Macbook Pro Retina 13" late 2013 (Haswell) UI Lag

My config: 2.6/16/256, 10.9 (Mavericks)


NOTE: Outside of the issues mentioned, this computer has been great. Awesome build quality, perfect size and weight, Retina screen is outstanding, CPU is snappy, boot and wake from sleep is blazing, it makes ZERO noise, even under heavy usage it only gets mildy warm and it gets great battery life.


Here's my problem: While the machine is wonderful in many aspects, it is far from the smooth experience we have come to expect from Apple products. As mentioned in the title, the UI is a step behind and the smooth transitions of non-retina models are stuttery a jerky on the retina.


Some examples of UI issues that I've replicated on floor models at the Apple store are:

1. Putting certain stock apps in fullscreen show choppy animation (Finder, Safari, Chrome, Maps) while others are buttery smooth (iPhoto).

2. Mission control stutters occasionally (usually when one of the above offenders are open).

3. Preview of any large .jpg or RAW image will cause significant lag when putting it into fullscreen. It literally trips the entire way.

4. Swiping between full screen apps will cause light animation stutter.


To troubleshoot it, I've done a few things.


1. Brought it to the genius bar. They checked all of the harware and ran a number of other diagnostics (including resetting the PRAM). While they confirmed the issues I have mentioned, they told me to wait for a software update that will resolve them.

2. Tried things that others have reportedly worked for them: Deleting windowservers in Library, etc.

3. Downloaded "Display Menu" from the App Store so that I can manipulate resolution settings. Interestingly enough, Display Menu hasn't optimized all of their settings for Retina and choosing any stock settings (including best for retina 1280x800) lowers the overall image quality. When in Display Menu's version of 1280x800, all of the problems (outide of the preview issue) dissapeared. Animations were back to being buttery smooth. This leads me to belive that Iris isn't quite up the the task of Retina.


I'm hoping that Apple didn't purposely release these Pro's without considering the GPU's ability to offer a "smooth ride". Has anyone else experienced this? If it is indeed a driver issue, I hope that Apple addresses this sooner than later. Based off of forums from early 2013 rMBP owners, it doesn't look like that will be the case.


Are you experiencing this also and have you found any true solutions?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9), 13-inch 2.6/16/256

Posted on Nov 10, 2013 9:30 PM

Reply
355 replies

Oct 17, 2014 12:21 PM in response to Wayne Chin

@Wayne Chin


I got the files. Thanks!

I've tried the following steps:


1. Created the ByHost Folder in ~/Library/Preferences

2. Copied the files there

3. Rebooted

<No improvements>

4. PRAM reset

<No improvements>

5. Followed the blog post instructions regarding deleting the necessary *.plist files (this time from ByHost folder as well) and PRAM reset

<No improvements>


To recap, no improvements in terms of UI lag issue. What I have now after the last PRAM reset is bunch of files in ByHost folder.

That is the only change.

Oct 17, 2014 12:26 PM in response to Community User

Anyway, i will upload 2 videos on youtube, trying to show off what i mean by lagging. By default, when i press space on an image of > 2k it takes a 2 seconds until it opens the preview and the animation has like 10 frames or something. That usually should have been instant and fluid..

Oct 17, 2014 12:44 PM in response to Wayne Chin

It is possible to shrink my current partition and make a smaller partition from it, and install a separate Yosemite in there? Just to test out things? And if it's still bugged to delete it and add the space back?

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Macbook Pro Retina 13" late 2013 (Haswell) UI Lag

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