How to improve GPU card Mac High serria

[Darth Vader]

In the about this mac, the graphics card says 3 MB. Which is too low to run certain games on my VM, how can I make this better? (3D acceleration is enabled)

[mpack]

See the VM settings, Display tab.

[socratis]

It doesn't go any higher than 3 MB on OSX guests. That's the way it's always been. Don't have a clue why that's the case, but I'm afraid it is what it is. That's the amount reported by the OSX guest, that is.

A VM is not a good game-playing idea, it's anything but. Especially an OSX VM, which is missing the display graphics drivers. Not even the built-in Chess.app is performing well, try it...

[Darth Vader]

I noticed if you go into displays under settings if you increase the monitor count, you can increase the video memory to a max of 256 MB. Would this help or destroy my computer?

[Darth Vader]

I also found this https://gfx.io/switching.html

What if I installed this on the VM, would I be able to control the GPU card that I want the mac guest to use?

[socratis]

if you increase the monitor count, you can increase the video memory to a max of 256 MB. Would this help or destroy my computer?

Neither. Why would it help? You have twice the memory for twice the monitors ^[1]. But, "destroy" your computer? Nope, I don't think I've ever heard of a similar case

---

^[1]: Well, it doesn't actually go in a linear fashion, so I tried something; what's the minimum vRAM required depending on the 2/3D acceleration and the number of monitors, before you get a warning. I had never tried that and the results seemed... interesting :

• Mon.    2/3D     3D     2D      -
   1       128    128     42     30
   2       128    128     60     48
   3       128    128     90     77
   4       128    128    120    108
   5       150    138    150    138
   6       177    165    177    165
   7       207    195    207    195
   8       237    225    237    225

Well, it turns out that it depends on several things, including how many monitors you have hooked on your host, the maximum resolution of your biggest monitor hooked on your host, and the guest type (Windows or not). On the example above, I had a Win10 guest, on a 2880x1800 MBPr, with an added 1280x1024 ext. monitor hooked up.

For those looking for more details, the algorithm in at "VBoxGlobal.cpp", search for "requiredVideoMemory", don't want to put the direct line reference as it is subject to change...

[socratis]

You posted while I was "working" on my post:

would I be able to control the GPU card that I want the mac guest to use?

No. Once again, you do not have a GPU on the VM. You have a virtual one, a fake one.

If you're talking about the host, then you don't have that much freedom, if a program (like VirtualBox) requests the 3D acceleration. Your Mac has to switch to the discrete GPU, can't use the integrated one. Same as if you have a 2nd monitor. I have that program installed on my host, running at all times...

[startergo]

It doesn't go any higher than 3 MB on OSX guests. That's the way it's always been. Don't have a clue why that's the case, but I'm afraid it is what it is. That's the amount reported by the OSX guest, that is.

A VM is not a good game-playing idea, it's anything but. Especially an OSX VM, which is missing the display graphics drivers. Not even the built-in Chess.app is performing well, try it...

Funny, on VMWARE it goes up to 128mB, which should be more than enough for a virtual machine.

VirtualBox.png (122.45 KiB) Viewed 18195 times

Installed Vmware tools, selected VMSVGA and voilà!
https://github.com/myspaghetti/macos-vi ... -707639126

[mpack]

The are no VirtualBox "tools" for MacOS guests, so the comparison is invalid.

[startergo]

The are no VirtualBox "tools" for MacOS guests, so the comparison is invalid.

Download latest VBoxGuestAdditions.iso from

[mod edit: irrelevant download links deleted].

[mpack]

Please don't do that again. There is never a need for a separate download of the VirtualBox Guest Additions since they come bundled with the software, and it is certainly not relevant to the question of what "tools" are available for MacOS. It is especially unhelpful to post links to ancient (v4 era) GAs for the wrong guest OS, and I really can't see what possible relevance you thought a download link to the VMWare tools would have.
Edit: ah, on that latter point I see now. You are claiming that the VMWare VMSVGA tools work for a VirtualBox MacOS guest configured for VMSVGA. I've never had any success doing that, but I'm not in a position to test it with MacOS (I tried it with an XP guest). Officially the VMSVGA graphics controller is intended for Linux guests, but if it works then it works.

I see however that I did forget to clarify one thing in my last post: there are in fact some VirtualBox tools for MacOS, but they don't include GPU drivers. Prior to v6.0.0 there was nothing at all.

[startergo]

You are claiming that the VMWare VMSVGA tools work for a VirtualBox MacOS guest configured for VMSVGA. I've never had any success doing that, but I'm not in a position to test it with MacOS (I tried it with an XP guest). Officially the VMSVGA graphics controller is intended for Linux guests, but if it works then it works.

I see however that I did forget to clarify one thing in my last post: there are in fact some VirtualBox tools for MacOS, but they don't include GPU drivers. Prior to v6.0.0 there was nothing at all.

Yes the VMWare VMSVGA tools work with some adjustment and can provide up to 256MB video ram. The VirtualBox tools provide clipboard sharing.

[startergo]

It is especially unhelpful to post links to ancient (v4 era) GAs for the wrong guest OS,

How is a tool 6.1.0_RC1 from 22-Nov-2019 16:08 ancient?

[Martin]

How is a tool 6.1.0_RC1 from 22-Nov-2019 16:08 ancient?

6.1.0_RC1 was a pre-release version of VirtualBox 6.1.0.
There have been 8 new versions since then...
6.1.0 11-Dec-2019
6.1.2 15-Jan-2020
6.1.4 21-Feb-2020
6.1.6 15-Apr-2020
6.1.8 19-May-2020
6.1.10 08-Jun-2020
6.1.12 04-Sep-2020
6.1.14 07-Sep-2020

[startergo]

How is a tool 6.1.0_RC1 from 22-Nov-2019 16:08 ancient?

6.1.0_RC1 was a pre-release version of VirtualBox 6.1.0.
There have been 8 new versions since then...
6.1.0 11-Dec-2019
6.1.2 15-Jan-2020
6.1.4 21-Feb-2020
6.1.6 15-Apr-2020
6.1.8 19-May-2020
6.1.10 08-Jun-2020
6.1.12 04-Sep-2020
6.1.14 07-Sep-2020

yes those are on the same page i linked originally. They were just not sorted in order. My point is that I have been accused of linking a page with ancient Guest additions and it was not productive. Anyway I made my point and I will stop contributing as apparently it is not welcome here.