Video Random Access Memory, commonly known as VRAM, is a type of memory used in graphics cards to store image and video data displayed on a computer's monitor. VRAM is a specific type of DRAM optimized for quickly retrieving large amounts of data.
In Windows systems, VRAM is used by tools such as graphics drivers to store and manage the graphics data that is displayed on your screen. The VRAM is directly connected to the GPU.
What's the Purpose of VRAM?
VRAM has several advantages over other types of memory that make it ideal for use in graphics cards. One of the main advantages of VRAM is its high bandwidth, which allows it to transfer large amounts of data quickly. This is essential for rendering complex images and videos in real time.
VRAM is also optimized for parallel access, which allows multiple pixels to be rendered simultaneously. This is achieved by dividing the VRAM into multiple banks, each of which can be accessed independently by the GPU. This allows the GPU to render multiple pixels simultaneously, resulting in faster performance and smoother graphics.
Another essential feature of VRAM is its ability to support high resolutions and color depths. VRAM is designed to store large amounts of data, which allows it to support high-resolution displays and color depths up to 32 bits per pixel.
How to Check the Installed VRAM.
Before monitoring VRAM usage on your Windows system, it is good to know how much VRAM your system holds.
Using the Settings App
The first and most common method you can use to check the installed VRAM memory is by using the Settings app.
Follow the steps provided below to check the installed VRAM on your system.
Step 1 - Open the Start Menu from the Windows Logo.
Step 2 - Open the Settings app or search Settings and click on the "Settings" app from the search results.
Step 3 - Click on the "System" option in the Settings app.
Step 4 - Select "Display" from the left-hand side menu in the System menu.
Step 5 - Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Advanced display settings link.
Step 6 - Click on the "Display adapter properties" link in the Advanced display settings.
In the Display Adapter properties window, select the "Adapter" tab.
Under the "Adapter information" section, you can see the amount of VRAM installed on your computer next to "Dedicated Video Memory."
Using the System Information Tool
Windows also provides us with a tool for gathering system information. We can use this tool to gather the available VRAM on our Windows system.
Follow the steps as outlined below:
Step 1 - Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
Type msinfo32 in the Run dialog box and press Enter.
Expand the "Components" category from the left-hand side menu in the System Information window.
Select "Display".
On the right-hand side of the window, you can see the amount of VRAM installed on your computer next to "Adapter RAM".
Note that the amount of VRAM shown from the System Information tool may differ from the dedicated video memory listed in the previous method, This is because it includes shared memory.
Check VRAM Usage Using Task Manager
The easiest method for checking VRAM usage on your Windows System is by using Task Manager.
Step 1 - Press the CTRL + SHIFT + ESC to open the Task Manager.
Step 2 - Open the Performance Tab.
From the Right pane, select the GPU on which usage you wish to monitor. Here, you can gather information such as available memory, current utilization, etc.
Check VRAM Usage Using GPU-Z
We can also use an external tool to monitor the VRAM usage on your system. One of the best tools to perform such a task is using GPU-Z
GPU-Z is a lightweight tool that provides detailed information about your graphics card, including VRAM usage.
You can download GPU-Z from the link below:
Once downloaded, launch the GPU-Z and select your target GPU from the bottom of the screen.
Next, open the Sensors Tab and monitor the Memory Usage.
And there you have it.
Conclusion
In this post, you learned how to view the installed VRAM on your system and monitor VRAM usage using Task Manager and other Third-Party tools. We hope you enjoyed this tutorial.
