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    Can surplus RAM help video memory?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by dtownash, Nov 11, 2006.

  1. dtownash

    dtownash Notebook Enthusiast

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    If I have a 128MB video card, would having surplus RAM (say 2GB) add any benefits to the card's performance where 256 would be best but 128 is all you got?
     
    dtownash, Nov 11, 2006
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  2. Tim

    Tim Notebook Virtuoso

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    No, I believe it wouldn't have any affect. Is the graphics card dedicated? If it is then it wouldn't help to have the extra ram. If not it won't really help your graphics out.
    Tim
     
    Tim, Nov 11, 2006
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  3. dtownash

    dtownash Notebook Enthusiast

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    Yeah, the video card is dedicated. How exactly would extra RAM help this?
     
    dtownash, Nov 11, 2006
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  4. Tim

    Tim Notebook Virtuoso

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    Opps...I just noticed I made a mistake. Since your video card is dedicated the extra ram won't help. It will help for other things like the amount of programs you can have open at one time and when you play demanding games like BF2. However the "extra" ram really won't be able to assist your graphics card in any way.

    btw which graphics card do you have?
    Tim
     
    Tim, Nov 11, 2006
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  5. dtownash

    dtownash Notebook Enthusiast

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    128 ati x1400? i think
     
    dtownash, Nov 11, 2006
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  6. moon angel

    moon angel Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    If it's an X1400 with hypermemory you may be able to allocate different amounts of ram to the gpu. In that case, more system ra would help as it can be given over to the gpu. If it's just 128mb dedicated with no hypermemory, more ram will help overall performance, but not the graphics card.
     
    moon angel, Nov 11, 2006
    #6
  7. Zlic3r

    Zlic3r Notebook Guru

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    Extra RAM on internal cards help alot...take my X200M....popping a 2gb chip in will BOOOOOST it...NOS baby :p
     
    Zlic3r, Nov 11, 2006
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  8. matt.modica

    matt.modica Notebook Consultant

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    Is that an AMD or an Intel laptop? Adding RAM with HyperMemory would help a lot more on an Intel System. If it is an AMD laptop, I wouldn't bother, simply because it would be to slow, and that card wouldn't be able to utilize the extra 128 MB that much.
     
    matt.modica, Nov 11, 2006
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  9. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

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    As posted, the X1400 can't "use" more than 128MB effectively. HyperMemory does not provide much of a performance boost as it is, since it is software-based (not hardware-based like Nvidia's TurboCache) and slow.
    The real reason to upgrade your RAM to 2GB is to be able to play the latest games without running out of RAM. If you are not running out of RAM, then I would say upgrading to 2GB is probably not worth it.
     
    Charles P. Jefferies, Nov 12, 2006
    #9