In the new Macbooks (Core i revision), the 15 inches switch between an Nvidia 330M and Intel HD graphics. Does this mean there is support for the integrated graphics used in laptops like the Lenovo x201?

It does supported the NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M. In fact I used the kexts (4 of them) on SONY VPCF11NFX/H with Intel Core i7 720QM and it works perfectly.

I forgot to mention that Nvidia updated the kexts (Geforce,kext, Geforce7xxxGLDriver.bundle, GeForceGA.Plugin, GeForceGLDriver.Bundle, GeForceVADriver.Bundle) with is suppose to improve performance on Nvidia Graphic Cards.

I know the nvidia kexts exist, but aren't doesn't the new MBPs have switchable graphics between the 330M and intel HD graphics? So wouldn't there be a kext for those drivers that would allow me to run a hackintosh on a Lenovo X201?

I've installed those kexts on SONY Laptop VPCF11NFX/H with Intel Core i7 720QM and it works perfectly. qe/ci works (Front row works flawlessly) and a great resolution.

I've tested it on Nvidia GeForce GT 330M Graphics and improved a lot. As with the GT 230M, the performance depends on the used graphics memory. With slow DDR2, the card can be up to 20% slower than with faster memory. Usually the GT 330M is paired with cheap and relatively fast DDR3 memory. GDDR3 would be a bit faster. GDDR5 is not supported according to Nvidia.

The functions and performance of the Graphic card depends also on the motherboard and the processor you're running.

Originally Posted by Extraspeed

I've installed those kexts on SONY Laptop VPCF11NFX/H with Intel Core i7 720QM and it works perfectly. qe/ci works (Front row works flawlessly) and a great resolution.

I've tested it on Nvidia GeForce GT 330M Graphics and improved a lot. As with the GT 230M, the performance depends on the used graphics memory. With slow DDR2, the card can be up to 20% slower than with faster memory. Usually the GT 330M is paired with cheap and relatively fast DDR3 memory. GDDR3 would be a bit faster. GDDR5 is not supported according to Nvidia.

The functions and performance of the Graphic card depends also on the motherboard and the processor you're running.

I have the F11Z with Intel Core i7 720 I cannot make the GT 330M "work"
I would highly appreciate if you explained your OS installation and steps you took...

Thank you in advance.

Well, In my case I just updated the kexts (Replaced the old one for the new ones from the MacBook Pro Update). Apple has updated the drivers to fix some issues with the Nvidia GeForce GT 320m (with 256MB DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory) and 330m (330M graphics processor with 256MB and 512 MB GDDR3 memory. The thing is MacBook Pro use "Intel HM55 Express Chipset" and only the 15-inch MacBook Pro use "2.66GHz Intel Core i7 processor" which is i7-620M (better battery life and lower heat) not i7-720QM. Even if you're not using the same Motherboard and the same exact processor, the Nvidia Graphic Card still work on MacOS(Their are make to work on a PC as well), it just take a little workaround.

The bootloader you're using may affect your Graphic Card (especially at booting). sometimes kexts (in this case those whose support the graphic card) can have conflict.

It took me sometime to fixed the resolution but it can be done. my advice? First try to update or replace the Graphic kexts (that won't do no harm to your system as long as you are using the same version of MacOS). It happened to me that an old Graphic kext had a conflict with a new one but it took me sometime to figured it out which one was.

Before I started to update and replace the kexts I backup the old one, just in case. Your system might be different from mine, so sometimes it might take the same process or a different one.

is it worth it all the work? of course...I paid $899 for my HP Laptop and I'm running Snow leopard OS using almost the same features as MacBook Pro which cost $2199.

Apple - MacBook Pro - Compare MacBook Pro technical specifications.

Originally Posted by Extraspeed

I've installed those kexts on SONY Laptop VPCF11NFX/H with Intel Core i7 720QM and it works perfectly. qe/ci works (Front row works flawlessly) and a great resolution.

I've tested it on Nvidia GeForce GT 330M Graphics and improved a lot. As with the GT 230M, the performance depends on the used graphics memory. With slow DDR2, the card can be up to 20% slower than with faster memory. Usually the GT 330M is paired with cheap and relatively fast DDR3 memory. GDDR3 would be a bit faster. GDDR5 is not supported according to Nvidia.

