Reduce graphics card memory

[asdfqwertyuiop]

I have a 512MB ATI 1650Pro, and 4GB of RAM with Vista 32-bit.

Due to mapping of video RAM, I only have 2.93GB available system RAM.

Accordingly I'd like to reduce the video RAM to 128MB (I don't play games, the extra must be completely useless). Is this possible?

 

[apoppin]

huh?

why?
😕

what negative impact does the "extra" [useless] RAM have?

 

[TurnX]

You do realize that Vista 32-bit, and any other 32-bit OS for that matter, will at most use 3gb of ram, which it seems your system is doing.

 

[Kromis]

Originally posted by: apoppin
huh?

why?
😕

what negative impact does the "extra" [useless] RAM have?

Lol, this is a very good question I'd also like to be answered! 😛

 

[apoppin]

my guess is ... "none"

🙂

- speaking 'practically' ... the effect of "extra" vRAM - discreet graphics - on system RAM ... or how a OS utilizes them

addendum perhaps the OP is somehow thinking IG 😉

 

[asdfqwertyuiop]

Originally posted by: TurnX
You do realize that Vista 32-bit, and any other 32-bit OS for that matter, will at most use 3gb of ram, which it seems your system is doing.

The PCI-E address space is mapped to the top of the 0-4GB range. So if you have a 512MB card, you lose 512MB of address space.

The amount of RAM available under Vista 32-bit is never going to be the full 4GB, but you can get better than 2.93GB.

There's discussion of this here.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=34&threadid=2001275&enterthread=y

 

[Peter]

Well, you'd get (about) 250 MBytes of system RAM back, or maybe not. Seriously, if your applications are /that/ tight on system RAM, that wee little bit won't help. Install a 64-bit operating system, or don't bother.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

if you dont play games, you dont even need a 512mb x1650. sell it and get a 128mb 7300GT or something

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: asdfqwertyuiop

Originally posted by: TurnX
You do realize that Vista 32-bit, and any other 32-bit OS for that matter, will at most use 3gb of ram, which it seems your system is doing.

The PCI-E address space is mapped to the top of the 0-4GB range. So if you have a 512MB card, you lose 512MB of address space.

The amount of RAM available under Vista 32-bit is never going to be the full 4GB, but you can get better than 2.93GB.

There's discussion of this here.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=34&threadid=2001275&enterthread=y

Actually, you want to look here:

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/sm8000/32bitRAM.gif
2.2.1 Addressable memory

evidently the os DOES include PCIe add in gfx 😛

so your "extra" vRAM is worse than useless

the best solution seems to be using 64Bit Vista and more RAM or you can attempt the work around or get a 128MB GPU

surprised me
:Q

 

[asdfqwertyuiop]

it was the cheapest Direct x 9.0c card I could find with dual dvi ports. 512mb was cheaper than 256mb. When I bought it I had 2GB of RAM.

I'd have exactly the same amount of RAM with only 3 sticks (and saving me £70 on the 4th stick of RAM). I guess that would be slower due to not being dual channel though.

I think this will become more of an issue as more people go to 4GB RAM. From what I gather vista x64 just isn't mainstream. I don't trust it to run *everything* without problems.