 Video Card RAM vs System RAM, Which is more important |
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 Feb 18 2004, 20:03
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#1
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 You can sleep when you're dead.  Group: Members Posts: 2,260 Joined: 2-January 03 From: Pittsburgh Member No.: 9,172  |
On my laptop, i have an onboard ATi Radeon AGP 320M. There is a total of 512mb system ram, but since the gfx card is onborad, it shares this ram. Right now, bios is set to give it 64mb (leaving me with 448mb for the system (os, apps,...)) as of now (i can upgrade to a total of 1024mb ram), i can push that up to 128mb for the gfx card, but would it be worth it? do games depend on gfx ram or system ram for overall performance?
a lil while ago, i dnlded the FinalFantasy XI demo/benchmark and tried it with both 64mb and 128mb, i noticed some improvment in the benchmark score, but none that would make much difference. what do you guys think would be better? |
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Feb 18 2004, 20:06
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#2
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 Member Group: Members Posts: 125 Joined: 8-January 03 Member No.: 9,443 |
Depends. I'm not sure about the efficiency of shared ram, but more ram to the graphics will allow a game to store more textures, instead of caching and swaping all the time. So if you are running a very texture heavy game (large textures, many textures, etc.), then you will probably notice a boost if you have more graphics RAM...
I think it's important to realise that RAM doesn't speed up your system, it speeds up access to files that your system loads. Originally, RAM was what let you load a program into memory, because there was no memory cache on the hard disk. Now, with virtual memory, you will notice an increase in speed ONLY until you have reached the point at which you can run all of your programs from RAM. Adding more RAM to a system that does not use virtual memory will simply not increase the speed. Of course with Windows XP for instance, that limit rests around 1 - 1.5 GB usually. But for instance, my commit charge right now is only 336MB, and (after switching off virtual memory), my 512MB system will not increase in speed if I add more ram and am doing what I am doing right now. It then comes down to other factors. The important thing is to make sure that your RAM is matched to provide your processor with the proper bandwidth for the maximum speed, and make sure that you have enough RAM to load anything you want to into RAM. I hope that this information is helpful. This post has been edited by kmenzel: Feb 18 2004, 20:12 |
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Feb 19 2004, 00:04
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#3
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 Version 5.1 Group: Members Posts: 3,277 Joined: 9-September 02 Member No.: 1,635 |
Yeah all of that is right , and generally dont feel regret for adding more RAMs, you gonna see a noticable encrease in your system overall performance with adding this Module.
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Feb 19 2004, 10:33
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#4
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 tehmad1  Group: Global Mods Posts: 6,044 Joined: 4-September 02 From: Glasgow, Scotland Member No.: 218 |
Most games only allow a higher res selection if
you have enough video ram to cope with it. |
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Feb 20 2004, 04:25
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#5
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You can sleep when you're dead. Group: Members Posts: 2,260 Joined: 2-January 03 From: Pittsburgh Member No.: 9,172 |
im not looking for screen reslution, most games run fine at 1024x768, but in a few games, [bold]im looking for an increase in FPS[/bold] and i was wondering if allocating ram to my gfx card would help with that in any major amount (10 or more, approx.)
nor am i worried about installing more ram, i just have to go and buy it |
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| Guest_MkNawabi_* |
Feb 21 2004, 03:23
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#6
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Guests |
If your video card has 64 or higher megs, and it is DDR, i highly recommend upgrading system ram. If the video card has SDRAM, then try to upgrade the video card or if you can, replace the memory, (which is highly unlikely)
If the video card is SDRAM or has less than 64MB of memory it will be a noticable bottleneck |
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Feb 21 2004, 07:46
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#7
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 Supa Dupa Member Group: Members Posts: 1,526 Joined: 9-January 04 Member No.: 18,619 |
QUOTE (MkNawabi @ Feb 20 2004, 19:23) If your video card has 64 or higher megs, and it is DDR, i highly recommend upgrading system ram. If the video card has SDRAM, then try to upgrade the video card or if you can, replace the memory, (which is highly unlikely) If the video card is SDRAM or has less than 64MB of memory it will be a noticable bottleneck umm did you not read the post at all? Its a laptop (IMG:http://board.iexbeta.com/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) In other words he doesnt really have that option. His video card memory IS his system memory He was asking if he should reserve more of it for system or for video |
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Feb 21 2004, 18:24
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#8
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 Clothes-Hanger Abortion Group: Banned Members Posts: 1,153 Joined: 5-January 04 Member No.: 18,572 |
