[Smokey]

I got something for ya'll that I can't even understand !

My secondary system came with 11 MB integrated video RAM. Okay, nothing big so far. Well, I upgraded to Windows XP and I updated the video driver at Intel's site (82810 chipset with Windows XP Home). Well, after the update Windows claims the on-board video is using 32 MB RAM. I'm confused ! Can updating a video driver increase it's RAM? Are Windows XP claims right that my video RAM increased?

[Advertisements]

I guess Windows just wanted to give you something extra for your birthday

Integrated video memory shares RAM with system memory. Often this amount of RAM can be changed in the BIOS, but I haven't see a video driver capable of changing it. Also, I'm pretty sure the 82810 chipset doesn't support 32mb's of shared RAM.

Have you checked to see if you have the latest chipset driver from Intel? Maybe the newest video driver is only compatible with the latest chipset driver.

[admin]

I guess Windows just wanted to give you something extra for your birthday

Integrated video memory shares RAM with system memory. Often this amount of RAM can be changed in the BIOS, but I haven't see a video driver capable of changing it. Also, I'm pretty sure the 82810 chipset doesn't support 32mb's of shared RAM.

Have you checked to see if you have the latest chipset driver from Intel? Maybe the newest video driver is only compatible with the latest chipset driver.

[Smokey]

I went to Intel's website, went to the chipset driver download page (below), and I don't know where the chipset driver download link is! I downloaded my video driver from here. It says "Intel® 815 and Intel 810 chipset family graphics driver. Supports Windows* 2000 and Windows* XP." So the video driver has to be supported by my chipset.

Intel 82810 Chipset Download Page

[admin]

You want #2 the INF update utility.

[Smokey]

What will it solve by downloading the driver? Is it going to put it back to 11 MB where it belongs?

[admin]

I really don't know Nathan--but it's the only thing I can think of right now.

Also, it's a good idea to keep your chipset software up-to-date. It's an area most people overlook, but can make a difference in system performance and stability.

It's really strange that an Intel driver would create such an error. They test, test, and then retest before releasing anything.

[Smokey]

Thanks admin ! After hearing what you said about updating my chipset driver, I downloaded the latest chipset driver for my main system and wow! Major performance increase . I'll do the same for my problem system friday to see what it does. I am starting to doubt that Intel made an error, my video card is acting like a 32 MB card. It has really increased performance (fps) wise, maybe it really moved up to 32 MB .

Also, I really need a RAM upgrade on that system, another 64 MB would make 128 MB, which sounds good to me. The 64 MB stick is $35 at Crucial and I don't have a credit card to buy it ! I really need it, the system is really lagging speed wise, startup takes eternity.

[Smokey]

Ok, I tried updating the chipset driver for my secondary system and it told me "The current operating system supports the Intel chipset on your system. No INF update is needed." I am not totally sure I know what that means. Also, even dxdiag says my video RAM is 32 MB. Maybe this is a very unusual occurence. 11 to 32 MB, yeah !

[admin]

The current operating system supports the Intel chipset on your system. No INF update is needed.

You're not able to update it. If everything seems to be working okay, I'd leave it.

I'll keep my eyes open and if I see any more info related to this I'll let you know.

[Smokey]

This must be a something that doesn't happen often; updating a video driver that increase your video RAM. This case broke it open, some video drivers can raise the MB your video card is using. But still, that RAM upgrade is definitely needed!

[admin]

Learn something new everyday