Questions? Comments? Post them below or email us!īe sure to check us out on Twitter and the CNET Mac forums. This may be convenient for some users however, it is still an experimental feature so try or use it with caution.ĭownload gfxCardStatus from the developer's website, it's free! Used as an information tool, gfxCardStatus is incredibly unobtrusive, but in addition to letting you know which GPU is in use, you are also given the option of manually switching.
GFXCARDSTATUS WINDOWS PRO
The screen will go blue and then black, but will then reappear and the secondary GPU will be used. If you have a MacBook Pro with a dual GPU, gfxCardStatus is a handy tool that enables you to quickly see which of them is in use and also to switch between them at will.
While the program is built for the new Core i5 and Core i7 computers, I am able to run it just fine on a Core2 Duo system running the GeForce 9400M/9600M combination however, it is not supported and claims my system is running the GeForce 330M regardless of what GPU I have running.ĭespite this, the program does offer a unique advantage to users of the older MacBook Pro models, in that the GPU switching feature does allow for you to switch GPUs without logging out and closing down your applications. In addition to notifications and alerts, gfxCardStatus will list any processes that are using the current graphics processor, and allow you to manually switch the active GPUs on the system. If you have the Growl notification system installed, gfxCardStatus will inform you in real-time whenever the graphics processor is changed. When the system's computing demands change and the GPU is switched, this utility will show the switches in real-time, either by displaying an "n" (GeForce 330M) or a "i" (Intel HD) in the menu. GfxCardStatus is a small menu extra that displays which graphics card is the active one. The menu extra allows you to quickly change GPUs without logging out, including on older MacBook Pro systems. The issue has been brought to the attention of the developer who has cited that the defective hardware shipped with some MacBook Pros is also causing. This is convenient however, Apple does not provide an easy way to manage the different GPUs on the system, and if you like to tinker you may find the utility gfxCardStatus useful, both for newer and older machines. To compound the misery of MacBook Pro mid-2010 users, gfxCardStatus also seems to be having a problem with functioning correctly after a reboot, becoming somewhat of a ‘One Time Wonder’. On Windows PC's, this is generally managed in a control panel provided by the GPU manufacturer.
GFXCARDSTATUS WINDOWS SOFTWARE
On Macs, software like gfxCardStatus can help you monitor and control which GPU is being used.
On Apple's latest MacBook Pro systems, the dual GPU setup allows for dynamic switching between the onboard and discrete graphics chips to optimize performance and battery life, depending on the tasks at hand. Some people find that they can achieve better sound quality using the integrated GPU.
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