2012 15" Macbook Pro Graphics Card

[2manyg]

Just a quick question:

The current 2.3 Ghx (non retina) Macbook pro comes with 4GB of RAM and 512 mb for the GT 650 M graphics card, whilst the 2.6 GHz model comes with 8GB of RAM and 1GB for the graphics card.

If I upgrade the RAM on the 2.3 GHz model, would the graphics card then use the extra RAM available and change to 1GB?

I only ask as this was the case with one of the mac mini models a few years ago.

If anyone knows the answer it would be greatly appreciated!

 

[bill-p]

If I upgrade the RAM on the 2.3 GHz model, would the graphics card then use the extra RAM available and change to 1GB?

No.

The reason your Mac Mini behaved as such was because video RAM was shared with system RAM. At that point, video RAM and system RAM work at the same speed because the graphics processor in your Mac Mini would not be able to make use of faster video RAM.

On the new MBP 15", the graphics processor is fast enough to make use of faster video RAM. Thus video RAM is separated from system RAM, and made to be faster.

 

[Laai]

Just a quick question:

The current 2.3 Ghx (non retina) Macbook pro comes with 4GB of RAM and 512 mb for the GT 650 M graphics card, whilst the 2.6 GHz model comes with 8GB of RAM and 1GB for the graphics card.

If I upgrade the RAM on the 2.3 GHz model, would the graphics card then use the extra RAM available and change to 1GB?

I only ask as this was the case with one of the mac mini models a few years ago.

If anyone knows the answer it would be greatly appreciated!

No it will not.

 

[Zedsdead185]

Just a quick question:

The current 2.3 Ghx (non retina) Macbook pro comes with 4GB of RAM and 512 mb for the GT 650 M graphics card, whilst the 2.6 GHz model comes with 8GB of RAM and 1GB for the graphics card.

If I upgrade the RAM on the 2.3 GHz model, would the graphics card then use the extra RAM available and change to 1GB?

I only ask as this was the case with one of the mac mini models a few years ago.

If anyone knows the answer it would be greatly appreciated!

The 650M is a dedicated graphics card with its own in-built memory chip. The mini you mention had only an integrated card without its own dedicated memory chip and shared the RAM memory. That is why its memory likely increased from RAM upgrades. Unfortunately, the 650M will not react the same way and will retain its original memory amount after any RAM upgrade.