1023MB Available Graphics Memory?

"Processor
NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT Graphics Processing Unit

Video RAM
1023MB Total Available Graphics"

Scroll down and it says it. Only 256MB is dedicated though correct? Can anyone explain how you would recieve 1023MB? (I understand the integrated memory is used, is there more to it?)

Basically my question is: Does 1023MB in this case perform better than a 8600M GT with 256MB Dedicated memory?

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665243858

 

thats a good question i would like to know aswell.. Anyone?

 

The nVidia drivers automatically dynamically allocate additional system memory to your GPU based on a) your total system RAM and b) whether or not it's needed. Turbocache is a decent technology, but on the 8600M GT's 128-bit memory bus, you're barely going to see the benefit of all 256MB of dedicatd RAM, much less any shared memory.

So no, this isn't anything of any significance. 256MB of dedicated VRAM is wort 256 GB of shared.

 

Thank you. =] I've been curious for a while and I have work in 20mins so I'm trying to change and refresh at the same time.


Thanks for the reply. I think it's dumb that sony is able to throw that in there.

 

It's a market ploy to confuse consumers to buy somehing with big numbers(big numbers are seen as better in general, mostly though unexperienced people share this view).

 

so is it stealing almost an entire GB or RAM?

 

I don't know I'm clueless. I don't see what the extra 767MB integrated is for.

 

Read the stickies people!!

767mb is stealed from your system memory

 

Guys, please. Turbocache doesn't "steal" anything. It does not allocate RAM which is being used by another program, or the OS.

 

Its not so much anything to do with Sony but rather the Nvidia GPU. Graphics shared through turbocache, or indeed any other sharing method is not "stolen" by the GPU but is rather taken when needed and then returned when not in use.

 

ATi graphic cards also "steal" 767MB of RAM when gaming. It occurs in Vista only.

 

Does this improve graphics performance, or just speed in the game or program? I'm sorry if you think I'm a moron. =]

 

It doesn't really do anything. Most of it is left unused, just like if it wasn't "stolen" in the first place.

 

But if it needs to use it, all it does is maintain the performance level?

 

Everything but the strongest cards are limited by their clocks and sheer output. Anything over 512 is very unlikely to be utilized at all.

 

Alright thanks for the reply!