How to Expand Dedicated Video RAM in Windows 7/10/11

Having a good amount of video RAM is very important for any graphics-intensive pc game or task that is run on a gaming PC.

If your computer has been doing badly on this aspect lately, then probably, the only thing you can do is to upgrade your video card.

Even though it is true that a new graphics card would do wonders to your visual outcome of the desktop computer, options for laptops aren’t so open-ended.

Video cards can also be rather expensive so maximizing what we already have for the time being is probably the best solution.

One solution that is not going to force you to up-grade your hardware is increasing the dedicated video RAM on your PC.

Keep on reading to find out more about this solution and you can as well practice how to come up with it yourself.

Upgrading the RAM Allotted to Video

Video RAM or, VRAM is RAM meant for the video part of a PC. While regular RAM is integrated to function as a temporary storage for the rest of your computer’s components, VRAM is specifically designed to work with the GPU to store short-term graphics data.

As you may have noticed, VRAM is not the sole criterion that defines how sleek your work is when youare cutting videos, rendering 3D graphics, or launching graphics-demanding games.

However, as these operations happen, a certain amount of VRAM is required for these operations. Although you can’t alter the amount of VRAM you have, except by swapping out your GPU, you can command your PC to push the available VRAM to its limits.

You cannot largely enhance it to get a better experience, nonetheless, you can use it in order to overcome certain challenges. Make an attempt with the following solutions if you are using Windows PC.

How to Expand Windows 11’s Dedicated Video RAM

There are several methods proposed to configure the Windows 11 VRAM, but one should also check what is being utilized at the moment. Here’s how to know the current VRAM and the different methods of setting the VRAM.

How to Determine What Size of VRAM Is Currently in Use by Windows 11

Among the things you should do before starting on your path to the enhancement of your dedicated video RAM is determining how much of it your Windows 11 PC employs. If you want to know that information follow these steps.

1. Go to your “Start” and then slide over to the menu that’s labeled “Windows” and click on “Settings.”
2. System: Locate it in the left pane and click on it. Advanced display: Choose it in the middle of the “Related settings” pane on the right.
3. Sometimes there will be a pop-up appearing on the screen that says, “Display adapter properties for Display #. Click here”.

Here, you will be able to see the amount of dedicated video memory that your computer has in the opened window.

How To Update Vram on Windows 11 Using the BIOS

If you are using Windows 11 and feel the amount of VRAM used by this OS is not enough then you can always try changing it in the BIOS. And here are the steps.

1. Turn off your computer and then turn it on back, as soon as the power light comes on immediately press the BIOS access button that is usually F2, Del, etc. Pressing it once puts the action through to be done while pressing it consecutively makes sure that the action gets done.
2. Locate BIOS Advanced Features Menu.
3. Simply search your VRAM graphics settings; the option to open it may be labeled as ‘Graphics Settings,’ ‘VGA Share Memory Size,’ ‘Video Settings,’ or anything like that.
4. Decide on the number of bits by which in VRAM space you wish to allocate.
5. Apply the above mentioned changes then exit and also try to restart your computer so as to verify whether your VRAM has been boosted.

How to Set the VRAM of Windows 11 via Registry Editor

Another method of changing your specific Windows 11 dedicated video RAM is using the Registry Editor.

Admittedly, this won’t add actual VRAM but will help programs think that they have more GPU power at their disposal.

It important to know that this trick may not work any time. It is essential to understand that some of processes might exceed the actual VRAM limit if it will be programmed to use the VRAM to the full.

However, some of them fixed lower limits than the given limits hence they are free to use more as they feel more of it is available for use.

1. Press the Windows key, then in the ‘search bar’ type ‘regedit’ and launch ‘Registry Editor.’
2. Navigate to the following location: “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Intel. ”
3. Right-click on the name “Intel” in the sidebar and choose “New -> Key. ”
4. So, create your new key as “GMM” and then click on it to open it.
5. Now, go to the right-side panel and right-click inside it; from the menu, choose ‘New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value’.
6. Rename it “DedicatedSegmentSize” and double-click on it.
7. In the right sidebox, select “Hexadecimal” and input the amount of VRAM which you require in megabytes
8. instead, click “OK” in order to save the changes and then close the “Registry Editor” and restart the computer.

