macOS Sierra – Compatibility Issues

[sifex]

Noticed that gfxCardStatus is now a dependency forcing my macbook to use discrete graphics instead of defaulting to integrated as per usual.

Example: http://i.imgur.com/xCtDuDP.png

Extra Info: http://i.imgur.com/9n2EXBK.png

[ipoznyak]

Thats right, gfxCardStatus won't switch to integrated anymore because it's now a dependancy itself. :(
I have a MBP (mid 2010) with faulty discrete chip and this utility is vital for me. Had to roll back to El Capitan. It would be nice to hear from developers on the issue.

[grixtil]

Same issue here with the App. Realised about it today. If you just launch the app and never click it's menu icon, it's not a dependency, as soon as the menu icon is clicked and the drop down is shown (as per first screen grab by @sifex), High Perf GPU becomes a requirement. This can also be seen from the energy Tab in the activity monitor.

[sifex]

So, I did some investigation. Seems to be, (and can confirm with @ipoznyak & @grixtil) that gfxCardStatus is causing it.

The workaround I've found (for @ipoznyak if you want to come back to Sierra) is to install iStat menus, and you can add GPU status ('i' and 'a') in the menu bar as part of CPU settings.

Paging @codykrieger for a fix.

[codykrieger]

Maybe just adding NSSupportsAutomaticGraphicsSwitching => YES to Info.plist would work? I don't have Sierra installed yet, so I can't test that theory.

[codykrieger]

That'll likely break the code signature of the app, so you may have to strip the signature with the codesign tool or something, and then ctrl-click => Open to get past Gatekeeper.

[pointlessone]

I'm not an OS X developer so I may have done something wrong but it doesn't seem to fix the issue.

I've added the following into Info.plist under main dict element:

  <key>NSSupportsAutomaticGraphicsSwitching</key>
  <true/>

gfxCardStatus (v 2.3) still locks on nVidia graphics. It doesn't complain about code signing or anything else.

[sifex]

@pointlessone Seems to have done the trick. But this does bring up an interesting point with Sierra that it obviously is easier to trip into Discrete than before.

Edit: This seems to work for AMD Cards better than Nvidia.

[kolyanok]

Same problem on MBP Retina 15 late 2014, macOS Sierra.

[nsinnott]

I am having similar issues on the Early 2013 rMBP with MacOS Sierra Dev Beta 1. I use Retina display Manager as well, and that is listed as a dependency. Also, when Messages is open, it is also listed as a dependency and this is really ruining my battery life.

EDIT: Tried adding the key to Info.plist to no avail.

[fishcharlie]

Just cloned the code and did a build and run in Xcode and for some reason not seeing that problem. I am seeing a separate issue where switching it to "Integrated Only" will switch it to "Discrete Only" and the actual GPU being used won't change at all. Kind of a strange bug. About to create a new issue for it.

Anyone mind giving more detail about this issue tho? I can't seem to find it but maybe just me.

[ipoznyak]

The second beta is out. Has anyone tried if the issues is still there or not?

[fishcharlie]

No I have not. Didn't know it was out till now. I will download later and test it. I forked it and made a few changes and got it to work for myself tho.

[ipoznyak]

Please let us know if the standard build (2.3) works in second beta. If not, would you share how you made it to work?

[fishcharlie]

Oh wow. I totally messed up. I didn't read the issue. So sorry. I was talking about a different issue. I would be happy to take a stab at it but the standard build that I downloaded worked fine for me in second beta. I haven't seen this issue at all.

[pointlessone]

The issue is still present for me on beta 2.