Winddows memory management question

[KBD]

I heard somewhere that the amount of video memory in the video card gets deducted or allocated from the amount of installed system memory. Is this true? If it is, how can i check how much of it gets allocated. Reason i ask, i got a 1GB video card and only 2GB of system memory installed so i'm thinking that i need more RAM. I'd appreciate any help with this.

 

[psyko12]

I think you can see it from dxdiag, the approximate memory then subtract what your gfx card has. But I dunno if I'm correct here. let's see what others have to say.

 

[allen337]

If you use 64 bit operating system it will see up to 8-16-24 gb memory depending on what mobo. 32 bit sees 4 gb or if you have a 1gb card 3gb. If you have 2 gb installed and a 1 gb card it will still use the 2gb. But if you put 4gb and a 1 gb card in 32 bit it will only see around 3gb. Confused myself

 

[psyko12]

Uhh what? Hehehe it also confused me, how can you check, where?

 

[allen337]

right click my puter and select properties

 

[psyko12]

Uhm heh I think he was asking how to find how much ram was eaten up by the video card.. Or sthing along those lines.

EDIT: meh finally got what you're saying.. Heheh sorry

 

[allen337]

it tells you there how much ram windows is using. I have 4-1gb chips and a 512meg videocard and its says 3.5gb memory.

 

[psyko12]

So your on 32 bit vista? But how would know in x64 os's. Mine states 2.00gb and how would we know how much the vcard borrows/shares.

 

[Lillebror]

In 32bit, you can max have 4 gig of ram - that includes all kind of caches and stuff on your computer. If you have 1gig gfx card and 2 gig system ram installed your only hitting 3 gig total so its not eating any of your ram But if you install 2gb more system ram, about 1gig aint gonna be used.

 

[allen337]

The properties of my puter tells you all actual memory allocated for windows Physical memory, If your using 64bit and have 4 gigabyte and a 1 gig video card it would say 4 gig, it only shows less if you are over allocated for the operating system/mobo. I know of no other way to tell. You can even trick the operating system to say 8 gig in win 32bit but it doesnt use it all.

 

[KBD]

well, that explains it to me. I think thats what i heard before but forgot, lol.

I'm on 32 bit XP, BTW. Anyways, guys, thnx for posting this

 

[mrhuggles]

there is a bios option to get vista 32bit to be able to use 4gb of system memory, something about moving the other stuff ontop of the 4gb barrier.

 

[allen337]

It will show 4 gb of memory in 32 bit vista but only allocates the physical memory, minus the video memory if you have 4gb or more.

 

[KBD]

It will show 4 gb of memory in 32 bit vista but only allocates the physical memory, minus the video memory if you have 4gb or more.

i think i read that 32 bit Vista sees 4GB but does not utilize all 4GB, only 3-3.5GB like any other 32 bit OS.

 

[allen337]

i think i read that 32 bit Vista sees 4GB but does not utilize all 4GB, only 3-3.5GB like any other 32 bit OS.

Exactally

 

[Lillebror]

It dosent matter if its vista, xp or somekind of linux - as long as its 32bit, it aint gonna support more than 4 gigabytes of memory

 

[mrhuggles]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605

i noticed that after one of the later vista32bit patches i was now able to set the page file size to 4096 [wasnt possible befor] and now it shows 4gb too, maybe its only asthetic i dont know. but atleast the page file can go all the way up now yay

 

[allen337]

why on earth would someone need a 4gig page file?