Slow Graphics Performance MacOS High Sierra

For what it's worth, here are the etrecheck results from my early 2013 MacBook Pro with GT650m

EtreCheck version: 3.4.6 (460)

Report generated 2017-11-14 21:19:20

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime: 1:57

Performance: Excellent

Click the [Lookup] links for more information from Apple Support Communities.

Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.

Problem: Other problem

Hardware Information: ⓘ

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

[Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro10,1

1 2.4 GHz Intel Core i7 (i7-3635QM) CPU: 4-core

16 GB RAM Not upgradeable

BANK 0/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

Handoff/Airdrop2: supported

Wireless: en0: 802.11 a/b/g/n

Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 250

iCloud Quota: 4.15 GB available

Video Information: ⓘ

Intel HD Graphics 4000 - VRAM: 1536 MB

Color LCD 3360 x 2100

NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M - VRAM: 1 GB

Disk Information: ⓘ

APPLE SSD SD256E disk0: (251 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)

[Show SMART report]

EFI (disk0s1 - MS-DOS FAT32) <not mounted> [EFI]: 210 MB

(disk0s2) <not mounted> [APFS Container]: 250.79 GB

USB Information: ⓘ

USB20Bus

hub_device

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

USB20Bus

hub_device

hub_device

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

USB30Bus

Thunderbolt Information: ⓘ

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

Virtual disks: ⓘ

Macintosh HD (disk1s1 - APFS) / [Startup]: 250.79 GB (121.71 GB free)

Physical disk: disk0s2 250.79 GB (121.71 GB free)

(disk1s2) <not mounted> [Preboot]: 250.79 GB

Physical disk: disk0s2 250.79 GB

(disk1s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 250.79 GB

Physical disk: disk0s2 250.79 GB

(disk1s4) /private/var/vm [VM]: 250.79 GB

Physical disk: disk0s2 250.79 GB

System Software: ⓘ

macOS High Sierra 10.13.1 (17B48) - Time since boot: less than an hour

Gatekeeper: ⓘ

Mac App Store and identified developers

Kernel Extensions: ⓘ

/Library/Application Support/VirtualBox

[loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxDrv (5.0.0) [Lookup]

[loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetAdp (5.0.0) [Lookup]

[loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetFlt (5.0.0) [Lookup]

[loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxUSB (5.0.0) [Lookup]

/Library/Extensions

[not loaded] com.getdropbox.dropbox.kext (1.8.1 - SDK 10.11) [Lookup]

System Launch Agents: ⓘ

[not loaded] 7 Apple tasks

[loaded] 178 Apple tasks

[running] 103 Apple tasks

System Launch Daemons: ⓘ

[not loaded] 37 Apple tasks

[loaded] 185 Apple tasks

[running] 108 Apple tasks

Launch Agents: ⓘ

[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-07-26) [Lookup]

[failed] com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a725c38014c95072f92651fb65e1bf9c8e43c37a2 3d420d.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-01-14) [Lookup]

[running] com.adobe.AdobeCreativeCloud.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-09-26) [Lookup]

[running] com.bjango.istatmenus.agent.plist (Bjango Pty Ltd - installed 2017-11-07) [Lookup]

[running] com.bjango.istatmenus.status.plist (Bjango Pty Ltd - installed 2017-11-07) [Lookup]

Launch Daemons: ⓘ

[running] com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-01-14) [Lookup]

[running] com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-01-14) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.adobe.acc.installer.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-09-26) [Lookup]

[running] com.adobe.agsservice.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-10-02) [Lookup]

[not loaded] com.apple.installer.cleanupinstaller.plist (? 1963bf56 0 - installed 2017-09-26)

[running] com.bjango.istatmenus.daemon.plist (Bjango Pty Ltd - installed 2017-11-07) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.bjango.istatmenus.installerhelper.plist (Bjango Pty Ltd - installed 2017-11-07) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.daisydiskapp.DaisyDiskAdminHelper.plist (Software Ambience Corp. - installed 2017-04-11) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.linotype.FontExplorerX.securityhelper.plist (Linotype GmbH - installed 2016-08-16) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.quadro.QuadroInstaller.HelperTool2.plist (Actions s.r.l. - installed 2017-02-27) [Lookup]

[not loaded] org.virtualbox.startup.plist (Shell Script 700b9385 - installed 2015-08-02) [Lookup]

User Launch Agents: ⓘ

[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-07-26) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.dropbox.DropboxMacUpdate.agent.plist (Dropbox, Inc. - installed 2017-08-10) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (Google, Inc. - installed 2017-09-28) [Lookup]

[not loaded] com.linotype.FontFolderProtector.plist (Linotype GmbH - installed 2017-11-13) [Lookup]

[loaded] com.valvesoftware.steamclean.plist (? 1046f612 91c14e3e - installed 2016-07-07) [Lookup]

User Login Items: ⓘ

XMenu Application

(/Applications/XMenu.app)

iTunesHelper Application (Apple, Inc. - installed 2017-11-02)

(/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)

