Hi
I've recently upgraded my 2011 Macbook Pro's RAM to16gb and this has increasd the RAM available to the onboard graphics chip (Intel HD3000) to 512mb. The descreet GPU my macbook has (AMD HD 6490m) only has 256mb of VRAM. Which GPU will mavericks choose to use for demanding applications?
Many thanks
Adam
MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1)
Hard to say. Probably the discrete because it's more powerful despite the lower VRAM.
Thanks, just wondering as the 'About this mac' screen used to list the AMD chip but now the Intel. Disabling automatic graphics switching in energy saver still forces the mac to use the AMD chip.
Cheers
Get the GFx Card Status app.
It will show/notify of GPU changes and may even improve your battery life.
I thought the rules for switching to discrete would be the same, the only difference being how much RAM the integrated gets when it is active, but I have no proof that is how it works.
The only source of info I know of doesn't go into that much detail:
it uses the discrete (AMD), But i use Photoshop and i need the AMD's VRAM to upgrade to 512mb to enable Photoshop 3D features. Any help please😟
Upgrading my RAM has increased onboard Intel HD3000 VRAM, which GPU will mavericks choose to use?
