Gaming w/ new Dell XPS Studio

graceland808

Distinguished
Jan 5, 2010
6
0
18,510
Got a GeForce GTS 240 that has 1 GB of RAM. I understand I can apply more virtual memory for better graphics when playing games like X- Plane and MW2. I just need to know how to do it.


Any guidance would be appreacitated.


thx!!


 

edeawillrule

Distinguished
Dec 15, 2008
627
0
19,010


A Geforce GT 240 isn't powerful enough to fully utilize 1GB of memory anyway, much less more. And that is impossible, virtual memory extends main system ram only, and is much slower because it uses the hard drive.

Is the GT 240 not performing as well as you expected?
 

edeawillrule

Distinguished
Dec 15, 2008
627
0
19,010


I've had many Nvidia cards in the past Geforce4 Ti 4200, Geforce 8600 GTS, Geforce 9600M GT to name a few. A GT240 performs similarly to a Geforce 9600 GT, which isn't capable of utilizing 1Gb of video memory.

1GB of video memory is of benefit to only high end gpus that can play games at high details and resolutions, typically it makes a difference at 1920x1080 and up especially with antialiasing added. BUT mid range and low end cards are so weak that they can't make it to that high of a resolution anyway, they start getting low framerates at lower resolutions and detail levels because of the strength of the gpu itself, by the time they get to the point of seeing the would be benefit from the 1Gb of memory they've already reached their own limits.
 

edeawillrule

Distinguished
Dec 15, 2008
627
0
19,010
Nvidia cards from the Geforce GTS 250 and up can see a benefit from 1Gb of memory under certain circumstances, with cards weaker than a GTS 250 it doesn't make a difference.

ATI cards from the Radeon HD 4850 and up can see a benefit from 1Gb of memory under certain circumstances, with cards weaker than a 4850 it doesn't make a difference.