Windows 7 memory

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  1. Posts : 2,528
    Windows 7 x64 Ultimate
       #11

    Typically the entire amout IS mapped, though you may be able to make the viewport smaller, it's typically not done. If you have a 512meg card, you'll be 4gig - 0.5 gig - a little more for other hardware. A 1 gig card means 4-1-a smidge, 2x768 means 4-1.5-a smidge and two 1 gig means 4-2-a smidge. Been that way for a long time.
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  2. Posts : 171
    Windows 7 (x64)
       #12

    fseal said:
    Typically the entire amout IS mapped, though you may be able to make the viewport smaller, it's typically not done. If you have a 512meg card, you'll be 4gig - 0.5 gig - a little more for other hardware. A 1 gig card means 4-1-a smidge, 2x768 means 4-1.5-a smidge and two 1 gig means 4-2-a smidge. Been that way for a long time.
    Incorrect. Perhaps you are thinking of onboard graphics, which typically use physical RAM because they generally have none themselves.

    Gamasutra - Features - Sponsored Feature: RAM, VRAM, and More RAM: 64-Bit Gaming Is Here


    The Growth of VRAM
    Another factor in the PC memory equation has been growing as well: video memory size. In the early days of Direct3D, the typical video card had 16 or 32 MB of Video RAM (VRAM). High-end video cards now have 512 MB, 640 MB, 768 MB, or more VRAM. When video cards had 16 or 32 MB of Video RAM, this memory was mapped directly into every process that used Direct3D for efficient access by the application and video driver.

    As video cards grew larger, this became unsustainable. A 768 MB hole in the 2-GB virtual address space of each process would leave very little space for applications. Similarly, taking 768 MB out of the 4 GB physical address space would be too constraining. This problem is exacerbated in dual GPU configurations (SLI®/Crossfire™).


    Therefore, video card manufacturers typically implement a 256 MB physical memory window for the video graphics memory, and modern drivers do not create direct process mappings for the entire VRAM size. Process address space is still consumed for working with the AGP aperture (64 MB, 128 MB, or more typically on modern game systems 256 MB in size). While PCIe uses a dynamic aperture, it too is mapped into each process that uses Direct3D.


    (Page 1 of the same article)
    Gamasutra - Features - Sponsored Feature: RAM, VRAM, and More RAM: 64-Bit Gaming Is Here
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  3. Posts : 2,528
    Windows 7 x64 Ultimate
       #13

    I am thinking of every one of the 10 or so graphics cards I have owned since windows 2000. Every one has mapped their entire vram space over the lower 4 gig. Every one, every byte.

    While your quote may be referring to how things work internally. It does NOT reflect how the memory is reserved as far as the user is concerned.

    Every byte of the vram is disabled from use by the (32bit) OS from the 4 gig memory space. It's exact, every time, maybe we should take apoll. Though with W7 64 bit the issue is quickly vanishing...
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  4. Posts : 171
    Windows 7 (x64)
       #14

    < shrug > Poll away.

    But the fact of the matter is that the aperature required/implemented for MMIO for Graphics is 256MB.
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  5. Posts : 3,300
    Win7 Home Premium 64x
       #15

    Billyc247 can you post your exact motherboard build/version. if you have trouble finding the info get CPU-Z and there is a tab that can tell you what it is.

    CPUID

    The reason 64x might not work on your system might be because of the CPU/motherboard capabilities. The mobo has to be set up to use 64x the only way around that barrier is to get a new mobo....
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  6. Posts : 3,300
    Win7 Home Premium 64x
       #16

    Another thing to try is checking the BIOS to make sure the integrated graphics isnt actually using RAM. It should be under advanced>Integrated Chipset it might be set to auto, but can be set down to 32MB....

    Also, you can try taking one of the vid cards out and you should see the amount of RAM increase as the hardware is not being allocated in the RAM. this would prove that the RAM works, its just being allocated away.

    Be advised, if it is possible to go the 64x route, a clean install will be needed as you cant migrate from 32x to 64x.
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  7. Posts : 1,113
    windows 7 professional & ultimate 64bit laptops
       #17

    has anyone seen or tried this:

    copy and paste below in red into an elevated cmd prompt

    BCDEdit /set PAE forceenable --enable to use 4GB RAM


    I have not done this so please read more about it and beware
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  8. Posts : 2,528
    Windows 7 x64 Ultimate
       #18

    Ok, here is the scoop.

    ScottEq, you are right... ONLY if the physical memory does NOT sit on top of the video ram. See here: techPowerUp! :: What is AGP Aperture size?

    The agp aperature is used to map video ram into physical ram it's true. and more physical ram is used up per process that uses video ram.

    BUT

    When physical memory is large enough that it actually overlaps the video ram which IS mapped into physical space all the time (On a 32 bit OS with 4 gig of ram installed), then your main memory under that video ram becomes unusable.

    So in the case of 4 meg of ram, the first bit of ram that comes off is the 768 meg x 2 of the OP's video card setup. THEN when he runs a game, more memory may be mapped to ram in the process as needed through the AGP aperature.

    So in the case of Physical RAM being small enough (say 2 gig) you were correct, but in this case with 4 gig of ram, it was what you said PLUS what I said as far as "missing ram" goes. Playing a game on a machine setup such as the OPs would actually end up using 768x2 PLUS the AGP aperature (maybe, depends on demands of the game) while running, and 768x2MB of ram all the time even with nothing running.
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  9. Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
       #19

    pacinitaly said:
    has anyone seen or tried this:

    copy and paste below in red into an elevated cmd prompt

    BCDEdit /set PAE forceenable --enable to use 4GB RAM


    I have not done this so please read more about it and beware

    Here you go mate.

    Physical Address Extension (Windows)
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 1,113
    windows 7 professional & ultimate 64bit laptops
       #20

    Bare Foot Kid said:
    pacinitaly said:
    has anyone seen or tried this:

    copy and paste below in red into an elevated cmd prompt

    BCDEdit /set PAE forceenable --enable to use 4GB RAM


    I have not done this so please read more about it and beware

    Here you go mate.

    Physical Address Extension (Windows)

    awesome Ted as always
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