On-board nVidia 9200: 256 or 512 MB frame buffer size?

[Eug]

I have a triple-core 2.9 GHz AMD Athlon II X3 435, now with 8 GB DDR3 1333 MHz (4 DIMMs), and on-board nVidia 9200.

The default shared RAM setting in the BIOS is "Auto", which usually seems to mean 256 MB. I now have it set to 512 MB but is there any point to doing that with that GPU?

I have two screens - 1920x1200 and 1680x1050. I watch HD videos on one screen while working on the other, but I don't game on this machine.

 

[nenforcer]

I own an nVidia ION 9400GT class onboard graphics and I've found that 256MB is sufficient for streaming HD video at either 720P or 1080P.

For gaming, however, you would definitely want the higher frame buffer for more texture storage and 512MB is pretty much entry level these days.

 

[Eug]

I will assume there is no downside to letting it use 512 MB of system RAM (given that I'll still have 7.5 GB left over), so I'll just leave it at 512 MB.

Thanks.

 

[nenforcer]

I will assume there is no downside to letting it use 512 MB of system RAM (given that I'll still have 7.5 GB left over), so I'll just leave it at 512 MB.

Thanks.

No, my HTPC only has 1 GB DDR2-800 memory so I definitely need the 768MB of system memory + 256MB frame buffer.

I actually tried running Windows 7 with a 512MB + 512MB and it didn't perform that well.

 

[Red Hawk]

I own an nVidia ION 9400GT class onboard graphics and I've found that 256MB is sufficient for streaming HD video at either 720P or 1080P.

For gaming, however, you would definitely want the higher frame buffer for more texture storage and 512MB is pretty much entry level these days.

Increasing memory allotment wouldn't help with trying to play games, the memory's still just too slow. If he does want to play games (which he apparently doesn't on this PC) he'd have to get a whole new graphics card.

 

[toyota]

I own an nVidia ION 9400GT class onboard graphics and I've found that 256MB is sufficient for streaming HD video at either 720P or 1080P.

For gaming, however, you would definitely want the higher frame buffer for more texture storage and 512MB is pretty much entry level these days.

for gaming it should make no difference with that level of gpu. it will run out of gpu power before 256mb of vram becomes an issue. and any vram hungry game such as GTA 4 or Metro 2033 requires a much stronger card than a 9400gt anyway.

 

[Eug]

I was thinking it might actually help me more for 2D stuff, if I had say two HD screens full of a bazillion windows. If there were too many windows open, stuff might get a bit choppy. Or at least it did with a 256 MB Mac with Expose.

I'm not going to game on this though. If I really wanted to game, I'd buy a $200 low profile GPU to fit in this thin profile Acer.

 

[toyota]

you might as well just put it on 512mb. even if you never use more than 256mb it will not hurt anything since you have plenty of system ram.

 

[tweakboy]

What ever you put its not going be no difference. On that 9200 card I would do 256,, . gg