How do I check RAM and Video Cards?

Nets_VC_15 · Post by **Nets_VC_15** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 5:18 pm

RADEON X300 SE 128MB HyperMemory.

Adapter RAM is at 128. Which means I probably have little to no RAM what so ever as far as video editing goes right?

Willen · Post by **Willen** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:40 am

The amount of video memory (or type of video chipset) you have has little impact on video editing. The exception is for lower-end or integrated video graphics that use main memory for video RAM.

I've edited video on a computer with 512MB RAM and integrated video which used 64MB of main memory for video RAM. That left 448MB of RAM for Windows and other programs. It worked fine.

The Radeon X300 SE 128MB HyperMemory has 128MB of on-board video RAM and can use up to another 128MB of main memory as video RAM for a total of 256MB. (Explanation of HyperMemory technology.) The amount of main memory used by the video card will vary depending on the task so at times you might have all of your system RAM available for programs.

Example 1 (assuming the computer has 512MB of RAM): basic web browsing isn't very graphics intense so the card won't need more than the on-board 128MB of video RAM. So all 512MB of RAM is available for the OS and programs.

Example 2 (assuming the computer has 512MB of RAM): playing a fairly graphics heavy game means that the video card needs more memory to function at peak levels. It will use 128MB of main memory as additional video RAM which leaves 384MB (512 - 128) of RAM for the OS and programs.

Increasing the amount of main memory will be pretty beneficial to overall performance in any system (to a point), but more so in a computer with a video adapter that uses main memory for video RAM.

Nets_VC_15 · Post by **Nets_VC_15** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 2:58 pm

I need to pick up on how to completly understand RAM some more, but I think I get the main idea that despite the small amount of ram, everything should still function, just not at top quality.

I have a question, on purchasing. I went to Circuit City with a friend and we asked a guy about buying memory. He said because my computer is a dell, I would actually have to ask dell for help or only buy a dell RAM card. My computer is a Windows XP by Dell, and XPS 400. I searched for RAM as a product and this is what came up

http://search.dell.com/results.aspx?s=d ... 00&cat=snp

The first offer of 1 GB, it's 39.99$; should I buy that or ask their CS?

Joe88 · Post by **Joe88** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:17 pm

2GB (2x 1GB) $38.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820231044

1GB $19.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820145525

you dont need to buy from dell because they double the prices on their
if you know what your machine takes (DDR2 in the 533mhz range) then you can buy it from anywhere

Nets_VC_15 · Post by **Nets_VC_15** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:47 pm

Are you sure I won't have any problems with the cheap one? This guy from Circuit city said it would need to be Dell RAM for it to work on my computer.

Joe88 · Post by **Joe88** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 6:57 pm

Nets_VC_15 wrote:Are you sure I won't have any problems with the cheap one? This guy from Circuit city said it would need to be Dell RAM for it to work on my computer.

those guys are circuit city and best buy have no idea what their talking about

I have a dell that I found in the trash and fixed (my comp now)
dimension 4550
I bought ram from newegg, its used DDR1-PC2700, worked fine
you do not need to special ram, any ram will work just make sure its in those ranges (DDR2-PC4300[533]) , and you can pick up any brand

I love to go to best buy and pwn them as far as comp info goes
I overhear them giving customers wrong info and I go in there and own them at their own job

Nets_VC_15 · Post by **Nets_VC_15** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:54 pm

in those ranges? So I can buy the 19.95$ ram for my Dell XPS 400, right?

KyoMatsu · Post by **KyoMatsu** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 3:46 pm

Kariudo wrote:pre-built and public computers would typically probably range from 256MB to 1GB
typical users probably won't use more than 1GB
higher-end pre-built systems could get up to 2GB, I don't think I've seen any with 4GB

for editing, that absolute minimum I'd try editing with is 512MB
2GB is probably the sugar spot between price and added performance
I'm sure there's more than enough people maxing out with 4GB

I personally use 3GB (only 2.75GB is usable for some reason)

you can always find a way to use all of your memory, but I don't think I've used more than 2.5GB (multiple files open in AvsP, premiere pro, AIM 6, vdubmod)

You using an intigrated video card? or dont have it deactivated in your bios if your not? that might be sucking up some of that ram