MBP C2D Video Ram?

The big differene between the 2.16Ghz and 2.33Ghz is the 128mb vs 256mb Video Ram. Does anyone have any details/ideas on if you can increase the Video Ram post purchase?

I purchased a week 46 MBP C2D just the other day - it's the 2.16 model with 128mb of vram. I was worried about the vram issue and called the Apple store - one person told me it was soldered - - another person said it was upgradeable - I am pretty sure it is soldered to the board and not upgradeable after looking at ifixit.com's guide they state it after they get the motherboard out of the new Macbook Pros.
I am wondering if I will miss the 256 of vram - but my games still seem to run fine so far... (only Unreal Tournament '04 & Second Life)

Similar Messages

MBP CD w/256Mb video or MBP C2D w/128Mb video?

Hi.
Its a shame i am writing my first post in a PC machine..but the reason is im going to buy a MBP very soon.
Im going to use the machine for Architecture software (AUTOCAD 2D n 3D running on windows), Adobe creative suite CS2, etc...
The question is: should I buy a MBP CD w/256Mb Video or MBP C2D w/256Mb? both have 2.16GHz and 1Gb RAM.
Im going to buy it from the refurbished section and both are very close in the price. U$S1599 for the MBP C2D w/128mb video and U$S1499 for the MBP CD w/256mb video.
Could someone give me a hand with this decission? thanks a lot.
buying my first MAC

If you are going to use the current version, 2007, of AutoCAD you might want to check the the system requirements. The difference with this version is that it does make use of the GPU although I'm not usre how much a difference VRAM will make.
Regarding your choice though, I'd probably go with the Core 2 Duo model. It runs cooler, has 802.11n capable hardware and is capable of 3GB RAM which will be important for apllications like Adobe Photoshop. Be aware that the 2.16GHz C2D model has "only" 128MB VRAM.

Rendering Video on MBP C2D?

Hi all, Just wondering how much happier I will be with the offer of exchanging my PB that is unrepairable?
My PB took 10 hours to render and burn a 1 hour video which I was told by Customer Service was normal. I was also told that adding another 1GB RAM would cut rendering time by only half an hour.
Comparred to a borrowed Toshiba which took 2 hours to render and burn a one hour vid what can I expect from the MBP C2D 2.16GHz with 1GB RAM?
thanks for any info.
frank

If you are going to use the current version, 2007, of AutoCAD you might want to check the the system requirements. The difference with this version is that it does make use of the GPU although I'm not usre how much a difference VRAM will make.
Regarding your choice though, I'd probably go with the Core 2 Duo model. It runs cooler, has 802.11n capable hardware and is capable of 3GB RAM which will be important for apllications like Adobe Photoshop. Be aware that the 2.16GHz C2D model has "only" 128MB VRAM.

Problem: DVD-RAM can no longer be read on MBP C2D

The "MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-857D" in my MacBook Pro C2D is said to have read (but not write) support for DVD-RAM media.
During the first few weeks of its lifetime, reading DVD-RAMs definitely worked. But now, no more, no matter what brand of media I try.
All other types of optical media continue to work as advertised (read and write).
I wonder whether this is a physical defect (but then why doesn't it affect other types of media?) or an issue caused by recent sopftware updates (but when I boot from an external DVD-drive using the very original MacOS DVD with no updates at all, why do I still not get read support on the internal drive?).
AFAIK there has not been any recent firmware update for this model. So what can be the reason? Should I let Apple swap the drive? Has anyone else observed the same issue?
Guido
MBP C2D Mac OS X (10.4.8) MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-857D

Hey Grant,
thought you'd like to know my "cleaning the lens with a cloth" worked fine - uh... but for about three days only, then back to the same old, same old.
I'd originally slid a business card covered with a lens cleaning cloth (from my camera bag) to clean the lens, and although the cloth emerged mostly pristine, I figured it must've done the trick as the drive started working again.
So this time, I decided to go in deeper. I actually took the whole drive apart - case off, drive out, drive dismantled - and I had a long look around to see if any parts looked dirty or damaged...
I found just one thing - the small silver rod on which the read/write head travels (the servomechanism that moves up and down the disc radius as it reads/writes) had some 'oily gunk' at the point where the travelling-head's 'sleeve' met it - when I tried to move the head manually up and down the rod, it sort of staggered along. So I cleaned off the gunk with a cotton bud and then slid the drive-head up and down a few times 'till it seemed to run freely.
Put everything back - and fired up my Mac Pro. And the drive has been 100% fine since then - two whole weeks!
Maybe this time I've cracked it? (for my drive at least)
Roger

MBP Video RAM Defect?

