How To Find Activity Monitor On Mac Pro

Many Macs include multiple GPUs, pairing the integrated graphics found on most Intel processors with more than powerful dedicated graphics processors from NVIDIA or AMD.

How to View GPU Usage in macOS via Activity Monitor

Now, cheers to the inclusion of Thunderbolt 3 across Apple'southward Mac lineup and support in the latest versions of macOS, nearly whatsoever new Mac owner canadd a GPU to their Mac via an external Thunderbolt enclosure.

Dissimilar CPU (Central Processing Unit), the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) refers to the graphics carte du jour and processes of a computer's internal organization. Understand Apple's Mac and Macbook GPUs can vary depending on the model.

When dealing with multiple GPUs, it'due south often helpful to know which one is working at whatsoever given moment, and how much each one is being utilized. In that location are many third-party apps and utilities that tin provide this information, but if y'all simply need bones data on GPU usage, Mac'south built-in Activity Monitor utility is hither to help.

Viewing GPU Usage on a Mac

Viewing the GPU usage isn't as easy as one might think. There'south a uncomplicated process to become to the Activity Monitor that shows you the analytics.

Admission the "Finder" located in the lower left-hand corner of your Dock (looks like a one-half blue, half white face)
Once there a window will appear and you lot will encounter "Applications" on the left-hand side
At the bottom of the Applications folder, click on Utilities (a blue folder)
Click on "Activity Monitor"

Mac GPU Usage in Activeness Monitor

To view the GPU usage in macOS, first launch Activity Monitor. You can observe it in its default location (Applications > Utilities) or by searching for it with Spotlight.
With Activeness Monitor open up and selected as the active application, cullWindow > GPU History from the menu bar at the summit of the screen, or press the keyboard shortcutCommand-4.
This opens a new window calledGPU History, which displays a utilization history for each GPU currently bachelor to your Mac. You tin can click and drag on the small dot between each graph to change its size.
The GPU usage window will remain ever on superlative by default, but y'all can toggle that behavior by selectingWindow > Keep CPU Windows on Superlative from the menu bar.

The GPU History window isn't the only handy display available via Activity Monitor. Like windows are available for showing both current CPU usage (Command-2) and CPU usage history (Command-three).

As with the GPU History window, y'all can toggle the "always on superlative" status of these windows via the Windows drop-downwards in the menu bar.

The ability to monitor GPU usage in macOS is not only handy for seeing how work is being divided betwixt multiple GPUs, but information technology can also help troubleshoot problems. For example, information technology can show you when your GPU is beingness taxed when it shouldn't be based on the applications currently running.

Third-political party tools similar iStat Menus can show more information most your GPU's condition, such equally graphics memory usage and temperature, but for simple monitoring, expect no further than the Activeness Monitor.

Checking GPU – Other Methods

Many users have reported that GPU History does not appear in the "Window" tab while looking at the Activity Monitor. Using the same methods equally higher up to access the Activity Monitor; click on the "Energy" tab to access the GPU.

If you would like to cheque which graphics card you're currently running is simple too:

Click on the "Apple tree" symbol at the uppermost right-hand corner of your screen
Select the first option that appears; "About This Mac"
You will see "Graphics" and next to this will exist the current graphics carte that is running

It's important to mention that some Mac and Macbook models only have one graphics processor such as the lightweight Macbook Air.

The Activity Monitor and Mac Health

1 manner to narrow down issues you're estimator is having is past checking the Activity Monitor. Whether it's the CPU or GPU, processes that are running in the groundwork of your computer will show signs of malfunction within these tabs.

Symptoms such every bit overheating can be related to the GPU. Going to the Activity Monitor, y'all tin see how the processes are impacting your Mac'southward energy. Aside from the current energy impact and the average touch; users can encounter which applications are compatible with App Nap (uses very little free energy when open) and also those that are preventing the device from going to slumber.

If you notice an application with excessive usage it may be having an issue. Whether information technology is considered Malware, or simply a glitch, checking your system's GPU may point y'all to the trouble.

An application that is using a higher GPU is going to reduce your Mac's battery life. Every bit such; the application may take an effect and need to be force airtight and rebooted or uninstalled depending on what you'd like to use information technology for.