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gfxCardStatus for Mac

Keeps track of which graphics card your MacBook Pro is using.

Free
In English
Version 2.5
4.3
Based on 29 user rates

gfxCardStatus overview

gfxCardStatus is a free menu bar application that keeps track of which graphics card your MacBook Pro is using at any given time.

Features:
  • Simple, clean "i" and "n" icons that signify Intel HD Graphics, and NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M graphics, respectively.
  • Automatically updates when the GPU switches, in real time.
  • Dependent process list: see which applications are currently using the 330M, if it's the active GPU!
  • Growl support, so you know right when the GPU switches.
  • Tiny footprint doesn't sit in your menu bar and hog RAM or CPU cycles.
  • Automatic application updating checks for downloads and installs new versions of gfxCardStatus automatically!

Note: While the software is classified as free, it is actually donationware. Please consider making a donation to help support development.

What’s new in version 2.5

Version 2.5:

Note: Now requires OS X 10.9 or later

Fixed:
  • Issue where menu bar icon was offset in Big Sur
  • Some localizations displaying "Card" instead of the active GPU
  • gfxCardStatus getting stuck as a dependency
  • Man-in-the-middle security vulnerability in Sparkle update framework
  • Notification text truncation for certain GPU names
  • gfxCardStatus notifications sticking around in Notification Center forever

gfxCardStatus for Mac

Free
In English
Version 2.5
Write a detailed review about gfxCardStatus

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4.3

(32 Reviews of gfxCardStatus)

  • Comments

  • User Ratings

Aetnaria
Aetnaria
Dec 12 2020
2.3
0.0
Dec 12 2020
0.0
Version: 2.3
New beta version was just released for better Big Sur support (and a few other things).
jkesler
jkesler
Apr 26 2018
2.3
3.0
Apr 26 2018
3.0
Version: 2.3
If you are having compatibility and stability issues using gfxCardStatus, one alternative is gSwitch https://codyschrank.github.io/gSwitch/ Unfortunately, I have been getting kernel panics or screen freezes using gfxCardStatus and Mac OS 10.13.x together on a 2016 MBP :(
energenetic1111
energenetic1111
Nov 24 2016
2.3
3.0
Nov 24 2016
3.0
Version: 2.3
This program was working great as a workaround for the Logic Board graphics card issue on my 2010 Macbook Pro, until I upgraded to Mac OS Sierra. When I was still using El Capitan, it allowed me to use the Integrated Only function, which prevented crashes due to the graphics card issue. But now, in Sierra, when I try to use Integrated Only, I get an error message that I cannot use it, because several programs plus gfxCS itself are all on a dependencies list, which precludes integrated-only mode. Currently, I can still use Discreet Only Mode, but it still periodically crashes (although less than with Dynamic Switching). Because of this, I am looking at possibly having to roll back to El Capitan, which the fascists at Apple do not make an easy task (backup required, El Capitan installer not available, etc.). Has a solution to this problem been found? There are many Macs with this same graphics card issue, so I can't be the only one running into this problem. Please respond.
anonymous-thrush-1121
anonymous-thrush-1121
Oct 25 2016
2.3
0.0
Oct 25 2016
0.0
Version: 2.3
steveschow fork and release 2.4.3i for macOS Sierra, https://github.com/steveschow/gfxCardStatus/releases/tag/v2.4.3i
anonymous-dingo-1034
anonymous-dingo-1034
Nov 8 2014
2.3
2.5
Nov 8 2014
2.5
Version: 2.3
On Macbook pro 8.2, with OS X 10.10, app causes artifacts on screen when GPU is switching. :(
jkesler
jkesler
Apr 26 2018
3.0
Apr 26 2018
3.0
Version: null
energenetic1111
energenetic1111
Nov 24 2016
3.0
Nov 24 2016
3.0
Version: null
anonymous-dingo-1034
Nov 8 2014
2.5
Version: null
darkdoc
darkdoc
Aug 18 2014
5.0
Aug 18 2014
5.0
Version: null
Ervins Strauhmanis
Ervins Strauhmanis
Jul 6 2014
5.0
Jul 6 2014
5.0
Version: null
anonymous-alligator-5218
Jul 30 2013
4.5
Version: null
no+one
no+one
May 10 2013
5.0
May 10 2013
5.0
Version: null
Stephman
Stephman
Nov 29 2012
5.0
Nov 29 2012
5.0
Version: null
Nontroppo
Nontroppo
Sep 25 2012
5.0
Sep 25 2012
5.0
Version: null
JoaquimN
JoaquimN
Sep 24 2012
5.0
Sep 24 2012
5.0
Version: null
Spectral7
Spectral7
Jul 4 2012
4.0
Jul 4 2012
4.0
Version: null
Ythara
Ythara
Jun 25 2012
5.0
Jun 25 2012
5.0
Version: null
anonymous-skink-4556
anonymous-skink-4556
Jun 25 2012
5.0
Jun 25 2012
5.0
Version: null
thelaughingshaq
thelaughingshaq
Jun 16 2012
1.0
Jun 16 2012
1.0
Version: null
JML54
JML54
Nov 19 2011
4.0
Nov 19 2011
4.0
Version: null
Antoinesynopsis
Antoinesynopsis
Jul 30 2011
5.0
Jul 30 2011
5.0
Version: null
Abbott
Abbott
Jul 28 2011
3.0
Jul 28 2011
3.0
Version: null
Orlandoech
Orlandoech
Jul 5 2011
4.0
Jul 5 2011
4.0
Version: null
anonymous-wombat-32
anonymous-wombat-32
Mar 19 2011
5.0
Mar 19 2011
5.0
Version: null
HACK-Design
HACK-Design
Jan 22 2011
5.0
Jan 22 2011
5.0
Version: null
A-One69
A-One69
Jan 14 2011
5.0
Jan 14 2011
5.0
Version: null
Milan-Dandukovic
Milan-Dandukovic
Dec 20 2010
4.5
Dec 20 2010
4.5
Version: null
By
By
Dec 18 2010
5.0
Dec 18 2010
5.0
Version: null
Kbeat
Kbeat
Dec 18 2010
2.0
Dec 18 2010
2.0
Version: null
New-User
New-User
Nov 19 2010
4.0
Nov 19 2010
4.0
Version: null
truthhurts
truthhurts
May 8 2010
5.0
May 8 2010
5.0
Version: null
Bunker
Bunker
May 8 2010
5.0
May 8 2010
5.0
Version: null
Infosec
Infosec
May 1 2010
5.0
May 1 2010
5.0
Version: null
Esquare61
Esquare61
May 1 2010
4.0
May 1 2010
4.0
Version: null