The Mysteries of VRAM, VM & RAM ?

[Mobomonkey]

First, is VRAM the same thing as Virtual Memory? Will a gaming PC always need to allocate/use Virtual Memory regardless of VRAM/RAM size & speed? If so, how important is that VM space & drive used, to strain on CPU & GPU? Therefore, would using an SSD or SSHD make an important difference to VM & hence gaming experience & strain on CPU & GPU?

 

[kanewolf]

VRAM is an ambiguous term. In relation to virtual machines it is "virtual ram". In relation to graphics cards it is "video ram" ...

Since your question mentions gaming, it sounds like the second definition is really what you are interested in. Video ram is a physical imitation of a graphics card. You can't really change it. What you buy is what you get. Running higher resolution or FSAA will use more video ram.

 

[Mobomonkey]

VRAM is an ambiguous term. In relation to virtual machines it is "virtual ram". In relation to graphics cards it is "video ram" ...

Since your question mentions gaming, it sounds like the second definition is really what you are interested in. Video ram is a physical imitation of a graphics card. You can't really change it. What you buy is what you get. Running higher resolution or FSAA will use more video ram.

Thanks. It is gaming I'm concerned with & you've explained VRAM in that sense. Now I just need to know why I need Virtual Memory & how it applies to gaming. My questions were sparked by Catzilla adjusting my VM which then caused Windows to warn me of a possible memory loss, so I had to re-adjust the VM back up.

 

[kanewolf]

Virtual memory is the operating system using disk storage to increase the memory available. Using virtual memory is usually a bad thing from a performance stand point. Virtual memory (SWAP) 1000s of times slower than real RAM. The rule of thumb used to be 1.5x physical RAM for SWAP space. I usually do a 1X physical RAM. If you have more than 8GB physical RAM you won't use the swap space and you could allocate it to a mechanical hard disk, then forget about it. If you have less than 8GB physical RAM then a SWAP space will get used. If you have an SSD then it will be faster than a mechanical disk, but it will cause a lot of write activity to the SSD.

 

[junkeymonkey]

as I put in another thread windows nt os's uses it no matter what ??

http://tweakhound.com/xp/virtualmemory.htm

that covers windows in all , no getting away from it so it seems

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_NT

 

[Mobomonkey]

as I put in another thread windows nt os's uses it no matter what ??

http://tweakhound.com/xp/virtualmemory.htm

that covers windows in all , no getting away from it so it seems

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_NT

Thanx again jm. Glad you posted here, saved me having to link to your excellent answer.

 

[junkeymonkey]

its not like I know much about .. just let windows take care of its self on that ?? your issues informs me as much as you

 

[Mobomonkey]

its not like I know much about .. just let windows take care of its self on that ?? your issues informs me as much as you

Thanx jm. That's the great thing about forums in general & TH forums specifically. I've just been strolling down memory lane on a Steam forum, about my first GPU (GTX 8600) & I mentioned how far I've come since then. Pretty much all down to forum discussions & TH forums largely. Mind you, I still feel like a novice, especially compared to some of the dudes who respond here. ps. I once filled out a form on a techy components site, 'have you fitted several components?', 'have you built your own computer?', sort of stuff & it then designated me as 'expert' ! I was shocked & felt like it had made a serious mistake.