Graphics Card memory

Can anyone answer this query for me please.

My graphics card has a 512mb memory.
On the preferences in sl Graphics and Hardware Options there is the texture memory slider. Is there any beneficial evidence to alter this slider down from 512 to say 256. In other words does altering this slider assist in any way your performance in sl.

Depends on how much physical memory you have and whether you're running other graphics intensive programs at the same time.

Setting this lower will reduce the number of textures SL will try to cache in the GPU memory, which also reduces the amount of main memory it uses. Also, if other graphics-intensive programs are competing with SL the effective amount of graphics memory available to SL may be lower and you can avoid contention for the GPU by setting it down.

On a Mac, where the OS uses OpenGL textures for the GUI, I generally set it to half the real graphics memory. I also set it down when I'm running multiple copies of SL.

Thanks for your reply Argent

Physical memory I assume you mean ram mine is 2gb and I dont have any other programme running at the same time as sl that would use my graphics. I only have my browser and thunderbird email running in the background. I also have a pentium D dual core.

Was someone else who ask similar question a while ago about his gfx card that was sold to him as 512. Turned out he had a 256 dedicated + 256 shared main memory. Another guy had same thing with a 128 + 128. They both said it went alot better when they adjust it downwards. If you got a 512 dedicated then probably just try it and see.

Hi Tabliopa thank you.

I have been trying to find out my graphics card information all I can find is it says 512mb. How can I find out if its dedicated or not.

I have Windows xp Home

I would say "there are so many variables that you're better off just trying various settings and seeing if you can tell a difference".

Download a copy of SiSoftware Sandra Lite, run that and it will give you information about most parts of your system.

Rule of thumb, start with a setting of 1/2 your total dedicated GC ram, setting it higher may bring dividends, or reduce quality. I suggest you do not go over the total amount of dedicated Ram you have, otherwise you maybe prone to greater memory leak issues.

Other programmes running in the background, will only use GC memory, if the window is visible. They simply use CPU cycles and memory etc. GC mapping is only for visible objects, less a small header cache.