10.8.3 Forcing Discrete Graphics With Dropbox and others

What point are you trying to make Nadeem? I am telling you a possible answer to the problem post by the OP.. Would you like a screenshot? I am running dropbox and the other programs people are saying is triggering the discrete graphics and doing so with the integrated graphics. You are level 1 with 0 points, whatever that means, and Barney is level 7 with over 24K points. Seems like he seems to solve more problems than you. Btw, I never had a black screen issue either, it was a garbled screen, and when I switched to discrete graphics it was fixed. Since having by logic board replaced I have not had that problem, and can use my integrated graphics in all the instances people on this thread are complaining that they cant.

Zoolook, you can take it in, but the last I checked, the Apple support page discussing this issue (linked somewhere in this thread) removed the text referring to the faulty graphics board. Now it simply says to take it in and have them check it out. When I did so, they wanted to charge me ($300 or so I believe) but referred them to that page of theirs and so they did not charge me. They had to do a manual override for the transaction though because it did not show up in their computers. Now that that text is no longer there, it may be harder to get it done under warranty.

If you offer sound and logical reasoning for why they should, and insist on it, then you will likely be able to get it done. If one Apple Store refuses, then try another, and also try calling Apple. It's worth the shot if your system is completely unstable, especially if you can demonstrate it to them and show you've tried everything including reinstalling from scratch.

I just had the same thing done. I had similar problems as well, Skype stopped working, as well as outputing to external monitors for movies and such. Photobooth and iMovie resulted in the same problems as well. With the updated gfxCardStatus I was able primarily stay on Integrated, but for progams such as what y'all are mentioning, there was nothing that could be done, and my computer crashed 3 out of 5 times.

At Apple they informed it was a kernel panic and they have a fix (same link James listed) that is applicable for up to 3 years from the purchase of the computer. Being that we are nearing that point, I would encourage all of you to back up your data and have apple make the fix.

They first run a program to see if it is software or hardware based. If it is software based, Mountain Lion OSx is resinstalled, else the logic board is replaced (my case). I had my computer totally wiped but returned to me within 3 business days, and I went to an Apple Store in Miami (super crowded).

Here again is the link to the guarantee. Thanks for all of your help, it was reassuring knowing others were having the same problem.

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4088?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

I'm wondering how Apple can have so many logic boards for 3 years old MacBooks 😕

refurbish.....

Little snitch problem stays in 10.8.4 but the other problems have been resolved for me (skype, keynote etc.) looks like a new intel driver as things feel lots smoother now..

good luck everyone!

I have the same problem since upgrading from Snow Leopard. GPU crashes system frequently in OSX, but in Windows, the GPU crash is recoverable w/o a reboot. In OSX attempting to disable automatic graphics switching or trying to switch to discrete or integrated graphics only in GFXCardStatus causes a fatal kernel panic. Is there a patch to disable one or the other GPU in OSX without crashing the system? I'm ready to throw his MacBook in the garbage! 😟

Thanks!

I have a Early 2011 MacBook Pro and I'm having the exact same problem. I tried Mavericks but it still takes place. The only thing left is to downgrade to Lion and see what happens. 😟

Have you tried Mavericks DP2?

I thought the new graphic driver will solve it?

Same issue here, Mid 2010 MBP 17 uses discrete graphics all the time! 😟

Haven't tried Mavericks yet, I'm a bit wary about using beta versions of O/S -- I will wait for the actual release version. Thanks for your suggeston!

Mavericks does have the same exact symptoms.

That's not good news. Looks like I may have to buy another laptop this year. Random crashes just won't do for my work needs.

Thanks everyone for your stories and suggestions！

I updated my OS to Mavericks Developer Preview 2 and the problem is still there.

It seems that my MacBook Pro is completely done, I cannot even begin to install Lion or an earlier version of Mountain Lion from an external HDD. I can boot, choose the attached HDD with the older OS, I get the Apple and the loading animation and after that it crashes to a light grey screen with vertical faded white lines. 😟

I feel your pain. I loved my MacBook Pro, but it is unusable with the current O/S. Apple should at least fix the bug(s) that leads to an unrecoverable kernel panic (i could live with the screen occasionally going blank but coming back without a full reboot like it behaves under Windows.) I've submitted numerous crash reports but no resolution.

On a brighter note, I had previously wiped my drive and downgraded to Snow Leopard and the system was stable, but most of my updated and newer installed apps refused to run so I had to go back to Mtn Lion to be able to use them. :p

xtron,

Have you taken it to an apple store to have them test the logic board? My mid2010 MBP was contstantly crashing after upgrading from Snow Leopard to Mountain Lion. Sometimes it would crash and restart multiple times in a row, without ever finishing. I took it to the "genius" bar and told the genius what he needed to test for and showed him the information linked several times in this thread, and voila. They replaced the logic board under warranty. No more kernal panics. It also fixed other problems with the graphics chip. Good luck.