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    Setting Shared Memory between RAM and GPU

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by Viper114, Jan 20, 2009.

  1. Viper114

    Viper114 Notebook Consultant

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    So, I'm looking at this new laptop I got and I notice something. The GPU is showing a total memory of 2.2GB, which means it's sharing 1.688GB of my total 4GB of system RAM. What I'd like to know is how I can change this setting on this model of laptop? And is there any benefit in doing so? A 512MB GeForce 8800M GTS is a decent enough graphics card that it doesn't really need the extra memory to run today's games...
     
    Viper114, Jan 20, 2009
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  2. Freakish123

    Freakish123 Notebook Consultant

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    It's a useless Windows Vista claim that allows certain functions to use the reserved memory. No games will ever utilize such slow memory, the dedicated VRAM is the only ram any games will use. Changing the settings will result in no change.
     
    Freakish123, Jan 20, 2009
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  3. Viper114

    Viper114 Notebook Consultant

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    Maybe, but I'd still like a way to just separate the memory into their appropriate dedicated piles. There's no real reason to have shared memory with a 512MB GeForce 8800M GTS at this point. Unfortunately, the P6860 BIOS doesn't seem to have an option to change this...
     
    Viper114, Jan 20, 2009
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  4. unknown555525

    unknown555525 rawr

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    The memory is listed there because it's what's avaiable to the video card. The card will never actually use it, and it DOES NOT deduct from what your system can use. The shared memory is only used for the GPU once your GPU's dedicated 512MB is used up, which will probably never happen.

    Disabling the shared memory will NOT increase system performance, and infact it can decrease your gaming performance by about 1-3% across all games.
     
    unknown555525, Jan 20, 2009
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