Hardware - I have an early 2008 macbook pro (2.4 core 2 duo, 4gb RAM, Kingston V+100 96GB SSD) and I connect that to a Dell U2711. I am running OS X Lion.
Problem - When I use the laptop without connecting it to the monitor, everything works smooth and it is snappy. But when I use it with the monitor, the performance is sluggish. For example, the scrolling isn't smooth, when I minimize a window that is also not smooth as it should be. If I put an application in fullscreen mode, that animation just makes me want to cry, it is very slow (again works perfect when I am using my laptop without the monitor)
Has anybody else come across this problem? Do I need to install any drivers? Please help.
Thanks in advance.
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Sluggish performance when MacBook Pro connected to Dell U2711
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kedar's pick
I assume you're connecting via DVI at the monitor's full resolution, and not DVI → VGA? (It shouldn't matter a ton either way, but worth noting.) You definitely should not need drivers to get this working, and your machine should definitely be able to handle any 27 or 30-inch monitor at even higher resolutions (see: support.apple.com/kb/sp4).
Here's a few things I'd give a spin: first, check out gfxCardStatus, which can tell you what the current status of your GPUs are. It might be that your discrete graphics are somehow not enabled (which would be weird, but who knows). Very easy to confirm, though. codykrieger.com/gfxCardStatus
Next, I'd try plugging it into another monitor and see if you're having the same issue(s). If you have them at your disposal, try another 27-incher, a 24, 21, etc. see if at some point it gets better. I'd complement this testing by keeping console.app open to see if any errors or system messages are popping up.
Finally, I'd check to make sure your machine was included in the NVIDIA / MacBook recall, which happened after some chip errata pretty severely affected video on 2008-era Apple machines (including MacBook Pros). More info on that here: support.apple.com/kb/ts2377
Good luck!
Here's a few things I'd give a spin: first, check out gfxCardStatus, which can tell you what the current status of your GPUs are. It might be that your discrete graphics are somehow not enabled (which would be weird, but who knows). Very easy to confirm, though. codykrieger.com/gfxCardStatus
Next, I'd try plugging it into another monitor and see if you're having the same issue(s). If you have them at your disposal, try another 27-incher, a 24, 21, etc. see if at some point it gets better. I'd complement this testing by keeping console.app open to see if any errors or system messages are popping up.
Finally, I'd check to make sure your machine was included in the NVIDIA / MacBook recall, which happened after some chip errata pretty severely affected video on 2008-era Apple machines (including MacBook Pros). More info on that here: support.apple.com/kb/ts2377
Good luck!
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