted to let people know that I am trying Steve´s forked version on my MBP mid 2010 with El Capitan running and it seems to be working fine (only an hour now, will keep you posted on the evolution), neither Chrome nor Photoshop have triggered the automatic switch to Discrete mode which was happening and driving me nuts with the original 2.3 version.
So my million thanx to be shared 75/25 between @codykrieger and @steveschow for keeping my MBP going as time goes or flies by... I changed the HDD two years back for an SSD and updated at the same time to El Capitan and it is performing like a 2016 MBP!
Only thing that is limiting me at this time is the impossibility to hook up to an external monitor or projector, if anyone knows of a workaround for this please let me know.
Cheers, Demian

Is there any way to switch between Discrete/Integrated via keyboard shortcuts? I am trying to troubleshoot a GPU issue and when one freezes but the computer is still functioning I am unable to switch to the other GPU with the mouse and a keyboard shortcut would help greatly. Thanks!

How do I go back to the GTX 650m and or remove this software? When I switch to discrete it shows both intel and gtx under graphics. Before I installed it only showed Nvidia GeForce GT 650M 1GB.

MBP mid2012 retina 2.6 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7 with GTX 650m | catalina 10.15.7

I have tried deleting the app.

Below is screenshots from about this mac.

Before:

After Installing:

Looks like Apple messed more with GPU stuff in High Sierra, does this app work on the new OS?

Provide ability through preferences dialog, to get gfxCardStatus to remember integrated-only mode whenever it starts up. This should use the safer approach mentioned in another ticket, where it will wait for OSX to dynamically switch to integrated mode and then turn the dynamic switch off at that time.

2.4.4 is out for almost a year, I have "Check for Updates on Startup" (or similar, I use the German localization) enabled, yet I'v enever been notified of the newer version. Stumbled over it by accident today and ran "Updates suchen..." manually from the menu, 2.4.3i tells me I'm "already running the latest version" (see screenshot).

Please either fix the update option or replace it with a link to the download page.

Hi!
I updated to 2.4.4…
Because of visual reasons I dislike the „I“ or „n“ symbol in the menu bar and regularly replace these images with Intel- and Nvidia images.
In the apps Contents/Ressources-folder there are png files stored.
I replaced them with my images using the exact names of the original icons.

However, gfxCardStatus after a restart still shows the old symbols instead of my images!?
Are there further changes needed so that gfxCardStatus shows my images?

These are my images: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/oea2mbd0z7rchzb/AACkAT3vBcKjxcTK4IniseQKa?dl=0

Thanks in advance for any hints!

Please use this issue thread for general comments and suggestions

Hi, maybe you could easily fix the annoying offset icon in the menu bar, please?!

I still cannot find a version of gfxcardstatus that will let me go to "integrated only," even trying the modified versions. I am shut down in the latest version when attempting to switch modes. I am on a MBP 15", Early 2011 running MacOS Sierra Version 10.12.2, clean install on formatted drive. It is an issues as any Flash cause a hard crash.

Of gfxcardstautus, I have tried 1.7, 2.3, 2.4.2i, 2.4.3i.

Is there one version that I have missed or any other workarounds? I have been reading this thread and didn't see anything, but could have missed.

Thanks in advance for your help!

When I switch to Integrated Only, I get this:

This is using the app file in the release https://github.com/steveschow/gfxCardStatus/releases/tag/2.4.1i

Machine Version Information:

macOS Sierra
10.12 (16A323)

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014)

please help )

If you are unable to get to the login screen because Mac OS freezes. Try this procedure.

Macbook Pro Early 2011 - Intel HD 3000 and AMD Radeon HD 6750M - Mac OS Sierra 10.12.5

Test: Single-User mode (Command + S) with red background screen and white stripes.

After the reboot, the screen became normal again.
The configuration remains after 3 days with 3 shutdowns.

sudo nvram fa4ce28d-b62f-4c99-9cc3-6815686e30f9:gpu-power-prefs=%01%00%00%00

. . . . .
There is this procedure that works but some people could not do it through ArchLinux.

AppleMacFinder
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/force-2011-macbook-pro-8-2-with-failed-amd-gpu-to-always-use-intel-integrated-gpu-efi-variable-fix.2037591/

FGuarani
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/force-2011-macbook-pro-8-2-with-failed-amd-gpu-to-always-use-intel-integrated-gpu-efi-variable-fix.2037591/page-5
.
So I decided to search and found that the format "gpu-power-prefs=%01%00%00%00" is not in the correct format.

The correct format is:

sudo nvram GUID:NVRAM_Variable=value

GUID - Standard Apple Macbook Pro Early 2011-> fa4ce28d-b62f-4c99-9cc3-6815686e30f9

NVRAM Variable -> gpu-power-prefs

Value for Integrated gpu - In this case Binary data Hexadecimal (%) -> %01%00%00%00
.
Macbook Pro 2011 (AMD) and Macbook Pro 2014 (Nvidia) have the same GUIDs / UUIDs. I think it's an Apple standard factory.

FA4CE28D-B62F-4C99-9CC3-6815686E30F9:gpu-active

FA4CE28D-B62F-4C99-9CC3-6815686E30F9:gpu-power-prefs

7C436110-AB2A-4BBB-A880-FE41995C9F8:gpu-policy

https://github.com/ah-/gmux-scripts/issues/1#issuecomment-68113930
.
Setting NVRAM Variables from OS X - Wikileaks
Example: DriverOrder

sudo nvram 8BE4DF61-93CA-11D2-AA0D-00E098032B8C:DriverOrder=%00%50

https://wikileaks.org/ciav7p1/cms/page_26968084.html

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/291655-ozmosis/page-3

https://github.com/erikberglund/AppleNVRAM

Hi,

i'm using your programm because my gt330 in my macbook pro mid 2010 is broken. Now i got artefacts just in google chrome with my internal one while on "intergriert". I can't read your code - hope you can help me - can't find any chrome issue in the internet who fits my error.

I have an hardware issue with discrete graphiccard.
Known hardware error on Macbook Pro 2013 and older.
This seems to be solving my problems. Thanks so much!

Am soooooo glad I just found this.. I have a mid 2013 McBook Pro.. and was in dire need of NOT using the Nvidia card anymore and alway only use the integrated GPU. Seems to do the trick !!! Thank you for keeping this updated. I was at the end of my wit. And the is literally saving me and my capacity to work !!!