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 (270,438 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 (270,438 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 (270,438 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 (60,779 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 (21 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.