MBP 1,1-10,2 Force 2011 MacBook Pro 8,2 with failed AMD GPU to ALWAYS use Intel integrated GPU (EFI variable fix)

[OZ1BV]

No, this will not do it. Please try this:
mv /System/Library/Extensions/AMDRadeonX*.kext /AMD_Kexts

/Brian

 

[sbsound]

Hello all , first want to say thank you this fix has helped me to avoid a life crisis as this is my work computer and my business depends on it the original poster and everyone that has chimed in are my angels. I was able to get system working again but a few questions I wanted to get some clarification on,

1) one I often use bootcamp to run windows applications that I can't run in Mac OS , am I correct that bootcamp will not work with this fix implemented? would I be able to use parralels in its place?

2) has anyone noticed higher ram usage after this fix, I'm wondering if thats normal now due to the system having no dedicated graphics card to offload visual tasks too?

3) My computer starts up in verbose boot mode everytime I restart and shows the commands until it begins to load the os ,after that it works fine, can I disable that or should I leave that on to keep fix intact

Thanks again for all your help and saving me from a 500+ repair that I could not afford

 

[tuesdaytues]

So here are the details on my experience in getting my external monitor to work after resolving the MacBook pro white screen of death problem (Force 2011 MacBook Pro with failed AMD GPU to always use Intel integrated GPU)

I have an LG Ultrawide with 2 HDMI IN and 1 DVI-D In connections on the back. Using the j5create brand USB to HDMI (Item #JUA350) and an HDMI cable(both male ends), I have successfully brought up my 2nd LG Ultrawide monitor.



I was also successful in using the j5create USB to VGA adapter (item # JUA331) and a VGA adapter cable on my Samsung external monitor as it had a VGA connector on the back.

You cannot use a j5create adapter and then another cable, such as using the j5create USB to VGA then using a VGA to HDMI or to a DVI-D as the j5create is not good with those extra adapters.

Both look great however lagging definitely exists both when typing and when using the mouse. I am forever grateful for the youtube video someone posted on how to resolve my issue with my MacBook pro (The youtube was created from AppleMacFinder's thread on how to Force 2011 MacBook Pro with failed AMD GPU to always use Intel integrated) and also thankful for your posts AppleMacFinder on where someone provided suggestions on using an external monitor.

The lagging is too much for me on the external monitors so though I am thrilled I was able to get it to work, I will most likely be purchasing an iMac so I can use my LG Ultrawide with it, and then separately use my macBook Pro.

Hope my details on the external monitor were helpful.

 

[Inprot]

So something like this?

mv /System/Library/Extensions/AMD*.*/AMDRadeonX3000.kext /AMD_Kexts/

Is there a way to enter all the folders at once or do I have to enter one by one followed by enter?


Thank you

You must enter one by one

then it would be like this:

mv /System/Library/Extensions/AMDRadeonX3000.kext AMD_Kexts/
mv /System/Library/Extensions/AMDRadeonX4000.kext AMD_Kexts/
....

When using AMD *. * You are referring to moving all the files that have AMD at the beginning.

Unfortunately this method did not work in my case, since I have an Nvidia GPU and the kexts that move are very different

 

[blogger100]

No, this will not do it. Please try this:
mv /System/Library/Extensions/AMDRadeonX*.kext /AMD_Kexts

/Brian

Thank you, I appreciate it!
[doublepost=1508388914][/doublepost]

You must enter one by one

then it would be like this:

mv /System/Library/Extensions/AMDRadeonX3000.kext AMD_Kexts/
mv /System/Library/Extensions/AMDRadeonX4000.kext AMD_Kexts/
....

When using AMD *. * You are referring to moving all the files that have AMD at the beginning.

Unfortunately this method did not work in my case, since I have an Nvidia GPU and the kexts that move are very different

Thank you and I hope you can find a way to work those nvidia kexts

 

[Inprot]

Thank you, I appreciate it!
[doublepost=1508388914][/doublepost]
Thank you and I hope you can find a way to work those nvidia kexts

Have you made it work?

I'm very confused by this, since apparently the brightness setting of the screen is in a Kext. Or it may also be that by deleting only some files you are not completely disabling the amd GPU.

