How can I see the real-time size of the memory used by video card

[tek]

I have an ATI Radeon Xpress 1150 IGP video chip for my Dell Vostro
1000. Through the Windows XP display properties I can determine the
max size available to the video adaptor which is 288MB (with 64MB of
shared system memory). I would like to be able to determine what the
real-time size of the RAM used by the video adaptor. I use the PC for
office software mostly so I'm sure I'm not using anywhere near the
288MB of memory. Which means I could reduce the size of the video
frame buffer even more from 64MB.

 

[Augustus]

I have an ATI Radeon Xpress 1150 IGP video chip for my Dell Vostro
1000. Through the Windows XP display properties I can determine the
max size available to the video adaptor which is 288MB (with 64MB of
shared system memory). I would like to be able to determine what the
real-time size of the RAM used by the video adaptor. I use the PC for
office software mostly so I'm sure I'm not using anywhere near the
288MB of memory. Which means I could reduce the size of the video
frame buffer even more from 64MB.

The system memory is dynamicaly allocated....it's not reserved and is used
for various apps and processes by the OS unless called for. This card has
32Mb physical memory and shares up to another 256Mb as needed, for 288
total. Unless you are actually using a 3D game or program, you're not using
any of that 256Mb shared. You're not even using much of the 32Mb physical
ram for that matter. So restricting the buffer in the BIOS will not result
in more RAM available for XP or apps unless gaming or something else 3D
intensive. How much memory does a 1280x800 15.4" XGA LCD display used at
maximum pixel depth in Office or any 2D display? Less than 4 Mb.

 

[tek]

The system memory is dynamicaly allocated....it's not reserved and is used
for various apps and processes by the OS unless called for. This card has
32Mb physical memory and shares up to another 256Mb as needed, for 288
total. Unless you are actually using a 3D game or program, you're not using
any of that 256Mb shared. You're not even using much of the 32Mb physical
ram for that matter. So restricting the buffer in the BIOS will not result
in more RAM available for XP or apps unless gaming or something else 3D
intensive. How much memory does a 1280x800 15.4" XGA LCD display used at
maximum pixel depth in Office or any 2D display? Less than 4 Mb.

Bear with me. I'm just trying to work out these numbers, Here are the
numbers in the original configuration. The frame buffer size was set
to 128MB, the system memory reported 896MB, and the display properties
reported 320MB. The first two values make sense base on that fact the
PC has 1GB of memory. 1024-128=896. Now using your statement, the
system will share up to 256MB as needed, that would mean the frame
buffer size when set to 128MB changed something is the card memory
size, right? It appears it was doubled from 32MB to 64MB. 320MB (the
reported available adaptor memory size in the Windows display props)
minus 256MB (total memory available to share to video card from the
system memory) equals 64MB (the on-chip memory size?). Crazy!

I agree with you about the last thing you said. Office apps can't be
using much of the video memory. I just wish there was some way I could
determine just exactly what that number is, of the on-chip memory the
PC is using. I downloaded four system utilities and they all show the
same thing as Windows, the "max memory available" to the video card
verses what is actually "in use". SiSoft Sandra (highly recommended)
was one of those I downloaded.

 

[Augustus]

Bear with me. I'm just trying to work out these numbers, Here are the

numbers in the original configuration.

determine just exactly what that number is, of the on-chip memory the
PC is using.

Ok...I did some further digging, and there are several different X1150
discrete memory configurations available.
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_14603_14624^14627,00.html

Dell uses an 1150 setup with 256Mb discrete memory on the IGP. So if your
setup is reading 288 available, there's 32Mb system ram available for
dynamic alloctaion. So that explains your numbers. Regarding your other
question, any time the system is running anything that's not a 3D app, you
have 251Mb of that 256Mb free. But don't feel bad, I have over 506 Mb free
at any give time on my 7800GTX 512Mb card in 2D.
When working in any 2D mode, it's a very simple calculation to figure out
exactly how much video memory is being used. It's simply a matter of the
screen resolution. Assuming yours is set to 32 bit color at default, Dell
XGA resolution on your laptop is (1,024,000 pixels x 32 bits per pixel) / 8
bits per byte ) In 2D, only what is on the screen at the time is in the
video memory. Doesn't matter if you've got a 30 page document or giant
spreadsheet open. They use system memory, only the what's on the screen is
in the video buffer. Even if you had a 1600x1200 32bit display, it would
only use 8Mb of that 32Mb.
So the 4Mb mentioned in my previous post actually IS the real-time video
memory load at ALL times in 2D mode.
http://www.pcguide.com/ref/video/modesBuffer-c.html

 

[Augustus]

They use system memory, only the what's on the screen is

in the video buffer. Even if you had a 1600x1200 32bit display, it would
only use 8Mb of that 32Mb.

Sorry, that should read..."8Mb of that 256Mb"....

 

[tek]

They use system memory, only the what's on the screen is


Sorry, that should read..."8Mb of that 256Mb"....

Display specs are: Type (active-matrix TFT) 15.4-inch WXGA, Maximum
resolution 1280 x 800 at 262,144 colors

thx