changing video memory allocation? help

so i've got an hp pavilion dv4 laptop with vista 64 with on board ati
3200 using shared memory. the laptop has 4gb of ram with 1.5gb allocated
to the on board video. how can i reduce that amount? thanks in advance.


--
ChumsGum

ChumsGum wrote:
> so i've got an hp pavilion dv4 laptop with vista 64 with on board ati
> 3200 using shared memory. the laptop has 4gb of ram with 1.5gb allocated
> to the on board video. how can i reduce that amount? thanks in advance.

This "Shared Video Memory" is not actually dedicated to video use; in
other words, don't assume this memory has been removed from global
system memory and dedicated for video use - it has not.

The video driver will only allocate from the "shared" video memory if
(and only if) the memory is not being used for some other purpose, such
as running an application.

See this Microsoft document for a more detailed description of how
shared video memory is used in Vista:

http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...hicsMemory.doc

and also:

http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...ero_rules.docx

Are you actually seeing specific performance problems, related to
memory-bound applications? Or are you concerned, in advance of specific
problems, that 1.5MB of memory appears to have been allocated to a
less-important facility (video)? If one of your applications needs this
1.5MB for normal data processing allocation, it *will* use it; however,
you might see that Aero gets turned off if there isn't enough global
video memory (ie, video is sacrificed before data allocations). If you
are seeing memory constraints running specific apps, your best bet might
be to increase the amount of total system RAM; I'm pretty sure the HP
dv4 can have a total of 8GB of RAM installed.

Hope this helps,
Andrew
--
amclar at optusnet dot com dot au

"ChumsGum" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> so i've got an hp pavilion dv4 laptop with vista 64 with on board ati
> 3200 using shared memory. the laptop has 4gb of ram with 1.5gb allocated
> to the on board video. how can i reduce that amount? thanks in advance.
>
>
> --
> ChumsGum

There may be a certain amount of RAM that has been dedicated to video use
but it's probably only a fraction of the 1.5GB you see listed as available
graphics memory. Even with a dedicated graphics card with 256MB memory on
board Vista is still sharing 1.27GB of my RAM for graphics use but only on
an as needed basis, which is seldom. The detailed Performance Information
and Tools report might indicate how much of your RAM has actually been
dedicated for graphics use. Otherwise see HP's support docs (or web page)
for how to access the computer BIOS to find or specify how much RAM is
allocated for graphics. Chances are it is only in the range of 64-256MB.
Trimming it back too far can impact performance more than any slight gains
you might get from freeing up the RAM.

well i'm using the benchmark test for street fighter 4 and instead of
recognizing 4gb of ram it's saying i only have 2.5gb of ram. i'd like
the change the allocation settings so that the benchmark test can
recognized the 4gb of ram.

i appreciate the replies but i'm back to my original question, how can
i change the allocation settings?


--
ChumsGum

"ChumsGum" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> well i'm using the benchmark test for street fighter 4 and instead of
> recognizing 4gb of ram it's saying i only have 2.5gb of ram. i'd like
> the change the allocation settings so that the benchmark test can
> recognized the 4gb of ram.
>
> i appreciate the replies but i'm back to my original question, how can
> i change the allocation settings?
>
>
> --
> ChumsGum


You are using 32bit Vista which will not use the entire 4gb.

The entire system can only amount to 4gb and that includes the motherboard,
which in your case is taking up 1.5 gb. This leaves 2.5 gb of your RAM as
usable.

Some computers will see and be able to use 3.25gb. You are not so lucky..

Unless you use a 64bit OS, this is the way things are.

--

Mike Hall - MVP Windows Experience
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/