MacBook Only Allocating 10MB RAM to Graphics?

[dylan]

I just tried Battle for Middle-Earth and it set everything to the lowest settings so i decided to take a look at the drivers and this is what i found:

Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator Driver for Mobile Report


Report Date: 05/30/2006
Report Time[hr:mm:ss]: 12:50:14
Driver Version: 6.14.10.4512
Operating System: Windows XP* Professional, Service Pack 2 (5.1.2600)
Default Language: English
DirectX* Version: 9.0
Physical Memory: 480 MB
Minimum Graphics Memory: 16 MB
Maximum Graphics Memory: 128 MB
Graphics Memory in Use: 10 MB
Processor: x86 family 6 Model 14 Stepping 8
Processor Speed: 1997 MHZ
Vendor ID: 8086
Device ID: 27A2
Device Revision: 03

Is this normal? It would definatly explain the poor performance. Any idea how to fix it if it is indeed wrong?

 

[yippy]

Notice the maximum and minimum? Memory in use means just that, how much memory is being used at the moment, not how much is allocated or available.

If it is using only 10Mb of memory that means that is how much it needs with the current graphics load. If you are getting poor performance it is most likely do to the slow graphics processor, not the low ram usage.

 

[MRU]

Unistall the drivers and re-install them.

10mb is very very low.

Is that information in a .cfg file in BME2 folder or is that info from dxdiag ??

If it's a config file it could be edited.

If it's in direct X it's just means that you are using 10mb when doing normal stuff - running windows.. The fact that it says 128mb is interesting though?

Very weird stuff indeed...

 

[dylan]

Notice the maximum and minimum? Memory in use means just that, how much memory is being used at the moment, not how much is allocated or available.

If it is using only 10Mb of memory that means that is how much it needs with the current graphics load. If you are getting poor performance it is most likely do to the slow graphics processor, not the low ram usage.

I just realized that and was coming back to edit.

But shouldn't Battle for Middle-Earth 2 work with higher than the absolute lowest settings? Even with the current settings it still stutters...

Also Return of the King would not even install. It said there wasn't enough graphics memory or something...

I wasn't expecting it to run great but this is just terrible. I'll have to see how it does with 2 gigs of ram once i get some money.

 

[dylan]

Unistall the drivers and re-install them.

10mb is very very low.

Is that information in a .cfg file in BME2 folder or is that info from dxdiag ??

If it's a config file it could be edited.

If it's in direct X it's just means that you are using 10mb when doing normal stuff - running windows.. The fact that it says 128mb is interesting though?

Very weird stuff indeed...

I got the info from the Intel Graphics Drivers while the game was running. I just clicked the information button. I guess it's not the best conditions for a test like that considering the game is in the background

The 128MB perked my interest too. I thought Apple set the max at 64.



Does anyone know how I can change the direct3D settings? The only options I can see are for opengl. I remember my old Radeon 9500 having both.
Doesn't the GMA 945? Is the game running in OpenGL?

This is all so confusing. I just want to get this game running smoothly.

 

[Chundles]

I got the info from the Intel Graphics Drivers while the game was running. I just clicked the information button. I guess it's not the best conditions for a test like that considering the game is in the background

The 128MB perked my interest too. I thought Apple set the max at 64.



Does anyone know how I can change the direct3D settings? The only options I can see are for opengl. I remember my old Radeon 9500 having both.
Doesn't the GMA 945? Is the game running in OpenGL?

This is all so confusing. I just want to get this game running smoothly.

Apple set the max at 64MB for OSX, if Windows is indeed able to allocate 128MB to the GMA950 then the MacBook should rank as "Windows Vista Premium Ready" for those who are so inclined. Apple could also bump up the available RAM if it sees fit for OSX at a later date.

 

[dylan]

Apple set the max at 64MB for OSX, if Windows is indeed able to allocate 128MB to the GMA950 then the MacBook should rank as "Windows Vista Premium Ready" for those who are so inclined. Apple could also bump up the available RAM if it sees fit for OSX at a later date.

Makes sense. I thought it was OS independent like it is on PC's, where you set it in the bios.

 

[okwhatev]

Makes sense. I thought it was OS independent like it is on PC's, where you set it in the bios.

I can confirm that Windows' VRAM default is set to 128MB of VRAM on my 2GB Macbook. In MacOS, the minimum remains at 64MB. Very interesting.

 

[jdurston]

I can confirm that Windows' VRAM default is set to 128MB of VRAM on my 2GB Macbook. In MacOS, the minimum remains at 64MB. Very interesting.

In OS X is it always 64MB or is 64 the min, max, or mean. I thought I read somewhere on Intel's page that the 950 graphics could use 200+MB for VRAM.

I hope Apple didn't cripple the MacBook by imposing an artificial max.

 

[Abulia]

In OS X is it always 64MB or is 64 the min, max, or mean. I thought I read somewhere on Intel's page that the 950 graphics could use 200+MB for VRAM.

I hope Apple didn't cripple the MacBook by imposing an artificial max.

This seems to be the case. The silver lining is that this could probably be fixed with a driver or firmware revision on Apple's part. Maybe if enough people push them on the issue they'll "up" the available VRAM.

 

[cyberdogl2]

something gives me the feeling apple will never raise the ceiling for the vram. but stranger things have happened. just a feeling. maybe a 3rd party company will.

 

[Capt Underpants]

Apple set the max at 64MB for OSX, if Windows is indeed able to allocate 128MB to the GMA950 then the MacBook should rank as "Windows Vista Premium Ready" for those who are so inclined. Apple could also bump up the available RAM if it sees fit for OSX at a later date.

It will run Vista, but the GMA 950 is not powerful enough to run Vista with Aero Glass. The GMA 965, which will be released with conroe, will fully support Aero Glass, however.