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    Dedicated plus Shared memory

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by HalfaMaster, Apr 15, 2011.

  1. HalfaMaster

    HalfaMaster Newbie

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    Hi everyone,
    first of all sorry if i am posting on the wrong zone but its my 1° time here >_>

    Anyway, i have a small "problem" with my graphic card... i already searc on the "Notebook Dummy Guide Articles" and others but i dint found the answer D:
    The thing is, i have an Asus A52J, (Intel Pentium P6100, 2gb ram, ATI HD 5470 512mb ddr3) and i saw on the properties (and on the sellers website) that this card uses dedicated memory and can also use my main memory(2gb one).

    The Overdrive option is gone, so i cant check from more options, but whant I realy wanted to know, is if this is true, will he use also my main memory, or can I tell the video card to use for example 600mb from the main memory? (for example, while i play GTA 4 i see he uses maximum 502mb, and therefor i can play on medium, and yes i know this card sux etc).


    Thank you all in advance :)
     
    HalfaMaster, Apr 15, 2011
    #1
  2. lozanogo

    lozanogo Notebook Deity

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    No, you don't have control on the amount of memory used, it is automatically decided. In any case the amount of RAM the GPU has or can use nowadays is not relevant in comparison to the actual power of the GPU.

    Hope it helps :) .
     
    lozanogo, Apr 15, 2011
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  3. HalfaMaster

    HalfaMaster Newbie

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    It did! So it means that its more important to have a more quicker GPU with 512mb than a slower with 1 gb :O in conclusion... the more memory i have the quicker/better (a little bit) the games get :O, right :)?
     
    HalfaMaster, Apr 15, 2011
    #3
  4. Pitabred

    Pitabred Linux geek con rat flail!

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    The amount of RAM your GPU has is only marginally useful. It will help you run at higher resolutions (if the GPU itself can keep up) and run Anti-Aliasing (again, if the GPU can keep up), but especially in a laptop I would generally take a faster GPU and less RAM on it. 512MB is fine for most games, especially at the 1366x768 resolution that most machines run at any more.

    So, the GPU is what is in charge of how fast things go, and memory only really comes into play when you don't have enough to support the game's assets and settings.
     
    Pitabred, Apr 15, 2011
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