MBP Cycles Through the Graphic Cards when MS Office Apps Load Templates

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Level 1

119 points

MBP Cycles Through the Graphic Cards when MS Office Apps Load Templates

I am preparing my MacBook Pro mid-2010, running Mavericks, for my girlfriend. I created an admin account for her and deleted mine, as well as my old user files. But now, when opening MS 2011 apps (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), while loading the the template gallery, the computer starts cycling between the integrated and Nvidia graphic cards many times, making the screen flicker and the process takes a long time. I have gfxCardStatus and it sends tens of notifications to OS X, which keep popping up on the screen. The video card cycling also happens while selecting 'File -> New from Template...'. If I disable the Automatic Graphics Switching, so only the Nvidia card is active, loading the templates is very fast (but this is not a solution, really).

I reinstalled Office 2011, updated it to version 14.3.9, but it did not help.

This was not happening before, when I was using the computer from my account (and neither happens on my late-2013 RMBP). This phenomenon is very frustrating when opening and using the MS Office apps and I will really appreciate your help to fix this.

Thank you.

MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2010), OS X Mavericks (10.9), i7 2.66GHz,8GB,500 GB,Hi-Res Displ.

Posted on Dec 8, 2013 1:36 PM

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Answer 1

Michael9009 Author

Level 1

119 points

Dec 8, 2013 1:50 PM in response to Michael9009

Without scrolling down to load all templates, which would lengthen the process considerably, it takes about 40 seconds to load the MS Word templates and 26 switches between the graphic cards, versus 3 seconds if the Automatic Graphics Switching is disabled. Trying to load all templates will take several minutes and hundreds of switches between the graphic cards. That's why this behaviour is so frustrating now. Thanks.

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Answer 2

Michael9009 Author

Level 1

119 points

Dec 8, 2013 7:35 PM in response to Michael9009

Anyone, please?

I noticed that the switching back-and-forth happens only in MS Word and MS Excel, as MS PowerPoint and MS Outlook are supposed to permanently use the the discrete card anyway. To reiterate, the switching between the graphic cards happens only while loading the templates in MS Word and MS Excel (when the program starts) and is very annoying, and it sometimes even crashes my gfxCardStatus, too.

I hope someone could please suggest some ideas. Thank you.

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Answer 3

Michael9009 Author

Level 1

119 points

Dec 9, 2013 10:17 PM in response to Michael9009

So, no one could help please?

I uninstalled and reinstalled MS Office 2011 using the method explained here for removal: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2398768, and I also reinstalled Mavericks from the Recovery Partition but the flickering is still there.

I am still confident that someone will help me with this issue... Thanks.

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Answer 4

Cerebro

Level 3

562 points

Dec 10, 2013 7:34 AM in response to Michael9009

I noticed the same thing with Office when I upgraded to Mavericks. I would also be happy to find a solution. I'm hoping someone (be it Apple or Microsoft) will fix this soon. In the meantime, I have selected the option to not allow the templates pane to open when launching the applications as a work-around. Not ideal, I know, but it reduces the headache.

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Answer 5

Michael9009 Author

Level 1

119 points

Dec 15, 2013 11:42 AM in response to Cerebro

Cerebro, it seems that you've got a similar computer like mine, acting the same: 15" mid-2010. Mine is a i7, 2.66 Ghz, 8 GB RAM, 500 GB @7200 rpm HDD, 1680x1050 display.

The weird thing is that this problem does not happen on my new Retina MBP (late-2013) computer, it happens only on the older one. I also disabled the loading of the templates during launching Word and Excel, but this is not a solution.

I am surprised no one else has responded here. I did not get more than a couple responses on a similar question I posted on the Microsoft support forums. Perhaps is the problem not that much widespread?

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Answer 6

Michael9009 Author

Level 1

119 points

Dec 26, 2013 11:51 AM in response to Michael9009

Anyone, please?... Thanks.

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Answer 7

Jan 7, 2014 8:49 AM in response to Michael9009

Yes I have just discovered the same issue on my friends Mac. He stated it would crash occasionally while using office programs. Took me a while to find out that it was a video card switching problem causing the crash.

After installing GFX Status I noticed it jumping back and forth between video cards. Obviously switching it to use only discrete graphics is a temp work around but not a solution to the issue at hand.

This is on a MBP 15" mid 2010, these machines seem to be riddled with video card issues which im thinking may be whats causing this agitation on the template page. Be it bad drivers or card im not sure. I would advise anyone who is looking to buy a mac to stay away from this year model after all of the problems ive seen with them.

Still searching for a solution..

PS, im guessing you are the same individual who was on the Microsoft forum noted here as these are the only two places in all of Google land I have been able to find someone with the same issue exactly as described..

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Answer 8

TheRV

Level 1

8 points

Aug 9, 2015 6:31 AM in response to Michael9009

Hello,

I have exactly the same problem on a French 2010 MacBook Pro 15' on Mavericks. Thanks for the workaround (disabling the template at word startup).

I will put El Captain when it will be released, Yosemite is too slow with an hard drive. Hope it will help.

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Answer 9

Apr 11, 2016 2:38 AM in response to Michael9009

Hi,

Exactly the same issue here on a MacBookPro mid-2010 running Mavericks (MacOS X 10.9.5) and Office 2011 (up to date with 14.6.2 release).

Whenever Word, Excel or Powerpoint is openned, until all the thumbnails of the templates are displayed, the GPU switches constantly between the Intel chipset and the NVidia video card.

Have you find a way to solve this issue?

Have you upgraded your MacBookPro to Yosemite or El Capitan, and did this OS upgrade solved the issue?

Thanks a lot for any follow-up

(in the meantime, I will disable the templates library display at startup)

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Answer 10

Cerebro

Level 3

562 points

Apr 11, 2016 7:01 AM in response to Remy Leroy

Remy,

The problem's not solved by upgrading. The issue persisted with Yosemite. It's, still, an issue with El Capitan. My Office is, also, up to date. As Microsoft are, not doubt, focusing all of their efforts on Office 2016. I'm doubtful that this is something that will ever be fixed. After two years, I've just gotten used to it.

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Answer 11

Apr 11, 2016 7:12 AM in response to Cerebro

Thank you for the quick answer.

So I guess it's a specific issue with this model of MacBookPro that won't be addressed by Microsoft nor Apple.

I Will do with it !

In fact, I didn't noticed it until last week end when I had to reinstall Office 2011 after installing a new hard drive. I saw the issue as I had the Console opened while launching Word, and I noticed many lines appearing in the console due to the multiple GPU switches.

at least I know that I don't need to search for a fix anymore, neither should I spend time to upgrade to Yosemite as it won't solve the issue.

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