Parallels forcing Nvidia card with 2010 MacBook and killing battery life

I have a new MacBook Pro and using Parallels 5 on it. I'm finding that the battery life is *WAY* below rated specs. From what I can tell, its because Parallels seems to be forcing the NVidia graphics card and not allowing the Mac to Switch to the more efficient Intel card.

Here is what I see:
- When running w/o Parallels open: MacBook switches to Intel card and stays there most the time
- If I start Parallels w/o Virtual Machine (Just Parallels): Macbook switches to NVidia driver immediately and its stays on as long as I have Parallels open
- I turn off Parallels and the Macbook switches back to the Nvidia card.

I noticed the settings in the VM about enabling Aero but Parallels is forcing NVidia card even before starting the VM so I don't think that's the issue.

Thus, when parallels is running, my battery life goes to something like 3 hours (where I'm supposed to be able to get 9 hours off this machine)!

I see no option in the Parallels settings that allow me to tell Parallels to not force the Nvidia card.

So my questions:
1. Is there any configuration to get Parallels to allow the OS to switch between the Intel and NVidia grx cards as needed?
2. If not, is there a way to force Parallels to only use the Intel card?
3. When Running Windows 7, is the NVidia card fundamentally needed for running Aero or is it feasible given some combinations of settings to run Aero and still allow switching (or always running under) the Intel graphics card?

Thanks for any info anyone can shed on this.

-- Steve

 

I guess that if you turn off 3D in your VM, Parallels won't be using Open GL and thus the Mac won't be forced by the Mac OS to switch to the Nvidia card.
Possibly there's a setting in your Mac control panel that would prevent the Nvidia card from being switched on altogether. This page has more details.

 

I did consider turning off 3D acceleration in the VM's grx settings but the problem occurs before I even start up a VM. I tried to point out in my post that it is Parallels itself that is forcing the NVidia card.

Also, the MacOS Energy Saver settings dialog for the new MacBooks have just a checkbox that allows you to disable switching and if this is set then the message below is says that the machine will *always* run the high-performance grx card.

 

So what happens when you turn off 3D in the VM, quit Parallels, restart your Mac, and start Parallels (without starting a VM) - does the Mac still immediately turn on the NVidia graphics card?

 

Yes.

With 3D unchecked in the VM (the only VM installed):
1. Restart Mac
1a. Observe Intel card is in use
2. Start Parallels (Only Parallels, not a VM)
2a. Observe Nvidia card is in use
3. Quit Parallels
3a. Observe Intel card is in use

 

Interesting, and thank you for trying this out. I just hope that there's a method for manually turning off the dedicated graphics card defined somewhere in the OS that Parallels (or anyone else for that matter) can use.

 

I am having the same problem. New MB Pro running PD 5 with Windows 7 32 bit. I haven't even enabled Aero in Windows and still it switching to the dedicated card. I have also disabled 3D in the VM. Its interesting that sometimes mine switches to the Nvidia card immediately after opening PD (before even booting up Windows) but other times it doesn't switch to the Nvidia card until I actually start Windows.
I had the older version of the MB Pro (mid 2009 model) and specifically traded up to the new one for the increased battery life so not happy about this situation as I'm only getting a max of 3-4 hours when PD is open. Any help with this would be appreciated.

 

Solution (Not ideal but it's a solution)

I found a solution using a 3rd party tool called gfxCardStatus. It's a free Mac utility that lest you see which card is running and let's you force a given card to stay active.

You can find the app here: http://codykrieger.com/gfxCardStatus/

This utility allows you to force the Intel card to be active and remain active.

If Parallels is open already, the utility is unable to switch the graphics card to the Intel. So you have to turn Parallels off first. Then you start the app and tell it to force the Intel card to be selected. Then turn on Parallels.

Make sure your VM has 3D disabled or you are likely to see flakey behavior with the graphics driver.

I did some testing to see if I could run Aero with the Intel card and much to my display it was not possible. It worked for a bit but very nasty paint issues would crop up.

Good luck all!