Windows 7: GPU question

I have a 8400gs 256mb but on dxdiag it shows 1011MB and on programs like gpu z it shows 256mb i usually play games that needs 256mb (minimum requirements) but my younger brother just bought Batman Arkham City, and the minimum requirements is 512MB gpu but i am playing very nice on low settings and it doesnt lag. So can i buy games like COD BO2 and Assassin's Creed 3 because they also need a 512MB video card

I doubt it your card is very old and the only reason why it shows more ram is because it is sharing some of the ram from the system your best bet is to buy a better card and it will not use your system resources as much

When you throw any recent games at it you will see the gameplay degrade pretty quick

Batman Arkham City is pretty recent though.

assasins creed 3 will give him problems it might be playable but it will be choppy

Also did you see that his video card is using his system ram which also drags down performance once he plays a game that is real demanding he will notice it

Then how am I able play batman arkham city

VRAM and RAM do not work together last I checked, care to explain what you mean by video card using his system ram?

And last I checked Arkham City is a pretty demanding game. Not Metro 2033 demanding, but hard enough on a gpu.

he has 1gb of ram he said it went up from 256 to 1000mb that means some of the system memory is helping him out im not disputing the fact he played it but when he gets to those games to demand a more powerful gpu but that is not that case he has 1gbvram and a 256Bit card

there it is he has a 256 bit card yes 1gb Vram that is what i am saying if he wants to buy other games go ahead but if you r expecting them to be super smooth well that remains to be seen

I just wanted you to understand what he was saying vs what he has and how it would work because if it was a 8400gs 512 mb it would work but on very low settings and he would be using some of the system memory to help him out example Hardware reserve

Pretty much im not sure even with 1 gb how much longer he could play newer titles a step further http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/426466

Ok thanks a lot guys