The functions and performance of the Graphic card depends also on the motherboard and the processor you're running.

Hi ExtraSpeed,

Yooooou are a GOD send to me!!!

Let me tell you what my intentions are: I'm no gamer at all and I will be using this notebook for 1080/60p HD editing/playing thru HDMI to my Panasonic T42S1 plasma TV. I'm also planning to buy a Panasonic TM700 HD camcorder which records in 1080/60p.

I was looking for several notebooks (all Core i7s, Alienware m15x which has Nvidia 260M, Lenovo W510 which has Quadro FX880, Sony VPCF1190X/VPCF11-NFX/B which has GT 330M and finally the Sager notebook which has the GTX 285M).

But, based on what you have done, it is brilliant that you're running Snow Leopard on the Sony VAIO model. Having said that, this is the one I'm eyeing for: Newegg.com - SONY VPCF11NFX/B NoteBook Intel Core i7 720QM(1.60GHz) 16.4" 4GB Memory DDR3 1333 500GB HDD 7200rpm DVD Super Multi NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M


I'm a absolute newbie and if you would write up a guide on the step by step approach on how to install SL on the Sony (that you did) or on any other above mentioned notebook, it would be a life saver for me. Do you think the Sony VAIO model that you mentioned will support native 1080/60p HD editing and also would support hardware accelerated QE/CI on the GT 330M?

I'm also having a iMac Early 2006 (32 bit desktop) running on a retail Snow Leopard that I bought. So, I would prefer a vanilla install of Snow Leopard on the Sony VAIO VPCF11NFX.

Finally, I couldn't find a guide/tutorial in your blogspot website. Can you point me to the correct page if you already have a guide?

Appreciate your feedback.

Thanks.

macnewbie20

The laptop itself works fine (better than expected I should say) but for some reason I still have a small issue and it's that when I connect it with my HD TV (Sony Bravia) via HDMI, I don't get the same resolution on my TV. I'm trying to find out what is the issue, Maybe a kext conflict. I don't know yet but eventually I will fix it. The strange thing is that I Plug The desktop with similar configuration to the TV via HDMI and it works great. I guess is a work in progress...LOL



As for using the Laptop for Video editing I haven't done that yet on the HP DV7t nor the Sony but I have done it on Toshiba Satellite, HP Pavilion, Dell, using Final Cut Express 4 and Shake V.4

Snow Leopard OS Vanilla Kernel and Version 10.6.3

Originally Posted by Extraspeed

The laptop itself works fine (better than expected I should say) but for some reason I still have a small issue and it's that when I connect it with my HD TV (Sony Bravia) via HDMI, I don't get the same resolution on my TV. I'm trying to find out what is the issue, Maybe a kext conflict. I don't know yet but eventually I will fix it. The strange thing is that I Plug The desktop with similar configuration to the TV via HDMI and it works great. I guess is a work in progress...LOL



As for using the Laptop for Video editing I haven't done that yet on the HP DV7t nor the Sony but I have done it on Toshiba Satellite, HP Pavilion, Dell, using Final Cut Express 4 and Shake V.4

Snow Leopard OS Vanilla Kernel and Version 10.6.3

Excellent. I'm glad that some soul was atleast able to reply me. Your reply tells me to go get the Sony VAIO or the HP dv7t immediately. Based on your personal likes and dislikes, which one would you prefer? Also, I read elsewhere that the Sony VAIO does not output to the LCD but instead outputs to an external monitor only. I don't want to do that. All I wanted is to ouput to the LCD itself. Also, what is not working in the Sony VAIO and HP dv7t?

I would like to make sure the following works both on the VAIO and HP dv7t:

Intel Core i7 820 (All 4 cores working with 8 threads - HyperThreading)
GT 330M (VAIO) or GT 230M (dv7t) - 100% hardware accelerated CI and QE.
Wireless
built in mic and webcam
built in speakers
battery indicator
dual booting Windows 7
Functio keys
ambient light sensor
DVD/Blu-Ray drive

Also, you have mentioned "Snow Leopard OS Vanilla Kernel and Version 10.6.3". What does this mean? Where do I begin?

Please help. I wanted to keep all software ready before I purchase either of them. Btw, do you know anything about the other brands along with their GPUs I was mentioning before?


Thanks.