4 GB of RAM, a 32 Bit OS, and Shared Graphics Memory!

Here's a theoretical question...

I know that a 32 bit OS can only access ~3 gigs of memory in a laptop with 4 gigs of memory, but will a GPU with shared memory use that ~3 gigs, or will it use the unused ~1 gig leftover?

 

It will use the 3 gigs, NOTHING can get to that extra 1GB unless you use a 64-bit OS, it is simply unusable by anything.

 

Alright, thanks for the quick reply.

 

you could make RAMdisk with the xtra 1gig if you got it and it's going to waste

 

how would you do it?

 

Actually I think it's not a 32bit OS issue, it's a BIOS related problem to allocated system RAM purely to video purposes since some computers in the past let you change the shared video allocation of the SRAM if the computer didn't have any dedicated VRAM through the BIOS.

 

its not a bios issue, its a 32 bit issue.

 

e.g. http://superspeed.com/desktop/ramdisk.php

 

this ram disk thing is only for desktops according to your link franktabletuser
can someone teach us how to allocate more ram to grafix in bios ?

 

Thanks for the link Frank, I tried this and it did recover 767 MiB of the 4GiB although I could only set it up as a emulated hard drive rather than just a RAMDISK. Still a bit short of the full 4GiB on my system with 32 bit VHP SP1 but better than being 1 GiB short

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This might help with the whole RAMdisk thing, but i wouldnt think it is possible to get your BIOS to recognize the extra RAM as dedicated graphics, nor would an integrated card make much use of that much.... a 256bit card hardly makes use of anything more than 512mb of dedicated VRAM...

edit: unless maybe you could get the textures etc.. to load onto the RAMdisk first somehow maybe, but even then would the integrated graphics be able to take advantage enough to make a difference?

 

Why dont you all just get a 64bit os? HP gives it, dell gives it upon request, and im sure a lot of other manufacturers would too...

 

haha ^^^ smart guy...

 

What do you want? Define Ramdisk For me it's an emulated hard drive, which uses the RAM instead of the HDD to store the informations. I just wish I had more money, would know that my computer supports 8GB RAM so that I could buy 8GB and run my whole OS from such a thing.

PS: The main topic was about shared RAM. If the Bios has no option then you can't change it. Often it adjusts the used amount manually.
64bit or 32bit, both times the IGP has the same max. shared ram limits.

 

You run ur OS off a ramDisk you better have a constant power supply that will never turn off. RAM is volitile memory the second the power goes off all data is gone!!!

 

Sorry, with "such a thing" I meant the SuperVolume. Similar to a RAMDisk, just not as risky, and it works:
http://forum.tabletpcreview.com/showthread.php?t=24256

 

Actually, no. The top range of the 4GB is typically reserved for video card and other PCI and device memory mapping addresses, which is why you can't ever get the full 4GB in a 32bit OS. If you allocate more RAM to your shared video card, then it will come out of that "unusable" chunk. Whether that's actually useful is a completely different ballgame. Shared system RAM is usually not going to do much for video card performance. Going over 256MB or so with an integrated chip just won't get you any performance gains.

Short story... with 4GB, it's just better to use a 64bit OS.

 

Maybe I didn't make myself clear, there were 3 options available when setting up a RAMDISK something like,

1. An emulated hard disk
2. A RAMDISK
3. 8.0 Compatible RAMDISK

options 2 & 3 did not work on my system, hope this makes it clearer

You ask what do I want? Well all I wanted was to see how well it worked with that 1GiB or so of unmanaged memory that is lost to many windows systems.

Trying to get back on topic, Buhdahl AFAIK your shared memory is free for your system to use as it pleases until your graphics card really needs it so it probably doesn't hurt being in that 3GB of memory. If you mean memory used for an integrated card then I would have thought that would be mapped to that elusive 3 to 4GB area, maybe someone can confirm / deny.

 

if u wanna upgrade to 64 bit , do u need to re-install all ur current software due to change in os bit? and what kinda hurdles are involved with this process. i mean is it a hassle if u have loads of stuff on ur computer?

 

It is infact neither of those. You can use up to 64GB RAM through PAE (Physical Address Extension) on 32bit OS's. However, 32bit Windows home OS's ignore the PAE addresses for compatibility reasons. 32bit Windows Server applications can utilise PAE (Win2k Server can use 8GB or 32GB, depending on what version, for example), and newer Linux kernels can use up to 64GB RAM with PAE.