piRatemasterYT
Level 1 (4 points)
Desktops

Q: Intel Graphics Drivers

So I looked around for updates to my graphics drivers and I really don't know where to go.

The Intel website has NO Mac-compatible Graphics Drivers (proof https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/80939/Graphics-Drivers), and the Intel Driver Update Utility is Windows-only.

First question; if Mac comes with so many Intel drivers why does it seem like Intel doesn't give a crap about us?
Second question; how do I update my drivers?

Mac mini, macOS Sierra (10.12), Graphics Drivers

Posted on Sep 27, 2016 4:29 AM

by lllaass,Solvedanswer
lllaass lllaass
Level 10 (189,350 points)
Desktops
A:

All necessary drivers for the Intel graphics units in Mac Minis running OSX are provided with/integral with the OSX provided by Apple. No additional drivers/updates are available unless provided by an OSX update or OSX upgrade

Posted on Sep 27, 2016 6:43 AM

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piRatemasterYT

Q: Intel Graphics Drivers

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  • by lllaass,Solvedanswer

    lllaass lllaass Sep 27, 2016 6:43 AM in response to piRatemasterYT
    Level 10 (189,350 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 27, 2016 6:43 AM in response to piRatemasterYT

    All necessary drivers for the Intel graphics units in Mac Minis running OSX are provided with/integral with the OSX provided by Apple. No additional drivers/updates are available unless provided by an OSX update or OSX upgrade

  • by John Lockwood,

    John Lockwood John Lockwood Sep 27, 2016 7:12 AM in response to piRatemasterYT
    Level 6 (9,339 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Sep 27, 2016 7:12 AM in response to piRatemasterYT

    The drivers for AMD, Nvidia, and Intel video chips - at least those used/supplied/supported by Apple are written by Apple and included in the Mac operating system. These might get updated when Apple update the operating system.

     

    AMD and Intel do not themselves write drivers for the Mac video chips even if they make the actual chips. Nvidia however does also write their own Mac drivers. In fact Nvidia also makes drivers for some cards Apple do not themselves support e.g. the GTX-980 and 980Ti.

     

    There is a fairly widely held opinion that Apple's drivers while they work are mediocre in terms of performance as a result the Nvidia drivers for the Mac are considered superior to Apple's own drivers. Furthermore sometimes Apple also wilfully omit certain features that certain video cards/chips are capable of, for example Apple do not support audio over HDMI on some Mac Pro PCIe video cards, and Apple also do not support 30bit color aka 'deep color' on some video cards/chips. This is despite the fact the cards can do these functions and even do it in a Mac when running Windows via Boot Camp.

     

    There is nothing forcing Apple to (fully) support cards they never sold or shipped but it is annoying, especially if it is an AMD card for which there are no alternative AMD drivers.

     

    I find all this particular bizarre considering the number of job posts Apple have and do post for Mac graphics driver developers. You would think an infinite number of monkeys could come up with better drivers.