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Graphics switching to Discrete after all dependencies close. #133

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ThetaSigma312 opened this issue Nov 5, 2013 · 87 comments
Closed

Graphics switching to Discrete after all dependencies close. #133

ThetaSigma312 opened this issue Nov 5, 2013 · 87 comments

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@ThetaSigma312
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If you set gfxCardStatus to Integrated Only, it will set itself to Discrete after all dependencies are closed.
For example if you set gfxCardStatus to Intergrated, then open VLC, and then close it, it will give a notification and switch to Discrete, and stay there until you switch back or set it to Dynamic Switching, in which OS X switches automatically to Integrated.

I am unable to test this on any other computers at the moment, however I am on a Mid-2010 Macbook Pro 17" running the latest version of 10.9.
@codykrieger
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Dupe of #107

@ThetaSigma312
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My apologies, I didn't see that before.

@garyabart
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I have a mid 2010 15" MacBook pro also with the bad graphic card that decided to quit after upgrading to Yosemite. $400+ fix at Apple, Your gfx software allows me to continue using my MB pro. Is there a way to lock in to the "intergrated" setting only? I have determined my MB pro is only stable in that mode. I guess there was a recall a couple of years ago on this graphic card but mine was working fine until the Yosemite upgrade. My son and I purchased this same laptop at the same time, His is still working with Mountain Lion. Im no expert on this graphic card switching, any info will help. Gary B

@codykrieger
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@garyabart On 2010 machines, there is no safe way to do that. Sorry :(

@garyabart
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Wow thanks for the quick get back. I was afraid of that, bummer. As long as it stays in intergrated it works fine. Thank You. A donation will be on its way soon.

gary b
www.electronfx.com http://www.electronfx.com/

On Jan 14, 2015, at 4:50 PM, Cody Krieger notifications@github.com wrote:

@garyabart https://github.com/garyabart On 2010 machines, there is no safe way to do that. Sorry :(

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@ThetaSigma312
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I compiled my own version with the Integrated lock feature, however, as stated by codykrieger, there is no perfect solution, but I've had no problems with it. I'll include a link to it in my dropbox. At each startup be sure to select Integrated Only, and it should stick to it, except for a split second when all dependancies are closed, hopefully it'll be fast enough where the failing GPU will not cause problems.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xf8ul6fb7xzheab/AACVbEIkrTCrKfPZ0xkiwj9oa?dl=0 (<--- Fixed link)
Hope it helps!

@garyabart
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Got it, Thank you thank you, Ill test and keep you posted. This stuff is all out there for me.

gary b

On Jan 14, 2015, at 5:47 PM, ThetaSigma312 notifications@github.com wrote:

I compiled my own version with the Integrated lock feature, however, as stated by codykrieger, there is no perfect solution, but I've had no problems with it. I'll include a link to it in my dropbox. At each startup be sure to select Integrated Only, and it should stick to it, except for a split second when all dependancies are closed, hopefully it'll be fast enough where the failing GPU will cause problems.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/oksstyg8xlx12fy/AACQjSLjGAfIGpfPL5UTjrWoa?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/sh/oksstyg8xlx12fy/AACQjSLjGAfIGpfPL5UTjrWoa?dl=0
Hope it helps!

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@garyabart
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Thank you for the "gfxCardStatus.app" I have down loaded it but, excuse my dumbness what do I install from the contents folder? It says gfx can't be opened because it is from a unidentified developer.

@ThetaSigma312
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Ah, I guess I never signed it (I can't now anyways). Go into System Preferences, then Security & Privacy, then on the line Allow apps downloaded from: change it to Anywhere. (You'll probably have to unlock System Preferences with the lock icon in the bottom left corner)

That'll fix your problem, however it means that unsigned apps can be opened. But you will get a dialogue asking if you're sure you want to open an unsigned app, so it's still somewhat secure.

Use your best judgement. Personally I leave it on Anywhere.

@codykrieger
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Please do not allow unsigned apps. That's terrible. Instead, ctrl-click the app and hit Open. That'll give you another button in the dialog that comes up which will let you open it.

On Jan 16, 2015, at 11:09 AM, ThetaSigma312 notifications@github.com wrote:

Ah, I guess I never signed it. Go into System Preferences, then Security & Privacy, then on the line Allow apps downloaded from: change it to Anywhere.

That'll fix your problem, however it means that unsigned apps can be opened. But you will get a dialogue asking if you're sure you want to open an unsigned app, so it's still somewhat secure.

Use your best judgement. Personally I leave it on Anywhere.

