Shared system memory vs Shared Video Memory

[Dcopymope]

In the image below, it says it isn't using any space as share video memory, but its allocating up to 8 gbs of system ram to be used by the GPU as video ram if needed. I've been getting mixed messages about this. One guy told me it would never use shared memory at all if the GPU has its own dedicated video ram and is connected directly to the monitor, while others are saying the exact opposite. From what I see in the image below, it seems like both sides are right to a degree, I'm just not exactly sure what the actual difference is between the two.

 

[ss202sl]

You said it correctly.
"it isn't using any space as share video memory, but its allocating up to 8 gbs of system ram to be used by the GPU as video ram if needed." The 8GB's are there IF needed, but that is not likely, and currently it is using 0 of it.

 

[Dcopymope]

You said it correctly.
"it isn't using any space as share video memory, but its allocating up to 8 gbs of system ram to be used by the GPU as video ram if needed." The 8GB's are there IF needed, but that is not likely, and currently it is using 0 of it.

Ok, so this is in fact what I'm seeing when my games report it using more memory as video ram than what is stored on the GPU as shown in the images below from Hitman (2016). My GPU only has 4 gbs of vram and it often reports above that amount when playing my newer video games.

Hitman:

Share Memory usage during Hitman??:

 

[kerberos_20]

reduce in game few details to keep it withing 4GB, ull get better gameplay

 

[Dcopymope]

reduce in game few details to keep it withing 4GB, ull get better gameplay

I already did actually, I no longer play any of my more recently released games with its graphics set any higher than 'high'. I also turned off other things like SSAO. Its still using more than 4 gigs. But really, the games ran pretty well even when I played them on 'ultra' or 'epic', and even with stuff like SSAO turned on. I'm just trying to get a better understanding about how all this PC stuff works. I have the exe file of all my games set as a 'high priority' in the task manager. Would it have anything at all to with this? I don't recall my games using this much video ram before I did.

 

[kerberos_20]

textures are getting bigger, thats all
well theres no harm if it eats system memory, if u dont experience microstuttering or some random game freezing/slowdowns, its all ok

 

[Dcopymope]

textures are getting bigger, thats all
well theres no harm if it eats system memory, if u dont experience microstuttering or some random game freezing/slowdowns, its all ok

Ok, thanks