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Hi, I lost my way to surely find out whether my new laptop's video memory is shared or not.
Does shared memory matter or not?
My laptop (2.4G/512m/shared? 32m nvidia GeForce4 420 go) can use 50% of CPU power when playing a simple music with full-screen visualization by Windows Media Player. Is this because of a possible shared video memory? Are those laptops with comparable dedicated memory eating up the similar CPU power? Any comments are welcome. If it was because of shared memory, I would return it.
Well DUH? You think you can play a full screen video with 32 MB of RAM? I mean you can can, but you know how slow it would be! Yes, any system you get will have shared video RAM unless you invest in one very expensive Video Card.
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If your system properties state that you have 512 of RAM, then it's not shared memory. But... all video isn't necessarily handled by the card. Code has to be specifically written to take advantage of hardware acceleration. If the visualization you were looking at is running in "software mode", then your main CPU will be doing all the work, regardless of what kind of graphics card you have or whether the memory is shared or not.
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Thanks for quick reply.
Do you mean every laptop sharing memory? But some compaq models do have dedicated video memory.
Do you know how to find out whether the memory is being shared or not justing by looking at somewhere in XP? It is used to be a simple thing in 98. Some manufactories do not provide the information even in its only website. Some shops just refuse to make it clear.
What is the minimal memory needed for playing a full screen video?
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Check COMPAQ's web site for the specs on your PC and it will say if it's shared.
Anything ahared will sacrifice optimum performance in exchange for lesser price, as that's what drives the shared stuff, the lower price.
Also, video display, graphics and speed are not a laptop's best feature, as they severly lack in gaming also.
The resolution and color can be fine, but you will see a speed issue.
I personally would not buy anything shared, as you are permanently limited, in that you can never upgrade the video card.
Shared stuff is mainly entry-level.
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on some desktops, you can disable the onboard video,either with a jumper on the motherboard or in bios/setup.
and install a video card.
not sure about laptops.
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Thanks, Kibbles'n'Bits,
My desktop(win2k) is sharing 8M memory. It is written in the motherboard manual and displayed in the bios. But my computer property does not deduct 8m from the whole 384m(256+128). I've also looked several laptop(XP) labeling that the memory is shared, but I found their my computer properties do not deducted the shared.
Is there any better way to tell without opening the laptop case?
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The way you wrote the specs to your PC, assuming it is correct and that you can read it, then it does not look like shared memory.
When you bought it, it should have been plainly marked in the specs as shared, as it's a major down side to selling it.Besides, it sounds like you're guessing as to it being shared.
And with a video card that states dedicated memory of 32 MB, then that's your answer.You should looking at other issues for the CPU drain, if that's your main problem.
Spend some time searching google and get an idea of what you bought.
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