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@ThetaSigma312
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Yikes, I totally forgot you could do that, thanks for reminding me.

@garyabart
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Didn’t go that far, it told me that gfx was not opened, do u want to open, I said yes, it opened terminal, I don’t know terminal other than don’t mess with it unless u know what your doing.

On Jan 16, 2015, at 1:16 PM, ThetaSigma312 notifications@github.com wrote:

Yikes, I totally forgot you could do that, thanks for reminding me.

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@ThetaSigma312
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Terminal? Did you only download the Contents file?

@garyabart
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opening the zip file created a contents folder, in there was a MacOS folder, that had gfxCardstatus, I opened that. is there something else?

On Jan 16, 2015, at 1:23 PM, ThetaSigma312 notifications@github.com wrote:

Terminal? Did you only download the Contents file?

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@ThetaSigma312
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Oooh, I see what happened. To avoid further confusion I re-uploaded it as already zipped. Try the link again and download: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ynl57ip4sjsptrc/gfxCardStatus%20%28fixed%29.zip?dl=0 (<--- Direct link)

@garyabart
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OK, I already have gfxCardstatus.app 2.3 running, is this a different app ? I trying to lock this computer in to the Integrated only because it locks up in the other graphic modes on this bad G card.

On Jan 16, 2015, at 1:30 PM, ThetaSigma312 notifications@github.com wrote:

Oooh, I see what happened. To avoid further confusion I re-uploaded it as already zipped. Try the link again and download: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xf8ul6fb7xzheab/AACVbEIkrTCrKfPZ0xkiwj9oa?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xf8ul6fb7xzheab/AACVbEIkrTCrKfPZ0xkiwj9oa?dl=0
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@ThetaSigma312
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You have to quit the other one first. It is a different app (it's also versioned under 2.3.1), it won't run along with the other one.

@garyabart
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You guys are great, Ill do this later, got to get to a meeting.

g

On Jan 16, 2015, at 1:36 PM, ThetaSigma312 notifications@github.com wrote:

You have to quit the other one first. It is a different app (it's also versioned under 2.3.1), it won't run along with the other one.

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@garyabart
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Downloaded gfx 2.3.1 and quit 2.3. Dialog box says it can't be opened. Any ideas? It is in the applications folder etc.

@ThetaSigma312
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Would it be possible to send a screenshot of what's going on? You can take one by pressing Command - Shift - 3.

@garyabart
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Sure.
screen shot 2015-01-18 at 10 12 48 pm

@ThetaSigma312
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I can reproduce this if I have a copy of gfxcardstatus already running, open Activity Monitor (located in /Applications/Utilities/ folder) and search gfxcardstatus, and if it shows up, quit it with the X near the top left of the window. Then try again with the 2.3.1 version. For the sake of elimination, just delete 2.3 so we can be sure it's not running in any way to interfere with 2.3.1.

@garyabart
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OK, I move 2.3 to the trash. Restarted and Opened Activity M, (see screen capture). Tried to open 2.3.1 and got the same Dialog Box, Cant open. ??
screen shot 2015-01-19 at 11 23 25 am

@ThetaSigma312
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Did you search for it in Activity Monitor? Is it possible you have a copy elsewhere on your computer?

@garyabart
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Not in the Activity Monitor, I deleted everything, emptied the trash. Redownloaded the 2.3.1 file and tried to open. Still says can't open file.
screen shot 2015-01-19 at 1 29 20 pm

@ThetaSigma312
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I figured it out, the app folder was set to 'no access' to anyone except my own user account, completely my fault. I've fixed it now. Go ahead and redownload it (https://www.dropbox.com/s/jo8nbs3ixl5liku/gfxCardStatus.zip?dl=0) and try again.

@garyabart
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Cant believe it, still wont open. Here is a screen shot of "spotlight search for gfxcardstatus" may be u can see something.

screen shot 2015-01-19 at 1 54 19 pm

@ThetaSigma312
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I went and removed all restrictions to access in folders (stupid of me to forget to remove them in the beginning), so go ahead and delete any version on your computer, and redownload. If it still doesn't work, perhaps I can try and help you more directly with Skype or something.

@garyabart
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I think I need a new link to drop box, I used the last one, no go again.

@garyabart
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I sent gfx file via sendthisfile.com have not used this in a long time. let me know if it works

gary b

On Mar 7, 2016, at 8:36 AM, ncgmich notifications@github.com wrote:

Hi. Unfortunately, I've not been able to get ThetaSigma312's compiled version to launch/execute, but I appreciate his effort and response.

