About integrated video on Intel-based Macs

About shared memory

Some Intel-based Apple computers feature both an integrated Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) and a discrete GPU.  Others may feature only one GPU, which can be either an integrated or discrete GPU. 

While a discrete GPU provides high performance graphics support using discrete video memory, it consumes greater amounts of power than an integrated GPU.  An integrated GPU provides effective graphics support using much less power and shares video memory with the main system.

For Mac computers with both integrated and discrete GPUs, some models allow you to use Mac OS X to decide which GPU to use for rendering graphics. Other models automatically switch between discrete and integrated graphics depending on the task at hand. 

GMA 950

The GMA 950 allocates a base amount of 64 MB for video and boot processes at startup. For example, a Mac mini (Mid 2007) with 512 MB of RAM installed has 448 MB of memory available to Mac OS X and applications (512-64=448).

Products with the Intel GMA 950:

• Mac mini (Early 2006)
• Mac mini (Late 2006)
• Mac mini (Mid 2007)
• iMac (Mid 2006) 17-inch (MA406)
• iMac (Late 2006) 17-inch (MA710)
• MacBook (13-inch)
• MacBook (Late 2006)
• MacBook (Mid 2007)

GMA X3100

The GMA X3100 allocates a base amount of 144 MB for video and boot processes at startup. For example, a MacBook (Late 2007) with 1 GB of RAM installed has 880 MB of memory available to Mac OS X and applications (1024-144=880).

Products with the Intel GMA X3100 include:

• MacBook (Late 2007)
• MacBook (Early 2008)
• MacBook (Late 2008)
• MacBook Air (Early 2008)

Note: Depending on the application or task being accomplished, Mac OS X may make additional main memory available to the graphics processor for texture use beyond the base amount mentioned above. The most common types of applications that request more system memory to be used as graphics memory are 3D and graphics-intense applications. Using an extended desktop or mirrored desktop may also increase the amount of system memory used as graphics memory.   For example, the GMA 950 would allocate 80 MB, resulting in 432 MB of available memory (512-80=432).  Likewise, the GMA X3100 would allocate 160 MB, resulting in 864 MB of available memory (1024-160=864).

NVIDIA GeForce 9400M

The NVIDIA GeForce 9400M allocates a base amount of 256 MB for video and boot processes at startup. For example, a MacBook Air (Late 2008) with 2 GB of RAM installed has 1.7 GB of memory available to Mac OS X and applications (2048-256=1792).  Mac mini (Early 2009) computers with 1GB of memory share 128MB of main memory with the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M.

Products with the NVIDIA 9400M include:

• MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008)
• MacBook (13-inch, Early 2009)
• MacBook  (13-inch, Mid 2009)
• MacBook (13-inch Late 2009)
• MacBook Air (Late 2008)
• MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) when "Better battery life" is enabled
  
• MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009) when "Better battery life" is enabled
• Mac mini (Early 2009)
• iMac (20-inch, Early 2009)
• iMac (24-inch, Early 2009) with 2.66GHz Intel Core Duo processor
• iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009)
• MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009)
• MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2.53 GHz, Mid 2009)
• MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) when "Better battery life" is enabled
• MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2009) when "Better battery life" is enabled

Note: The MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008), MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009), MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009), and MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2009) also have a discrete graphics processor that you can use for more graphically intensive applications. See MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) and later: How to set graphics performance for more information.

NVIDIA GeForce 320M

The NVIDIA GeForce 320M allocates a base amount of 256 MB for video and boot processes at startup. For example, a MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2010) with 4 GB of RAM installed has 3.8 GB of memory available to Mac OS X and applications (4096-256=3840). 

Products with the NVIDIA 320M include:

• MacBook Air (11-inch, Late 2010)
• MacBook Air (13-inch, Late 2010)
• MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2010)
• MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2010)
• Mac Mini (Mid 2010)

Intel HD Graphics

Intel HD Graphics allocates a base amount of 256 MB for video and boot processes at startup. For example, a MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010) with 4 GB of RAM installed has 3.8 GB of memory available to Mac OS X and applications (4096-256=3840).

Products with Intel HD Graphics include:

• MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010)
• MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2010)

Note: The MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010) and MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2010) also have a discrete graphics processor that you can use for more graphically intensive applications. See MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010) and MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2010) and later: How to set graphics performance for more information.

Intel HD Graphics 3000

Intel HD Graphics 3000 allocates a base amount of 384 MB on a Mac with 4 GB of RAM or 288 MB on a Mac with 2 GB of RAM for video and processes at startup. For example, a MacBook Pro (13-inch, Early 2011) with 4 GB of RAM installed has 3.7 GB of memory available to Mac OS X and applications (4096-384=3712). For Macs that have been upgraded to 8 GB of RAM, the Intel HD Graphics 3000 will allocate 512 MB of system memory instead of 384 MB. For example, a MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011) with 8 GB of RAM has 7.6 GB of available memory (8192-512=7680)

Products with Intel HD Graphics 3000 include:

• MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2011)
• MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011)
• MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2011)
• MacBook Pro (13-inch, Early 2011)
• MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011)
• MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2011)
• MacBook Air (11-inch Mid 2011)
• MacBook Air (13-inch Mid 2011) 
• Mac mini (Mid 2011)
• Mac mini Server (Mid 2011)
   

Note: The MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011), MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2011), MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011), and MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2011) also have a discrete graphics processor that you can use for more graphically intensive applications. See MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010) and MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2010) and later: How to set graphics performance for more information.

Graphics performance

For best graphics performance, your computer should have two same-size SO-DIMMs installed, one in each slot. When memory is installed in your Mac in same size pairs, the computer gains some performance benefits from the memory being interleaved. If you upgrade the memory in your Mac, make sure you have matching SO-DIMMs (both in memory size and speed) in each slot for the best graphics performance.