MacBook Pro with Retina 2012 model. Battery issues?

Hey guys, just wondering if anyone has used a Retina MacBook Pro 2012 model with Final Cut Pro X. How long should I expect it to run on battery. I'm only multicam editing with two cameras... I know the MBPwR should get up to 7 hours but I only got an hour and a half.

Anyone?

I have that model (the earlier 15" Retina MacBook, not the later revision). The battery does last 7 hours in 'normal use', but with the discrete graphics card powered up and the system working hard it's more like two hours.

FCPX, of course, leans heavily on the discrete GPU, so it's no surprise that battery life is limited.

If you really can't run off a mains supply you'll have to rely on an external battery, car adaptor, or the like.

Thanks man. I did a test just now with 'normal use' and it only lasted 3 hours. Granted I was uploading a large file to my ftp... but still, it should last longer than that. A few more tests and I think i'll get a replacement battery.

I usually do use the power supply, I just did it as a test as its a new (Apple Refurb) machine.

There are some applications that will cause the discrete gpu to switch on. I use a free utility app called gfxcardstatus to monitor which graphics chip is being used. The app will also let you specify which graphics chip to use. If I'm editing on battery power, I'll set it to only use the integrated graphics. You will lose the gpu acceleration, but the battery will last a little longer.

+1 for gfxcardstatus. Great little tool, and you'll find that many applications fire up the discrete GPU (I think Transmit does, for example). If I'm running on battery I often use gfxcardstatus to lock the system to integrated graphics.

Conversely, if I'm playing video I'll often lock the system to discrete graphics, to avoid the horrid 'crackling audio' bug which still hasn't been fixed. Which is pretty much the only annoyance I have with this MacBook.

I'm using the MacBook Pro with Retina 16gb mem 750gb sad hd and I get about 5 hours on normal programs but with FCP X I get maybe 2 hours of battery life. I usually plug in AC Power when it gets down to around 20%.