AdobeResourceSynchronizer Application

(/Applications/Adobe Acrobat DC/Adobe Acrobat.app/Contents/Helpers/AdobeResourceSynchronizer.app)

Dropbox Application

(/Applications/Dropbox.app)

gfxCardStatus Application

(/Applications/gfxCardStatus.app)

Sip Application

(/Applications/Sip.app)

Backup and Sync Application

(/Applications/Backup and Sync.app)

ScreenSharingMenuletHelper SMLoginItem - Hidden (Apple, Inc. - installed 2015-06-26)

(/Applications/ScreenSharingMenulet.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/ScreenShari ngMenuletHelper.app)

Internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

Silverlight: 5.1.50901.0 (installed 2017-03-26) [Lookup]

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 17.012.20098 (installed 2017-11-14) [Lookup]

AdobePDFViewer: 18.009.20044 (installed 2017-11-14) [Lookup]

QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (installed 2017-09-21)

AdobeAAMDetect: 3.0.0.0 (installed 2017-09-26) [Lookup]

Safari Extensions: ⓘ

[disabled] FastestTube - Kwizzu - http://fastesttube.kwizzu.com/ (installed 2016-03-22)

[enabled] feedly - The feedly team - http://www.feedly.com (installed 2015-06-26)

[enabled] Adblock Plus - Eyeo GmbH - https://adblockplus.org/ (installed 2017-01-19)

[enabled] Save to Pocket - Read It Later, Inc. - http://getpocket.com/ (installed 2015-11-06)

[enabled] Tampermonkey - Jan Biniok - http://tampermonkey.net (installed 2017-10-22)

3rd Party Preference Panes: ⓘ

None

Time Machine: ⓘ

Time Machine not configured!

Top Processes by CPU: ⓘ

114% AdobeGCClient

15% WindowServer

9% kernel_task

8% trustd

1% iStat Menus Status

Top Processes by Memory: ⓘ

1.23 GB kernel_task

332 MB mds_stores

233 MB Backup and Sync

173 MB Backup and Sync

165 MB Adobe CEF Helper

Top Processes by Network Use: ⓘ

Input Output Process name

105 KB 595 KB Dropbox

41 KB 5 KB mDNSResponder

7 KB 12 KB apsd

7 KB 2 KB cloudd

2 KB 578 B netbiosd

Top Processes by Energy Use: ⓘ

32.58 (AdobeGCClient)

16.28 WindowServer

5.26 trustd

1.12 Adobe CEF Helper

Virtual Memory Information: ⓘ

10.42 GB Available RAM

3.46 GB Free RAM

5.58 GB Used RAM

6.96 GB Cached files

0 B Swap Used

Software installs (last 30 days): ⓘ

PredictWind Offshore: 3.0.5 (installed 2017-11-13)

Adobe Acrobat DC (18.009.20044): (installed 2017-11-14)

Install information may not be complete.

Diagnostics Events (last 3 days for minor events): ⓘ

2017-11-14 21:10:46 Last shutdown cause: 3 - Hard shutdown

Files deleted by EtreCheck: ⓘ

2017-11-14 21:09:43 - ~/Library/LaunchAgents/org.virtualbox.vboxwebsrv.plist - Unknown

Assuming that you're experiencing the same issue detailed here, I would recommend first trying some WebDrivers from NVidia to see if this fixes your problem: http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/324195-nvidia-web-driver-updates-for-maco s-high-sierra-update-01112017/

Failing that I would recommend reverting to Sierra.

Since switching back I've noticed a considerable performance improvement in the on-board graphics too. It looks like very little testing was done on 2013-2014 MBPs...

You have installed this ****ware "cleanmymac".

You should never install this or any software with similar claims. They are all scams.

"cleanmymac claims another victim" is a well-known phrase in this forum.

At this point, the only thing to do in my opinion is to make a full backup, then erase the drive and do a clean install. If you choose to, use Migration Assistant but ONLY bring back user account, NOT applications or settings.

By doing this you can get rid of all the cruft accumulated over the years and then only install what you really need.

Happy New Year everyone,

Well, over Christmas I decided to reinstall my MacBook Pro, I have a Sierra install USB, so I backed up, wiped, reinstalled and waited.

All problems are gone. running Sierra that is, GPU both discreet and onboard are back to full speed, it's amazing how much slower everything was under High Sierra.

I am sure that illustrates the fact it is not a hardware`re issue but a software issue where High Sierra is not actually fully compatible/optimised for the hardware it is meant to be compatible with.

I'll be sticking with Sierra until the issue is sorted out.

Early 2013 rMBP, 15", intel HD4000 and Nvidia GT650m GPU, quad core i7, 16gb ram and 256gb ssd.

Don’t worry Boris, it’s not your hardware, I am seeing that issue on a brand new MBK 15” 2017 - as well as a couple of older MBPs.

In a rush of madness I upgraded all my machines (what was I thinking?), I use a couple, family has the others ...

Graphics was slow on all of them - they didn’t all suddenly have hardware issues.

I reverted back to Sierra on a couple, now graphics is nice and fast.

