How to Configure Shared Memory Through BIOS

To display 3D graphics, your computer needs to have video memory. Unless it comes with a graphics capability already built into its motherboard, your computer will need a graphics card to provide the video memory that is required for 3D playback.

The graphics card is specifically designed to generate and display 3D images to your computer screen. It uses binary data to create these 3D images. The graphics card is, essentially, a circuit board that bears its own processor (GPU) and RAM, separate from that of the computer.

However, some computers don't have graphics cards. This creates the necessity for shared memory, as the computer has to draw on the system's RAM for its video memory needs. As such, the computer's RAM has to be shared between the CPU and the graphics chip.

Some computers are specifically manufactured with shared memory. This helps cut costs by not having to incorporate a graphics card or graphics capability into the computer system. On the other hand, however, the use of shared memory greatly reduces system speed and performance.

Shared memory can be configured through BIOS or through jumper settings on the motherboard. BIOS stands for "basic input/output system." The process of configuring through BIOS is really very simple; the most difficult part is finding the function on your BIOS setup.

Here's how.

Step #1
When you start up your computer, you will need to enter BIOS setup by either hitting the Delete key, Num Lock, F8, F10, or F12. This function differs between different brands of computers.

Step #2
Once you have entered your BIOS setup, you will need to go the Integrated Peripherals menu. In this menu, you will need to select the AGP aperture size option.

Step #3
With this option selected, you can allocate the amount of shared video memory. Depending on your computer, you may allocate anywhere from 8 megabytes to 64 megabytes of RAM. On a newer computer, you may even be able to allocate up to 128 megabytes of video memory.

Step #4
Once you have allocated the desired amount of shared video memory, save your changes and exit the BIOS setup.

Now your computer shares system RAM between the CPU and the graphics chip.

You need to allocate the amount of shared video memory with extreme caution. before you assign an amount to be used as video memory, you have to keep in mind the total amount of physical video memory you have on your computer. Allocating too much shared memory to the graphics chip will make your system very unstable because your computer will not have a sufficient amount of memory to carry out normal functions.

Always make sure you have at least 64 megabytes of RAM for the CPU if you have Windows 2000 or lower and at least 128 megabytes of RAM for Windows XP and Windows Vista.

I strongly recommend that you buy a separate graphics card to use for video memory. The RAM on graphics cards is much faster, and this will greatly increase performance.