How do I take unused ram and use it for my graphics card OR my system?

Adam_130 · Jun 27, 2016

I have 8gbs of ram for my system and 4 dedicated gbs on my gtx 970, after reviews my system information it seems I have 4gbs of dedicated vram that is not being use by my graphics card. (I know this because of multiple games only utilizing 4gbs of vram.) ((I have windows 10 and a i5 processor.))

bjornl · Jun 27, 2016

You can not.

The gtx970 is not upgradable, you can not add vram to it. (if that is what you mean). It comes with 4gb of ram on it and no means to add more.
Your system ram of 8gb is up-gradable but you can not use VRAM to do that. You can only add ram that your motherboard supports. You should only add ram that exactly matches what you already have OR you can remove your current ram and replace it with other compatible ram.
If you are uncertain on how to figure out what your motherboard uses, you can read the manual or try this scanner.
http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/systemscanner
or this advisor
http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/advisor?cm_re=top-nav-_-flyout-memory-_-us-memory-advisor

If you are trying to force games to use more of your system ram, you can't do that either. Whatever amount of memory they are designed to allocate is all that they can.

Adam_130 · Jun 27, 2016

bjornl :

You can not.

The gtx970 is not upgradable, you can not add vram to it. (if that is what you mean). It comes with 4gb of ram on it and no means to add more.
Your system ram of 8gb is up-gradable but you can not use VRAM to do that. You can only add ram that your motherboard supports. You should only add ram that exactly matches what you already have OR you can remove your current ram and replace it with other compatible ram.
If you are uncertain on how to figure out what your motherboard uses, you can read the manual or try this scanner.
http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/systemscanner
or this advisor
http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/advisor?cm_re=top-nav-_-flyout-memory-_-us-memory-advisor

If you are trying to force games to use more of your system ram, you can't do that either. Whatever amount of memory they are designed to allocate is all that they can.

You don't seem to understand me, there is unused physical ram in my tower and I want to relocate it to my system ram or my gtx.

bjornl · Jun 27, 2016

Forget adding it to your graphics card.

What do you mean by unused physical ram in your PC? DO you have 8gb install or 12? or??

hang-the-9 · Jun 27, 2016

Adam_130 :

RAM on your motherboard can't be used as RAM for your video card. You may not understanding what you are asking or what you are seeing. How are you figuring out that whatever RAM you are talking about is not being used, and when is it not being used?

USAFRet · Jun 27, 2016

Adam_130 :

It doesn't work like that.
You can't use regular RAM and somehow dedicate it to your GPU.

Adam_130 · Jun 27, 2016

bjornl :

So, I have 8 gbs on my system, I have 4gbs on my gtx 970, when I went to look at my system information through dxdiag.
Knowing when I have 4gbs being used by programs it says I have a total of 8gbs for vram. I want to have the other 4gbs to be used on my gtx, unless I have two graphics cards... If so how do I make applications use both graphics cards?

bjornl · Jun 27, 2016

Adam_130 :

The other ram is used as needed by the computer. You do not need to do anything to make it work. It will use it for the operating system, other things running in the background and to just make your PC feel a little faster.

You do not need to do anything to get the benefit of the rest of your ram.

Adam_130 · Jun 27, 2016

bjornl :

Adam_130 :

The other ram is used as needed by the computer. You do not need to do anything to make it work. It will use it for the operating system, other things running in the background and to just make your PC feel a little faster.

You do not need to do anything to get the benefit of the rest of your ram.

It IS for my graphics card but it is not being used how do I make it so it will work as 8gbs in total for my gpu.

USAFRet · Jun 27, 2016

Adam_130 :

bjornl :

It IS for my graphics card but it is not being used how do I make it so it will work as 8gbs in total for my gpu.

Your GPU, the GTX 970, has 4GB dedicated.
Your system has 8GB RAM, connected to the motherboard.
Two different things.

You cannot take some out of that 8 and move it to the GPU.

bjornl · Jun 27, 2016

Adam_130 :

bjornl :

It IS for my graphics card but it is not being used how do I make it so it will work as 8gbs in total for my gpu.

You are not listening. It does not work like that. You can not do what you ask.

Adam_130 · Jun 27, 2016

bjornl :

Adam_130 :

bjornl :

It IS for my graphics card but it is not being used how do I make it so it will work as 8gbs in total for my gpu.

