Lion - Horrible MacBook Pro Battery Life

11D50

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: MacBook Pro

Model Identifier: MacBookPro8,2

Processor Name: Intel Core i7

Processor Speed: 2.3 GHz

Number of Processors: 1

Total Number of Cores: 4

L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB

L3 Cache: 8 MB

Memory: 8 GB

Boot ROM Version: MBP81.0047.B24

SMC Version (system): 1.69f3

Sudden Motion Sensor:

State: Enabled

AMD Radeon HD 6750M:

Chipset Model: AMD Radeon HD 6750M

Type: GPU

Bus: PCIe

PCIe Lane Width: x8

VRAM (Total): 1024 MB

Vendor: ATI (0x1002)

Device ID: 0x6741

Revision ID: 0x0000

ROM Revision: 113-C0170L-573

gMux Version: 1.9.23

EFI Driver Version: 01.00.573

Displays:

Color LCD:

Resolution: 1680 x 1050

Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)

Main Display: Yes

Mirror: Off

Online: Yes

Built-In: Yes

Intel HD Graphics 3000:

Chipset Model: Intel HD Graphics 3000

Type: GPU

Bus: Built-In

VRAM (Total): 512 MB

Vendor: Intel (0x8086)

Device ID: 0x0126

Revision ID: 0x0009

gMux Version: 1.9.23

Capacity: 750.16 GB (750,156,374,016 bytes)

Model: TOSHIBA MK7559GSXF

Revision: GQ005B

Native Command Queuing: Yes

Queue Depth: 32

Removable Media: No

Detachable Drive: No

BSD Name: disk0

Rotational Rate: 5400

Medium Type: Rotational

Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)

S.M.A.R.T. status: Verified

Volumes:

disk0s1:

Capacity: 209.7 MB (209,715,200 bytes)

BSD Name: disk0s1

Content: EFI

For what it is worth, I did the over the net update on my MBP (early 2011).

I am seeing much better battery life. If I monitor the current being consumed it used to start of at ~ 900ma and end up mostly over 1A, even on the integrated graphics card.

Now, its running at ~ 700ma after a fresh boot and time to settle, and a day later, is still only ~ 800ma while I am typing this (Chrome).

Of course,once it swiches to the discrete graphics card, all bets are off, and it eats batter like there was no tomorrow. I suspect that most people complaining about poor batter life are not using gfxCardStatus and don't know that they have the discrete graphics engaged.

It also appears to be eating less memory than it did.

Going in the right direction as far as I am concerned.

Ok, update. The battery life indicator no longer decreases to 99% when I unplug it, after charging to 100%. It stays at 100%, to me, that's a good sign. Let's see what else is in store....

Been running for 2hrs on 10.7.3, wifi, no bluetooth, 1/3 brightness, internet only no video, battery down from 100% to 63% so that works out at somewhere around 5.5 hrs, better than the 2hrs I was getting. Still timing.

Was getting 7 easy with SL.

down to 1hr left reported with 4hrs run 21% left so this is better. That makes a probable 5hrs but it is still way short of SL - nice one Apple, fine if I turn everything off! my HP lappie can do 4hrs for 1/4 of the price.

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I own a late MBP 2011. I had a problem with my computer running very hot and short battery just like most of you.

After trying almost everything I could try, Tthis is what I did that seems to help a bit:

1. Clean Install of Lion, according to this video from YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62qtO8hh8WQ

I downloaded and installed the combo update 10.7.3 for developers from the following website:

http://www.grabi.org/download-os-x-lion-10-7-3-build-11d16/

I copied to an external hard drive all files that I wanted to transfer from iMac to MacBook Pro, and then I simply copied them to my MacBook Pro. I didn’t use my Time Capsule, when I did it once, the problem returned.

My battery doesn’t last 7 hours, but it last longer then 4hr, sometimes even 5hr or more depending on what I do. Also, after the above steps, my computer doesn’t run hot anymore. (Before I could fry eggs on it). Now, what we all need to do is to continue to wait for Apple to address our problems SOON. It's a shame that our costly machines encounter such terrible problem and Apple seems to be quiet about it and takes a long time to do SOMETHING.

Sorry I haven't posted much. I have been on the road all week in back to back meetings since the 10.7.3 update. For me, its definately worse. Maybe I was spoilt with the pre-release (seed) and something didn't make this update which of course can happen. For example, nothing else running on my machine except typing in this, I would be showing 9+ hours (since the computer was effectively idle). However, now I am showing < 5).

So, of course, when I start running anything, after 10 or so mins, it settles back down to 3 or so.

Even with nothing running at all, not even a browser, after 10 mins of idle, I'd laugh as it would show as much as 15 but now, never more than 7 hours, 100% idle... The machine is definatley doing something again so I just need to figure out what. After months of exhausting testing on behlaf of Apple (sometimes for days), I feel like I am back to where I started.

I am pleased though, some of you have seen significant improvement and even mine is better than I reported when I first got this machine (25%) but since I've seen 30-40% improvement again, Iknow this beast is capable of so much more. Remember, I posted a REAL 5 1/2 hours usage to dead with about 15 programs running inlcuding flash, VMWARE and much much more. Now, 5 hours with one app 😟 Onwards I go again.

Hmmm, just noticed a web page I often have open seems to annihialiate battery life (www.cnbc.com) with some flash running. Safari showing 50-90% CPU constantly! Not sure if that's a cause but I can experiement more. It's so bad, the fan starts going liek my MAC wants to take off down a runway!!!! Then it cools off and goes slow again!

