Setting Memory Limit for GMA X3100

[Jason S.]

Until I can gather up the funds to upgrade my RAM to 4GB, is there any way to limit how much memory gets shared with the GMA X3100? I want to reduce it to 64MB shared, at least until I can get away from the default 1GB of RAM.

I know you can do this for integrated chips in the BIOS on PCs; certainly there must be a way to do it on a Mac, too.

 

[noodle654]

Until I can gather up the funds to upgrade my RAM to 4GB, is there any way to limit how much memory gets shared with the GMA X3100? I want to reduce it to 64MB shared, at least until I can get away from the default 1GB of RAM.

I know you can do this for integrated chips in the BIOS on PCs; certainly there must be a way to do it on a Mac, too.

I don't think this is possible in OS X. I would wait for some deals online for that 4GB RAM. I did a search on Google and it just came up with how to increase it. Maybe somebody else has an idea.

 

[ZacUSNYR]

I don't think this is possible in OS X. I would wait for some deals online for that 4GB RAM. I did a search on Google and it just came up with how to increase it. Maybe somebody else has an idea.

I just ordered 4gb of Corsair memory on newegg.com for $89 shipped to my door. Ordered last night - it shipped today, should be here tomorrow with ground shipping since it's leaving NJ

 

[Eidorian]

It's controlled by the driver in OS X and Windows.

 

[martin1636]

I don't think this is possible in OS X. I would wait for some deals online for that 4GB RAM. I did a search on Google and it just came up with how to increase it. Maybe somebody else has an idea.

so how do you increase it?

 

[noodle654]

so how do you increase it?

Well in Windows it uses up to I think (with GMA950) 224MB. I dont know how much with the X3100

 

[martin1636]

Well in Windows it uses up to I think (with GMA950) 224MB. I dont know how much with the X3100

OK, but how exactly can you increase the amount of shared RAM on the integrated graphics card (X3100 or the 950)?

 

[TEG]

In Windows, you need the Intel GMA utility. In OS X you can do it through terminal, but I don't know exactly how.

TEG

 

[noodle654]

OK, but how exactly can you increase the amount of shared RAM on the integrated graphics card (X3100 or the 950)?

I think OS X does it automatically. Correct me if I am wrong but if you install more RAM (2GB or 4GB), if the GMA needs more RAM (past 64MB for the 950), OS X will use more from the RAM. For Windows, it is a BIOS settings so you can fool around with that.

 

[TEG]

I think OS X does it automatically. Correct me if I am wrong but if you install more RAM (2GB or 4GB), if the GMA needs more RAM (past 64MB for the 950), OS X will use more from the RAM. For Windows, it is a BIOS settings so you can fool around with that.

There is no BIOS on a Mac. But the drivers do the controling.

TEG

 

[noodle654]

There is no BIOS on a Mac. But the drivers do the controling.

TEG

I didnt say that there is BIOS on a Mac? I said in Windows.

 

[martin1636]

There is no BIOS on a Mac. But the drivers do the controling.

TEG

Sooo... that means that we only need a driver that will be able to increase the memory on the graphics card, right??? But how do we get that driver?

 

[Jason S.]

I'd be comfortable using Terminal or editing a .kext to change it. Anybody got a good place for me to start? Where are drivers usually located?

 

[Eidorian]

I'd be comfortable using Terminal or editing a .kext to change it. Anybody got a good place for me to start? Where are drivers usually located?

/System/Library/Extensions/AppleIntelGMAX3100.kext

Not that it's hard to find.

 

[martin1636]

/System/Library/Extensions/AppleIntelGMAX3100.kext

Not that it's hard to find.

WHOA!
So with this thing, I'll be able to modify the amount of shared graphics RAM memory on my MacBook when i buy one this spring? Have you tried it? What's the maximum?

Cheers!

 

[Jason S.]

What's the maximum?

GMA X3100 can support up to 384MB.

 

[martin1636]

GMA X3100 can support up to 384MB.

That's amaizing!!! So have anyone tried it?

 

[Jason S.]

That's amaizing!!! So have anyone tried it?

My new MacBook will be arriving any hour, so I'll take a look at the driver once I get it set up.

 

[pjrobertson]

This is nice to hear.

I always thought that Mac OS X was hard-coded to not let the GMA 950 / 3100 use more than ~200MB shared RAM. I guess I'm wrong. Would there be any advantage of ramping it up to the limit (for use with stuff like Photoshop)?

I have 4GB RAM

 

[DCSMAC]

anyway you can do this for a gma950? how exactly do you do it also, i keep getting permission denied

 

[angelodmhl]

Someone post instructions please!

 

[deniser]

Someone post instructions please!

Please do, I'd like to know too

 

[xraydoc]

This is nice to hear.

I always thought that Mac OS X was hard-coded to not let the GMA 950 / 3100 use more than ~200MB shared RAM. I guess I'm wrong. Would there be any advantage of ramping it up to the limit (for use with stuff like Photoshop)?

I have 4GB RAM

No. Wont help with Photoshop. Photoshop doesn't require dedicated video RAM, just system RAM. Unless you're doing 3D modeling with your MacBook (and you're not, otherwise you wouldn't be using a MacBook), 384MB of VRAM will be pretty useless.

 

[DCSMAC]

will it help for games?

 

[Vipersfate]

I used to do a lot of work with OS x86 back in the day, and I'm fairly comfortable with editing and changing kexts if needed. How would one force OS X to use 384MB for dedicated video graphics. I've been looking through the kext stated above, but it shows no information that I can see that is relevant to the answer.

How would one change it?