AGP Aperture?

[PowerMacG5]

Could someone explain what the AGP Aperture setting in the BIOS means? I am currently running the GeForce4 Ti4600, and was wondering what size it should be set to. The default value is 64 MB and it goes up to 256 MB on my motherboard.

 

[Peter]

In simple words, that's the maximum amount of system memory the graphics card may borrow when it runs out of its own.

Setting this to more than half of your total system memory doesn't make much sense, neither does keeping it too low.

All this doesn't matter much at all in real life, since whenever the graphics card can't fit a scene in its own memory, performance is going to suck no matter how much system memory it borrows - simply because of the huge speed difference from graphics card local memory to borrowed system memory accessed through AGP.

regards, Peter

 

[zxcv]

It should be set to half the amount of RAM you have in your system. Some games work better when it is set to 256. So just set it to half you ram and see if all goes well.

Maybe this can explain further:
http://erado.totalwar.org/tech/solutions/perf_agp.htm

 

[Mem]

I never use more then 128mb ,infact using 64mb AGP size at the moment being it gives me the same performance as 128mb,and I`ve 512mb of main ram.

 

[Blurry]

Since u have a Geforce 4, set it to 128 MB

 

[TheWart]

my gf3 is at 128 MB. id recommend that setting too.

 

[PowerMacG5]

I don't know if this makes any difference to your recommendations, but I have 640 MB of PC800 RDRAM. Do you think I should set the aperture higher than 128 MB because of this?

 

[Mem]

but I have 640 MB of PC800 RDRAM. Do you think I should set the aperture higher than 128 MB because of this?

128MB should be fine ,however you can set it to 256mb if you want,it`s really down to you.

 

[Instagib]

Since you have so much system ram in doesnt make diff if you set it to 128 or 256.

 

[PowerMacG5]

Thanks for all of your help. I'll set it to 256, and see if my gaming experiance has improved.

 

[rimshaker]

I don't think you guys with 128mb video cards should worry too much about it, just set the aperature at 64mb minimum. I guess it's analagous to the swap file size debate. It's only used when main memory runs out, but if you got like 512mb and above... who cares, just pick a minimum.

 

[BFG10K]

The AGP aperture size sets aside a linear portion of system memory that is directly mapped to the VRAM. Since reads/writes to this area don't require any address translation it's faster to utilise it than the rest of the system memory. Set it to 64 MB and increase it only if you're having problems as setting it too high can waste RAM.

 

[sxr7171]

Thanks BFG10K,

Now I know why it shouldn't be set too high.