Garyabart, would it be possible for you to re-upload it on a file sharing site?

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@garyabart
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Sent it.

gary b

On Mar 7, 2016, at 9:12 AM, ncgmich notifications@github.com wrote:

My e-mail is ncg.michigan@gmail.com mailto:ncg.michigan@gmail.com for sendthisfile.com purposes.

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@steveschow
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One thing I don't understand is why it switches to discrete only after my app closes, rather then switching to Dynamic-switching.

@xfreece
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xfreece commented Oct 22, 2016

Any chance one could get hold of the file from this comment?
"so my version has some freakish bug that won't let it open on his computer, but @highandfew's original fix can be downloaded here: http://www.sendspace.com/file/xfzn4g and that should work fine"
The sendspace doesn't have the file any longer.

@garyabart
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See attached.

On Oct 22, 2016, at 1:00 PM, xfreece notifications@github.com wrote:

Any chance one could get hold of the file from this comment?
"so my version has some freakish bug that won't let it open on his computer, but @highandfew https://github.com/highandfew's original fix can be downloaded here: http://www.sendspace.com/file/xfzn4g http://www.sendspace.com/file/xfzn4g and that should work fine"
The sendspace doesn't have the file any longer.

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@mrillex
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mrillex commented Mar 17, 2017

can someone send me the file with the working 2.3.1 fix ?

links from 2015 doen´t work anymore...

@garyabart
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garyabart commented Mar 17, 2017 via email

@mrillex
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mrillex commented Mar 17, 2017 via email

@garyabart
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garyabart commented Mar 17, 2017 via email

@mrillex
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mrillex commented Mar 18, 2017 via email

@garyabart
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garyabart commented Mar 18, 2017 via email

@mrillex
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mrillex commented Mar 21, 2017 via email

@garyabart
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garyabart commented Mar 21, 2017 via email

@calmwhiner
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Hi @garyabart and @mrillex

I have a early 2011 MBP which i can extend life if i can keep it at integrated graphics..

Any chance for a working link you can share?

I hope it is still in your bin....

Thanks!

@mrillex
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mrillex commented Jul 4, 2017 via email

@calmwhiner
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Thanks martin for reposting, and @highandfew !

seems to be working now :)

this we transfer link should last a while.

@steveschow
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I have incorporated highandfew's fix into my fork and the compiled binary is there to download. Check it out.

Unfortunately it's not set to integrated-only on boot yet.

Looks like the best fix for 2010 and 2011 mbp users with flakey graphics is to disable entirely the nvidia board, I know of two ways to do this but haven't tried either. One is a hack out there that hacks the power management kext. Supposedly it works but it will have to be updated every time apple updates that kext. Another hack I have seen is a complicated procedure where you make a Linux boot disc and then with Linux you change some data in the EFI somehow which then apparently hides the nVidia card from OSX entrirely. Supposedly it works but I haven't tried it.

@iceman60
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iceman60 commented Jul 4, 2017

I've tried the second hack on a MBP 17" 2011 it work like a charm!

Boot with CMD+S
sudo nvram FA4CE28D-B62F-4C99-9CC3-6815686E30F9:gpu-power-prefs=%01%00%00%00

@wagle
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wagle commented Jul 4, 2017

where does the FA4CE28D-B62F-4C99-9CC3-6815686E30F9 come from?

@iceman60
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iceman60 commented Jul 4, 2017 •
edited
Loading

This is the UUID of this model I guess
You can run : ./nvram-dump 2>&1 | cut -d' ' -f4-

Here Is the explanation : 0xbb/gpu-switch#41

@steveschow
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hey this is excellent info thank you! Its nice to know it can be done directly from the command line in safe mode! Then its just a matter of making sure to get the correct UUID's for whichever specific mac model is being used and maybe for the nVidia too? Thanks iceman!

@steveschow
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So iceman i tried following a lot of those threads, full of frantic people trying anything to get their machine working...its quite confusing to know for sure what to do. Am I correct to assume that your one line nvram command is the same result as the long winded and complicated linux solution that is written around?

