My Inspiron 6400 (e1505) with X1400 memory - do I have 256 or 128?

Hello all. I just received my very first laptop. A Dell Inspiron 6400 (in Canada the e1505 equivalent isn't available). So far I love this thing...but have a question about the video memory.

Upon bootup I pressed F2 to have a look at the setup. Under System/Device Info I have the Video Controller listed as a Radeon X1400 as it should be...but then under Video memory it says 128mb.

In windows when I run msinfo32 under System Summary/Components/Display Adapter Ram shows 256mb. I get 256mb under Display Properties/Settings/Advanced/Adapter as well.

Is there any reason why it should be displaying 128mb under the F2 Setup screen? More than likely I think this is some SNAFU...but Can anyone else with a 6400/e1505 and X1400 see what their video memory shows up as?

Thanks all.

 

I don't have the system but the easiest way for me to tell how much memory is in the system is to go to:

Start > Run > type: dxdiag

Click the Display tab and it says the amount of memory.

 

I think it's because that chip has 128 MB dedicated memory and uses 128 from RAM to reach the 256.

 

It's 128mb - from Dell's fine print:

The total of local and shared system memory used by this graphics card is up to 256MB. Local on-board memory is 128MB. Up to 128MB of system memory may be allocated to support graphics, depending on system memory size and other factors.

 

Ha. When I read the specs on the X1400 I was like "why would a moderate card have 256MB dedicated memory". Well now I know it doesn't.

 

Ahh...OK then. That makes sense. I remember reading in a thread last week about the 'Hypermemory' sharing system memory. At the time that didn't make any sense to me, but now it does.

Isn't marketing wonderful? Yet another case of fudging the numbers for unsuspecting consumers.

 

My E1505 X1300 also says 256mb.
I ordered 64mb+64mb so I'm kinda confused.

 

Okay I have and Inpiron 6400 and i am from Canada too. How the hell did you manage to get an x-1400 video card??? because I just got mine about a month ago (if that) and they told me I wouldn't be able to upgrade to another video card or something. Dell is starting to piss me off the more I hear what people have done to theirs. Because all I wanted was a good vid card and sound card with it... never hurd back from them at all. and the thing that pisses me off about them is that. I call them up and all they do is transfer you around from place to place. So how can I get an x-1400 vid card for my 6400??? I need me one now

 

Under My PC's properties, How much RAM your system got ?

 

When the 6400 and e1505 came out, the only graphics card that was offered was the Intel 950. The x1300 and x1400 video options have only been available for around 2-3 weeks. So when you bought your machine... it was true that you couldnt get a better video card. Also, unfortunately I dont think the integraded video models can be upgraded to a dedicated video card.

Btw... it worked in reverse for some people on the x1705 (9400). It was offered with an nVidia 7800 video card for a few weeks, but now is only offered with the x1400. So people that bought early could get the hot card, but now its no longer available. In this case I think they discontinued it because it was literally a HOT card with heat problems in the unit.

 

I ordered my machine on Mar. 29 just before the $650 off coupon expired. For about two weeks previously as I hummed and hawed about getting this setup the X1400 was available.

 

See if you can return your setup for a refund and price out a new system.

 

This is indeed interesting!!! Could it be 64MB dedicated & 192MB shared???