Angad Singh asks:
My system configuration is :
Motherboard :GA -8I865GME- 775
CPU :intel p4 HT 3.06GHz
RAM:1.5GB ddr1
graphics:On board intel 82865G graphics adapter
PSU :450 Watt
I have an AGP 4x/8x(1.5v) slot
Now I want to install a new graphics card in my AGP slot and my question is can my PC handle a 1GB graphic card or I should stick to a 512Mb one?
3 Answers -
Mike
July 27, 2012The only limitation comes from the operating system. If you are running a 32bit Windows your system can’t address more than 4GB of memory. With only 1.5GB RAM in your system the graphics card could even sport 2.5GB GDDR.
Having that said I’m not sure a graphics card is a worthy investment. Your system is aged, period ~ especially if it’s still sporting a AGP slot.
Your specifications look similar to an old system I used to have (mine already had an PCI-Express slot) and this was about 7 years ago?!
There is no limitation from the OS regarding video memory for a discrete card.A video card does not rob the system of that much memory. There is an AGP window that is used so the CPU can indirectly address video RAM and it only sees a tiny bit of memory from the card (usually 256MB). The video card itself could be sporting 3GB of video RAM and the system will only be “missing” the amount reserved for the AGP window.With systems like this one, adding a discrete video card normally INCREASES the amount of RAM available to the system since the window is sometimes smaller than what the onboard video controller uses. Just make sure to disable the onboard video after installing the new card through the BIOS to reclaim the memory that it was using.
July 27, 2012Yes, my statement is not fully correct ~ but it’s the best approach to prevent money being wasted in memory holes.
The window you are referring to is the AGP aperture size and it is the amount of kernel space memory used in addition to the VRAM for graphics operation (usually 64-256MB).
You are right that not all VRAM is mapped. But you will still see a memory hole and overhead of other hardware reserved address space.
With a 1GB graphics card and 256MB aperture plus other hardware reserved it will usually leave you with about 3.25GB address space for system memory on a 32bit OS.
Since I never had a card with more than 1.25GB VRAM (using a 64bit OS) I am honestly not sure if 2GB VRAM would go beyond the 256MB memory hole ~ maybe it will count in at 512MB?
Anyway, all together the easiest approach to keep all your RAM usable is not to go over 4GB combined memory.
One should certainly deactivate the inboard video in the BIOS. If available also activate memory remapping.
July 27, 2012thank you sir for the reply
July 27, 2012ferdinan Sitohang
July 27, 2012I agree with Bruce. There is no limitation for your graphic card as long as you do a correct configuration. If you upgrade you graphic card, make sure you also upgrade your monitor into the one which support your graphic card, unless it is useless.
Suman Acharya
July 27, 2012the best and reliable way is to look at your motherboard book (motherboard manual). if you don’t have it – ask for it where you purchased your pc or you can always
Google with your motherboard model and you will be sure to find it.