If you have a MacBook Pro with a dual GPU, gfxCardStatus is a handy tool that enables you to quickly see which of them is in use and also to switch between them at will.
Anyways if you're having problems with gfxCardStatus give mine a try. I found gfxCardStatus, but theres a compatibility issue there with my iMac, so doesnt seem like thatll work for me. I think it only supports macs 2011+ (I have no way of testing this).
Currently you have to make it from source but I'm going to make an easier way to download soon. Obviously its nowhere near the level of gfxCardStatus yet but its getting there.Download gfxCardStatus v2. Just use your mouse to switch manually between the two when needed. gfxCardStatus is an unobtrusive menu bar app for OS X that allows MacBook Pro users to see which apps are affecting their battery life by using the more power-hungry graphics. It’ll also notify you as and when it is changed (you can also enable dynamic here so it’ll change when needed- but as per the above. GfxCardStatus places a small icon in the menu bar and displays a small n for nVidia or i for the currently active Intel graphics chip set. What I would actually recommend you do is go to and download gfxCardStatus V2.3 which adds a menu bar item to let you fast switch between dedicated (discrete) and integrated graphics on the fly. Installing gfxCardStatus will help you manually set the graphics card in use, so you dont have to deal with automated switching.What is a dependent process vs a hungry process? A dependent process is one that is currently using your discrete gpu. And since you plugged in the cable I’m assuming you want to use the display. Unfortunately your mac is designed such that in order to use an external display, it has to use the discrete graphics card. If you have a MacBook Pro with a dual GPU, gfxCardStatus is a handy tool that enables you to quickly see which of them is in use and also to switch between them at will.Improve your MacBooks battery life with this graphics card monitoring program developed by Cody Krieger. Keep in check your Mac and apps with gfxCardStatus. Download latest version of gfxCardStatus.