Replacing Graphics Cards in new MBPs

As we all know, the new MacBook Pros come with two graphics cards, one for normal energy-efficient use, and another for 'turbocharging.'
I was wondering if I could replace one of the two with another brand, namely ATI, for broader (ie Source) game support. I know that NVIDIA works for everything, but I've heard bad things about the cards when running Source games (unusually poor framerates).
Is the Energy Saver's options too restrictive for this, or could I make the computer think that say the ATI is the lower card?
-Joseph Durel

Furthermore, the 9400m is not just a video card, but also the machine's chipset which is the system memory controller, and interface to things like USB, etc. Its a hybrid graphics chip / system chipset.
Also, as mentioned before.. Its not a graphics "card". It is not something you can simply remove. It is a permanent part of the machine and simply cannot be removed.. ever.

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Need a Replacement Graphics Card for Light Gaming

My current 7800GT overheats when gaming or even just running GLXgears. I need a replacement of similar or slightly better performance (preferably less than $100) for an nforce4 SLI board. How are the ATI drivers right now? I've heard they still have issues. I'm kind of wary of Nvidia due to the possibly wide spread defects. http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Nvidia … ,6248.html
It seems sort of lose-lose. Which graphics card would you recommend?
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http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6814121082
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6814121250
Last edited by intrados (2009-05-30 09:32:44)

You might be able to fix your current nvidia.
Maybe try removing and re-attaching the heatsink/fan setup and cleaning ou the fan. You'll probably need some thermal paste to re-attach the heatsink, but it doesnt cost much. Keep in mind that graphics cards can run really hot, some have max temps over 150C iirc..
I wouldnt worry about that nvidia thing, it's probably not an issue now.
Last edited by iphitus (2009-05-31 12:06:31)

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Hi,
I have a new HP Envy Desktop h8-1414 PC. I successfully replaced the power supply with a 400 watt one.
I purchased a Sapphire Radeon HD 7750 1GB DDR5 HDMI / DVI-I / DP PCI-Express Graphics Card 11202-00-20G and installed it. However, when I turn the PC on again, the monitor does not receive a signal.
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This unfortunately did not work for me. In the end of hours and hours of "support" for both HP & Microsoft all I had was a slow computer that I can't upgrade. The system cant run any of the graphics intense programs I use on a day to day basis. In the end I returned it for an Asus with an i7 processor, Windows 7 and a fully upgradable graphics card.
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Just replaced my dead graphics card with a new ATI 9600 AGP card. I’m running a dual 2.0 GHz G5 and a 23" Apple display. Problem I have is my DVI plug from the monitor does not fit the DVI sockets on the card!! The plug from my monitor has 10 pins and rounded corners and the 2 sockets on the card have only 8 pins and a square shape. Are there adapters that will connect the 2 or do I need to find a new card.

Hi-
Is this your connector?
Are these the cards connectors?
If "Yes" and "Yes", then you need a DVI to ADC adapter.

Replacement graphics card for 2006 Mac Pro?

My Mac Pro is a dual-core Intel Xeon, model 1,1 purchased in 2006. The graphics card is doing death throes. I can't afford a new computer, so I need to replace the graphics card.
Can I use any PCI express x16 card, or are my options restricted? (They were at the time - there was a choice of two.) If my options are restricted, what cards can I buy?
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ATI 4870 is your best bet. Ignore what apple says about it not being supported; it is.
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Hi i bought a game on Saturday, or a simulation game, I got home an installed it on my laptop.
The game ran very slow so i removed programs, pics an videos which I don't use, an tried again an there was still luck?
I looked on the web an found that the game runs slow on my card drive.
Can i get a new graphic card for my laptop?
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No, graphic card cannot be replaced on the notebooks.
Mostly the GPU chip is soldered on the motherboard.
Greets

I'm confused about running an external graphics card with my MBP and Thunderbolt display

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Graphics Intel HD Graphics 4000 512 MB
Software OS X 10.8.2 (12C60
My radio control airplane/helicopter flight sim runs slow. Message reads "Warning FPS to low".
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John

AFAIK, there are PCIe TB adapters like this - http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/HELIOSTB1/ - but I don't know that you can use a graphics card in them with a MBP. You might want to give OWC a call, though, and see if they know of someway to bypass the onboard GPU through a PCIe card.
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How can I test the hardware on the discrete Nvidia grpahics card in my late 2012 MBP Retina?
I've had a *lot* of problems with it which I won't repeat here but the latest fun thing it's doing is crashing and requiring a hard reset any time *anything* attempts to access the discrete graphics card. This includes but is not limited to:
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*Connecting to an external monitor with the thunderbolt port and using the computer for a short period of
None of these things actually work and after unsuccessfully attempting any of them the computer becomes very unstable shortly there after and usually crashes and requires hard reset. One time I got a crash report that said something about GPU panic.
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Thanks.