You are not listening. It does not work like that. You can not do what you ask.

So you want me to leave 4 gbs of vram alone?

bjornl · Jun 27, 2016

Adam_130 :

bjornl :

So you want me to leave 4 gbs of vram alone?

Yes, you have no choice.

YOU do not need to manage your ram like you are trying.

You have 4gb of video ram. Want more? Buy a video card with more ram on it. Your games and system will manage this ram for you and use as much as they need.

You have 8gb of system. Your games and system will also manage this ram for you and use as much as they need. But for conventional use not as VRAM. This is NOT vram and can not be used as vram.

You have gotten your answer many times now, I think you should just accept it.

Adam_130 · Jun 27, 2016

bjornl :

Adam_130 :

Yes, you have no choice.

YOU do not need to manage your ram like you are trying.

You have 4gb of video ram. Want more? Buy a video card with more ram on it. Your games and system will manage this ram for you and use as much as they need.

You have 8gb of system. Your games and system will also manage this ram for you and use as much as they need. But for conventional use not as VRAM. This is NOT vram and can not be used as vram.

You have gotten your answer many times now, I think you should just accept it.

It is vram it says it is, my gtx is not using it, how do I make it use it.

bjornl · Jun 27, 2016

Adam_130 :

bjornl :

Adam_130 :

Yes, you have no choice.

YOU do not need to manage your ram like you are trying.

You have 4gb of video ram. Want more? Buy a video card with more ram on it. Your games and system will manage this ram for you and use as much as they need.

You have 8gb of system. Your games and system will also manage this ram for you and use as much as they need. But for conventional use not as VRAM. This is NOT vram and can not be used as vram.

You have gotten your answer many times now, I think you should just accept it.

It is vram it says it is, my gtx is not using it, how do I make it use it.

What ever told you that your VRAM is not being used is WRONG.

iamacow · Jun 27, 2016

Short answer is you cannot use system memory for your video card. Long answer is you can..IF you have onbaord video, which you do not. You have a dedicated video card with 4gb of vram and that's it. It cannot be upgraded or swapped out. it is FOREVER 4GB.

The person who told you that you can use the spare system ram for the video card was confused since it only applies to onbaord video, NOT dedicated video cards.

To be clear your video card will use UP TO 4GB of (dedicated) vram for any app that uses the video card.

EvooHD · Jun 27, 2016

Adam_130 :

bjornl :

Adam_130 :

Yes, you have no choice.

YOU do not need to manage your ram like you are trying.

You have 4gb of video ram. Want more? Buy a video card with more ram on it. Your games and system will manage this ram for you and use as much as they need.

You have 8gb of system. Your games and system will also manage this ram for you and use as much as they need. But for conventional use not as VRAM. This is NOT vram and can not be used as vram.

You have gotten your answer many times now, I think you should just accept it.

It is vram it says it is, my gtx is not using it, how do I make it use it.

VRAM is Video Random Access Memory (Only for GPU,u cannot! i repeat U CAN'T upgrade this.)
RAM is Random Access Memory (This is system memory, u can easy upgrade this from 8gb to 16gb and 32gb , 64gb. )

VRAM and RAM is diferent things, so dont mess up things.
Want more VRAM on your GPU?? Buy new GPU for example (RX 480 8GB) or (GTX 1070 8GB) there are many GPU from 1GB VRAM (2GB, 3GB , 3,5GB , 4GB , 6GB, 8GB, and 12GB)

hang-the-9 · Jun 28, 2016

Adam_130 :

You are not understanding what you are looking at, when you play games, your video card will use the RAM it needs for the game. Don't worry about something that is not an issue or you will do something silly that will cause an issue. Most "fixes" that people try to do for imaginary problems end up causing real problems.

fabiodrm · Jun 28, 2016

Guys... i think he is seeing the shared video memory "stacked" with vram.
DXDIAG shows VRAM that way, maybe is this the confusion.

retiredat44 · Aug 7, 2016

if someone cannot accept or understand an answer, they should go get a degree in the subject... IMHO

How do I take unused ram and use it for my graphics card OR my system?

Commendable

Honorable

Commendable

Honorable

Titan

Titan

Commendable

Honorable

Commendable

Titan

Honorable

Commendable

Honorable

Commendable

Honorable

Admirable

Distinguished

Titan

Reputable

Distinguished

Share this page