I've been experiencing random kernel panics for the last several weeks and frankly have had issues for quite some time with regard to flakey performance of my mid-year 2010 MacBook Pro. It wasn't until I formally opened a case with Apple and brought it in to the Apple Store that I found out there is a known defect with my particular machine with regard to defective video RAM. They did the test in front of me and I saw the error message on screen.
Bottom line is, my particular MBP has a defect, known to Apple that I can't seem to find any published detail on.
Does anyone on this forum know about this and can point me to the specific bug/kb document?
Please let me know as soon as you can.
Thank you!
Jim

I got an update to your post in email but when I come to the thread it is not there.
This is what I got in email.
Thanks for pointing me to the article: TS4088 - it sounds similar but implies that the fix is addressed by software then states "If the symptoms persist after installing the update, select one of the service options listed in the Service Options section below." The issue I have is related to RAM according to the guy at the Apple Store and is only resolved by a Logic Board replacement and software updates don't help.
Its the closest one I've seen though, thanks!!
To me the problem is the same and should be covered even if you are out of the normal warranty. But knowing Apple that may not hold true as they have jerked around 2008 MBP owners for a REAL defective video card problem. Not allowiing the repair for free because it is either out of the 4 year period or the system has failed completely, because of the Vid card problem, and they can't get the code that says it is the vid card problem.
Good Luck and best wishes.

How is performance on Macbook Pro 15" 2ghz 128mb video ram?

Is anyone running aperture with the 128mb video ram?
Trying to decide if the approx $500 difference between models is really worth it for the ram. I know there's a little more hd space and a tick faster cpu speed but I'm mainly concerned with the ram question.
Thanks to all,
Larry

You get 25% more hard drive, 8% faster CPU, double the VRAM for $500 if you are comparing stock systems only. However if you are building to order the price difference will be much less than $500 the way the BTO options price out. And, you should want 2 GB of RAM. To achieve that with the cheaper MBP you either need to throw away the 512 and buy two DIMMs instead of just one or pay Apple $500 instead of the $300 if you had bought the better MBP.
For a MBP with 120 GB hard drive, 2 GB RAM BTO cost is:
2.0 GHz MBP with 128 MB VRAM, $2699
2.16 GHz MBP with 256 MB VRAM, $2899
$200 difference, not $500. Of course buying third party RAM will change it some. Either way I think max HD size and max RAM is important and at less than $300 actual difference I consider the faster box a smarter purchase. Best value of all is the 17" MBP with its 8x DVD and FW800.
Note that Apple and graphics apps clearly are sharing more processing with the GPU as time goes on. IMO it behooves us to get fastest available (at reasonable price) GPUs for the future, not because of any perceived performance difference today.
This thread mirrors comments I made a year+ ago. Look what happened to folks who bought G5s and saved a few bucks because at the time better GPUs BTO mostly affected only video/3D. Then Surprise! Aperture came along and knocked multiprocessor G5s without upgraded cards to their knees. Further surprise, Apple - IMO incredibly and unethically - refused to facilitate card upgrade purchases to folks who had purchased Apple's best Macs, now lamed by an Apple app.
Personally when I buy it is always with fastest available (at reasonable price) GPUs; just trying to get max graphics performance which historically has always been challenging to hardware setups.
IMO it is essential to buy for the future, not for today. Today will be over before a new box is even delivered...
There are many earlier threads that discussed this that you can find by backtracking through the thread list. One is <http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=478038&tstart=100>.
-Allen Wicks

Trying To Re-Install OS X on MBP C2D 2.4-17"

I'm using a MBP 2.16-15" Core 2 Duo with 3Gb Ram, OS X 10.4.10
I am trying to re-install OS X on my friends MBP C2D 2.4-17" OS X 10.4.10 using MY Install DVD's as he forgot his! (My DVD OS V 10.4.8, AHT V 3A116, Disc V 1.0)
His MBP keeps coming up with the dreaded grey crash screen and black box telling me in English and other lang's to hold down the power key and re-start, after i try to boot from my dvd.
Do i need to use His dvd's? are mine not compatible? or do i need to re-format his drive and re-install?
Any ideas would be helpful.
Thanks

You cannot use your installer discs for his computer. Aside from the fact they are not the same, it's illegal.

Dedicated Video RAM (64 MB?!?!?!)

