How do I find out which apps use the GPU?

Question

How do I find out which apps use the GPU?

Is there a way to find out which apps use the GPU on a desktop? Unlike MacBooks, desktops do not have the "Requires GPU" column in Activity Monitor/Energy.

iMac 27", macOS 10.13

Posted on Nov 28, 2019 1:20 PM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

250,619 points

Dec 4, 2019 7:57 AM in response to argentinorteamericano

I'm using iStat Menus, which shows a GPU Memory Usage figure.

The screenshot below is from my copy of iStat Menus 4.22. There is a new version 5 release, which includes "better per-app stats". I haven't tried this: I suspect it doesn't break down the GPU figures per-app, but it's worth a try -- there is a free trial.

https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/143872/how-can-i-tell-which-apps-are-using-up-my-graphics-memory

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Answer 2

raina_b22

Community Specialist

Dec 3, 2019 4:09 PM in response to argentinorteamericano

Hi argentinorteamericano.

Thanks for following up. Next, I would contact Apple Support.

Here's how:

Contact Apple for support and service

Cheers.

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Answer 3

CarlAVII

Community Specialist

Dec 2, 2019 12:21 PM in response to argentinorteamericano

Hello argentinorteamericano.

Welcome to Apple Support Communities.

If I'm understanding correctly, you would like to know if you can view GPU activity. I will be glad to assist.

How to use Activity Monitor on your Mac

"To open a window showing recent graphics processor (GPU) activity, choose Window > GPU History. Energy usage related to such activity is incorporated into the energy-impact measurements in the Energy tab of Activity Monitor."

Cheers.

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Answer 4

Dec 3, 2019 10:24 PM in response to raina_b22

When I try contacting Apple support as you suggest I am referred back to the community for questions, thus creating an infinite loop for which there appears to be no exit. As I'm dealing with a personal operating system which has no preemptive multitasking model, infinite loops will cause my actions to consume all my personal available processor time and detract me from other more important tasks at hand, this cannot be terminated by the me. Therefore, I will leave my question open for now, hopefully someone in the community might come along with an answer. :D

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Answer 5

Dec 3, 2019 10:10 PM in response to raina_b22

Thanks, I'll contact them as you suggest.

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Answer 6

Dec 4, 2019 9:13 AM in response to BDAqua

Thanks BDAqua. I will try this app as you suggest.

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Answer 7

BDAqua

Level 10

250,619 points

Dec 4, 2019 9:29 AM in response to argentinorteamericano

OK, anxious to hear what the outcome is. :)

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Answer 8

Dec 3, 2019 2:55 PM in response to CarlAVII

Thanks Allen. It appears that OSX High Sierra (which I'm using) does not support the GPU activity window. At least in mine it appears as a blank window. I understand it is supported on later versions of OSX but that does not help me because I have an older machine and I'm stuck with High Sierra. That being the case, is there a different way to find out which apps require the GPU? I have not been able to find a list if such exists.

Thank you.

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How do I find out which apps use the GPU?

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