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corsa Author

Level 1

24 points

10.8.3 Forcing Discrete Graphics With Dropbox and others

I have a mid-2010 MacBook Pro, and under 10.8.2 most of my apps ran on the integrated graphics chipset.

Now with 10.8.3, apps including Dropbox, Transmit, Tweetbot, Growl, Reeder, and Bartender are forcing the usage of the discrete graphics card. There are a few more people on MacRumors noticing the same thing. The only one who posted what machine he had was also using a mid-2010 MBP.

I have tested on a brand new MacBook Pro Retina with 10.8.3, and those apps don't cause a switch to the discrete graphics card.

Is anyone else noticing apps forcing the discrete graphics mode in 10.8.3 that weren't in 10.8.2, and if so, what model of Mac are you using?

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on Mar 14, 2013 9:56 PM

118 replies

Oct 7, 2013 3:40 PM in response to xtron

I have had the same problem with my mid-2010 out of waranty... and Apple changes my motherboard for free.

I think that it's a thermal issue with the GPU.

Apple has change the settings of the fans... and I think that the problems appears if your thermal pastes are bad.

It's a known hardware issue with MPB 2010....

Oct 8, 2013 11:34 AM in response to aburger

I had the same experience, and had a little chat with the Genius.

They know about the issue, and they have a specific test they run on the machine to check for it. Once they've run the test, if the result is positive (the GPU is ok) they can't do anything about it. They need a negative result from the software to actually move on with the procedure.

They ran the test twice in front of me to be sure, the GPU came out fine both times. Apparently not all MBP 15" Mid-2010 are the same, and maybe there are two different problems that can cause similar sintoms.

He added that he might have been able to change it anyway if I had AppleCare (filling it under something like "generic issues with the motherboard"), but that wasn't my case.

Oct 8, 2013 12:05 PM in response to Steve Mezzadri

Mine has failed to the test... its serial number was not listed in the known defects.

But as the issue has exactly the same symptoms... they change it...

And I have no problem now...

Try in another Applestore perhaps ?

tasospro

Level 1

0 points

Jan 4, 2014 12:47 PM in response to corsa

hello and happy new year.....

i have a macbook pro 2010 i5 with the graphic card (330m) when open nvidia,macbook pro crash with backlight keyboard on and my question is...if i repair the nvidia 330m with new nvidia chihset the problem can fix it?

somebody find solution with theis repair?thanks

Eric Root

Level 10

684,627 points

Mar 15, 2013 1:14 PM in response to corsa

Send Apple feedback. They won't answer, but at least will know there is a problem. If enough people send feedback, it may get the problem solved sooner.

Feedback

Eric Root

Level 10

684,627 points

Mar 19, 2013 10:40 AM in response to Stingray77

Apple doesn't read the discussions.

Send Apple feedback. They won't answer, but at least will know there is a problem. If enough people send feedback, it may get the problem solved sooner.

Feedback