Could someone explain me what dedicated Video RAM is, please? I have the better MBP 13'' with the Intel HD Graphics 4000. Behind that information it say "512". I thought that meant I'd have 512 MB VRAM! True?
If I check a game on canyourunit.com (I have Bootcamp Win 7 64 Bit) it always says my dedicated Video Ram would be too low. I would only have 64MB. According to that website I wouldn't even be able to play Age of Empires III, well I can play that game perfectly...
Can someone help me out?
Thanks! Passer

The video memory (Vram) on any Intel integrated graphics is dynamic meaning that the amount allocated is dependant on :
The amount of total memory installed in the machine ie 2Mb, 4Mb etc
The program being used and how graphically demanding it is.
Thus the machine will allocate anything from 64 Mb upto 768Mb, you as the user can not normally change this.
(This is the same for Windows machines with Intel graphics)
Custom mini.

17" MBP C2D Arrived and Busted!

After 34 days of waiting and Apple messing me about my 17" MBP C2D finally arrives! However, it doesn't work!
During the initial setup stages once booting the MBP for the first time, it asks for which keyboard layout I wish to use. Upon selecting any of the languages, the computer screen goes black and the kernal panic screen comes up telling me to turn off my computer.
It's no surprise to me though...
In total, over 3 years I have spent £12,500 on Apple Computers and so far I have never received a fully functional computer first time without having to send it for repair.
First it was a 1.25GHz Al PowerBook G4 which I had to send back 3 times before I finally got a functional computer.
Then it was a PowerMac G5 which went to sleep every 5 minutes and sounded like it was going to take off!
Then it was an iMac G5 which I have had to send back 4 times. Finally Apple have replaced the piece of garbage with a C2D machine so that makes me a bit happier. But now they are having a joke!
Over a month I have waited for the MBP to arrive and it's packed away ready to be thrown back at Apple.
One very very very unhappy customer who can't live without OSX, but has to put up with Apple!

I can see your logic about removing the RAM modules. It should hopefully isolate the problem.
However I can also see the original posters frustration at not having a decent setup from the box. Theoretically he should not have to play around with the RAM modules it should just work.
I only hope that Apple read this and sort this posters problem out pronto.

Video RAM fails in Tech Tool Deluxe....

Hello again,
I reformatted my harddrive a couple days ago, and the computer is getting quicker but I KNOW it could be faster so I did a Full Diagnostics using tech tool deluxe. The first time I did it, it passed on everything. Then the next time I was browsing the Internet, I get a Kernel Panic out of the blue. I downloaded the "menu Meters" program and None of my computers resources were Anywhere from intense (1-3% tops CPU usage) So I reboot and do the Tech Tool test yet again and This time my Video ram Fails the Diagnostics. It tells me that I should Close all Applications, Check any recent hardware installs, Reinstall the OS , then call Apple care, in that order. I tested it again after unplugging my 17" LCD from my macbook pro and I passed the Test?!
I am going to call Applecare tommorow afternoon, but do you think they will fix/replace my macbook pro if it is now passing the tests? Before I install Final Cut Studio I want to make sure I don't have to worry about any other problems with my computer. Especially something as vital as V-Ram. Plus according to my friend at a techshop, the video ram supposedly has a bad sector which was randomly diagnosted during the Techtool session, because I was using a second display, and that my Video Ram will gradually get worse and worse until I will have to send it to apple either way.
I'm interested in any information you would like to post on the subject. I am going to get it fixed one way or the other, but it's nice to have some extra input on my side when I call Applecare (it will be my first time actually).
If anyone has any tips, or comments they would be appreciated,
Thanks.

When you did a clean install of your MBP did you write zeros to the hard drive. While it probably has nothing to do with your VRAM failing its tests it is good idea to do it anyway.
As for your VRAM failing, I would reset PRAM and NVRAM…
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238
… and the System Management Controller…
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303319
… imediately prior to clean installing (and writing zeros to the drive) a second time.

Apple Care Tech Tool disk indicates video ram failure

I have a MBP purchased in 3/08 - 2.4 with 256MB GeForce 8600M and the tech tool disc keeps telling me the video ram failed the test process. What does this mean and could this explain the pages taking so long to load in safari that have pictures and video? Safari on certain web site pages will sit there in a continuous loading position. The status bar will progress about 1 inch and never move again or load the page. I have to continuously keep reloading the page until it will finally complete the page. Even then half the pictures will not load. This started about a month ago, which is why I bought the apple care.
Thanks
Frank

It means the video RAM has failed. Take it in for service.

