gfxCardStatus FAQ

What do the i and d icons mean? How can I change them?

The i and d graphics denote whether your MacBook Pro is using its integrated or discrete GPU. They do not indicate what mode gfxCardStatus is set to.

If you have used gfxCardStatus for a while, you may be more familiar with the n graphic than the d. There is a new option in gfxCardStatus v2.1 called "Use smart menu bar icons," which will, on 2010-2011 MacBook Pros, show an 'n' for NVIDIA, 'i' for Intel, or 'a' for AMD, depending on what your current GPU is.

Also, the icons are no longer images. If you wish to have custom image icons, simply drop the following icons into the gfxCardStatus.app/Contents/Resources folder:

I have included 'i,' 'd,' 'n,' and 'a' icons that you may use in said folder, or you can create your own.

What models of MacBook Pro are supported?

You've come to the right place to find out! You must have a dual-GPU MacBook Pro in order to take advantage of gfxCardStatus. If you have any of these models:

You're covered!

What languages is gfxCardStatus localized in?

Want to help localize gfxCardStatus in a language not listed here? Please shoot me an email. cody@codykrieger.com. :)

Why isn't my external display working?

Don't worry - nothing is broken. If your external display is not being detected while you're using gfxCardStatus, it means that you have a newer i5/i7 model, and you're currently on Intel Only mode. Switch to Discrete Only or Dynamic Switching to use the display. The Intel graphics chipset is incapable of outputting video through the Mini DisplayPort.

Why can't I switch GPUs in clamshell mode?

This is expected behavior on 9400M/9600M GT models. Switching while in clamshell mode is not supported.

Why don't some applications work after I switch GPUs?

Some applications get particularly feisty when it comes to switching GPUs while they are open (on newer i5/i7 machines). It is for this reason that I recommend switching GPUs before running an application that would otherwise force a switch to the discrete GPU, rather than switching during runtime. There can occasionally be rendering issues if you switch while an application is open, but they are 100% temporary. Just restart the application and it will render properly again. Here is a list of some of said applications (by no means comprehensive):

Can you add an "ignore list"/blacklist feature?

At the moment, it's not possible to implement a feature like this due to how fast the GPU changes when automatic graphics switching is used. I'm exploring some other options.

Where can I get help?

Please shoot me an email! I'd be happy to oblige. cody@codykrieger.com.

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