Does your ATI IGP have dedicated memory?

If you think you know you should really read. No one on this or any other place seems to have a clue.

This an explanation of how some of them work especially the Express 1100 series and do they have dedicated memory.
Does my 1150 have dedicated memory? Yes and no. If you mean does it have memory that it does not share with the system then yes. If you mean does it have on board memory then no. The latter is what everyone refers to as “dedicated” and no ATI IGP has that, contrary to beliefs held by some even on this forum. The card lets you set the amount of dedicated memory from RAM, on mine from 16MB to 256MB, that amount then does not show up on Windows because it is not available to Windows anymore, dedicated. I have 2GB RAM when I set to 128MB Windows reports 1.87GB. When I set to 256MB Windows reports 1.75GB. In addition to not sharing it with the system the GPU does not have to go thru the CPU to access it, it has a direct link increasing speed and not tying up the CPU. While faster and more efficient than traditional shared memory not as fast as onboard. When I set to 128MB in Windows the the adapter is reported as 256MB 128MB dedicated and 128MB shared. Set 256MB and adapter says 512MB, 256MB and 256MB. When I set to 64MB Windows removes that amount from the reported RAM but the adapter reports 256MB, 64MB and 192MB.

In conclusion, the dedicated memory while not as good as onboard memory is better than traditional shared. It reserves space so it is not fragmented throughout the entire RAM and does not rely on the CPU for access to it. I believe selling it as “dedicated” is confusing and dishonest, dedicated has always meant onboard in the past.

Below I have some pictures off my computer to illustrate what I have said.

This is where I set up the amount of dedicated memory. Work with me and I will show you. It says 128 right? Remember that.



Now on this look at the amount of RAM? I have 2GB but it does not say that, it is about 128MB short. Hmm?




Now look at this it is the adapter, 256MB so 128MB dedicated and 128 shared. If some of you are saying "sure, you have 128MB dedicated and you set up the shared at 128MB" the next will show that is incorrect.





Look at the amount I set aside 256MB






Now look at the amount of RAM windows sees, now my RAM is about 256MB short of 2GB. Has anyone ever seen "shared memory" hidden from Windows? Never.





Now finally the new size of the Adapter is 512MB so what I adjusted was the dedicated memory.

 

I spilled my drink I must of "bumped" my computer. I'm so lonely yes so lonely............AKON!

 

My X1270 doesn't have the option for a UMA frame buffer, only what I set to it in the Ram.

 

Cool but how do you set it and does it function the same? Is it in BIOS? I kind of know 200m works the same as mine but did not want to overstep! None of these have onboard memory! To let me go to 256MB "dedicated" is insane, does not work as well not enough bandwidth, if they set it in the BIOS lower not a bad idea! I think our cards work the same. Yours is better but same basic ideas.

 

Sorry, I spilled my drink again!!

 

Yeah, its just an option in the BIOS.

Erm, I jhust checked it. In the BIOS, its set to 256...in the Adapter page, its set to 700mb. =]

Yeah, now I'm confused.

 

Have you downloaded the latest Catalyst? I would not go above 128MB dedicated because the system can not handle more. So if it can't be used why have it!

 

I had an x200m with 128mb dedicated/onboard vram and it was a jewel compared to the run-of-the-mill shared x200m in my sig. Performance was night & day, almost where I thought the dedicated version was as good in real performance as my current Go 7200 (benchmarks aside).....

Granted, the 128MB "Sideport" x200m was not common and I don't think there has been a dedicated-ram ATI igp since.................

 

the 256 is useable in my latpop.. coz when i tried to apply 128mb in the BIOS, VT3 did not run.. it only runs when i set it to 256mb.. really weird!!

 

Very interesting baddogboxer thanks for that. I was under the impression that some integrated cards did have dedictated memory in the way that dedicated cards have, although it would appear I was right about the x200m at least which R4000 says was offered (rarely) with 128mb on board ram. These cards seem to be far superior to the shared ram versions like mine.

 

well it might because game itself needs 256mb of video ram. like bf2 minimal is 125mb of video ram but old version have dedicated 64mb and you add the shared making the game playable
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so baddog, you are saying that ati integrated lines have dedicated??
still don;t get it. my brain isn;t working today after whole night staying up...

 

i forgot to tell something about this. anyway the ati 200m with 256mem appeared when hp started to integrated into their computers. however it soon ended after dv9000 and other new models came out.... so i think of it as a limited since it lasted in market short

 

I don't think they should call it that but yes they do (sort of)

I was trying to clear up some confusion I have seen on the forum relating to ATI 200 series cards now mostly 1100m and 1150m (because newer and I have) and dedicated memory. They are sold with the claim they have, and yes they do but not the kind everyone else talks about, the onboard kind which is far superior and found on “discrete” GPU's. That was explained in original post, but as usual the talk of the 200m having dedicated onboard memory is coming up. Some 200's have dedicated memory up 128 on the MoBo. Notice it is on the MoBo not the graphics card itself it is not like a discrete card, the reason this is an issue is the bandwidth between the GPU and the memory is no where close to if it were on the GPU itself. And onboard used to mean on the card not the MoBo. Because of the limitations of the interface between the GPU and the memory on the MoBo I believe the bandwidth is comparable to mine taking from reserved system memory and from what I have read my speed might be faster. Two speeds I read with the MoBo memory were system bus 200Mhz and 350Mhz, my speed is 533Mhz. Why does any of this matter? I don't know? But it is nice to now what you have and what it means. Get ready to jump on me guys but here it goes. If the “dedicated” memory on the 200m was so wonderful why did they stop? Why did they never use it on the 1100 series? I suspect it is because The UMA design is equal to or superior to the MoBo design. ATI says 1150 is 33% more powerful than 200m so I suspect I would out perform 200m no matter what kind of memory it has.

My Bios reports VRAM. Since I don't have all these cards I could be wrong so let me have it.

 

Expecting a return of this feature soon

 

I'm sorry I bumped into this!!!

 

Really? I myself would like to see this feature brought back for ATI, it was a great alternative to a low end discrete card (and cheap).

 

Yeah their next chipset is slated to support it