If they add OSX support for this product and it comes in at a reasonable price point, it could be an attractive solution.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/5352/msis-gus-ii-external-gpu-via-thunderbolt
Also, there are products from other companies that allow connection to PCIe cards through thunderbolt. These two are geared more towards professional use (Audio/Video I/O cards).
http://www.sonnettech.com/product/echoexpresschassis.html
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Windows will only use your dedicated graphic card, in this case, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M, because the integrated graphic card can't be used (there are problems with the GPU switch in Windows).
After installing Windows, install the most recent driver for your GPU from the NVIDIA site > http://www.nvidia.com

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Hello
The graphics card on my Late 2009 27" iMac has gone puff!
I've got yellow vertical lines on the screen and the only way I can get the machine to start is by removing the graphics extensions from the library... it's a pain in the but as it makes the machine unusable in it's current state - But I'm cool about it all as it still works perfectly well as a monitor for my MacBookPro
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If it can be replaced can any one recommend a good retailer in the UK that I can get one from?
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if it helps the machines serial number is - VW*****5RU
Regards
Silver!
<Edited By Host>

The Radeon graphics card in the late 2009 quad cores can not only be replaced, it can be upgraded! https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iMac+Intel+27-Inch+EMC+2309+or+2374+Graphics+Card+R eplacement/9553
You just gotta be able to find one!

What replacement graphics card for Mac Pro1.1

My NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT card is producing various screen artifacts and freezing on startup,
but not in safe boot mode. From reading this forum and posts for a couple of days I've concluded
that I need to replace my card and am thinking that the +ATI Radeon HD 4870 Graphics Upgrade Kit+
+for Mac Pro (Early 2009 or Early 2008)+ from the Apple site is the one to get.
I should add that I've tried all the usual fixes in case it wasn't a hardware problem. My question is
will the card work with my system (only Apple and Adobe software running OS 10.5.8 and one 20" Dell monitor).
Now I know this question has been asked and answered many times but I seems to work for some
and not for others that's why I ask again mentioning my particular setup in case that has some
importance.
Thanks in anticipation of any advice.

How did you get on with your graphics card replacement?
My original Nvidia GeForce 7300GT is on its way out but I'm reluctant to pay nearly £300 for a replacement. Are there any other options available to me?

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Hey does anyone know where I could buy online a PCI-Express Nivida GeForce 7800GT graphics card? I looked online and cant find one thats compatable to upgrade my dual core 2Ghz G5 old card.

Try strangedogs website. A few Aperture (check these forums) managed to get a 7800 from there. You are one of many G5 owners (dual-cores) beached by Apple's disgraceful treatment of us, unable to upgrade the video card. Not enough people are aware of this trap. If buying a new G5, MAKE SURE you get the 7800 with your system order, its the only way to get an Apple one. This is mandatory for Aperture, perhaps less so for general use. However as Apple is offloading a lot of the graphic workload through Coreimage to the GPU, it becomes more and more important to system capability.
I'm reluctant to go non-Apple as warranty and Applecare wont't cover it. There are discussions going on within Apple that are investigating the issue. No idea what will develop or when, but its not soon enough for too many people !

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Does any know if it is possible to replace the graphics card in the 2.4GHz intel core 2 duo macbook?
I'd like to upgrade it to a card that fully supports OpenGL version 1.5
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The graphics card can't be changed in a Mac other than a Mac Pro or Power Mac.
(41098)

Which graphic card for new notebook?

Hi!
In a little while, I want to buy a new notebook that, of course, will run Archlinux. Before buying though, I want to make some things sure so that setting up the notebook won't be a pain ... First of all, I've fallen in love (until I find a prettier one ) with LG's notebooks, especially the small ones. Some of them have nVidia graphic cards, others have ATI. The notebook that I currently use has an Intel GM655 graphic chip that is great in terms of open source but this time I'd prefer a graphic card of nVidia or ATI.
Previously, I used an ATI graphic card on my old iBook G4 with no problems but now, I'm not sure anymore if ATI's new graphic cards will run fine with Linux. I especially fear Xorg-ATI problems. The same goes for nVidia. There's an Archlinux news entry that I have in mind, that says that nVidia doesn't support something for Linux anymore (I cannot remember what exactly, sorry) ... Is ATI therefore a better choice? What's the situation now with those graphic cards?
When I used my Apple iBook, I ran the ATI card with the open radeon driver. I feel fine this time though, to use the proprietary driver if it's necessary. Once again, is there a better choice in terms of stability, support and realationship to the Linux community?
Lastly, I'm curious if anyone here also uses a LG notebook, and could share some experiences with me. Besides, any other comments to notebooks that run well with Linux will I appreciate.

Hi,
sorry for the delay, I was away in Berlin during my vacation. I have to admit, the need for a new notebook somehow has ended because my dad gave me an Eee-PC for free.
Of course you cannot compare it to other notebooks but I will use it when I'm away and in transit. Nevertheless, thank you all for your hints, I'll consider them the next time I buy a notebook.
By the way, the Eee-PC I got is a quite new model, and I'd like to add a Wiki entry if I can.

6 beeps on startup after replacing graphic card H8-1409

Hi,
I'm having trouble upgrading the graphic card on the desktop. The power supply comes with the computer is rated 460W and the min requirement for the new graphic card (Asus GTX660 Direct CU II OC) per manufacturer specs is 450W. After I installed the new card (with the additional power cord plugged in), the computer gives me 6 beeps and the screen doesn't show anything. Is it the problem of the power supply? If so would the case be ok to house a different power supply?
Thank you!

Hi I've found a solution in a different thread:
http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Hardware/6-Long-BIOS-beeps-after-video-card-install/td-p/239108...
After chaning the BIOS settings I'm able to load windows without any problem thanks for the help regardless!

Replacing Graphics Cards in new MBPs

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