on board graphics card question

ramkernel · 02-01-2011, 10:26 AM

I came across information that the on board graphics card shares the system RAM for it's frame buffer(64 mb in pc)and we can only use the RAM minus that amount.
Please can anyone tell me which range of RAM addresses are mapped out to graphics card in such a case

xeleema · 02-01-2011, 10:41 AM

Greetingz!

You are correct; most times OnBoard Video "cards" will "share" the system RAM. This is slower than having dedicated video memory, like on a dedicated video card. For this reason, OnBoard Video is used to get a graphical display, and not do any real 3D rendering (such as gaming).
Integrated Graphics Solutions - Wikipedia

Exactly where & how system RAM is allocated to the OnBoard can vary depending on the Motherboard's BIOS implementation, so I don't think an exact memory range would be consistent. I *think* that the memory reserved for video in most BIOS implementations begin at 32MB scale up from there.

The real way to find out for you system would be to run "hwinfo --framebuffer" and check the output. Since you're an ubuntu user, do "apt-get install hwinfo" first.

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ramkernel · 02-01-2011, 10:30 PM

Thanks for the reply.
I did hwinfo --framebuffer and it prints my 64mb onboard video card memory range near the end of the 4GB address space ...
but i have a 512 mb system RAM .
how does this memory range near the 4GB address space take away 64MB from 512 MB system RAM

xeleema · 02-02-2011, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramkernel

Thanks for the reply.
I did hwinfo --framebuffer and it prints my 64mb onboard video card memory range near the end of the 4GB address space...but i have a 512 mb system RAM . how does this memory range near the 4GB address space take away 64MB from 512 MB system RAM

Okay....I realize you're a bit new to the scene, but how about a lil output? (wrapped in [code] & [/code] tags) Maybe try "hwinfo --help"? Maybe see the option "--memory" and run that, too?

ramkernel · 02-02-2011, 09:31 AM

Hi i did hwinfo --framebuffer and hwinfo --memory
The output for hwinfo --framebuffer is

Code:

02: None 00.0: 11001 VESA Framebuffer                           
  [Created at bios.464]
  Unique ID: rdCR.WPRC3QixpR8
  Hardware Class: framebuffer
  Model: "VIA K8M800
"
  Vendor: "VIA K8M800
"
  Device: "VIA K8M800
"
  SubVendor: "VIA K8M800
"
  SubDevice: 
  Revision: "VIA K8M800
"
  Memory Size: 64 MB
  Memory Range: 0xf0000000-0xf3ffffff (rw)
  Mode 0x0301: 640x480 (+640), 8 bits
  Mode 0x0311: 640x480 (+1280), 16 bits
  Mode 0x0312: 640x480 (+2560), 24 bits
  Mode 0x0303: 800x600 (+800), 8 bits
  Mode 0x0314: 800x600 (+1600), 16 bits
  Mode 0x0315: 800x600 (+3200), 24 bits
  Mode 0x0305: 1024x768 (+1024), 8 bits
  Mode 0x0317: 1024x768 (+2048), 16 bits
  Mode 0x0318: 1024x768 (+4096), 24 bits
  Mode 0x0379: 1280x768 (+1280), 8 bits
  Mode 0x037a: 1280x768 (+2560), 16 bits
  Mode 0x037b: 1280x768 (+5120), 24 bits
  Mode 0x03b6: 1280x800 (+1280), 8 bits
  Mode 0x03b7: 1280x800 (+2560), 16 bits
  Mode 0x03b8: 1280x800 (+5120), 24 bits
  Mode 0x0307: 1280x1024 (+1280), 8 bits
  Mode 0x031a: 1280x1024 (+2560), 16 bits
  Mode 0x031b: 1280x1024 (+5120), 24 bits
  Mode 0x0320: 1600x1200 (+1600), 8 bits
  Mode 0x0322: 1600x1200 (+3200), 16 bits
  Mode 0x0324: 1600x1200 (+6400), 24 bits
  Config Status: cfg=new, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown

The output for hwinfo --memory is

Code:

01: None 00.0: 10102 Main Memory                                
  [Created at memory.61]
  Unique ID: rdCR.CxwsZFjVASF
  Hardware Class: memory
  Model: "Main Memory"
  Memory Range: 0x00000000-0x1bfeffff (rw)
  Memory Size: 448 MB
  Config Status: cfg=new, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown

I have 512 MB system ram and 64 MB on board video card.