Try to install gfxCardStatus and set the "ONLY DISCRETE" option. If change to the amd GPU it's actually not disabled and you may have problems again.

 

[joesipaq]

ok, SO is this basically what we need to do to get going and keep on going?

1) Create the Arch Linux LiveCD/LiveUSB :

2) Boot to it. hold Option key while booting, choose "EFI boot", press "e" key to edit the GRUB options of the Arch Linux archiso x86_64 UEFI, add nomodeset to the end of this line and press Enter

3) Edit EFI vars:

*) cd /
*) umount /sys/firmware/efi/efivars/
*) mount -t efivarfs rw /sys/firmware/efi/efivars/
*) cd /sys/firmware/efi/efivars/


*) printf "\x07\x00\x00\x00\x01\x00\x00\x00" > /sys/firmware/efi/efivars/gpu-power-prefs-fa4ce28d-b62f-4c99-9cc3-6815686e30f9

*) chattr +i "/sys/firmware/efi/efivars/gpu-power-prefs-fa4ce28d-b62f-4c99-9cc3-6815686e30f9"

*) cd /

*) umount /sys/firmware/efi/efivars/

*) reboot


You can not keep the Apple logo. You have to put the boot verbose:

sudo nvram boot-args="-v"


Quote

*) Boot into single user mode (Command + s)

*) sudo nvram boot-args="-v"

*) sudo nvram fa4ce28d-b62f-4c99-9cc3-6815686e30f9:gpu-power-prefs=%01%00%00%00

*) reboot



Quote


*) Boot into recovery mode (Command + r)

*) Start Terminal

*) cd /Volumes/HD/

*) mkdir AMD_Kexts

*) mv -v System/Library/Extensions/AMDRadeonX3000.kext AMD_Kexts/

*) reboot


Quote


*) Boot into OS X normally

*) Start Terminal

*) cd /AMD_Kexts

*) sudo kextload AMDRadeonX3000.kext



$ sudo mkdir -p /Library/LoginHook
$ sudo nano /Library/LoginHook/LoadX3000.sh

contents:
#!/bin/bash
kextload /AMD_Kexts/AMDRadeonX3000.kext
exit 0

$ sudo chmod a+x /Library/LoginHook/LoadX3000.sh
$ sudo defaults write com.apple.loginwindow LoginHook /Library/LoginHook/LoadX3000.sh
[doublepost=1508520231][/doublepost]Well... after 3 hrs of going through this 1000+ thread, I finally stumbled upon post #875. I am assuming that is still the solution? or is there something I need to do in the other 200ish posts?

 

[brainshutdown]

I've been using a solution for a while (about 1 year now), that doesn't require to fiddle with the kexts, and instead makes the discrete graphics card completely invisible to macos:

This is what I did:

https://gist.github.com/blackgate/48c57e3ac5f82a1b43c6c2cb8be98fec

 

[Schmye Bubbula]

^ brainshutdown, you don't freeze part-way through the progress bar during bootup? Don't freeze or kernel panic associated with sleep or restart/shutdown?

 

[brainshutdown]

No, it works flawlessly apart from the updates, where you need to bless the grub as explained in the gist.

 

[applejohnny]

ok, SO is this basically what we need to do to get going and keep on going?

1) Create the Arch Linux LiveCD/LiveUSB :

2) Boot to it. hold Option key while booting, choose "EFI boot", press "e" key to edit the GRUB options of the Arch Linux archiso x86_64 UEFI, add nomodeset to the end of this line and press Enter

My machine isn't recognizing the Arch Linux boot CD or USB. I tested with bootable version of Sierra, which does show up but when I boot to that the progress bar runs and then it hangs up, the screen goes gray, and the machine turns off.

 

[Schmye Bubbula]

brainshutdown, I forgot to ask. And it doesn't run hot or with reduced run time on a battery charge? (I would think it doesn't, because you've retained all the kexts, including the one(s) for temperature control, but since your procedure is different, who knows?)

Folks, if this thing pans-out, it's HUGE!!... Anxiously awaiting for my friend to bring me back her bad early-2011 MacBook Pro, to try this workaround out.

