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How to switch graphic card Macbook Pro

I just bought my new Macbook Pro Retina Today.

And already updated to the latest OS, but how do I switch to my NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M, I think I am using the Intel HD graphics right now.


I tried to google it already, but it seems that I have other options at my Energy option screen, as it only says 'Automatic detect Graphic option'. (I am Dutch so I tried to translate it)


Games like Runescape are laggy right now, any idea's on how to change?


Thank you in advance!

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Sep 24, 2012 2:01 PM

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Posted on Sep 24, 2012 2:05 PM

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

12 replies

May 5, 2014 12:02 PM in response to ihavewhatittakes

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The second part of the problem is that the drivers are sub par to the windows version (and often outdated) coupled with the fact that OpenGL currently has a large overhead for most games compared to DirectX on the same hardware.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

How to switch graphic card Macbook Pro

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