Once the chip is removed and the pads are cleaned, each LVDS data line from the LVDS_IG side needs to be connected to its corresponding data line on the LVDS_CONN side. Simply proceed with the wiring, with the gMux IC in place. After further experimentation, I found that leaving it in place will allow you to achieve full graphics acceleration WITHOUT flashing the system firmware at all.

In order to perform this modification, the first thing that needs to be done is to remove the gMux IC. You can see how this data line corresponds with each set of LVDS lines. In the following pictures, you can see how the LVDS data lines appear for both the integrated graphics output, dedicated graphics output, and the LVDS output for the display (EG for dedicated GPU, IG for integrated GPU, and CONN of course for connector). To begin, here is a brief look at the schematic, and the main premise of this mod. EDIT: I have now done this, and it works perfectly! More details can be found by watching my video demonstrating my custom gMux IC firmware.īefore I get started with the explanation, I just want to make it clear this this is a VERY tedious modification, and requires precision soldering equipment. This would, of course, be the optimal solution, though. I may experiment with this in the future, but doing so requires special hardware that I don't have. Option B would be to re-program the gMux IC (which is simply a Lattice LFXP2 FPGA), with a custom firmware to disable the GPU switching functionality. Option A, which will be detailed below, is to hard-wire the LVDS output lines from the integrated graphics straight to the lines connecting to the display. In order to permanently keep the dedicated GPU disabled, there are 2 options:

In order to accomplish dynamic GPU switching, all this IC does is, when told to by the system, routes the correct set of LVDS lines to the display's LVDS output on the logic board. This IC has 3 sets of LVDS lines connecting to it: The LVDS output lines from the dedicated GPU, the LVDS output lines from the integrated GPU, and the LVDS lines connecting to the connector for the display. This is simply an off-the-shelf micro-controller, programmed with special firmware that switches active GPUs on-the-fly in a MacBook Pro system. Recently, I figured out a very good solution to PERMANENTLY disable the dedicated AMD video card on a 2011 15'/17' MacBook Pro (MacBookPro8,2/8,3)! For those of you who don't know, MacBook Pros that utilize dynamic GPU switching between a dedicated GPU and integrated GPU use an IC known as the 'gMux' chip. Documentation explaining the process of flashing my custom firmware can be found here. The solution detailed below is more or less out of date at this point, as I have recently developed a custom gMux IC firmware that not only permanently disables the AMD GPU, but also retains full native software-controlled display backlight brightness.

Mac mini 2011 external gpu