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How-to enlarge shared memory of MacBook's integrated graphics?

T

tray1234

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 18, 2006
9
0
I've just ordered the new MacBook, although I am a bit bothered by the integrated graphics. However, it did not stop me from buying it.

What I am wondering about is whether it is possible to enlarge the maximum shared memory from now 64MB to lets say 128MB? I think the integrated graphics chipset of the MacBook (the Intel GMA 950) is capable of using up to 224MB of the memory, but for some reason Apple has restricted the maximum shared memory to 64MB. Therefore, is there any chance to circumvent this restriction and to share more memory with the graphics than just the 64MB? Maybe with a firmware-hack or adjustments of the settings?

If something like that is possible, it may at least mitigate the sole serious weakness of the new MacBook a bit , even though the graphics performance will then still be a good deal worse than those of dedicated graphics.

I would appreciate some comments.
 
It is a definite possibility. My last experience with integrated graphics dates back to the late 90's on a Compaq, and on that machine there was actually an option in the control panels to let you select how much memory would be allocated to the graphics processor.
 
FelixDerKater said:
It is a definite possibility. My last experience with integrated graphics dates back to the late 90's on a Compaq, and on that machine there was actually an option in the control panels to let you select how much memory would be allocated to the graphics processor.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I've seen those options in BIOS and in Windows' Advanced Display Control Panel. I thought it was 80 MB was the minimum and not 64 MB though.

http://www.apple.com/macbook/specs.html

http://www.apple.com/macmini/whatsinside.html

Memory available to Mac OS X may vary depending on graphics needs. Minimum graphics memory usage is 80MB, resulting in 432MB of system memory available.
Click to expand...
 
From what I understand, the integrated graphics (at least on the Windows side) start off with 64 MB of memory and if it needs more, it can go up to 224 MB. Windows automatically adjusts the amount of "video" memory it needs.

I am guessing (just a pure guess, the Mac Mini guys might know for sure) that OS X can do the same adjusting automatically. No reason for Apple not to be able to do this.

As for performance, in my experience integrated graphics (again, on the windows side) work alright for most games and will definitely be fine for everyday OS X tasks. Don't expect to be running Doom 3 or Call for Duty at top resolution and detail. However, at or near the minimum for graphics settings should make most games absolutely playable with good enough graphics that you will enjoy the game.
 
MacRumorUser said:
Yep I thought 80mb too. Apples tech specs dont seem to match??:confused: :confused:
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It is 80MB minimum. I posted the links to Apple's specifications.

Windows scales memory usage for integrated video dependent on the demand. I'm not sure there's an easy way to see if OS X does this as well other then monitoring total system memory - video memory to look for any changes.
 
80MB minimum or maximum?

Yeah, you are right. It is 80 MB. 64MB + 16 MB for the system. As far as I understand from your replies 80MB is then the minimum (and not the maximum) memory which is shared with the graphics and depending on demand of the running applications it can go up to 224MB, right?

It is quite confusing, since the Apple site says "Intel GMA 950 graphics processor with 64MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory". I always thought that 64MB is the maximum then. And also in the post on the macmini forum someone says that shared memory is restricted to 64MB. (Here is the link: http://www.123macmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5509&sid=610f41c5620506a0404b107a7a811c33 Scroll down to the post of "serpent")
 
Although on PCs the GMA950 can potentially eat up as much as 224MB of main memory for use in frame buffering, Boger told us that Apple’s implementation doesn’t work that way: on the new Mac minis, the GMA950’s memory use is locked at 64MB. In other words, graphics won’t eat up more than its allotted share of your RAM (which is actually 80MB, since in addition to the 64MB for graphics, 16MB is set aside for what Boger called “general setup of the system”).
Click to expand...

Interesting. Wonder why they are doing that.
 
