10.8.3 Forcing Discrete Graphics With Dropbox and others

Thanks, that would be a last resort for me, since my system is not under warranty. If I'm going to have to fork out 5-600 dollars for a replacement outdated motherboard, I'd probably be better off putting that towards a new laptop and maybe get a retina display. :)

You should try to "bake" your logic board - there are too many successful stories. I will do it as soon as the local service provider tells me there's nothing more to do than change the logic board.

http://russell.heistuman.com/2011/05/09/baking-a-macbook-pro-logic-board-video/

Do a search for a comment by user Nik. He has/had the same issue and it got fixed for him. 🙂

I have a macbook Pro 9,1 (Mid 2012 Non retena, i7, Nvidia 650gfx) and im getting dropbox force the nvidia card as well

I, recently, discovered another application that is having this issue that I haven't, yet, seen mentioned in this thread -- the latest version of SMARTReporter. The issue is not, completely, intrusive to the app. If you leave it running in the menubar, it's on integrated. If you open the app window, use caution. Toggling the "History" tab will trigger discrete graphics. I emailed the developer and just thought I'd share the response I received:

Hi,

I, just recently, purchased SMARTReporter 3.1.0 (an upgrade over my, previously installed, version 2.7.3).

thanks for your purchase! 😉

I'm running the app on a 2010 MacBook Pro with the latest build of Mountain Lion (10.8.4). As you may be aware, there is an issue with 10.8.4 on 2010 hardware where numerous applications have had a tendency to trigger the discrete (NVIDIA) GPU. I have noticed this issue pop up with the current release of SMARTReporter. For the most part, the application is running on the integrated (Intel) GPU. However, if I switch over to the 'History" tab in the application, the discrete GPU is triggered (I have verified this using gfxCardStatus).

sorry, triggering the discrete GPU for the history tab can not be easily prevented.

The only way I have found to switch back to the integrated GPU is to quit SMARTReporter, then, relaunch it. Is this a known issue and will there be a fix coming? Being that this is a menu bar app, it's something that I would like to have running 24/7. If running around the clock, I'd like it to run on the integrated GPU, only.

we are aware of this issue, but its actually an issue within Mac OS X, and not within SMARTReporter.

currently Mac OS X runs on the discrete GPU until every process that ever triggered the discrete GPU has been terminated - even if these processes don’t need the GPU anymore.

i’ve submitted a bug report about this behaviour to Apple about a year ago and highlighted the importance of the problem specifically for apps like SMARTReporter which normally run all the time without ever being terminated, effectively making the laptop stay on discrete graphics until a reboot or manually restarting the “offending” apps.

however, Apple has decided that they do not want to fix this problem within Mac OS X.

so, sorry, i don’t have any solution for this. we can’t fix it. Apple doesn’t want to fix it.

if this bothers you i’d recommend complaining to apple, they sometimes change their mind about fixing problems if more people complain about them. i could forward the bug number to you.

There are a lot of applications which force Lion to use discrete graphics.

(e.g., PathFinder, Dropbox, Transmit, Growl, Reeder, Bartender, and much more)

I'm using a Macbook Pro 17 Mid 2010 and I don't understand why Apple isn't fixing it! 😠

Has anyone tried the new Mavericks (DP 5) and observed an improvement?

however, Apple has decided that they do not want to fix this problem within Mac OS X.

so, sorry, i don’t have any solution for this. we can’t fix it. Apple doesn’t want to fix it.

if this bothers you i’d recommend complaining to apple, they sometimes change their mind about fixing problems if more people complain about them. i could forward the bug number to you.

We should push this issue! That's customer support!😟

Apple doesn't want to fix it.

on my mid-2010 15" 2.66 8GB 240 OCZ-agility 3 SSD, it's either twitter or trim enabler that set off the gt 330m. both are updated to their current versions (twitter 2.3.1) and (trim enabler 3.0) as is os x (10.8.4)

as a side question and i'm sorry for asking this here but do I need to have the patch active at the expense of triggering the discrete GPU. Thank You and sorry for the question, i don't fully understand how trim works. 😝

Hi! less than two months ago,my motherboard was change. I have a mbp 15.4" A1286 (mid-2010).

My problem is that almost every 2/3 times i do log out, the computer will not do it; it will have a brighter screen (with the same wallpaper without dock and finder visible) and it will do anything (i have to force manual shutdown).

When i turn it on again, an "error has happened,would you like to restore your programs" will appear.

It usually happens when i turn the computer off. If i do both things with the nvidia GT330m, it will not happen.

Usually just when i have the "just integrated card" in gfxcardstatus.

I did reinstall Mountain lion too,and installed the latest software updates. Best regards and thanks for your help!.

I decided to start fresh and go back to Snow Leopard and swallow the OS's limitations with current software until I can buy a new notebook next year, and I haven't experienced a single crash since the re-install/downgrade. So Apple, this is NOT a hardware issue with the 2010 MBP motherboard, it is your lazy programming dept. not wanting to solve an issue you created with your custom graphic switching.

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....

2 months ago I was at the local Apple Service Provider mit my MBP 2010 15', too.

They refused to change the board.

Seems as if not every user is treated equal 😮

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.

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 ?

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