Slow Graphics Performance MacOS High Sierra

Yes, using Firefox with hardware acceleration disabled was much better than Safari... anyway, I couldn't keep more than one app that trigger the GPU activation open at the same time... like Photoshop and Illustrator for example, or Lightroom and Chrome.

The latest update didn't help.

To refresh the memories, I have a 13 inch Macbook pro mid 2010 with solid state harddrive and 8 GB ram.

Sometimes I couldn't even move the curser...videos were lagging badly, etc.

I just created a bootable flashdrive, wiped clean my harddrive and re-installed Yosomite (I'm sure it would work as well with El Capitain or Sierra, but I always liked Yesomite with my old MBP).

Everything is back to normal, as fast as always.

I like my MBP. System loads now in twenty seconds (thanks to solid state hard drive) and no more issues with videos. etc.

Hi ilCerbero

Cool, thank you so much. I just disabled hardware acceleration on chrome, and my computer went from barely usable to a bit sluggish but ok. Let's see in the long term, I may be able to work correctly again, until apple maybe react. Sorry, I can't run the tests you mention.

Since I'm here, I would confirm that most people who have this issue may not remark it:

On my home user account (just mail, safari, and evernote) it's fine. Same machine but on my work account (development work, phpstorm), it's barely usable after one day of work.

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013)

2,3 GHz Intel Core i7

16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3

Intel Iris Pro 1536 MB

Although it may be annoying to see the "I am not having any such problems" postings, it adds a little healthy skepticism to all the negativity on the issue. It SHOULD make readers think about what might the difference be between "my system with problems" and that guy's that seem to have none.

The "boilerplate" recommendation to re-install, produces an undamaged version of MacOS. That is a good first step toward debugging an intractable problem.

A good second step in a routine debugging process for a difficult problem would then be to Erase the drive first, then re-Install. This rewrites all the Bad Blocks on the drive, eliminates all third-party add-ons, and provides an new, undamaged system in place of one that may have been clobbered. But it requires you to HAVE a Trusted backup, and to restore from Backup, and that is a more complex procedure that requires a bit more explanation. This is a standard step the Genius Bar will ask you to complete while debugging an intractable problem.

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I continue to maintain what I have always said: Apple does not pay analysts to read the forums and looking for deep technical issues.

The analytical outlook required to read the many divergent posts here and filter and compile the useful signal from the huge amount noise is very high. In many cases, getting reliable complete background information is difficult. Readers here sometimes do some of that detective work, and sometimes a clear picture emerges that the next User can take to Apple (or elsewhere if the problem lies elsewhere) a a summary of the problem.

Apple relies on what parts come back in through the Genius Bar and other Service providers. Apple relies on reports of intractable problems that come in through second-level telephone support, the Genius Bar and National Support organizations. And they rely on Bug Reports filed by Users who have developer credentials. All of these produce thoughtful, written reports with enough background to attempt to replicate the problem.

In my opinion, the sources I listed provide a much clearer signal, and I believe these are what Apple uses as a basis to act upon.

10.13.3 released very recently (at this writing) may contain improvements.

I second that, it's back to Sierra if you had issues.

Of course when reverting back, APFS suddenly turns into something like a virus that spread on your harddrive that you need to get rid of.

So sorry for a hope ... it is back after 3days of no problem the whole computer became very slow while using external monitor. Disconnecting it, forcing intel graphics card and works just fine.

Since i haven't seen alot of non nVid people chiming up:

I thought I'd throw out my symptoms:

10.13.2

MBP - 17in, Early 2011

2.3 GHz Intel Core i7

8GB Memory

Intel HD Graphics 3000 512Mb

AMD Radeon HD 6750M

All my owes happen with plugging in any external monitor.

When I let it boot, - it's fine.

Sleep and wake up - it's fine

Hook it up to a TV or 24' External Monitor - ....not fine.

it take about 2-3 mins for a noticeable slow down, but the Computer Fan starts "taking off" pretty close to the actual plugin moment.

While running Activity Monitor, I can see the kernel_task sky rocket.

- idle becomes 600%

- But when I start trying to acomplish anything, I've see the Kernel sit at 2000. (Doesn't this defeat the purpose of Percents?? How can one actually achieve 2000%?? *SMH* I digress... )

- if you then unplug the external, then the process will come back down, but the fan never stops over rev'ing. The only way I've found to shut the fan up is to reboot. (And sometimes that didn't help. I do suspect that this was because of the computer was actually running hot. I was trying to run all different scenarios, (attempting to be systematic). It was likely actually running hot when I was done testing. - I attempted a few other tests later, after it had been shut off a while, and the fan didn't kick back on immediately.

Hope this ends up helping someone:

I CAN live without a external for a while, it's just not very convenient.

One may indeed and hopefully at last. Meanwhile, through NVIDIA logs, i achieved an acceptable performance (workaround: install Cuda drivers / https://forums.geforce.com/default/topic/1028939/?comment=5248524). At the same time, the workaround created another problem, which lead to a complete reinstall of High Sierra and an intervention of second level support at Apple last Sunday. So since 48 hours, i was working at a normal speed.

Honestly, I hope going forward there will be no issues. I'm going to give that iMac to somebody else.

Out of desperation, i have now an iMac 2017 with i7, which has fortunately no NVIDA. My MacBook fortunately was never affected by this episode.

Meanwhile, at least the agents have knowledge and can offer fixes to this issue. That was not the case when the drama started Mid November, ie two months ago.

I also use FcpX and had to revert back to Sierra, after years of immediately upgrading to the next OS (which is not very professional and finally I paid the price).

I would appreciate if any other FcpX user can confirm it finally works with High Sierra. I doubt 10.13.3 does the trick as it is nowhere listed in the release notes.

Until then: Sierra is pretty solid 🙂

Hi Luis,

I am now intruiged that your machine is not seeing the issue.

I presume it has a 2nd graphics chip, either Radeon or Nvidia.

You routinelin put the machine to sleep (any length of time will do, doesn’t have to be hours) not full shutdown/reboot?

When it sleeps you are definitely on integrated Intel graphic (this means all intense graphics apps are closed, games, chrome, all are closed right?

You can use gfxCardStatus to tell you which GPU is running or look in the Console search for AGC it’ll say PEG powerup and PEG powerdown

You have Automatic switching ... checked. (To allow integrated chip to run).

You might need something like 5 or more sleep/wake cycles. Sometimes happens 1st time, sometimes it might take 5.

Please let us know, after so many sleeps, if your graphics is going slow or not.

I test mine with a little game, it shows FPS.

Thanks.

Thaidax wrote:

Another victim here, High sierra, late 13 MBP with Nvidia 750m, I patiently wait for updates but every time there is no fix.

I think I have to find some time to roll back to Sierra, what a waste of time! Seems Apple is doing what they always have done with their phones and this is really sad.

I have followed this and other discussions, tried everything, Nvidia drivers, Nvidia CUDA but nothing, as soon as I connect my external monitor the fans starts spinning and I'm back in the 90s with a computer that seems to be running a 486 CPU, this planned obsolescenty game from apple is a shame, for the first time I'm actually considering not to buy a Mac next time, I really feel swindled by Apple.

Two questions:

1) Did you update to 10.13.3?

2) Did you at any point in time try a clean install of High Sierra?

I have a machine with the same Nvidia GPU and use external monitors and projectors just about every day without a second thought.

I'm looking forward to see if high Sierra will be finally usable, I have a 750m and I needed to downgrade back to 10.12

You can try this GitHub - mayankk2308/purge-nvda: A simple script to disable discrete NVIDIA graphics on macOS and enable native AMD eGPU…