It wasn't like this on the pre-seed but I notice there's been an update to safari as well. I'm going to delete flash from my machine and maybe it's simply that, that's the culprit... on why my machine is now worse. Can't blame Apple for flash and I don't need it (mostly).

This is a very bad update from Apple except for the Combo. I red you were one of the developers. What went wrong and who missed out doing there job. It is unforgivable that people come here saying we and Apple know of problem and will be fixed in this update. Many unhappy people out there with Apple and you developers. My niece has MBP that only lasts one movie and update did nothing for her.

Unhappy

I am too suffering from poor battery life in OSX Lion. However, doing a clean reinstall helps a little.

Needless to say there is a lot of frustration with OSX Lion, there's even a Facebook Group on it.

Lol Facebook page for everything now. Does not mean much to start up page. But problem is there not Facebook. Need Apple and those who test the beta to do better job. Not good enough Apple.

Why do I get the impression that Apple are concentrating on iphone and ipads at the expense of their computing side?

An editor at one of the more candid Mac-oriented magazines said the same thing, but then he pointed out that in Q4 2011 Apple sold 52 million iPads and iPhones and 5.4 million Macs. He also noted that Steve Jobs notoriously said, when Apple dropped the "Computer" part of its name, "Apple is a cosumer electronics company" or words to that effect. It's not an impression, it's a fact.

However, a reputation as a hawker of rock and roll snippets and run of the mill movies is not going to cut it for long for Apple in terms of fundamental technological advances that make a lasting impact and create a competitive advantage.

Apple needs to allow its computer division more autonomy, maybe even spin it out. Preseve its products compatibility with Apple i-devices and services, but enable the computer company to regain the heights that secured Apple its reputation as a top-notch tech company. Apple is down to just a handful of computer models. Give the computer division room to re-grow. Apple still kills the PC competition in terms of sales and profitability. Stop comparing Macs to toys.

Start by (a) getting the OS right and (b) developing supply chains that provide as great rewards for overseas workers who create great computers for Apple as for the custmers who buy them from Apple. Make everyone feel better. Sell more machines. Build the brand. Think Different. Change the World.

I think this is the moment where we should start accepting the fact that battery life is around 5 hours and try to forget what was in the past (7+)! Bob Jacobsonis quite right in his first paragraph and with those sales figures how can you expect Apple to put more effort in sorting out this issue. Apple will come up in a near future with a totally new type of battery what is going to be just another brilliant way to milk our money once again so forget any revolutionary improvement with the current one! The END!

I have dual boot SL 10.6.7 and Lion 10.7.3. on my MBP 13" I tried several basic test since 10.7.3 update and improvement is obvious, still not as good as SL but better than before. Should we say thank you Apple?

Since July 2011 I met so many Mac owners without a clue how long battery should last and they were quite happy with Lion. Maybe I should find a way to convince my self to stop looking at the time and to switch to Icon only!

The whole gadget market is just a massive illusion! We've been served daily with some numbers about pixels, sharpness and other extra screen qualities but I don't remember when was the last time when my screen brightness was above 35-45% because I of poor battery life!

Who cares, I'm tired of this s#iT! I just got a second charger so I can charge my MBP wherever I go.

Hello, I have a late-2010 MBA. Loved the battery life [and the cool operating temps] of SL. Upgraded to Lion because I loved the features ... but the battery life definitely took a hit and temps were higher. Both effects were substantial and easily noticeable over the few months of using Lion.

Upgraded yesterday to 10.7.3 via Software Update ... and have had no problems during install or since.

Result: I see a longer battery life and lower operating temperatures. Don't have a very experimental or data-driven basis [some of you on this thread are very "scientific"!], but definitley very noticeable and very welcome nonetheless.

OK. As I mentioned, I've been traveling and stuck in a foreign hotel all weekend. That means I have had a lot of dedicated time to do a lot of testing, rebooting and sampling of battery life.

Here's the simplest way, that I have managed to perfect battery life from full charge. The order is important;

1. Upon boot up, immediately "log-out". This process is not essential but I think it's best.

2. Then, log back in again BUT before you hit ENTER or Click the arrow to login, HOLD DOWN THE SHIFT KEY

(this trick ensures no applications start)

3. Then IMMEDIATELY start GFXcardStatus. Set to discrete, wait for 5 secs and then set to integrated (this ensures it's properly set - IMHO).

4. Then go about your business of loggin in your applications.

Using the above technique, I am seeing again 5 1/2 plus hours using VMWARE (XP session), Safair, Mac Mail, Adium, Ical, Iphoto, Twitter, Chatter, MS Word, MS Powerpoint, Evernote, Google Music, Dropbox and SKYPE.

I can skip option 1 but find I must start GFXcardStatus immediately. If other apps are using the dynamic switching, I don't thinkl GFXcardstatus is perfect enough to really stop the switich as battery life seems to drop.

Without doing this, instead of 5 1/2 - 6 hours, I was getting not more than 3 1/2 hours.

Try it, probably won't work for everyone but it's simple enough to try.

In addition, I have found a web site that I would load to test Safari with Flash but it had been a red-herring for me since this site has a mega-java-script or something bug - I have reported to www.cnbc.com (their home page). If you go to www.cnbc.com - then watch the activity monitor go MAD with CPU hyper activity, start the fan into overdrive and basically kill your battery (Not Apples fault as it does the same in firefox on the MAC). A process called "Safari Web content" becomes top of the list in the 50+ percent range. I searched Google for this and there are other threads on this problem. As soon as you close cnbc.com, it goes away!! It's just possible, other sites you visit is doing something similarly as bad - who knows!

Good luck, I hope the above, helps someone. I am trying.