System performance ratings

[Guest]

Can someone explain the system performance ratings? What is considered a
good score? Why does adding memory to a system with shared video memory not
increase the 3d ratings? I did notice that when I put a 512MB SD card in the
slot on my laptop and told the system to use it to speed up my system that HD
access went from 3.8 to 4.3, I assume that is good. Why isn't the ratings
being used for Vista compatable software?

 

[AJR]

Score is a "relative" fiqure (do not get excited about it)- not associated
with software - max score is 5+ - your total score is always equal to the
lowest individual score which usually is the 3d Business and Gaming
Graphics.

Additional memory doe not increase "shared" memory. Graphics performance
depends on the card.

 

[Guest]

Actually additional memory DOES increase shared memory. Let me explain. My
new laptop came with 1 GB of installed shared memory. The onboard video
shares between 64 MB and 228 MB (this is from the manual). With 1 GB
installed when you would bring up system info it showed 124 MB of video
memory. I doubled the memory to 2 GB yesterday. System info now shows 228
MB of video memory. The reason for the increase is that system can now
allocate the full 228 MB of shared ram to video and still run apps with the
remaining memory. However, the 3D rating did not change.

 

[Guest]

Oh and my question about software pertained to the "show me software for my
rating" link. Why are software companies not using this rating for a minimum
score to run their programs?

 

[Dustin Harper]

Your video card is what determines the 3D rating, and it isn't all
dependent on video card RAM (shared RAM). It also takes into account the
GPU of the video card. Since yours is onboard, it may require a new
video card if your PC supports it.

5.9 is the current highest you can go, score wise.