marshipuff13

Q: Is there any way to upgrade the Graphics Card on a Mid-2015 Macbook Pro? If so, what is the best Graphics Card for Mac?

Is there any way to upgrade the Graphics Card on Macbook Pro with Retina Display Mid-2015? If so, what is the best Graphics Card for Mac?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.2)

Posted on Dec 23, 2015 8:02 PM

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Q: Is there any way to upgrade the Graphics Card on a Mid-2015 Macbook Pro? If so, what is the best Graphics Card for Mac?

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  • by steve359,

    steve359 steve359 Dec 23, 2015 8:11 PM in response to marshipuff13
    Level 6 (14,032 points)
    Dec 23, 2015 8:11 PM in response to marshipuff13

    No changing it.

     

    GPU is a chipset soldered to the logic board or at least a mini-card attached to the logic board.  Also, the pinouts and GPU-driver are optimized for the pre-selected GPU.

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Dec 23, 2015 8:11 PM in response to marshipuff13
    Level 10 (270,831 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 23, 2015 8:11 PM in response to marshipuff13

    No. They are fixed to the motherboard like all the other chips, and cannot be upgraded or modified in any way by the user. At this point you can sell the computer then use the proceeds to buy a new one with the video hardware you prefer (what you should have done originally.)

  • by marshipuff13,

    marshipuff13 marshipuff13 Dec 23, 2015 8:33 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 23, 2015 8:33 PM in response to Kappy

    I'm sorry. I got this Macbook for Christmas, I was just wondering if it could be upgraded, and I'm sorry you think it's my fault the graphics card is not good.

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Dec 23, 2015 8:44 PM in response to marshipuff13
    Level 10 (270,831 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 23, 2015 8:44 PM in response to marshipuff13

    I don't recall making any such remark, so don't put words in my mouth. Two of us have told you it cannot be upgraded. There is nothing wrong with the GPU. You are the one complaining. I can only assume because you want a better one but did not bother to do your research before purchasing the model with the wrong one. BTW, you also need to learn how to read better given the several misinterpretations of what I had written.

     

    So, just to be clear the GPU cannot be upgraded.

  • by marshipuff13,

    marshipuff13 marshipuff13 Dec 23, 2015 8:50 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 23, 2015 8:50 PM in response to Kappy

    I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. I was not the one to purchase this Macbook, I had no way of choosing the specific model. I was just curious to see if it can be upgraded. Thank you for your reply, I appreciate it.

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Dec 23, 2015 9:00 PM in response to marshipuff13
    Level 10 (270,831 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 23, 2015 9:00 PM in response to marshipuff13

    To avoid such misunderstandings in the future please be sure to include all the relevant information so we can provide better answers. I hope you continue to enjoy your new computer.

  • by marshipuff13,

    marshipuff13 marshipuff13 Dec 23, 2015 9:36 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 23, 2015 9:36 PM in response to Kappy

    Ok. Thanks again for your reply. Have a good holiday!

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Dec 23, 2015 9:43 PM in response to marshipuff13
    Level 9 (60,884 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 23, 2015 9:43 PM in response to marshipuff13

    I got this Macbook for Christmas, I was just wondering if it could be upgraded

     

    If and only if it was purchased directly from Apple, you have 14 days from end-User receipt to return or exchange it.

     

    Depending on the EXACT model you have --

     

    • one has Integrated Intel IRIS 5200 Pro Graphics and

     

    • one has dual graphics processors -- an AMD Radeon R9 M370X with 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory and an integrated Intel Iris 5200 Pro graphics processor with 128 MB of "Crystalwell" embedded DRAM (and shared system memory).

     

    They don't cost the same, but you could return one and pay the difference if all other conditions were met.

  • by leon-geyer,Apple recommended

    leon-geyer leon-geyer Jul 19, 2016 2:46 PM in response to marshipuff13
    Level 1 (29 points)
    iPhone
    Jul 19, 2016 2:46 PM in response to marshipuff13

    Hi, I guess this is outdated, but anyway: congrats for the christmas gift. I guess you are new to the mac world, because of the question of upgrading a retina. Thats why I tell you that your video card is quite strong, and will fulfill, I guess, most of your needs. I am since quite a while I guess a power user, with video editing, realtime image recognition and generation, programming directly for the GPU. I usually worked (due to mobility) with a double GPU MacBookPro, but nowadays I have a single card Lap. And it gives a lot, I have 3 screens on daily basis connected directly (HDMI and both thunderbolt ports), etc.

    This why I think that, as normal user, you will hardly notice a difference between a double GPU and a single.
    If you are a power gamer, then maybe you will start to search for something to control 3D on 4k, in that case I would recommend you to acquire an external video card and box = Thunderbolt PCIe Video box. But it is expensive, so test and consider if you really need it. 

  • by leon-geyer,

    leon-geyer leon-geyer Sep 18, 2016 6:27 AM in response to leon-geyer
    Level 1 (29 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 18, 2016 6:27 AM in response to leon-geyer

    I correct my own post.

    IT IS WRONG, it is FALSE I can use 3 screens with a single boarded computer. I had a dualGPU MBP working with a set of 3 screens, I wrote the post before plugging the new single MBP to it, and realizing it does not work. I didn't expect that, I apologize for the false info.

    I saw the difference, and it was very frustrating. I work with 3 monitors home, besides of the main one. Not only for programming visuals -- to ensure a spacial immersion I use 3 projectors (used that on class about art history to give pupils the sensation of being surrounded by questions) -- but even to write academic articles: I put them in 90°, on one is the raw text I am writing, on the other the LaTeX output (for example with TexPad), on the other some reference texts, and on the mac screen the mindmap. I had before a MBP 10,1 with dual video card: just plugged in the HDMI, and the two thunderbolt-DVI adapters, worked perfectly. Now, on the MBP 11,4 with a single-GPU which replaced the former (I always try to have a MBP with 3year AppleCare) I plug in the three screens but only 2 work !!! One is standing useless on the desk, I would need to use matrox cards which do not support individual spaces.

    I never thought that there would be a limitation, because thunderbolt is able to handle screen, and if there are 3 potential screen-connections I had no reason to expect one would not work. So I am highly disappointed. Never had a single-card MBP before, and wrote the answer to this post before getting aware of this limitation-policy. A thing called Pro should go as far as possible. I always tell Windows-Users, which complain about Apple-prices, that the simplest and cheapest Mac is a working machine you can use for the highest exigencies, and even edit HD and realtime with the Mac-mini; that every Mac is high-capacity, like a hidden lamborghini = it runs fast, silently and reliable, and at immense power. Now I see that the policy has changed, if even with a high-end machine (Pro-line) you have this kind ("yes, THEORETICALLY there are three connections but you can only use 2....") of limitations of power. It is quite obvious that if this is the policy, the difference between "pro" and  pro should be quite big, and you will find other substantial limitations.

    So, I recommend you to get rid of this MBP, use it to save money and sell it still with Apple Care extension (you can get a better price) to buy a dual card MacBookPro where the Pro makes sense.

    Best greetings

     

    An again disillusionated mac-user...


    PD: Apple should de-recommend my post, it contains false info, and well, I see they can't read and confirm all the posted infos, but should know limitations introduced by themself: single GPU ≠ 3 video connectors.