Slow MBP C2D vs Macbook CD

Hi,
I have a MBP C2D bought brand new in Nov 06 (120GB hardrive) and a MB C2 bought brand new in Sep 06 (60GB hardrive). I have 2GB ram in the MBP and 1GB ram in the MB.
I've had months and months to try them both and it seems over and over that the MB is screaming way faster than the MBP. It's very weird. Even my friend who has a MBP (Core Duo, not C2D w/ 2GB ram) was commenting on how much the MB is faster than his MBP.
I'm sure the definition of 'fast' depends on what you're doing, but for most of what i do, is just surf, open word, itunes, and iphoto. the MB opens each app much faster, is super quick to open finder, reboots and starts from cold very quiclkly (blue bar is visible for only 2-3 seconds).
my mbp takes longer to boot and the blue bar is visible for the entire 'space' (4 inches?)...sometimes this takes over 10 seconds.
did I get a MBP lemon? I mean, my MBP gets the job done just fine, it's just very STRANGE that it's getting smoked by a machine w/ an older chip w/ half the memory and half the hard drive size.
Oh, both HD's are about 40% free.
The Macbook just feels much 'zippier'. Has anyone else noticed this?
I've tried the apple store in SF, Walnut Creek, and Stoneridge and it's a bit tougher to gauge on the displays (probably from all the use).
I feel like a I have a Macbook anti-lemon...it's a lemon in the complete opposite direction!

I have a MacBook Core2Duo 2.0Ghz, and a MacBook Pro Core2Duo 2.33 Ghz, and I don't notice the MacBook being faster than the MBP. Both have 2G of RAM, and in ordinary use, I can't detect any speed difference.
You could run Xbench on both, and see if there's any glaring difference compared against other similar systems.

Bootcamp Dedicated Video RAM

Hey guys,
I have a 2012 13'' inch macbook pro. This has the Intel HD 4000 graphics card. I have upgraded it to 16GB of RAM and and have windows 8.1 installed on a bootcamp partition.
Currently on my windows side it says that I only have 32mb of dedicated video ram. On the apple side it says I have 512mb. I would like to increase the dedicated video RAM on the windows side to fully use what my computer is capable of. Normally in a windows computer to change your video RAM amount you go into the BIOS section, but since this is on a mac it doesn't have one.
I have been through about a billion tech support calls so here is a list of the things I've tried.
What I've tried:
     1. Using Refind to access BIOS on this.
               -The new version doesn't seem to do much for windows as the only bootup option I am given is to bootup normally
     2. Force the intel HD graphics driver 15.33.30.64.3958 to download and install
               -Forcing it still doesn't have it run properly. I've contacted intell and they say their drivers don't always work on laptops
     3. Using parallels
              -Unfortunately parallels runs extremely slowly when you're trying to use 512 mb of dedicated video ram for some reason
Any help, or a direction to go in would be greatly appreciated.

You may not need to do all this. Please read http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/sb/CS-033984.htm .
How is graphics memory allocated in Windows 8/8.1*?
The Microsoft Windows 8/8.1 operating system adds improved support for graphics, simplifying graphics, memory configuration, and management. As part of this new graphics memory management, the Intel® HD Graphics Driver leaves more of the graphics memory sizing to Windows 8/8.1.
On a similar MBP, I have,

Windows video ram with bootcamp.

In bootcamp when I run windows 7 it tells me I have 188mb of video ram but in mac it tells me 512mb. Am I confused on something or is there a problem in Windows?
I have a macbook pro late 2011. Its a quad core, 16gb ram, and I have a AMD Radeon HD 6750.
I do not know that much about this topic so I might just be mixing things up.

The HD4000 graphics in your Mac has a tiny amount of dedicated memory (the 32 MB you're seeing) and borrows what it needs from your system RAM. That's where OS X reports its 384-512 MB. Games should still work fine, just set your resolution and in-game detail options accordingly. Most games should run OK at the MBP's native 1280x800 resolution at low to medium details.

MBP C2D - no wireless networks show up: possible soultion

If you can't see any wireless networks, one possible solution is to change the channel of the network.
I've got a quite old Netgear MR314 wireless (802.11b) router. Yesterday I got my Macbook Pro C2D and tried to get connected to my wireless home network. Airport was turned on, but no wireless networks showed up in the list. My Ibook could access my network just fine. I tried to disable all wireless security such as WEP and access control based on the MAC address of the Airport card, but it didn't help. Sometimes I even saw some neighbor's network, but not my own.
Today I logged in to the setup page of the Netgear router and played around with channel setting. By default it was set to 1. Channel 2 didn't work, but when I tried channel 6 or 11 (didn't try all of them), my network showed up in the list and I now get full reception!
Hope this helps someone.
MBP C2D 2,33 / 2 GB Mac OS X (10.4.8)

I had the same problem, turned out my airport card inside the macbook was fried. Apple replaced it and while they were doing it they fried my MB and RAM. So after 2 days I have pretty much a new computer. Buy the extended warranty.

MBP C2D Video Ram?

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