Where is my Graphics Memory?

[aq88]

I recently purchased a laptop with GTX 970m on it. Here are the memory differences I have experienced;
Online specs; Memory: 6144 MB (http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GTX-970M.126694.0.html)

Under Advanced Settings from Screen Resolution; Shared Memory is: 1760 MB (I am not sure if my integrated graphics is taking this memory from my RAM or GPU) (http://tinypic.com/r/w9h92t/8)

Under System Information; Total Available is: 7110 MB out of which, 4038 MB is used as a shared memory. (http://tinypic.com/r/15eg5eb/8)

Can somebody explain this all to me and how can I get the most out of my GPU?

Thanks in Advance

 

[i7Baby]

The 6144mmb is vram - part of your graphics card. The rest is dram (system memory) - fitted to your motherboard

 

[getochkn]

From your first link, it says UP TO 6GB DDR5. Not HAS TO HAVE. So they laptop company choose to put 3GB of dedicated DDR5 RAM in to the laptop..

From your first pic, the shared memory, if you look, is for the Intel Built in graphics, not the Nvidia chip, so 1760MB shared to the intel has nothing to do with your 970m.

From your second pic, the 7GB is dedicated 3GB of DDR5, and 4GB of your system memory, if the GPU needs it. If the PC needs it, it can use that too.


Everything looks fine to me.

 

[aq88]

From your first link, it says UP TO 6GB DDR5. Not HAS TO HAVE. So they laptop company choose to put 3GB of dedicated DDR5 RAM in to the laptop..

From your first pic, the shared memory, if you look, is for the Intel Built in graphics, not the Nvidia chip, so 1760MB shared to the intel has nothing to do with your 970m.

From your second pic, the 7GB is dedicated 3GB of DDR5, and 4GB of your system memory, if the GPU needs it. If the PC needs it, it can use that too.


Everything looks fine to me.

So, the shared memory to my Integrated Graphics is from RAM or VRAM? If it is from the VRAM, is there a way not to share this memory to the Intel Built-in graphics?

 

[i7Baby]

RAM

You can change the amount of ram it uses - in bios

 

[aq88]

RAM

You can change the amount of ram it uses - in bios

If it is RAM, I still don't get where my VRAM is going. It is shared to what then? Also, I am playing GTA V on it and 3 GB does not seem enough when playing at max settings. So, can I increase this 3 GB memory?

I am sorry if I sound like a noob..

 

[getochkn]

What makes you rhink the ram is the issue in gta?

 

[aq88]

What makes you rhink the ram is the issue in gta?

Its not RAM. I am talking about VRAM. I have 3 GB of VRAM. How can I increase this?

 

[getochkn]

I know you meant VRAM, what makes you think VRAM is holding you back in GTA? 3GB is a decent size for GTA unless you are playing 4K or something.

Yes, you have 3GB of DDR5 VRAM. You CANNOT increase this. That is what your laptop maker choose to include, although the GPU itself could handle up to 6GB, it's probably soldering on the board at the time of aseembly and something you cannot change. The GPU will use upto the 4GB of normal DDR3 SYSTEM RAM, that it has allocated in your photo.

That gives a total of 7GB and is more than enough for GTA5. The 3GB should be enough, that's why I want to know why you think it's the VRAM that is causing issues.

 

[aq88]

I know you meant VRAM, what makes you think VRAM is holding you back in GTA? 3GB is a decent size for GTA unless you are playing 4K or something.

Yes, you have 3GB of DDR5 VRAM. You CANNOT increase this. That is what your laptop maker choose to include, although the GPU itself could handle up to 6GB, it's probably soldering on the board at the time of aseembly and something you cannot change. The GPU will use upto the 4GB of normal DDR3 SYSTEM RAM, that it has allocated in your photo.

That gives a total of 7GB and is more than enough for GTA5. The 3GB should be enough, that's why I want to know why you think it's the VRAM that is causing issues.

Actually, it is not. I just see the bar on the top in Graphics Settings where they show how much of the graphics memory you would be using under current settings and my bar usually turns orange/yellow (meaning that I am using a lot but not all of it) at close to max settings. So I thought that maybe increasing this memory would make the game run smoother. I know 3 GB is more than enough for many games but I am going to be using this laptop for a long time and I don't think that 3 GB is going to be sufficient in the near future thus I might need to increase this memory somehow someday.

 

[getochkn]

3GB is fine for now, and by the time a new game comes out that requires something like 6GB to run on high, your GPU probably won't be powerful enough to run it on ultra anyways, so you'll have to run it on lower settings and won't need more than 3GB. Last gen cards are mostly 2GB and 4GB cards are not kinda the mainstream, so when 6GB and 8GB cards comes out, it will be 2-3 generations newer than your GPU.


What notebook is it BTW?


For a mere $700 http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX55546 you could upgrade to a 6GB chip apparently if you must have that much, it's going to cost and you ahve the right laptop that supports the upgrade.

 

[aq88]

3GB is fine for now, and by the time a new game comes out that requires something like 6GB to run on high, your GPU probably won't be powerful enough to run it on ultra anyways, so you'll have to run it on lower settings and won't need more than 3GB. Last gen cards are mostly 2GB and 4GB cards are not kinda the mainstream, so when 6GB and 8GB cards comes out, it will be 2-3 generations newer than your GPU.


What notebook is it BTW?


For a mere $700 http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX55546 you could upgrade to a 6GB chip apparently if you must have that much, it's going to cost and you ahve the right laptop that supports the upgrade.

I have an Alienware 17. I don't think they have this upgrading option available 🙁

 

[getochkn]

http://www.eurocom.com/ec/vgas(1)ec

Don't know what 17 you have or what R-version, but check those out.

 

[aq88]

http://www.eurocom.com/ec/vgas(1)ec

Don't know what 17 you have or what R-version, but check those out.

Sorry for not being so specific. Its Alienware 17 R2 (Early 2015) and the link you sent didn't work

 

[getochkn]

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/laptops/1000489/dell-alienware-17-r2-review

Guess you are of luck. They soldered the gpu on your model and didn't use the standard mxm slot.

If you scroll downvelopes to the part about upgradability they tal8k about an external graphics adapter thst lets you use a desktop gpu with your laptop

Will all that i still don't think you need aby more vram.

 

[aq88]

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/laptops/1000489/dell-alienware-17-r2-review

Guess you are of luck. They soldered the gpu on your model and didn't use the standard mxm slot.

If you scroll downvelopes to the part about upgradability they tal8k about an external graphics adapter thst lets you use a desktop gpu with your laptop

Will all that i still don't think you need aby more vram.

Yes I am aware of that. With the graphics Amplifier that costs CA$350 plus I have to pay for those desktop GPUs. It is going to be too expensive. But yeah, I think I might do that in the future but not anytime soon