Upgrading video memory on a laptop

WinterWind_23 · 04-12-2006, 05:12 AM

I recently bought a laptop online with 512 MB RAM. The sales rep called me and said that the video memory is shared, so he asked me how much I wanted to put in the video memory. I plan to surf the net, word process, play DVDs, upload photos, and stuff like that on my laptop. How much should I have allocated to the video memory out of the 512MB?

Anyways, he said that once you put in the memory for the video, you can't ever change it again. Is it true that you cannot upgrade the memory for the video card? Or would you have to change the whole video card? How much should be sufficient for a video card if I don't intend to play any demanding games?

**The_Other_One** · 04-12-2006, 05:18 AM

Please do a search before asking such questions... No, you can't upgrade it. And just knowing it's shared memory tells us nothing about how capable it is, but it does say that the video card is rather weak. As long as you don't plan to play games(basically at all), it's perfectly fine.

**DCIScouts** · 04-12-2006, 06:05 AM

The standard RAM allocation for a laptop is usually 128MB, and should be enough for the applications that it looks like you are going to be using yours for. He is completely wrong about changing the amount of RAM allocated to the video, it is a simple procedure located in the BIOS. You can upgrade the system RAM, but not the video card RAM (or the video card for that matter).

Check with the rep to see if the RAM is 1x512 (1 stick of 512) or 2x256 (2 sticks of 256). If he can put in the 1x512, that would allow you to be able to upgrade the system RAM in the future, without much pain and suffering.

04-12-2006, 05:12 AM	#1 (permalink)
WinterWind_23 New Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 10	Upgrading video memory on a laptop I recently bought a laptop online with 512 MB RAM. The sales rep called me and said that the video memory is shared, so he asked me how much I wanted to put in the video memory. I plan to surf the net, word process, play DVDs, upload photos, and stuff like that on my laptop. How much should I have allocated to the video memory out of the 512MB? Anyways, he said that once you put in the memory for the video, you can't ever change it again. Is it true that you cannot upgrade the memory for the video card? Or would you have to change the whole video card? How much should be sufficient for a video card if I don't intend to play any demanding games?

04-12-2006, 05:18 AM	#2 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 23 Posts: 12,368	Please do a search before asking such questions... No, you can't upgrade it. And just knowing it's shared memory tells us nothing about how capable it is, but it does say that the video card is rather weak. As long as you don't plan to play games(basically at all), it's perfectly fine. __________________ Desktop * Athlon X2 4200 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| 7600GT Laptop1 * C2D T5550 \| 3G RAM \| 120G HD \| Intel x3100 Laptop2 * C2D T5250 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| Intel x3100

04-12-2006, 06:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
DCIScouts Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA Age: 26 Posts: 5,089	The standard RAM allocation for a laptop is usually 128MB, and should be enough for the applications that it looks like you are going to be using yours for. He is completely wrong about changing the amount of RAM allocated to the video, it is a simple procedure located in the BIOS. You can upgrade the system RAM, but not the video card RAM (or the video card for that matter). Check with the rep to see if the RAM is 1x512 (1 stick of 512) or 2x256 (2 sticks of 256). If he can put in the 1x512, that would allow you to be able to upgrade the system RAM in the future, without much pain and suffering. __________________ In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. -Martin Luther King Jr. The most overlooked advantage to owning a computer is that if they foul up there's no law against wacking them around a little. -Joe Martin FOLDING FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND :F@H Team 44358 Posting and you - CF Edition Cheers CF

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