64mb GPU vs 256mb ram...

For all you ultra techheads out there...

The other day I upgraded our old family computer by adding 1gb of ram bring it up to 1.25gb of ram;

Current config-

*Pentium 4 -2.4ghz with HT technology

* 1gb of ram (1 stick) + 256mb of ram (1 stick), 2 sticks combined= 1256mb ram.

* 64MB Geforce MX 440 Graphics card

* Sound blaster 'live' 5.1 Sound Card.

Not the best config I know, but its just a temporary upgrade till we get a completely new computer.

I was half hoping that adding the extra 1gb of ram would boost graphics performance. It seems however, that the computer is still relying soley on the old Geforce card... as the graphics are terrible.

So, I was wondering about allocating RAM towards graphics (say 256mb worth), I know its usually best to rely on the GPU, but as its lacking I thought It might be better to use some RAM as well...

For best graphics performance;

Should I remove the graphics card and relying soley on shared memory?...

should I keep the card in but still allocate some RAM memory as well?

or should I simply stick with the 64mb graphics card (no shared memory)?

and how would I go about sharing ram? what programs?

EDIT- ANYONE???

#458980

Uh, you DON'T share RAM with your graphics card.

Shared graphics memory only happens when your GPU is a part of your motherboard and uses RAM from your system RAM as graphics memory.

A discrete (stand-alone) graphics board like your Geforce 440 MX cannot access system RAM like it does its own texture and rendering memory.

What you need is a cheap 256 Mb memory card, and you can find those for as low as $50 on places like PriceWatch.com.

#458987

Uh, you DON'T share RAM with your graphics card.

Shared graphics memory only happens when your GPU is a part of your motherboard and uses RAM from your system RAM as graphics memory.

A discrete (stand-alone) graphics board like your Geforce 440 MX cannot access system RAM like it does its own texture and rendering memory.

What you need is a cheap 256 Mb memory card, and you can find those for as low as $50 on places like PriceWatch.com.

Yeah I didnt think I'd be able to use both the GPU's onboard memory and the systems ram together.

But im not interested in upgrading my graphics card either, it'd be more than $50 Aud and its just not worth it. I can wait till we completely upgrade our computer.

which is why im still considering completely running of ram and ditching the old gpu.

#458990

you're running Pentium 4 HT, so I'm guessing you might be using mPGA478 socket mainboard or maybe LGA775 based mainboard. Unless you give more info on mainboard it's hard to know what integrated GPU it has. One thing I can say pretty surely that, your MX440 card is MUCH better than

intergrated GPU that you might be having. So DO NOT ditch your graphic card. I had that card some years back (I used it for almost 2 years) and it's a pretty good card, I was able to run Doom3 on it (offcourse at lowest settings with evident lag in frame rates, but it was able to run it nevertheless).

Anyway, RAM will not help you getting better graphic. It's GPU (integrated or discreet) and/or CPU that processes your graphic, more RAM will help load games faster but not increase picture quality.

#458997