Is there any way to increase the video memory in Mac Book pro 13,3''?

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Is there any way to increase the video memory in Mac Book pro 13,3''?

I need more video memory to work with a civil engineering software in my macbook pro, i have 256 mb of my 4gb installed; is there any way to increase the vram?
If i install more memory in my macbook to 8gb, will increase my vram?
Why mac os x only takes 256 mb of the total of memory installed?

Mac book pro 13,3, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Jan 24, 2011 2:35 AM

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Answer 1

Toocool4

Level 2

365 points

Jan 24, 2011 4:14 AM in response to mofebubi

No the graphics card that comes with your MacBook Pro only has 256MB of onboard VRAM.

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Answer 2

mofebubi Author

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Jan 24, 2011 6:49 AM in response to Toocool4

And If i install more memory in my macbook to 8gb, will increase my vram?

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Answer 3

g_wolfman

Level 4

1,137 points

Jan 24, 2011 8:34 AM in response to mofebubi

No.

Video RAM is a separate chip on the logic board; it has nothing to do with the RAM used for main memory. You can't change your Video RAM.

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Answer 4

mofebubi Author

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Jan 24, 2011 9:02 AM in response to g_wolfman

Ok, then i think this is a big mistake by apple; i don´t understand that i can´t modify something in my laptop to increase vram.

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Answer 5

Allan Jones

Level 9

68,618 points

Jan 24, 2011 10:50 AM in response to mofebubi

Ok, then i think this is a big mistake by apple

It's by design. Having a removable video card or even a slot for a VRAM module in a MBP would require a much larger case and detract from the MBP 13's portability, an attribute I suspect you sought in choosing this computer. Regardless of the make or model, any notebook computer has to trade off components for size to stay compact. The more hardware you can place on the logic board, the more compact that board.

When different versions of the same model are available--like the MacBook Pro series--some pre-purchase research, easy with today's online resources, can tell you if the VRAM in a particular variant is enough for your needs.

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Answer 6

mofebubi Author

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Jan 24, 2011 12:09 PM in response to Allan Jones

That´s true but i think that a company like Apple would have to give us the opportunity to change this kind of things with some commands in Snow Leopard or Tiger.... to make the laptops even better; increasing the shared memory for video card.
Anyway i am delighted with my laptop and my next computer will be mac.
Greetings from Spain, a country that is sinking.

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