Optimum Video RAM for Win XP

[Ashwini Khanna]

have a Pentium 4 processor with 256 MB SD RAM on it. This processor has
built in Video card or AGP card which does not have any memory of its own;
instead it shares memory from the main memory (ie my 256MB RAM). Now I can
change this video memory size from my BIOS settings. I can set it to 8M /
16M / 32M. My main memory size reduces according to the value selected from
the BIOS.
My question is what is the optimum video memory size that I should set for
Windows XP ? I do only programming work on my PC, not heavy games, graphics
etc.

Regards,
Ashwini.

[Alvin A Brown]

Hello

Well you can set it to what value you want, set it to
32megs and you should be fine.

Alvin


Ashwini Khanna wrote:

> have a Pentium 4 processor with 256 MB SD RAM on it. This processor
> has
> built in Video card or AGP card which does not have any memory of its
> own;
> instead it shares memory from the main memory (ie my 256MB RAM). Now I
> can
> change this video memory size from my BIOS settings. I can set it to
> 8M /
> 16M / 32M. My main memory size reduces according to the value selected
> from
> the BIOS.
> My question is what is the optimum video memory size that I should set
> for
> Windows XP ? I do only programming work on my PC, not heavy games,
> graphics
> etc.
>
> Regards,
> Ashwini.

[Ron Martell]

"Ashwini Khanna" > wrote:

> have a Pentium 4 processor with 256 MB SD RAM on it. This processor has
>built in Video card or AGP card which does not have any memory of its own;
>instead it shares memory from the main memory (ie my 256MB RAM). Now I can
>change this video memory size from my BIOS settings. I can set it to 8M /
>16M / 32M. My main memory size reduces according to the value selected from
>the BIOS.
>My question is what is the optimum video memory size that I should set for
>Windows XP ? I do only programming work on my PC, not heavy games, graphics
>etc.
>
>Regards,
>Ashwini.

8 mb of video RAM should be adequate for the type of work you are doing.
That will allow for 32 bit color depth at resolutions up to 1600 x 1200.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

[Jim Macklin]

Unless you are rendering photos and video, you can use 8 MB and will have excellent text and simple photo display. If you want to run video, or edit photo and video you will need to increase video ram available.

Since you can buy another 256 MB of memory for as little as $20, I would increase the system RAM and if I needed better video, I would buy an AGP card with built-in memory of 64-128 MB. I presume your motherboard has an open AGP slot where you can add a card. The on-board video AGP is part of the motherboard chipset.

You can find out the answers to these questions if you know who made your motherboard for the manufacturer. Use the Belarc Advisor (free download) from www.belarc.com or AIDA32 (article) http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/downloadoftheday/story/0,24330,3419255,00.html

http://www.aida32.hu/aida-download.php?bit=32


"Alvin A Brown" > wrote in message ...
Hello
Well you can set it to what value you want, set it to
32megs and you should be fine.

Alvin


Ashwini Khanna wrote:

have a Pentium 4 processor with 256 MB SD RAM on it. This processor has
built in Video card or AGP card which does not have any memory of its own;
instead it shares memory from the main memory (ie my 256MB RAM). Now I can
change this video memory size from my BIOS settings. I can set it to 8M /
16M / 32M. My main memory size reduces according to the value selected from
the BIOS.
My question is what is the optimum video memory size that I should set for
Windows XP ? I do only programming work on my PC, not heavy games, graphics
etc.
Regards,
Ashwini.

[Ashwini Khanna]

Thaks !
That was helpful.
Ashwini.

"Jim Macklin" > wrote in message ...
Unless you are rendering photos and video, you can use 8 MB and will have excellent text and simple photo display. If you want to run video, or edit photo and video you will need to increase video ram available.

Since you can buy another 256 MB of memory for as little as $20, I would increase the system RAM and if I needed better video, I would buy an AGP card with built-in memory of 64-128 MB. I presume your motherboard has an open AGP slot where you can add a card. The on-board video AGP is part of the motherboard chipset.

You can find out the answers to these questions if you know who made your motherboard for the manufacturer. Use the Belarc Advisor (free download) from www.belarc.com or AIDA32 (article) http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/downloadoftheday/story/0,24330,3419255,00.html

http://www.aida32.hu/aida-download.php?bit=32


"Alvin A Brown" > wrote in message ...
Hello
Well you can set it to what value you want, set it to
32megs and you should be fine.

Alvin


Ashwini Khanna wrote:

have a Pentium 4 processor with 256 MB SD RAM on it. This processor has
built in Video card or AGP card which does not have any memory of its own;
instead it shares memory from the main memory (ie my 256MB RAM). Now I can
change this video memory size from my BIOS settings. I can set it to 8M /
16M / 32M. My main memory size reduces according to the value selected from
the BIOS.
My question is what is the optimum video memory size that I should set for
Windows XP ? I do only programming work on my PC, not heavy games, graphics
etc.
Regards,
Ashwini.

[Jim Macklin]

Thank you.


"Ashwini Khanna" > wrote in message ...
Thaks !
That was helpful.
Ashwini.

"Jim Macklin" > wrote in message ...
Unless you are rendering photos and video, you can use 8 MB and will have excellent text and simple photo display. If you want to run video, or edit photo and video you will need to increase video ram available.

Since you can buy another 256 MB of memory for as little as $20, I would increase the system RAM and if I needed better video, I would buy an AGP card with built-in memory of 64-128 MB. I presume your motherboard has an open AGP slot where you can add a card. The on-board video AGP is part of the motherboard chipset.

You can find out the answers to these questions if you know who made your motherboard for the manufacturer. Use the Belarc Advisor (free download) from www.belarc.com or AIDA32 (article) http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/downloadoftheday/story/0,24330,3419255,00.html

http://www.aida32.hu/aida-download.php?bit=32


"Alvin A Brown" > wrote in message ...
Hello
Well you can set it to what value you want, set it to
32megs and you should be fine.

Alvin


Ashwini Khanna wrote:

have a Pentium 4 processor with 256 MB SD RAM on it. This processor has
built in Video card or AGP card which does not have any memory of its own;
instead it shares memory from the main memory (ie my 256MB RAM). Now I can
change this video memory size from my BIOS settings. I can set it to 8M /
16M / 32M. My main memory size reduces according to the value selected from
the BIOS.
My question is what is the optimum video memory size that I should set for
Windows XP ? I do only programming work on my PC, not heavy games, graphics
etc.
Regards,
Ashwini.