Also it looks like most people out there in desperation are 2011 users with AMD discrete graphics, which appears to be more complicated and problematic then the nVidia in some way. I just want to make sure the above fix would work with my 2010 MBP with nvidia discrete graphics. gfxCardStatus is working fine for me...but I am on El Capitan and afraid to upgrade to sierra becuase of this, so maybe the nvram fix would let me do that...knock on wood. Also the nvram fix will be on at boot, while gfxCardStatus has to be manually switched to integrated-only every time I reboot. Also OSX still seems to need to switch to discrete briefly when exiting apps, before gfxCardStatus switches it back to integrated. Theoretically, the nvram trick avoids that issue as well. I'm definitely keen to try it out, but since everyone on those threads is using AMD's....and by the way having lots of problems still too...I'm still a little afraid to try it

@steveschow
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That gpu-switch tool looks kind of interesting as an alternative solution as well...perhaps using that on boot will be the best bet for me. I pretty much never use my 2010 in dynamic mode. if an app won't work with integrated graphics, then I just find a different app

@iceman60
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iceman60 commented Jul 5, 2017

Sorry, this seems to be a GUID (EFI manufacturing unique id, not the UUID) associated with others MBP model
here is another thread with nVidia (MBP 2013) discrete card : https://gist.github.com/0xbb/974999591da4b1b2635c
another with MBP 2014 and GT750M : https://github.com/ah-/gmux-scripts/issues/1

The only things I'm sure is for my model running this one line command in Safe mode do the job!
Did you try?
Now I'm trying to get the GUID for an iMac12,2 with a faulty AMD 6970M...

@steveschow
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yea, the nvram hack doesn't work on my mac. Period. After wasting a lot of time on this yesterday I am convinced that hack is great for the MBP's with AMD, but not for nVidia. Also, it may not be the best solution afterall to disable the discrete graphics (see below).

Also it may be different for linux users then it is for OSX users. gpu-switch, for example, is really not appropriate for OSX.

At this point I have decided to get the capacitor replaced on my MBP logicboard, which is the culprit of the problem for 2010 MBP's. It will cost a few hundred bucks and solve the whole problem. In the meantime, I have actually stopped using gfxCardStatus 2.4.4i, which works fine, but there is another solution I am trying for a while that doesn't disable the discrete graphics, it just slows it down enough to avoid the problem caused by the flakey capacitor.

https://github.com/julian-poidevin/MBPMid2010_GPUFix

The above helps my MBP, but doesn't help the ones with AMD gpu's, they will need to use the nvram hack I guess.

@informationquestions
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Does anyone have this file? The we transfer link is expired :(

I still have it, but it doesnt work had a 2010 and a 2011 which autostarted with this tool and now are dead… gfx gets initialized anyway at boot. this fix should be inside bios or have an alternate bootloader or linux but check for yourself: https://we.tl/RaxNEJbWUU https://we.tl/RaxNEJbWUU martin
…

I still have it, but it doesnt work had a 2010 and a 2011 which autostarted with this tool and now are dead… gfx gets initialized anyway at boot. this fix should be inside bios or have an alternate bootloader or linux but check for yourself: https://we.tl/RaxNEJbWUU https://we.tl/RaxNEJbWUU martin
…

@informationquestions
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Thanks martin for reposting, and @highandfew !

seems to be working now :)

this we transfer link should last a while.

Does anyone have this file? The we transfer link is expired :(

@informationquestions
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yea, the nvram hack doesn't work on my mac. Period. After wasting a lot of time on this yesterday I am convinced that hack is great for the MBP's with AMD, but not for nVidia. Also, it may not be the best solution afterall to disable the discrete graphics (see below).

Also it may be different for linux users then it is for OSX users. gpu-switch, for example, is really not appropriate for OSX.

At this point I have decided to get the capacitor replaced on my MBP logicboard, which is the culprit of the problem for 2010 MBP's. It will cost a few hundred bucks and solve the whole problem. In the meantime, I have actually stopped using gfxCardStatus 2.4.4i, which works fine, but there is another solution I am trying for a while that doesn't disable the discrete graphics, it just slows it down enough to avoid the problem caused by the flakey capacitor.

https://github.com/julian-poidevin/MBPMid2010_GPUFix

The above helps my MBP, but doesn't help the ones with AMD gpu's, they will need to use the nvram hack I guess.

Great, I'll hold onto it awhile longer. G Sent by Apple Telepathy
…

Does anyone have this file? The we transfer link is expired :(

@informationquestions
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I also found this link for a different file:

https://mac.softpedia.com/get/System-Utilities/gfxCardStatus.shtml

it says 2.4.4i but when you download it gives you the option to download 2.4.4i for 2011 MacBook Pro or 2.4.2i for 2010 MacBook Pro, anyone know if it makes a difference?

@garyabart
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garyabart commented Oct 7, 2018 via email

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@codykrieger @wagle @iceman60 @ThetaSigma312 @xfreece @steveschow @garyabart @mrillex @calmwhiner @informationquestions