 

[jazzdoit]

Hi guys, I'm having the same "faulty discreet card" and this thread gave me hope, unfortunately it doesn't work I'm sharing this with the hope that someone had similar case with mine and could share the solution:

My MBP is 15" Mid 2010 (NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M) , it has a fresh install of macOS High Sierra with APFS, FileVault turned off.

So I'm stuck with "rm gpu-power-prefs-..." because I can't delete it. "Why don't you use chattr?" -- well...

I have 2 USB archlinux, but for some weird reason, one of them doesn't have chattr, so I can't do "chattr -i gpu-power-prefs-...".

With the one that does have, I can delete the file, BUT I can't recreate it (well it's created, but 0 size).

Any suggestion?

 

[brainshutdown]

brainshutdown, I forgot to ask. And it doesn't run hot or with reduced run time on a battery charge? (I would think it doesn't, because you've retained all the kexts, including the one(s) for temperature control, but since your procedure is different, who knows?)

Folks, if this thing pans-out, it's HUGE!!... Anxiously awaiting for my friend to bring me back her bad early-2011 MacBook Pro, to try this workaround out.

It doesn't run hot. The battery run time is ok until you put it to sleep and then wake up. Without putting it to sleep, I get about 4.5 to 5 hours of run time, but after waking up from sleep, I only get about 3 to 3.5 hours, but I can live with that. Using coconutBattery I see a constant 5W increase after waking up... It must be waking the AMD gpu, but because macOS thinks it only has the integrated intel, and didn't even have the AMD kexts loaded, it never tries to change to the AMD.

 

[Schmye Bubbula]

...and didn't even have the AMD kexts loaded...

Are you saying that with your procedure...

1) on an initial bootup, the AMD GPU is apparently powered-down or "put to sleep" — but powers-on or "awakes" after exiting Mac sleep? That would account for not running hot/not discharging battery faster at first.

...and...

2) the AMD kexts are prevented from loading during boot, even though they haven't been removed from their folder? Would you please do this in Terminal after a fresh reboot and tell us the result?:

kextstat | grep AMD

 

[brainshutdown]

1) Yes, until you put it to sleep it appears to be powered down. When waking up from sleep it discharges the battery faster, but doesn't run hot.
2)

 

[Schmye Bubbula]

Folks, is this (brainshutdown's post #1033) the best yet of all possible worlds?

(i.e., all of the kexts load, but they don't mess with sleep or restart/shutdown.)

 

[jaynaland]

This is odd. How come kextstat output became empty?

 

[Schmye Bubbula]

^ You're right, jaynaland — the first time, I just glanced at his Terminal output, and didn't notice until you spoke up that he sneaked-in an ls directory listing after the kextstat listing command; he has none of the kexts loaded at all. I'll bet that's why he doesn't have the sleep & shutdown problems (although I then can't account for why his Mac doesn't run hot until after waking from sleep). What must be happening is that his procedure hides the GPU from the OS so well that the kexts don't get loaded, or maybe they promptly get automatically unloaded during boot because the OS thinks the GPU isn't there.... In any event, I'm not going to know what's going on until I can get my friend's Mac back and remove my earlier application of the the prior hack and try applying this latest one.

 

[brainshutdown]

This is odd. How come kextstat output became empty?

Because of the grub menu entry with the outb commands. It disables de AMD gpu before loading the macos kernel, and works basically the same way it works for loading the linux desktop(as you can see in the youtube video of the gist above), with the exception that for some reason the gpu-power-prefs nvram variable needs to be set to %01%00%00%00, which isn't required for linux.
[doublepost=1508791254][/doublepost]

^ You're right, jaynaland — the first time, I just glanced at his Terminal output, and didn't notice until you spoke up that he sneaked-in an ls directory listing after the kextstat listing command; he has none of the kexts loaded at all. I'll bet that's why he doesn't have the sleep & shutdown problems (although I then can't account for why his Mac doesn't run hot until after waking from sleep). What must be happening is that his procedure hides the GPU from the OS so well that the kexts don't get loaded, or maybe they promptly get automatically unloaded during boot because the OS thinks the GPU isn't there.... In any event, I'm not going to know what's going on until I can get my friend's Mac back and remove my earlier application of the the prior hack and try applying this latest one.

