What is VRAM?

Are you experiencing VRAM-related errors (video RAM) on a Windows computer? Having trouble running graphics programs like new video and video editing software? You may need more VRAM. So what is VRAM? What does it do?

What is VRAM?

Video RAM (or VRAM) is a special type of RAM that works with the computer's graphics processor or GPU. A GPU is a chip on a graphics card (or video card) of a computer that displays images on the screen. Although technically inaccurate, the term GPU and graphics cards are often used interchangeably.

VRAM holds the information that the GPU needs, such as game structures and lighting effects, allowing the GPU to quickly access information and output video to the screen. Using VRAM for this job is much faster than using system RAM because VRAM is located next to the GPU in the graphics card and is built for this intense purpose.

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How to find V capacity information on the computer

Users can easily view the number of VRAM in Windows 10 by following these steps:

Step 1: Open Settings by pressing Windows + I key.

Step 2: Select System , then click Display on the left bar.

Step 3: Scroll down and click Display adapter properties .

Step 4 : A control panel will appear, select the Adapter tab and look in the Information Adapter section.

Step 5: You will see the capacity of VRAM next to Dedicated Video Memory .

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In the Adapter Type section, users will see NVIDIA or AMD graphics card, depending on the device type. If you see the AMD Accelerated Processing Unit or Intel HD Graphics (almost like that), it means the system is using integrated graphics.

VRAM comparison and integrated graphics

Most people who install their own computers or buy a pre-built gaming machine have a video card. Some more powerful laptops even have a graphics card. But with a cheap desktop or laptop computer, manufacturers often do not use video cards but instead use integrated graphics.

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The integrated graphics solution means that the GPU has the same speed as the CPU and shares the usual system RAM instead of using it exclusively for VRAM. This is a cheap solution and allows laptops to export basic graphics products without video cards. However, integrated graphics do not perform other gaming and graphics tasks.

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The strength of integrated graphics depends on the CPU. Newer Intel CPUs with Intel Iris Plus graphics are stronger than older and cheaper competitors but still nothing compared to dedicated graphics.

With a computer with several years of life, users will have no problems when watching videos, playing low-intensity games and working with basic photo and video editing applications with integrated graphics . However, playing the latest impressive graphics games using integrated graphics is basically impossible.

What tasks need VRAM ?

Before talking about specific numbers, we will cover aspects of games and other graphics applications that use the most VRAM.

A big factor in VRAM consumption is screen resolution. VRAM stores the frame buffer (frame buffer), holds an image before and during the GPU display on the screen. Better displays (like playing games on 4K screens) will take up more VRAM because high resolution images will have more pixels.

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In addition to the display, the texture in a game can strongly influence VRAM. Most modern computer games allow tweaking settings to improve performance or image quality. You can play a game from a few years ago with Low or Medium settings on a cheaper card (or even integrated graphics). However, with High or Ultra quality, or custom mods that create textures in the game even better than usual, players will need a lot of RAM. Features like anti-aliasing (smoothing edges) also use multiple VRAM due to pixels.

Specific games also require different VRAM numbers. Games like Overwatch don't require too much graphics, but a game with more advanced lighting effects and detailed textures like Rise of the Tomb Raider needs more resources. In contrast, a cheap card with only 2GB of VRAM (or integrated graphics) is enough to play old computer games, but these return games need nearly 2GB of VRAM.

Even if you're not interested in gaming, some popular software also requires a large amount of VRAM. 3D design software such as AutoCAD, Photoshop, and high quality video editing will all be affected if there is not enough VRAM.

V RAM capacity

Below is a list of VRAM capacity:

1. VRAM has a capacity of 1GB - 2GB: These cards are usually under $ 100, they provide better performance than integrated graphics but cannot handle most modern games with above average settings. Only buy a VRAM card like this if you want to play old games that do not work with integrated graphics, do not edit videos or perform 3D design tasks.
2. VRAM has a capacity of 3GB - 6GB: These midrange cards are suitable for editing games or video editing but cannot use this super special texture pack for Fallout 4, but can expect to play Modern game in 1080p resolution with few problems.
3. 8GB VRAM or higher: high-end cards with lots of RAM like this are for professional gamers. If you want to play the latest games in 4K resolution, you need a card with multiple VRAMs.

Graphics card manufacturers add the appropriate amount of VRAM to a card depending on the powerful level of the GPU. Therefore, a cheap $ 75 graphics card will have low VRAM capacity, while a $ 500 graphics card will have more capacity. If a GPU is not strong enough to render video, using an 8GB VRAM will be wasteful.

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Just like RAM, many VRAMs don't always mean better performance. If your card has 4GB VRAM and is playing a game that only uses 2GB, upgrading to an 8GB card will not change anything. Conversely, not having enough VRAM is a serious problem. If VRAM is full, the system must rely on standard RAM and performance will be affected, low frame rate and some other effects.

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VRAM is just a factor affecting performance. Without a sufficiently powerful CPU, unable to render HD video, the lack of system RAM would not run many programs at once, and using a mechanical hard drive would limit system performance. And some cheaper graphics cards can use slow DDR3 VRAM. The best way to find the right graphics card and VRAM capacity is to find a professional who is knowledgeable about this problem.