Listen and learn:
Here we have an excellent MacBook with 512 MB RAM. When we boot it, the booting process somehow steals 16 MB of the RAM, and use it to keep the OS running. Then, you have your GMA/950. It can maximum draw 64 MB memory from the system, unless you regulate this yourself. Doing web, spreadsheets and stuff, it would usually draw 10-30 mb, but while watching HD movies, it would draw around 64. If that is not enough, it will hack and drop frames, you can adjust the amount of memory it can draw from the RAM, and thereby get a better graphics performance, yet less system memory. This is why I sacrifice $100 on getting 1 gig RAM so I in any case haven enough both graphics and system memory for my tasks.:D
 
Josias said:
Listen and learn:
Here we have an excellent MacBook with 512 MB RAM. When we boot it, the booting process somehow steals 16 MB of the RAM, and use it to keep the OS running. Then, you have your GMA/950. It can maximum draw 64 MB memory from the system, unless you regulate this yourself. Doing web, spreadsheets and stuff, it would usually draw 10-30 mb, but while watching HD movies, it would draw around 64. If that is not enough, it will hack and drop frames, you can adjust the amount of memory it can draw from the RAM, and thereby get a better graphics performance, yet less system memory. This is why I sacrifice $100 on getting 1 gig RAM so I in any case haven enough both graphics and system memory for my tasks.:D
Click to expand...

Good post that pretty much nails it down.....All these MacBook threads are getting me so excited about receiving mine!

SHadoW
 
GMA 950's capabilities

@bbrosemer:

Yeah, the Intel GMA950 itself is capable of using more than the discussed 80MB of memory, but it seems that Apple has locked the GMA950's memory use to 64MB or 80MB respectively.

I guess that this restriction only applies if you run MacOS X; if you run Windows XP via Bootcamp on your MacBook the GMA950 is (hopefully) able to unfold its complete potential (make use of up to 224MB shared memory and not just 80MB).
 
why would apple downgrade the memory to 64mb, whats the point? if they didnt do that more people would buy it and there would be less (not much less) complaining about the intigrated graphics.:cool:
 
afornander said:
why would apple downgrade the memory to 64mb, whats the point? if they didnt do that more people would buy it and there would be less (not much less) complaining about the intigrated graphics.:cool:
Click to expand...

I think it was mentioned earlier. It is to stop people complaining that when they run the stock 512MB of RAM the machine is slow because the Grahics Card is hogging everything. Maybe if they had a setup which provides the Graphics Card with a percentage of total system memory...
 
tray1234 said:
@bbrosemer:

Yeah, the Intel GMA950 itself is capable of using more than the discussed 80MB of memory, but it seems that Apple has locked the GMA950's memory use to 64MB or 80MB respectively.

I guess that this restriction only applies if you run MacOS X; if you run Windows XP via Bootcamp on your MacBook the GMA950 is (hopefully) able to unfold its complete potential (make use of up to 224MB shared memory and not just 80MB).
Click to expand...

Please. The GMA doesn't draw 80 MB. The OS and boot steals 16 MB, whilst the GMA in any case maximum can draw 64 megs, unless you regulate this limit (if it is even possible). Look in my former post, this thread.:p
 
I found the following on the Apple UK site....
The Mac mini (Early 2006), MacBook and iMac (Mid 2006) computers use the Intel GMA 950 graphics processor for video output. This graphics chip set shares the main system memory of the computer rather than having dedicated graphics memory. The GMA 950 allocates a base amount of 80 MB for video and boot processes at startup. In a computer configured with 512 MB of SDRAM, this leaves 432 MB of SDRAM available to Mac OS X in a standard system (configured with 512 MB SDRAM).

Mac OS X may make additional main memory available to the graphics processor for texture use beyond the base 80 MB amount mentioned above, depending on the application being used. The most common types of applications that request more system memory to be used as graphics memory are 3D and graphics-intense applications.

Graphics Performance
For best graphics performance, your computer ships from Apple with two equal-sized SO-DIMMs installed, one in each slot. When memory is installed in your Mac in equal-sized pairs, the computer gains some performance benefits from the memory being interleaved. If you upgrade the memory in your Mac, make sure you have matching size SO-DIMMs (both in terms of memory size and in speed) in each slot for best graphics performance.
Click to expand...
So yes it uses 80MB of RAM unless more is required, although this will require more memory...
 
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