Q: How to switch graphic card Macbook Pro

The MBP auto switches to use the discrete gpu when needed or when software is written to address it.

See here http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4110

gfxCardStatus version 2.2.1 lets you manually change which gpu u want to use.

http://is.gd/CklYt7

Also in the Energy savings preferene pane there is a check box. If unchecked it will use what ever the system decides (isn't always fast enough though). If checked it uses your Nvidia graphics.

Does this also work on Macbook pro 13 2013. I just bought one and am interested in some gaming and I've found the intel chip is not very succesful when it comes to running games like battlefield bad company 2 and GTA 4. Is there a way to circumnavigate the ****** intel card?

The 13" MacBook Pro does not have a discrete GPU, it only has the integrated Intel HD 4000.  So, there is no ability to switch graphics processors.

gfxCardStatus don't work anymore. Read this post for more information:

http://gfx.io/switching.html#power-source-based-switching

Morty89,

The address you gave was spot on. Thank you for that :) however I have a late 2013 rMBP 15 with an nvidia GT 750M discrete. I switched to it using gfxCardStatus and while playing minecraft I still have a lot of lag for a 2 gig gpu. Any suggestions on improving the fps?

First there's the issue that current GPUs are simply not made to drive games at 2880X1800 (except titan black and other really expensive SLI solutions - and even then with reduced quality), so lowering your in game resolution to 1080P should allow you to play the game with better FPS.

The second part of the problem is that the drivers are sub par to the windows version (and often outdated) coupled with the fact that OpenGL currently has a large overhead for most games compared to DirectX on the same hardware.

Installing the latest Nvidia drivers may help some: http://www.nvidia.com/object/mac-driver-archive.html

I found that installing windows on a partition for gaming works much best since you can use DirectX instead of openGL or equivalent but even then I wouldnt expect a PC using these same low end cards to drive anything above a 1080P resolution or on taxing (very good/ultra) graphical settings.

The next iteration of openGL may help some, although DX11 is still a jump ahead in terms of performance from the same GPU. This also won't help until apple updates it into a system update.

what's the use of downloading that if you can just turn off automatic switching in the energy saver preferences?