How to expand Windows 10’s dedicated video RAM

The steps on how to increase your VRAM on windows 10 are as follows and they are almost similar to those of windows 11.

Learn your current VRAM in Windows 10

1. Go to the “Cortana search bar” and click on “advanced display info” typing “advanced display” in the box.
2. Under “Display information, ” click “Display adapter properties for Display #.”
3. Check the figure written next to such words as “Dedicated Video Memory” to know your current amount of VRAM.

It is however important to note that if the quantity of VRAM is not favorable, there is always the possibility of increasing it with no physical addition of hardware part.

How to add up the VRAM in Windows 10 using the BIOS

1. Try this: shut down your computer, and upon the next start, press the key that displays the bios logo frequently (F2, Del, etc.).
2. Go to a menu which is named as “Video Settings”, “Graphics Settings”, or “VGA Share Memory Size”, most often the tab is included into an “Advanced” section.
3. Increase the pre-allocated VRAM.
4. Click apply, save these changes and restart the PC once more.

In a way, editing your BIOS isn’t an option for everyone. Thankfully, it is also possible to adjust the VRAM through the Windows 10 Registry Editor, as well.

How to increase VRAM in Windows 10 using the Registry Editor

Although changing the details of VRAM in the registry does not affect the performance of your PC in any way, it will work around the programs that do not run because your VRAM is too low.

Their performance may, in fact, decline, but then again, they will at least jog. In particular, if a program defines what it can allocate based on VRAM available space, this quantity will be raised and the program will be faster.

It may have problems if it sets VRAM based on the maximum as you tricked it into doing so. What this means is that the process is unbounded but intervention sees apps that need high VRAM to start the process.

1. First, input ‘Windows + R’ to unlock the “Run” dialogue on your screen.
2. Click on the search bar, type “regedit,” and then click “OK. ”
3. Navigate to “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Intel. ”
4. Right-click the “Intel” in the left-side panel and click New-> Key.
5. That includes labeling the new key for GMM.
6. Navigate to the folder, right-click ‘GMM’, and then select ‘New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value. ’
7. Type “DedicatedSegmentSize. ”
8. Recipient Count: In Open “DedicatedSegmentSize,” click “Decimal,” and in the box, enter a value between 0 and 512.
9. After that, click on “OK,” and after this, restart your PC to see the changes implemented.

How to Add More RAM for Dedicated Video in Windows 7

To those who are still using Windows 7, please take note that to increase VRAM, you can use the Registry Editor and not Windows 10 and Windows 11.

When you plan to modify the overall dedicated graphics memory in your Windows 7, make sure to check your present graphics memory in your display settings.

Check your current Vram through the Windows 7 operating system as follows:

1. Click on the desktop, and you will see the options, among which are “Screen Resolution. ”
2. Go to the top on the right corner and click on the arrow down to choose “Advanced Settings. ”
3. The currently allocated VRAM will be stated right beside the Dedicated Video Memory capability.

Adjusting the above-mentioned Registry Point to Increase Windows 7 VRAM

To increase VRAM in Windows 7 to run software that requires a higher minimum to start up, follow these steps:

1. The users are then to press the “Ctrl” key and the “R” key on the keyboard to open the “Run” dialog then Type “regedit” in the “Run” dialog and press the “Enter” key or the “OK” button Other ways of opening the registry editor is by clicking the start menu icon and then typing “regedit” in the search bar then pressing the “Enter” button.
2. Go to the “Tools,” and in the pull-down menu, click on “Find. ”
3. Pretend to type “INCREASEFIXEDSEGMENT” and depress the enter key in what you may imagine is a fit of typing frenzy then click on “Find Next. ”
4. Double-click the “IncreaseFixedSegment” file.
5. Type “1” under “Value data” and then click “OK.”
6. To check your VRAM try the first process above and then try to restart your PC and check your VRAM in your Display Settings to see if your attempt worked.

Inadequate video RAM problems simply can manifest themselves very quickly as lags and freezes, which are never pleasant and can often interfere with work.

However, if the option to buy a new video card isn’t attainable for you, then this tutorial should help you to increase your Windows 7/10/11 dedicated video RAM.