Extending Video Memory?

Acer Aspire 5920G
Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 2.2GHz
"Up to 1280MB" NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT
4GB RAM
Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit

I have recently upgraded to Windows 7 from Windows Vista and have heard it is possible to extend the Graphics card memory (hence the "Up to 1280MB" above, which is shown on the specifications list on the machine).

I am quite new to making performance modifications and I am interested to see if this would make any difference to performance, if it is possible. Does anyone know how I go about doing this, or even better, how to utilize the last 1GB of RAM that is unusable by my operating system?

Any help is appreciated, thanks!

Best thing you can do is install the latest driver. Besides overclocking, nothing you do can really enhance its performance. Set it and forget it.

For overclocking, use RivaTuner from Guru3d.com. Read up on it and the precautions if you aren't sure. Don't go too high. Be modest.

That has 1GB memory dedicated for graphics. That's more than enough.

8600M is a mobile GPU

According to a quick google search it has 512MB of dedicated memory, which is good. The rest would have to come from shared system memory, which is too slow to be useful from a gaming perspective.

Sarendei said:

how to utilize the last 1GB of RAM that is unusable by my operating system?

Installing 64-bit Windows is really the only way.

torrentg said:

That has 1GB memory dedicated for graphics. That's more than enough.

sup3rsprt said:

According to a quick google search it has 512MB of dedicated memory, which is good.

Hmm according to this it says 256MB.
Notebookcheck: Review Acer Aspire 5920G Notebook

Check the NVIDIA Control Panel, it will tell you.

There must be some discrepancy by possible sub-models or something.
I came up with this and ya, I see your link too.

Acer Aspire 5920G laptop PC - PC Advisor

torrentg said:

There must be some discrepancy by possible sub-models or something.

That certainly seems to be the case.

Another way to check graphics memory is to look at dxdiag output. That along with the NVIDIA Control Panel should help narrow it down

Thanks for all the replies. Here is my dxdiag:

Code:

 
------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 10/29/2009, 12:31:01
Machine name: DAVID-PC
Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_rtm.090713-1255)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Acer, inc.
System Model: Aspire 5920G 
BIOS: ZD1 v1.3804 3H04
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T7500 @ 2.20GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.2GHz
Memory: 4096MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 3070MB RAM
Page File: 2431MB used, 3707MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7600.16385 32bit Unicode
 
------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
Sound Tab 3: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
 
--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (retail)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)
 
---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT 
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce 8600M GT
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0407&SUBSYS_01211025&REV_A1
Display Memory: 1779 MB
Dedicated Memory: 499 MB
Shared Memory: 1279 MB
Current Mode: 1280 x 800 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: unknown
Monitor Id: AUO2774
Native Mode: 1280 x 800(p) (60.002Hz)
Output Type: Internal
Driver Name: nvd3dum.dll,nvwgf2um.dll,nvwgf2um.dll
Driver File Version: 8.15.0011.8664 (English)
Driver Version: 8.15.11.8664
DDI Version: 10
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 8/6/2009 17:16:00, 7629312 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: 
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4747-11CF-4D52-2A2101C2C535}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x0407
SubSys ID: 0x01211025
Revision ID: 0x00A1
Driver Strong Name: oem14.inf:NVIDIA_SetA_Devices.NTx86.6.1:Section002:8.15.11.8664:pci\ven_10de&dev_0407&subsys_01211025
Rank Of Driver: 00E60001
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C ModeVC1_C ModeWMV9_C 
Deinterlace Caps: {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive 
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{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch 
{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive 
{F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY 
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{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive 
{F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY 
{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY 
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch 
{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive 
{F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY 
{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY 
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch 
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D3D9 Overlay: Supported
DXVA-HD: Supported
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled

garysgold said:

It would require a clean install, but worth it in my opinion. If you wanted to just give it a try, you could do a dual boot (if you have the HDD space) so you can try it out.

Will that require another purchase? Or is there a trial version?
From what I see in the dxdiag, it looks like there is already alot of sharing going on there. Quite a commune, really..

I just installed the lastest machine-specific driver from the Acer website a couple of days ago, or is it better to go with Forceware?

Hah. sup3rsprt says 256 MB, I say 1 GB and you return with the report that says actually 499 MB (advertised at 512 MB I'm sure.) geez.

64 bit doesn't require another purchase. Same key will work. As I understand it, both versions come on the same exact DVD. Unless they changed something by now since I read or whatnot.

Machine specific driver should do well.

If that was my machine, you know when I start to worry? When I try to play games I want and the fps are too low to run well. If games play with at least a decent degree of stability and performance, be happy! Do not fix what is not broken. Only my honest opinion, and I'm the technical-minded type.

You already have 1779 MB total graphics memory and 1279 MB shared memory, with the 499 MB dedicated to the adapter. You really can't ask for much more than that!