Macbook Graphics Card

[G99]

I'm considering getting a Macbook, but one feature that is making me think is the Intel GMA Graphics card. It's only 64 MB, which I don't think will be enough for my gaming needs. Is it a good idea, therefore, to upgrade it? To my knowledge, Apple doesn't do this, so I'll probably have to do it myself. My concern is the difficulty of doing this. Is installing graphics cards very difficult, and if I were to, which card would you reccomend?

 

[WildCowboy]

It's integrated graphics...you can't upgrade it. There's no separate graphics card.

 

[TexBiker]

I'm considering getting a Macbook, but one feature that is making me think is the Intel GMA Graphics card. It's only 64 MB, which I don't think will be enough for my gaming needs. Is it a good idea, therefore, to upgrade it? To my knowledge, Apple doesn't do this, so I'll probably have to do it myself. My concern is the difficulty of doing this. Is installing graphics cards very difficult, and if I were to, which card would you reccomend?

It's not upgradable. There is no slot for a graphics card on a Macbook. The graphics unit is integrated.

The Macbook Pro has a graphics card if you need extra muscle for 3D gaming.

EDIT: WildCowboy was quicker on the draw.

 

[G99]

Oh great. I think the Macbook Pro has too much stuff that I don't need, and it costs £1000 more
Maybe I should wait for a while before buying then. Also, I've read about too much thermal paste being applied, so I think it would be wise to wait for that to be fixed.

 

[Sun Baked]

You cannot upgrade the GPU on any current Mac, except the PowerMac which includes an actual graphics card, PCI slots, and an emptry drive bay.

If you want to upgrade in the future, a PowerMac is your only choice.

The GPUs on everything else are actual chips soldered to the motherboard, and in the case of the machine using Intel Integrated graphics (inside the Northbridge chip itself.)

Basically it's sell the machine an buy a new one to upgrade, which isn't too bad since Mac have carried a higher resale value than PCs.

 

[Spartacus]

Oh great. I think the Macbook Pro has too much stuff that I don't need, and it costs £1000 more
Maybe I should wait for a while before buying then. Also, I've read about too much thermal paste being applied, so I think it would be wise to wait for that to be fixed.

Here is a pic from the official service manual showing the recommended thermal paste amount. I laughed at length when I first saw this. Then I cried, because Apple is making a stupid stupid mistake by recommending so much! That much paste actually starts to act as an insulator, making the computer HOTTER!

(From Apple service manual...)

Step One:

http://attach.mobile01.com/attach/200605/mobile01-514da8fc7fc5ce50359d0bd754a7c73c.jpg

Step Two:

http://attach.mobile01.com/attach/200605/mobile01-e89d3804df75a137bd9adbe040817a57.jpg

But to stay on topic, I was wondering if that little GPU chip next to the CPU could be swapped? Does anyone have an idea on this?

 

[Daedalus256]

I'd remove those service manual pics if I were you.

Someone on SA posted stuff from the service manual and apple legal threatened uh..legal action against SA.

Sure it has no grounds but it's still annoying. So remove them.

 

[Sun Baked]

But to stay on topic, I was wondering if that little GPU chip next to the graphics chip could be swapped? Does anyone have an idea on this?

It's a chip yes, but it is soldered to the MB.

Screw up and short a connection with your soldering iron and you risk destroying the entire machine.

No ZIFs on the Mac, since it saves millimeters in height.

 

[G99]

Here is a pic from the official service manual showing the recommended thermal paste amount. I laughed at length when I first saw this. Then I cried, because Apple is making a stupid stupid mistake by recommending so much! That much paste actually starts to act as an insulator, making the computer HOTTER!

(From Apple service manual...)

Step One:

http://attach.mobile01.com/attach/200605/mobile01-514da8fc7fc5ce50359d0bd754a7c73c.jpg

Step Two:

http://attach.mobile01.com/attach/200605/mobile01-e89d3804df75a137bd9adbe040817a57.jpg

But to stay on topic, I was wondering if that little GPU chip next to the CPU could be swapped? Does anyone have an idea on this?

That's exactly what I'm worried about!

 

[Sun Baked]

I forgot, on the Integrated graphics MacBook -- there is NO GPU sitting next to the CPU -- it should be inside the Northbridge chip itself.

Edit: So you have to hack the machine to create a PCI-Express slot and add a GPU where it likely won't fit. Really, messy.

Much messier than desoldering a MacBook Pro GPU and trying to get a upgraded GPU to work.

 

[Counterfit]

Sure it has no grounds but it's still annoying. So remove them.

Actually it does. The service manuals are copyright protected works by Apple, hence, someone hosting them is liable for infringement. However, the pics in this thread are not hosted on a MacRumors server, so Arn wouldn't be the one getting a C&D order.

 

[Spartacus]

I'd remove those service manual pics if I were you.

Someone on SA posted stuff from the service manual and apple legal threatened uh..legal action against SA.

Sure it has no grounds but it's still annoying. So remove them.

They're just links from Macnn.com. They are going to be the ones getting busted.

I forgot, on the MacBook -- there is NO GPU sitting next to the CPU -- it should be inside the Northbridge chip itself.

What is that chip then?

 

[Sun Baked]

What is that chip then?

On a MacBook the second chip is likely the Intel 945PM Express Chip, that is the Northbridge chip.

They get quite hot and must also be cooled.

It is not a GPU, but has an integrated one inside it.

The MacBook Pro uses PCI-Express to add another GPU to the machine.

Edit: Look at the MacBook Pro You will see 4 chips (southbridge, GPU, northbridge, CPU -- left to right.)

The MacBook only has 3 of those chips, since there is no external GPU.

 

[matticus008]

Just to clear up any confusion, the Intel integrated graphics are also PCI Express, which is just the peripheral host bus on the computer. There is no external slot or socket, but the integrated GPU communicates over PCIe.