Automatic graphics not working

[Hjupter Cerrud]

Hi, seems like with the last few betas of Big Sur I noticed with automatic graphics switch it always stays with the integrated even when I open a game it doesn't switch, even if I turn off auto switch and open a game in the activity monitor shows like is not using discrete card. The only app that I've seen using it is Unity and because there is an option to pick graphic card to use.

Anyone else experiencing this? if so maybe there is a workaround?

 

[Peacock22]

Some apps just don't request the discrete graphics, sometimes to save power for lighter games that don't need the performance, or sometimes just a bug.

If you would still like to use the discrete graphics anyway, then there are a couple of workarounds. You could open Grapher, which switches the graphics to discrete, then open your game and leave Grapher open in the background. When you're done, close Grapher and the system will switch back to the integrated graphics.

Another option if you usually play games while plugged into the charger, is to run a command in Terminal to tell the system to switch to discrete graphics whenever it's plugged in. When you unplug, it will go back to integrated graphics.

Command:

sudo pmset -c gpuswitch 1

Replace the "1" in the above command with "2" to undo it and go back to default behavior.

Hope this helps!

 

[Hjupter Cerrud]

Some apps just don't request the discrete graphics, sometimes to save power for lighter games that don't need the performance, or sometimes just a bug.

If you would still like to use the discrete graphics anyway, then there are a couple of workarounds. You could open Grapher, which switches the graphics to discrete, then open your game and leave Grapher open in the background. When you're done, close Grapher and the system will switch back to the integrated graphics.

Another option if you usually play games while plugged into the charger, is to run a command in Terminal to tell the system to switch to discrete graphics whenever it's plugged in. When you unplug, it will go back to integrated graphics.

Command:

sudo pmset -c gpuswitch 1

Replace the "1" in the above command with "2" to undo it and go back to default behavior.

Hope this helps!

Thanks for your suggestions. Those games and apps used to use discrete card few betas ago this started happening since like beta 5. I know I can force I just hoped there was a better workaround I guess I will have to wait until they fix it. Also was wondering if there was someone else experiencing the issues.

 

[Peacock22]

Thanks for your suggestions. Those games and apps used to use discrete card few betas ago this started happening since like beta 5. I know I can force I just hoped there was a better workaround I guess I will have to wait until they fix it. Also was wondering if there was someone else experiencing the issues.

Alright I see now, maybe it is a bug in macOS Big Sur Beta.

I'm using Beta 8 on my MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017) and I haven't experienced any changes or issues with my graphics switching. Final Cut Pro, Motion, Compressor, Pixelmator Pro, Minecraft and others appear to switch the graphics correctly. Maybe it is a bug that affects the newer machines, or maybe an issue with the Beta firmware on the T2 chip.

The only other things I could think of would be to reset SMC and NVRAM, but I'm not sure they'll really help at all. It's worth a shot though, won't hurt anything.

 

[Hjupter Cerrud]

Alright I see now, maybe it is a bug in macOS Big Sur Beta.

I'm using Beta 8 on my MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017) and I haven't experienced any changes or issues with my graphics switching. Final Cut Pro, Motion, Compressor, Pixelmator Pro, Minecraft and others appear to switch the graphics correctly. Maybe it is a bug that affects the newer machines, or maybe an issue with the Beta firmware on the T2 chip.

The only other things I could think of would be to reset SMC and NVRAM, but I'm not sure they'll really help at all. It's worth a shot though, won't hurt anything.

I've been using Big Sur since beta 3 flawlessly until beta 6 I started seeing weird graphic glitches some times then I noticed some apps and games wasn't using discrete card no matter what. I already tried resetting SMC and NVRAM but that didn't help I hope it gets fixed soon.

 

[Peacock22]

I've been using Big Sur since beta 3 flawlessly until beta 6 I started seeing weird graphic glitches some times then I noticed some apps and games wasn't using discrete card no matter what. I already tried resetting SMC and NVRAM but that didn't help I hope it gets fixed soon.

Yes it might be a bug, maybe with your particular configuration. I think the best thing to do now would be to submit a bug report using Apple's Feedback app on your Mac. When you submit Feedback, make sure it attaches a sysdiagnose for you, it might help Apple fix the bug. Then we can hope that Apple acknowledges it and implements a fix in the next few Betas.

 

[Hjupter Cerrud]

Yes it might be a bug, maybe with your particular configuration. I think the best thing to do now would be to submit a bug report using Apple's Feedback app on your Mac. When you submit Feedback, make sure it attaches a sysdiagnose for you, it might help Apple fix the bug. Then we can hope that Apple acknowledges it and implements a fix in the next few Betas.

Yep good idea I should have reported this bug long time ago 😅

 

[MacScape]

Hi! Do you still have this problem? I think I have almost similar issue as you since a few days.
With the 'Automatic graphics switching' turned on (in System Preferences, 'for better battery life') the app works really slow. But unlike your situation: If I turn this function off then it behaves normal/fast again. I don't like to turn it off because that would harm my battery?

Is it just a software problem or is it related to hardware (causing software to have these kind of things)? I'm worried with all these problems I currently have with this MacBook Pro 16" (popping sound, unreliable streaming, and this problem).