It doesn't run hot at all, and yes the OS behaves as if the AMD gpu didn't exist, as you can see in the screenshot of the System Report above.

 

[weiyideai520]

Thank you
My Macbook pro in 2011, through the above operation, successfully entered the system.
But one of the problems I found was that I couldn't automatically adjust the backlight. Is there a solution?

 

[brainshutdown]

Thank you
My Macbook pro in 2011, through the above operation, successfully entered the system.
But one of the problems I found was that I couldn't automatically adjust the backlight. Is there a solution?

Which solution did you use? The one that implies moving the kexts or the grub one? I use the grub solution and the backlight adjusts just fine.

 

[weiyideai520]

Which solution did you use? The one that implies moving the kexts or the grub one? I use the grub solution and the backlight adjusts just fine.

To tell you the truth, I didn't quite understand your method, whether a little more detail, I was stupid, I use the method of AppleMacFinder

----
I read the information you provided(https://gist.github.com/blackgate/48c57e3ac5f82a1b43c6c2cb8be98fec). I don't see the video clearly. Do I need to install Ubuntu first?
[doublepost=1508837653][/doublepost]

Hi guys, I'm having the same "faulty discreet card" and this thread gave me hope, unfortunately it doesn't work I'm sharing this with the hope that someone had similar case with mine and could share the solution:

My MBP is 15" Mid 2010 (NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M) , it has a fresh install of macOS High Sierra with APFS, FileVault turned off.

So I'm stuck with "rm gpu-power-prefs-..." because I can't delete it. "Why don't you use chattr?" -- well...

I have 2 USB archlinux, but for some weird reason, one of them doesn't have chattr, so I can't do "chattr -i gpu-power-prefs-...".

With the one that does have, I can delete the file, BUT I can't recreate it (well it's created, but 0 size).

Any suggestion?

if doesn't have chattr,I think your usb drive has error，you need try

diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskX
sudo dd if=path/to/arch.iso of=/dev/rdiskX bs=1m

diskX is your usb drive。

 

[mikecwest]

To tell you the truth, I didn't quite understand your method, whether a little more detail, I was stupid, I use the method of AppleMacFinder

----
I read the information you provided(https://gist.github.com/blackgate/48c57e3ac5f82a1b43c6c2cb8be98fec). I don't see the video clearly. Do I need to install Ubuntu first?
[doublepost=1508837653][/doublepost]

if doesn't have chattr,I think your usb drive has error，you need try

diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskX
sudo dd if=path/to/arch.iso of=/dev/rdiskX bs=1m

diskX is your usb drive。

And if you are still having trouble using chattr, keep in mind it is C h a t t r, there is no "e" and does not say "chatter" it is a shortened "change attributes"....

You don't need to install Ubuntu either, you are using Arch Linux, which is a very minimal linux installation. I suppose ubuntu might work as well, but all of the instructions I saw used arch linux.

What I do now, is I made a script and placed it in the root of my drive.... If I get the problem back, I reboot in single user mode, and type "bash script" and it runs these commands "nvram fa4ce28d-b62f-4c99-9cc3-6815686e30f9:gpu-power-prefs=%01%00%00%00 reboot." It will then reboot.

If you have trouble with installing updates, after you start the update, it will go though the first "step" with a progress bar, at this point be ready to hit CMD-S, you will be in single user mode, but the root of you main drive will not be easily accessible at this point, so just enter "nvram fa4ce28d-b62f-4c99-9cc3-6815686e30f9:gpu-power-prefs=%01%00%00%00" , press enter, then type reboot and press enter again, Your update will continue as normal with the integrated graphics card.

 

[brainshutdown]

To tell you the truth, I didn't quite understand your method, whether a little more detail, I was stupid, I use the method of AppleMacFinder

----
I read the information you provided(https://gist.github.com/blackgate/48c57e3ac5f82a1b43c6c2cb8be98fec). I don't see the video clearly. Do I need to install Ubuntu first?

You should read the description bellow the video. I'm not the author, but I followed the same procedure. In theory you only need grub... but I did install elementary OS(based on ubuntu) and used it for a while until I found this method. If I have time I will create a tutorial that does not require installing ubuntu.