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Behind the scenes, Optimus (not) at work on new MBPs?

by Dave Caolo Apr 13th 2010 at 12:40PM

Update: While Engadget originally reported that Optimus was behind the MBP power-saving switch feature, AppleInsider is citing NVIDIA representatives that the feature isn't based on their tech -- they say it's home-grown by Apple. Thanks to our commenters for pointing this out.

Great power is lurking inside the new MacBook Pros, just waiting to be unleashed. Along with support for up to 8GB of RAM and the heftier i5 and i7 processors, the new machines also include on-the-fly GPU switching courtesy of NVIDIA's GeForce GT 330M and 'Optimus,' as the company calls its dynamic handoff feature. which NVIDIA says is Apple-original. The power-saving trick has already appeared on several Windows laptops.

As was pointed out by Gizmodo back in October of 2008, the original dual-GPU MacBook Pro models (with the 9400M/9600M GT card combo) were capable of dynamic switching on the fly. The bad news was that Mac OS X hadn't "switched on" the feature, even though it did work in Boot Camp on similarly-equipped Windows laptops.

The good news is that now we see Apple supporting the feature in software for the newer gear -- but will it ever work its way back to the old reliables? Imagine vintage MBPs switching between the GPUs as needed, without having to log in and out. Better yet, the GPU could switch depending on state (plugged in or unplugged?) or even per application... the power management boost would be delightful.

Now that we see NVIDIA's GPU management technology helping save power on new MBPs, we have to wonder: will older machines be able to take advantage of the on-demand switching with a firmware upgrade? Only The Shadow knows.

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Update: While Engadget originally reported that Optimus was behind the MBP power-saving switch feature, AppleInsider is citing NVIDIA...
 

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Joshua Ochs

Can we use the "!" button for obvious trolls like willtrade1? It's tiresome having such idiocy on the internet.

April 13 2010 at 4:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mark E. DeSade

How is Adobe not making CS4 64-bit Apple's fault?

April 13 2010 at 1:56 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
willtrade1

syop wasting your money on this hype

April 13 2010 at 1:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
imfromthepast

"On-the-fly GPU switching is the right of all sentient beings!"

April 13 2010 at 1:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Norman

Since the difference in using the less or more powerful graphics card is "only" 1 hour with those old MBPs, and the process that surveys the whole thing needs a little bit of cpu itself, i wonder if you would get more than 30 minutes out of this. But with the new MBPs with their basic battery cycle of 8 hours or so it has a great impact i guess.

April 13 2010 at 1:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
willtrade1

another peice of junk to waste money on.In 6 monthes microsoft will be out with a more powerful pad and then appel will fight back. Just a way to scam you out of your money.

April 13 2010 at 1:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Michael Rose

Sorry, guys. Engadget was originally running with the "this is Optimus" line and we hadn't heard back from NVIDIA when the post was published. Amended.

April 13 2010 at 1:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Michael Rose's comment
peanutpie

The bootcamp part is also vastly inaccurate.
Bootcamp will always use the 9600M GT and doesn’t allow Windows to access the 9400M GT at all.

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2457

April 13 2010 at 1:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
peanutpie

I love articles like this, it helps me weed out the black sheep from my rss feed list. :)

April 13 2010 at 1:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
216

"The bad news was that Mac OS X hadn't "switched on" the feature, even though it did work in Boot Camp. "

So wait, wait. All this time I've heard about the amazing graphics switching ability, and how it increases power/decreases battery drain, and it only worked in Bootcamp? wtf

April 13 2010 at 1:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to 216's comment
Devon

It worked fine in OS X except it required a log out and log in because the window manager process had to be restarted on the selected GPU. In Windows you didn't have to log out and back in again to use the feature.

April 13 2010 at 1:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
FunFred

NVidia has said that it is not Optimus. Rather, Apple created their own solution.

Another poorly researched, rushed-out-the-door article from TUAW.

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/04/13/nvidia_says_new_macbook_pro_graphics_switching_isnt_optimus.html

April 13 2010 at 1:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to FunFred's comment
Devon

I believe on Windows, Optimus requires constantly downloading a whitelist of programs that would benefit from the full GPU capability. Apple might have made their own for this reason to allow it to be more automatic.

April 13 2010 at 1:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jae

honestly i bet there is more to it then that. initially Apple wanted NVIDIA's optimus tech. but they didnt want exactly what you mentioned, to wait for devs to give updates and whatnot. Apple is too contoling.

but look at all the new mb, mbp, all of them now have NVIDIA cards across the board! is this a coinsidence? i doubt it, i bet that apple slipped them a fat chunk of $$$ to get the technology and have apple claim it as their own. And the fact that NVIDIA has already said its not theirs, is unlike a company. why would nvidia be so quick to comment on a competitors product without saying their tech is better or superior, whatever.

do you really think NVIDIA would let apple use gpu switching on their cards and not do anything about it?

April 14 2010 at 3:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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