Older rMBP support?

[sdaitzman]

I have a mid-2012 rMBP w/ Intel HD 4000 and a 650M onboard. Has anyone tested on this model? Do you want a guinea pig?

[0xbb]

Hello @sdaitzman I am not aware that anyone has tested it yet.
Could you try it for for us :)?

According to the Arch Wiki (https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/MacBookPro10,x#Graphics) your Macbook Pro needs the same workarround with gfxCardStatus v2.2.1 as the 2013 version to get the Intel GPU running.

[sdaitzman]

Would I need to use arch? How do I get this running?

[0xbb]

You can basically use any Linux distro.

How to get it running:

1. Build gpu-switch:
   git clone git@github.com:0xbb/gpu-switch.git ; make
2. Check if it is currently using the dGPU with a command like:
   glxinfo | grep OpenGL
3. Try to switch to the iGPU with ./gpu-switch -i as root and reboot.
4. Check again which GPU is in use (2.).
5. Try to switch back to the dGPU with ./gpu-switch -d as root and reboot.
6. Check again which GPU is in use (2.).

[sdaitzman]

Do I need to patch the kernel?

[0xbb]

You should be fine without a patched kernel and/or a stock bootloader (only the MacbookPro11,x should need it).

[sdaitzman]

Currently I have a script in /etc/rc.local that uses vgaswitcheroo to switch to the iGPU and turn the dGPU off. Should I disable this script before testing?

[0xbb]

Yes, please disable that for testing

[0xbb]

@sdaitzman If you need any help with testing just let me :).

[sdaitzman]

It works 😄 there are still some issues (double cursors and shadows are weird) but it seems to be working aside from minor UI problems.

[0xbb]

@sdaitzman perfect, thank you very much for testing!
Do you also have this issues when you switch to the iGPU with gfxCardStatus v2.2.1 like described in the Arch wiki? (If you still have OS X installed on the Macbook)

[sdaitzman]

I didn't, but I had some iGPU kernel flags enabled. I'll have to play with those again

[0xbb]

@sdaitzman Could you make another test without the iGPU kernel flags enabled? :)