Problems with GMA965 memory allocation

[ringk]

Hi everybody, i have a problem with my gma965, i have a notebook with intel 965 chipset, 2 gb ram, intel core duo @1.80 ghz.

The problem is that when i bought the notebook, the graphic adapter description was:

"intel gma965 graphic adapter, 128 dedicated vram and up to 384 vram with shared memory"

But in the information panel of the gma driver it says maximum memory: 128 mb. My brother who has the same exact notebook (bought together as gift from parents) in the information panel states: maximum memory 384 mb.

I think that the problem could be related to DVMT settings or to the drivers, but for DVMT there's no way to change settings in the poor bios provided with the notebook, and i can't find older drivers from intel to test them...

Here's the adapter informations:

Intel Graphics Media Accelerator Driver for Mobile Report


Report Date: 11/24/2008
Report Time[hr:mm:ss]: 11:33:20
Driver Version: 6.14.10.4990
Operating System: Windows XP* Professional, Service Pack 2 (5.1.2600)
Default Language: Italian
DirectX* Version: 9.0
Physical Memory: 2038 MB
Minimum Graphics Memory: 8 MB
Maximum Graphics Memory: 128 MB
Graphics Memory in Use: 10 MB
Processor: x86 family 6 Model 15 Stepping 13
Processor Speed: 1728 MHZ
Vendor ID: 8086
Device ID: 2A02
Device Revision: 03


* Accelerator Information *

Accelerator in Use: Mobile Intel 965 Express Chipset Family
Video BIOS: 1471.0
Current Graphics Mode: 1280 x 800 True Color (60 Hz)



* Devices Connected to the Graphics Accelerator *


Active Notebook Displays: 1


* Notebook *

Monitor Name: Monitor Plug and Play
Display Type: Digital
Gamma Value: 2.20
DDC2 Protocol: Supported
Maximum Image Size: Horizontal: Not Available
Vertical: Not Available
Monitor Supported Modes:
1280 x 800 (60 Hz)
Display Power Management Support:
Standby Mode: Not Supported
Suspend Mode: Not Supported
Active Off Mode: Not Supporteed

Any help would be appreciated...

[7oby]

DVMT memory support is different in XP and Vista. Read here about the differences section "Dynamic Video Memory":

http://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/intel-gma-3000-and-x3000-developers-guide

XPs memory reporting is also not necessarily correct. Some issues are mentioned in this document:
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/display/graphicsmemory.mspx

If the latest BIOS for your notebook doesn't support more than 128MB than you might not be able to change that. If you install Vista you will be able to use the entire 384MB depending on demand.

You won't speed up your graphics by enabling more memory. At least not in the general case with this chipset. This is different for discrete graphics.

[ringk]

Quoting - 7oby

DVMT memory support is different in XP and Vista. Read here about the differences section "Dynamic Video Memory":

http://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/intel-gma-3000-and-x3000-developers-guide

XPs memory reporting is also not necessarily correct. Some issues are mentioned in this document:
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/display/graphicsmemory.mspx

If the latest BIOS for your notebook doesn't support more than 128MB than you might not be able to change that. If you install Vista you will be able to use the entire 384MB depending on demand.

You won't speed up your graphics by enabling more memory. At least not in the general case with this chipset. This is different for discrete graphics.

So it's a bios problem, as i thought.. now the problem is that nothing can be changed in bios *runs away looking for a bios editor*

thanks 7oby :)