This wikiHow teaches you how to allocate RAM as Video RAM (VRAM) on a Windows laptop that has an Intel GPU (graphics processing unit). You can use the Registry Editor to change the amount of Dedicated Video RAM on the laptop.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Viewing the Amount of Dedicated Video RAM
Step 1. Click the Start button
The Start button is shaped like the Windows logo and is in the lower-left side of the screen.
Step 2. Click Settings
The Settings button is shaped like a gear and is located on the left side of the Start menu.
Step 3. Click the System option
System is the first option in the Settings window. This option is to the right of the laptop icon. Clicking on it will open the System Settings menu.
Step 4. Click the Display option
Display is the first option on the left of the System Settings menu. This option is to the right of the monitor icon.
Step 5. Scroll down the screen and click the Advanced display settings link
This link is at the bottom of the Display menu.
Step 6. Click the Display adapter properties for Display 1 link
This link is under Display information. Clicking on it will open a new window containing information related to GPU and Video Ram. You can see the amount of Dedicated Video Ram next to the "Dedicated Video Memory" text.
Method 2 of 2: Using Registry Editor
Step 1. Check if the Laptop's Video RAM can be upgraded
Some Intel processors and GPUs do not allow you to change the amount of Video RAM used. Follow these steps to check if the laptop allows you to increase the VRAM:
- open FAQ page for Intel Graphics Memory.
- Click the link What is the maximum amount of graphics memory my computer can use ?
- See if the laptop's GPU and processor are on the list.
Step 2. Click the Start button
The Start button is shaped like the Windows logo and is in the lower-left side of the screen.
Step 3. Type Regedit
This will display the Registry Editor in the search results on the Start menu.
Step 4. Click the Regedit program
The program icon is a blue cube. Clicking on it will open the Registry Editor program.
Note that changing Registry Editor data can damage the laptop system. Therefore, you must be very careful when editing Registry Editor data
Step 5. Click the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE folder
Clicking on it will display some of the folders stored in that folder in the Registry Editor.
Step 6. Click SOFTWARE
Clicking on it will display the other folders.
Step 7. Right-click the Intel folder
Clicking on it will open a pop-up menu next to the "Intel" folder.
Step 8. Select the New option
It's in the pop-up menu that appears when you right-click the "Intel" folder. Selecting this option will bring up another pop-up menu next to the “New” option.
Step 9. Click the Key option
Clicking on it will create a new key file in the "Intel" folder.
Step 10. Rename the GMM key file
When creating a key file, it will have the name " New Key #1". Press the button Backspace on the keyboard to delete the key file name and then type "GMM" in capital letters.
Step 11. Right-click the GMM file
The "GMM" file is the newly created key file. Right-clicking on this file will open a pop-up menu.
Step 12. Select the New option
Selecting it will display a pop-up menu.
Step 13. Click the DWORD (32 Bit) Value option
This option is the third option in the " New " menu. Clicking on it will create a new value in the GMM folder.
Step 14. Rename the value DedicatedSegmentSize
The value created will be named by default " New Value #1". Press the button Backspace on the keyboard to delete the value name and type "DedicatedSegmentSize" as the new name.
Step 15. Double-click the DedicatedSegmentSize value
This is the value that was just created. Double-clicking it will bring up a pop-up window.
Step 16. Click the Decimal option
This option is the second option below the "Base" text to the right of the pop-up window. Click the circle button to the left of " Decimal " to select it.
Step 17. Type a number in the "Value Data" field
The number entered is the amount of RAM you want to allocate as Video RAM (in megabytes or megabytes). If the laptop has 8 GB of RAM, you can only allocate 512 megabytes. If your laptop has more RAM, you can allocate more RAM.
Step 18. Click the OK button
This will save the value in the Registry Editor.
Step 19. Restart the laptop
To restart the laptop, follow the steps listed below. You can also see the image above to find out how. After restarting the laptop, check the amount of Video RAM as described in Method 1. The amount of Video RAM can be found next to the " Dedicated Memory " text. Increasing Video RAM probably won't improve laptop performance. However, if you have software that requires a certain amount of Video RAM to run, this method can be used to run it. Here's how to restart the laptop:
- Click button Start.
- Click the icon shaped like a circle with a line at the top.
- Click option Restart.
