Video Memory

How do you find what your computer's video memory is, and is there a way to change it?

Start > Run. Type "dxdiag" then click ok. After it runs, click on the Display tab. It will say "Approx. Total Memory:" on the right side.

I just tried this in Windows XP and it's supposed to work in 95/98/ME.

Gotta love google...

As far as adjusting it, I'm pretty sure that you can, as in letting it use some of your computer's ram, but I'm not sure how.

Ok, thanks hun.

i think theres a way to change the size of the video card ram in the bios... not sure where in the bios but im pritty sure its in there. not all video cards will let you change the amount of ram being used unless it is running off your system ram and not the video cards seperate ram.

When you start up your computer , the first screen will display the memory size

if the first screen doesnt display it, just enter your bios and there you can see it , even you can change your video memory settings ....

another way:
start->run->dxdiag
click display , you can see the detail of your vedio

I didn't know it would be possible to "change" the video RAM? Surely your card has a certain amount and then when that's used up your regular RAM is used in it's place, and then, when that's used up, virtual memory on your HD? Your video card will be set to use all the RAM it has available, so "changing the amount used" would be redundant.
Of course, I could be (and often am) total wrong...

no name brand video cards memory can be changed. 2 of my friends can change their memory from 32 to 64 in the bios. But when you do this it uses your system memory. eg you have 512 ram on your computer and you are using this no name type video card it will use part of your ram for video rendering so if you have a no name 32mb video card your system will only show up as having 480mbs of ram.

Ah, thank you beings, I see. Would there be any advantage to this though? Rather than just letting the memory spill out onto the RAM of it's own accord?
Might have to go read about it... this would be useful when using a laptop, since on most you can upgrade and add in loads of RAM, but not upgrade the graphics card.

4 years ago, there were some cards can be added memory. but the video memory is so expensive...

you dont physicaly add the ram dude. with your no name video card you divert your system ram to run as video ram. Therefore your system will show up as having less memory and your video card will have more. The disadvange of adding more ram to your laptop video card is simply that your system ram will be lowered... thats all. There is a limit to how much you can increase the ram on your video card, it may not even let you change it, it does not harm your computer in any way if it lets you change the video card ram like this. my friend can change his video card ram from 32 to 64 in the bios, he has a pull down that shows 2 settings for his video card ram, there are 2 choices for him 32 or 64. If you want all your system ram i suggest you buy a name brand video card because they use there own memory. With name brand video cards like ATI, Ge force etc you cannot increase the ram because they run off there own built in ram so it doesnt take away from your system ram.

lol... yeah I know that. What I meant was that with laptops (which I am looking to buy), you can almost always add more RAM, but upgrading video card is never an option. If then, you were to add more RAM, then you could effectively upgrade your video card without changing it physically...

From the choices I've made about getting a laptop however, it seems like it's better to start off with an actual video card. I'm never going to need (famous last words...) more than 64mb on a graphics card anyway!

well there are laptop ATI cards that are pritty good.

I have an ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 IGP, giving me 128MB video memory on my laptop. I think with laptops you cannot exchange/replace the video cards as they are soldered onto the motherboard. (Thats why I went for the 128 MB option - by the way it's awesome!).

PCs however can be physically changed/upgraded.