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Configure your graphics card on a MacBook Pro

didil74 Posted messages 4 Status Member -  
_Ritchi_ Posted messages 21130 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   -
Hello everyone,

I need your help configuring my NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics card on my MacBook Pro. I find it slow when using software like Adobe Suite 5, even though I bought this Mac for that. Even games don’t run at their maximum potential and I’m really disappointed. Is there software that allows me to configure my graphics card to optimize my software and games, or can I do it directly via a Mac application?? Please help me quickly.

Here is my setup just in case:

System version: Mac OS X 10.6.7 (10J869)
Kernel version: Darwin 10.7.0
Startup volume: Macintosh HD
Boot mode: Normal
Processor: 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory: 4 GB 1067 MHz DDR3

Configuration: Mac OS X / Firefox 4.0.1

3 answers

  1.
    _Ritchi_ Posted messages 21130 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   6 135
     
    Hello,

    The MacBook Pro 15" Core2Duo 2.53 has been sold:
    - either between October 2008 and March 2009 (MacBookPro5,1 model): it then has an NVidia GeForce 9600M GT 256 or 512MB RAM and a GeForce 9400M sharing its RAM with the processor;

    - or between June 2009 and April 2010 (MacBookPro5,4 model). It only has a "graphics card" Nvidia GeForce 9400M 256MB shared RAM

    - or between April 2010 and February 2011 (MacBookPro6,2 model). It then has an NVidia GeForce GT330M 256 or 512 and an Intel HD graphic 256MB shared

    Given your description (you didn’t mention 9600M GT), you should have the second model. It should be understood that a "graphics card" (we should then talk about a graphics component) sharing its RAM is therefore not a good solution for games or applications where the graphical part is highly taxed..

    Unfortunately, there is nothing to do to optimize your "graphics card".
    Alone, adding RAM could improve things.

    Ritchi
    3
  2. didil74 Posted messages 4 Status Member
     
    Thank you for replying, Ritchi. So if I understand correctly I can’t do anything to optimize my graphics card at all? Here are the details about my card:

    NVIDIA GeForce 9400M:

    Component set: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M
    Type: Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
    Bus: PCI
    VRAM (total): 256 MB
    Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)
    Device ID: 0x0863
    Revision ID: 0x00b1
    ROM Revision: 3448
    Monitors:
    Color LCD:
    Resolution: 1440 x 900
    Pixel Depth: 32-bit Colors (ARGB8888)
    Primary Monitor: Yes
    Mirror: Disabled
    Connected: Yes
    Integrated: Yes
    Monitor connector:
    Status: No monitor connected
    0
  3. _Ritchi_ Posted messages 21130 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   6 135
     
    The only thing that could improve things is Apple delivering a new driver for this "graphics card," and unfortunately you’re already up to date at Mac OS X 10.6.7.

    For games, if you have them in PC version, a solution could be to switch to Windows via Boot Camp and see if it runs better.

    Otherwise, sell the Mac on the used market and buy a Mac with a real graphics card.

    Ritchi
    0