I still have one on High Sierra hoping I can push forward with that one - but Apple have not acknowledged the issue, we don’t even know if they admit to its existence, in the past they have denying what is obvious to everyone else.

I obviously really like Apple gear but I wish bug reports were more open - I lodged one they ask for data, information, questions, but there is no feedback like “ok we can replicate the issue”, or “it’ll be fixed in the next version” ... I am just left in the dark which is a big bummer. That is a bigger bummer than the issue!

Anyway don’t worry you are not the only one, plenty of us have it.

Hi iLCerbero,

I can't do exactly those tests right now but I have done many similar ones already.

I have 4 MacBook Pro machines of various ages - they all suffer under High Sierra. It's just that the 2017 model machine hides the pain better.

From what I can tell Safari does not have a simple hardware acceleration on/off switch, it's automatic - on the newest machine it just choses Integrated graphics, it does not force the Radeon 555 to be engaged. But if I'm running a game which does engage the Radeon then the FPS is impacted if there are too many other apps open, closing Safari speeds the game up.

In all of this I have learned you can upgrade Mac's one version too far.

I have learned, the hard way, you must keep a good backup before "upgrading" the OS.

The 2012 MBP 13" non-Retina was a brilliant little machine before High Sierra - then it became too clunky and jerky - unusable. I put Sierra back - nice machine again.

The 2010 MBP 17"/Nvidia struggles with Sierra let alone High Sierra, that's definitely one OS too far for it.

The 2015 MBP 13" Retina works with High Sierra but the graphics is about 20-25% slower than Sierra as measured by FPS on various games.

Sierra was nice, High Sierra not so much.

Cheers.

MBP 15" 2017 - Radeon 555. os:10.13.1

MBP 13" 2015 - Integrated os:10.13.1

MBP 13" 2012 -Non-Retina - Integrated os:10.12

MBP 17" 2010 - Nvidia ... os:10.12

I formated my SSD and reinstalled El Capitan from a flash drive (the last download I had oin my App purchase).

Everythung is back to normal, but I am curious if anyone has heard anything from Apple people.

Over Christmas I wiped High Sierra from the SSD in my Early 2013 rMBP 15", and reinstalled Sierra, everything went back to normal, all performance was nice and fast again, I have not yet noticed any increase in temperature.

In fact while I was running High Sierra I switched on the sensors menu in iStat Menus because I though my laptop was running hotter, under Sierra it all seems fine. It gets hot if I use Handbrake for any length of time but I'm not surprised by that, under normal load, few tabs open in safari, InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop open, it seems to be normal temperature.

Can I ask why you went back to El Capitan instead of just Sierra? Perhaps if there was a firmware change when installing High Sierra (I don't know if there was) that might cause a problem with El Capitan but not with he more recent Sierra.

El Capitan was my last download available in my app store, so I could create a USB bootable system and erase my HD and re-install.

I hadn't updated to Sierra yet, and stupitedly enough didn't have a time machine back up, so I had to back up everything manually and re-install all the programs thereafter. Video performance is all back to normal, which proves again (as in case we everyboy else in this forum) that this is a software issue and not hardware.

I may be imagining that my MBP is getting hotter than before 🙂

I have a mid-14 MBP 15"/GF750m and I ended up reverting to Sierra. To verify my suspicions I did some screen captures (using my phone) while playing 1080p Youtube videos, VS Code/ESLint and some other things on a clean Sierra, then I upgraded to High Sierra. There is a noticeable increase in "jerky" movement and short freezes in High Sierra. It is not very noticeable when I use the internal screen, but it gets quite annoying when I connect an external 4k screen. Trying to use a full screen Excel Spreadsheet on the 4k is unbearable in High Sierra.

Installing Nvidia drivers had no effect. I am quite certain there is some improvement between 10.13.2 and 10.13.3 though. But it is still considerable slower than Sierra.

Try running your external monitor at it's full resolution. First, try "Default for Display". However when I use that, it defaults my 4k monitor to 1080P. I don't have any graphics lag at 1080P.

Then try "Scaled" and then "More Space", all the way to the right. On my monitor, that makes it full 4k resolution. No graphics lag at full 4k.

I only see the graphics lag when I run any resolution other than "Default for Display" or "Scaled / More Space". Check the video I posted above. It's how High Sierra handles Display Scaling that creates the lag.

the only temporary fix for me is to use gfxCardStatus and set to use Integrated Intel HD card only. With intel HD 4000 there is no lags at all. It is true that 161 NVidia driver is better but still far far from Sierra performance. The problem is with Window Server that is now written in metal 2. Metal 1/2 with Gefore 650m (in my case) was always laggy. Will test the newest beta tonight hope it will be better.

Had similar issues after High Sierra upgrade (seconds to app switch, clicking between tabs in apps like Chrome taking a second or two, etc.). MBPr mid-2012. Updating to the latest Nvidia drivers seems to have resolved things for me.

In my case, the GPU driver update is working.

for 10.13.11. latest build

https://images.nvidia.com/mac/pkg/378/WebDriver-378.10.10.10.20.109.pkg