GFXCARDSTATUS: FAQ



What do the i and the 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:

  • integrated.png
  • integrated-white.png
  • discrete.png
  • discrete-white.png

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

Is my MacBook Pro 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:

  • 2011 i5/i7 MacBook Pro with Intel HD 3000/AMD Radeon HD 6xxxM GPUs
  • 2010 i5/i7 MacBook Pro with Intel HD/NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M GPUs
  • 2009 MacBook Pro with NVIDIA GeForce 9400M/9600M GT GPUs
  • Late 2008 MacBook Pro with NVIDIA GeForce 9400M/9600M GT GPUs

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 --AT-- codykrieger --DOT-- com :)

  • English
  • French
  • German
  • Italian
  • Simplified Chinese
  • Traditional Chinese
  • Spanish
  • Danish
  • Swedish
  • Portuguese
  • Dutch
  • Russian
  • Slovak
  • Ukranian
  • Czech

Why doesn't my external display work?

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 while in clamshell mode?

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

Why doesn't application x 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:

  • Sparrow (inbox, effects render improperly)
  • Virtualization software (Parallels, VMware, VirtualBox, etc.)
  • Flash plugins (Chrome, Safari, etc.)
  • CoverSutra
  • Twitter for Mac (timeline renders improperly, other things are hit or miss)
  • Tweetie (sidebar renders improperly)
  • Photoshop (selection lines fail to render, other oddities)
  • iPhoto
  • HyperDock
  • Choosy
  • Hyperspaces

Can you add an "ignore list" feature?

No, it's not possible to implement a feature like this due to how fast the GPU changes when automatic graphics switching is used.

How do I get these awesome Growl notifications?

Chances are you probably already have Growl installed - lots of applications use it. If not, you'll need to install it!

Where can I get help?

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