QUOTE (Julian Bashir @ Feb 21 2004, 02:46) QUOTE (MkNawabi @ Feb 20 2004, 19:23) If your video card has 64 or higher megs, and it is DDR, i highly recommend upgrading system ram. If the video card has SDRAM, then try to upgrade the video card or if you can, replace the memory, (which is highly unlikely) If the video card is SDRAM or has less than 64MB of memory it will be a noticable bottleneck umm did you not read the post at all? Its a laptop (IMG:http://board.iexbeta.com/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) In other words he doesnt really have that option. His video card memory IS his system memory He was asking if he should reserve more of it for system or for video we all already know mk isnt that great at reading and comprehension, but your post was kinda pointless...i mean u didnt even pretend to stay on-topic (IMG:http://board.iexbeta.com/style_emoticons/default/ermm.gif) hell if u got the money, add more ram...gives ya more capabilities (better photoshop or video editor performance if u should ever desire)...but as i believe was already stated, with the video memory, it all depends on the game in question...what kind of texturing and such |
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Feb 22 2004, 20:19
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#9
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Supa Dupa Member Group: Members Posts: 1,526 Joined: 9-January 04 Member No.: 18,619 |
QUOTE (blanco meow @ Feb 21 2004, 10:24) QUOTE (Julian Bashir @ Feb 21 2004, 02:46) QUOTE (MkNawabi @ Feb 20 2004, 19:23) If your video card has 64 or higher megs, and it is DDR, i highly recommend upgrading system ram. If the video card has SDRAM, then try to upgrade the video card or if you can, replace the memory, (which is highly unlikely) If the video card is SDRAM or has less than 64MB of memory it will be a noticable bottleneck umm did you not read the post at all? Its a laptop (IMG:http://board.iexbeta.com/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) In other words he doesnt really have that option. His video card memory IS his system memory He was asking if he should reserve more of it for system or for video we all already know mk isnt that great at reading and comprehension, but your post was kinda pointless...i mean u didnt even pretend to stay on-topic (IMG:http://board.iexbeta.com/style_emoticons/default/ermm.gif) hell if u got the money, add more ram...gives ya more capabilities (better photoshop or video editor performance if u should ever desire)...but as i believe was already stated, with the video memory, it all depends on the game in question...what kind of texturing and such NARF you know what? Go fuck yourself. You have been hounding my ass because I pissed you guys off over at your little private board. I was on topic merely for the fact that I was stating that he didnt read the original posters dilemma. Then I restated the posters dilemma in a simpler way so that he could understand it easier. How is that not staying on topic? I suggest you knock the shit off before I start having the crew start fucking with your karma. k? |
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Feb 22 2004, 20:24
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#10
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stupidity tax proponent Group: Retired Crew Posts: 6,834 Joined: 5-September 02 Member No.: 645 |
someone hasn't had their valium today....
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Feb 22 2004, 20:33
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#11
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Supa Dupa Member Group: Members Posts: 1,526 Joined: 9-January 04 Member No.: 18,619 |
QUOTE (Fod @ Feb 22 2004, 12:24) someone hasn't had their valium today.... Yes that would be NARF. He got pissed off at me over at OSBA and he keeps riding my ass on just about everything I post now. Its getting really tired really fast. |
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Feb 22 2004, 20:47
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#12
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Clothes-Hanger Abortion Group: Banned Members Posts: 1,153 Joined: 5-January 04 Member No.: 18,572 |
QUOTE (Julian Bashir @ Feb 22 2004, 15:33) QUOTE (Fod @ Feb 22 2004, 12:24) someone hasn't had their valium today.... Yes that would be NARF. He got pissed off at me over at OSBA and he keeps riding my ass on just about everything I post now. Its getting really tired really fast. no i havent had my valium, so? doesnt change the fact that you suck yes i know im getting lazy, its pretty much a day off...just piss me off on a weekday, i dare ya |
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Feb 22 2004, 20:49
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#13
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Clothes-Hanger Abortion Group: Banned Members Posts: 1,153 Joined: 5-January 04 Member No.: 18,572 |
QUOTE (Julian Bashir @ Feb 22 2004, 15:19) I suggest you knock the shit off before I start having the crew start fucking with your karma. k? i must admit im starting to laugh at you a lot less, and just feel bad for you lately |
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Feb 22 2004, 20:52
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#14
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Supa Dupa Member Group: Members Posts: 1,526 Joined: 9-January 04 Member No.: 18,619 |
you know what Im getting really tired of this shit.
From now on Im just gonna do report to mod on the posts that I feel are report worthy |
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Feb 22 2004, 21:23
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#15
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Clothes-Hanger Abortion Group: Banned Members Posts: 1,153 Joined: 5-January 04 Member No.: 18,572 |
QUOTE (Julian Bashir @ Feb 22 2004, 15:52) you know what Im getting really tired of this shit. From now on Im just gonna do report to mod on the posts that I feel are report worthy as will i pointless tho, u'll just abuse the system till its worthless anyway |
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