PC memory vs desktop resolution vs video card memory ?

Browser_ICE

<div class="IPBDescription">Want higher resolution + recent vid card but no 3d max rendering time reduced</div>Ok, its been a while since I was checking PC tech info, so now I can't remember. I need to understand the relation between PC memory vs Desktop memory (for higher resolution) vs video card memory

I have 2gb PC memory, running at 1024*768*32 on my desktop and using a 128Mb ATI 9600XT video card. I am using 3d max and just got a new monitor that can go as high as 1920*1080*32.

I want to get a more recent video card and use a higher desktop resolution for my 3d max (hopefully that 1920*1080). I only have enough money for a video card and maybe for 1gb additional memory.

I know there is no relation between video card memory vs PC memory.

If I get a 512Mb video card and want to use that highest resolution, do I need to increase my PC memory to componsate for higher resolution and not having my 3d max rendering time reduced because of that ?

Xyth

Your desktop resolution has nothing to do with your computers memory, graphics card or otherwise. If your monitor can only go to 1024 x 768, it's because that monitor is from the 80s. Get a better monitor if you want a higher resolution. I currently use a 17" at 1280x1024, and a 19" at 1600x1200 setup in dual-screen mode.

Also, if you want to render faster with 3DsMax I would reccomend upgrading your RAM and CPU before looking into a better video card. Or you could build a farm of smaller computers and use them to batch render (That's what I did! Gogo gadget 7ghz renderfarm!)

Browser_ICE

But wont using a resolution of 1900x1080x32 use more memory ?

If so, that memory will be taken out of the PC memory ? See, I am trying to figure out if using higher resolution leaves less memory for applications to use (besides vitual / swap memory).




I did a few checks

While in 1920X1080X32, my used memory is 14,156K more then when I am at 1024X768X32 with the same desktop activities going on. So that means the highest resolution is using 13Mb more <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/confused-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="???" border="0" alt="confused-fix.gif" />

I did a screenshots of both resolutions and saved as BMP. I was thinking the desktop memory portion is using the same bytes patterns as a BMP file (I could be wrong). So a 1920X1080X32 bmp is using 3Mb more then at 1024X768X32.

So am I right to conclude that there isn't that much memory differences between both resolutions ?

Xyth

<!--quoteo(post=1617591:date=Mar 28 2007, 10:20 PM:name=Browser_ICE)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Browser_ICE @ Mar 28 2007, 10:20 PM) [snapback]1617591[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
But wont using a resolution of 1900x1080x32 use more memory ?

If so, that memory will be taken out of the PC memory ? See, I am trying to figure out if using higher resolution leaves less memory for applications to use (besides vitual / swap memory).
I did a few checks

While in 1920X1080X32, my used memory is 14,156K more then when I am at 1024X768X32 with the same desktop activities going on. So that means the highest resolution is using 13Mb more <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/confused-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="???" border="0" alt="confused-fix.gif" />

I did a screenshots of both resolutions and saved as BMP. I was thinking the desktop memory portion is using the same bytes patterns as a BMP file (I could be wrong). So a 1920X1080X32 bmp is using 3Mb more then at 1024X768X32.

So am I right to conclude that there isn't that much memory differences between both resolutions ?
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Running certain programs at higher resolutions will slow down the computer, specifically video games since it has to calculate geometrical shapes to a higher degree of accuracy so they display correctly at a high resolution. However, when viewing your desktop or a non-realtime application (3ds max for example) the difference will be almost microscopic. So yes, you are correct in assuming that. If you are looking to increase your render speeds with max, your best bet would be to use lower poly models, simpler render methods, or lower samples.

Browser_ICE

Isn't the memory limit to be used with 3d max / XP like 3Gb ?

BlackMage

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Windows XP Professional and Windows Server 2003 Memory Support. The maximum amount of memory that can be supported on Windows XP Professional and Windows Server 2003 is also 4 GB. However, Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition supports 32 GB of physical RAM and Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition supports 64 GB of physical RAM using the PAE feature.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
higher resolution makes your video card work faster since it has to prepare more pixels, the memory overhead for a static 32bpp image at desktop resolution is trivial ( 2 400 * 3 200 * (32 bits) = 29.296875 megabytes)

TychoCelchuuu

Max should work perfectly fine on that setup up to just about any resolution a monitor could ever handle.

[WHO]Them

2GB of system ram is plenty for ultrahigh res desktops and large windows in *most* situations. You'd really only run into problems if you were running max with lots and lots and lots and lots of high res textures being used.



That being said, here's the relational breakdown as requested....

System memory is used by windows left and right. Your overall desktop resolution increases system memory usage, and usually an application will have several memory areas to work with at it's window resolution. All of that definitely takes up more system memory. The above might not be true for Vista, but probably is.

Video memory comes into play for three things.
1. A single copy of what your desktop looks like right now. It has no notion of windows, so this is safely going to be effected only by your desktop resolution.
2. With games and applications like 3DSMax, the resolution of whatever window uses either Direct3D or OpenGL in hardware mode will definitely take up some memory, but this only pertains to one of your views in max if I remember correctly, the rest use GDI and therefore take up system memory.
3. Any textures applied to anything in one of these D3D or OpenGL windows will take up some video memory, and possibly system memory depending on how the application manages the textures.

There are other things that will take up video memory, but the 3 above are the big hogs.

So, if you're using max's ultra high quality software renderer, you really only need enough video memory to support your desktop resolution. The rest of the work is handled between the cpu and system ram. If you're using d3d or opengl for previews and final renders then you'll need a balance of system and video because chances are, most of the assets are cloned between the two.



So, yeah, once again, 2GB is fine for almost everything out there, including 3dsmax with no scene. But as your scene gets more and more complex you'll know if you're going to cross that line by when things start to chug and you hear your hard disk working all the time.