laptop's lame bios, and reducing graphics memory

[icarus74]

Hi,

My new Compaq CQ42 450TU, has one of the lamest BIOS's I've come accross. Other than mem-test and hdd-test, and changing boot order, setting date/time, it allows me to do nothing else. Not very surprising given the fact that it's a super cheap laptop.

I am running Ubuntu Linux on this system. Is anyone aware of a way to reduce the memory allocated for the inbuilt 'Intel's Integrated Graphic Processor', since BIOS won't let me do it ? Is there a non-BIOS way, available on Linux (or otherwise) ? However if there's a risk of the procedure bricking my lappy, I'd probably reconsider.

Reason for reducing the graphics RAM (256MB) is that I use very low end graphics UI (no frills, no 3D, no gaming, and 16bit color is good for me). I'd rather give as much RAM away to the processors as possible.

cheers,
Icarus

 

[Harvey]

You're thiinking too hard in the wrong direction. HP's specs for your CQ42-450TU say your machine came with 3 GB of DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500), which would be 1 x 2 GB stick and 1 x 1 GB SO-DIMM. However, the maximum RAM the machine can use is 8 GB (2 X 4 GB)

It would be much easier and cheap to buy more RAM. In the U.S., you could buy a second 2 GB stick for a little over $20 and be done with it, and you could max out the system to 2 x 4 GB for around $75.

It has to be easier and less work than trying to make custom mods to the BIOS.

Hope that helps. 🙂