[OmniX]

in a new intel mini with plenty of RAM (e.g. >1GB) is it possible for the GMA950 graphics chip to use more than 64MB (or 80MB) of memory for more demanding video applications?

For example, some Dell PC's using the same integrated graphics chip appear to be able to use in excess of 200MB of main memory for graphics purposes.

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"Up to 224MB of system memory may be allocated to support graphics, depending on system memory size and other factors."

from http://www1.us.dell.com/content/prod...=en&s=hied#tn2
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any ideas?
tx,
ox

[Dork.]

Based on what I've read, the GMA950 has the ability to use more than 64MB/80MB RAM, but Apple has deiberately disabled this in the Mini.

Yup' that's what Ars says:

The GMA950 has been configured by Apple to take exactly 64MB of system RAM for graphics purposes and another 16MB for "setup purposes."

[OmniX]

Originally Posted by Dork.

Based on what I've read, the GMA950 has the ability to use more than 64MB/80MB RAM, but Apple has deiberately disabled this in the Mini.

Yup' that's what Ars says:

Interesting, thanks for the info. Macworld has this to say:
"Although on PCs the GMA950 can potentially eat up as much as 224MB of main memory for use in frame buffering, Boger told us that Apple’s implementation doesn’t work that way: on the new Mac minis, the GMA950’s memory use is locked at 64MB. In other words, graphics won’t eat up more than its allotted share of your RAM (which is actually 80MB, since in addition to the 64MB for graphics, 16MB is set aside for what Boger called “general setup of the system”)."
http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/edit.../03/miniboger/

So now the question becomes -- is it possible to modify (hack?) Apple's implementation such that in mini's generously endowed with RAM, the GMA950 can go above Apple's preset 80MB limit? I suppose this depends at which level Apple has set this limit -- firmware? driver level?

[FireWire]

Apple documents are always ambiguous about the topic. From this technical document :

The Mac mini (Early 2006) uses the Intel GMA950 graphics processor for video output. This processor shares the main system memory, allocating a base amount of 80 MB for video and boot processes. This leaves 432 MB of SDRAM available to Mac OS X in a standard system (configured with 512 MB SDRAM).

Memory available to Mac OS X may vary depending on graphics needs, as the card allocates additional memory to the graphics processor depending upon the application being used.

Worded like this, it sounds as if the 80 MB is only a minimum, with the ability to allocate more upon request.

[FireWire]

So, what version do you believe? The one given by the Apple employee, or the one given by the Apple document?

[FireWire]

Has the ambiguity been cleared up? Judging by the state of this thread, left alone in the middle of an unresolved dilemna, I guess we'll never know!