ATI HyperMemory

dartiss · 05-19-2005, 01:34 PM

I'm thinking of getting an ATI card that uses HyperMemory. This, according to the details, uses some of your system memory. However, I'm only after a cheap card because I'm unlikely to play games on it.

So my question is - and I'm unable to find this answer from ATI or the card manufacturer - do these HyperMemory cards only use your system memory if they run out of the memory on-board or will they just grab the maximum from the beginning, independent on whether you need it at that point?

My hope is the former and that if I get one with only 32Mb memory on-board it won't need more than this and hence won't grab any of my system memory.

Anybody have any thoughts on this?
David.

ebackhus · 05-19-2005, 01:42 PM

HyperMemory is like nVidia's TurboCache and YES, it will be using system memory. I believe they work like the AGP system in that they only use what memory they need, leaving as much to the system as possible. Of course, today's games with their massive detail will eat 32MB rather quickly so that means your main RAM will be attacked by the video card. If you don't use it for games then I can't see it going after system RAM at all.

dartiss · 05-20-2005, 02:40 AM

Thanks for that - it was the answer I was after! I didn't want it eating into system RAM if I wasn't running something graphically intensive such as a game.

David.

ebackhus · 05-20-2005, 07:30 AM

Glad to help and welcome to TSF!

05-19-2005, 01:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
dartiss Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 11 OS: Windows XP	ATI HyperMemory I'm thinking of getting an ATI card that uses HyperMemory. This, according to the details, uses some of your system memory. However, I'm only after a cheap card because I'm unlikely to play games on it. So my question is - and I'm unable to find this answer from ATI or the card manufacturer - do these HyperMemory cards only use your system memory if they run out of the memory on-board or will they just grab the maximum from the beginning, independent on whether you need it at that point? My hope is the former and that if I get one with only 32Mb memory on-board it won't need more than this and hence won't grab any of my system memory. Anybody have any thoughts on this? David.

05-19-2005, 01:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,335 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	HyperMemory is like nVidia's TurboCache and YES, it will be using system memory. I believe they work like the AGP system in that they only use what memory they need, leaving as much to the system as possible. Of course, today's games with their massive detail will eat 32MB rather quickly so that means your main RAM will be attacked by the video card. If you don't use it for games then I can't see it going after system RAM at all. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

05-20-2005, 07:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,335 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	Glad to help and welcome to TSF! __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

05-20-2005, 02:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
dartiss Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 11 OS: Windows XP	Thanks for that - it was the answer I was after! I didn't want it eating into system RAM if I wasn't running something graphically intensive such as a game. David.