VRAM (or Video Random Access Memory) is a type of dedicated memory used by graphics card (GPU) to store visual data. So, VRAM size of your PC will directly impact the quality and speed of graphics rendering, especially when using high-resolution apps (like games) and working with graphically intensive apps (like video editing). In this article, we will explain VRAM functions and how to check its size in Windows 11.
Functions of VRAM
Unlike RAM, VRAM is optimized specifically for rendering graphics, which makes it much faster for this purpose. It plays an important role in delivering smooth graphics performance, especially for gaming, graphics designing, 3D rendering, and video editing. Here are some of the key tasks VRAM handles:
- High-resolution textures, images, and assets are loaded into VRAM for quick access during rendering.
- VRAM holds the frames rendered by the GPU (buffering) before they are displayed on the screen.
- VRAM is also used to store video data for playback, especially when working with 4K or higher resolution videos.
- In gaming, VRAM holds the game’s assets (textures, models, shaders) to allow fast access for smooth gameplay.
So, higher VRAM size enables better performance at higher resolutions and settings.
How to Check VRAM in Windows 11?
There are multiple ways to check the amount of VRAM on your Windows 11 device.
1. Check VRAM Size in Settings App
This is a straightforward and simpler way.
- Right-click on the Start icon and select “Settings” to open Windows Settings app. Alternatively, press “Windows Logo + I” keys to open the Settings app.
- Navigate to “System > Display” section.
- Scroll down and click on “Advanced display” option under “Related settings” section.
- Click the “Display adapter properties for Display 1” showing at the bottom of “Display information” section. If you have multiple monitors, make sure to select the correct display from the list and open its properties.
- In the properties window, look under “Adapter” tab. Here, you will see details about your graphics adapter, including “Dedicated Video Memory”, which is the size of your VRAM.
As you can see, the Dedicated Video Memory” is 1024 MB, which is 1 GB. If you have multiple graphics cards or monitors, repeat these steps and select the appropriate display properties to check VRAM size for each graphics adapter.
2. Use DirectX Diagnostic Tool to Check VRAM
DirectX Diagnostic Tool provides detailed information about your graphics card including the VRAM size. The advantage with this method is that you can also find the complete driver information, which can be useful for troubleshooting purposes.
- Right-click on the Start menu icon and select “Run” option from the power user menu. Alternatively, press “Windows Logo + R” keys to open the Run dialog box.
- Type dxdiag in the box and press “OK” button to open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool. You may be prompted to check the drivers by connecting to internet, click “No” to ignore that message and open the app.
- Go to the “Display” tab (or Display 1 if you have multiple displays) and look for “Display Memory” (VRAM). This is the amount of VRAM available on your graphics card.
As you can see, this tool shows the size as 1008 MB (instead of 1024 MB in Settings app), which is approximately 1 GB.
3. Check VRAM from Task Manager
Task Manager offers real-time monitoring of system resources, including VRAM usage. You can use this to find how different applications impact GPU memory.
- Right-click on the Start button and select Task Manager from the menu. Alternatively, right-click on the Taskbar and select “Task Manager” option.
- Go to the “Performance” tab and select “GPU” option (or GPU 0 if multiple GPUs are listed).
- Scroll down below the graphs where you can find the real-time data about GPU usage. Check the “Dedicated GPU Memory”, which represents your total VRAM capacity and current usage.
As you can see, 0.2/1.0 GB indicates 0.2 GB is used out of 1 GB total available VRAM.
4. Using Third-Party App
There are many third-party apps to provide detailed information of GPU capabilities including VRAM size. We recommend downloading the app from your graphics card manufacturer or from Microsoft Store. For example, if you are using Intel Graphics Card, you can download “Intel Graphics Command Center” app from Microsoft Store.
Go to “System” section and click “GPUs” tab. Select the GPU and find “Dedicated” memory size under “Graphics Memory” section.
The process may vary depending upon your system setup and the app you use.
How Much VRAM Do You Need?
The amount of VRAM required varies depending upon your system usage.
- 1 – 4 GB is sufficient – If you mainly browse the internet, use office applications, and watch videos.
- For modern games at 1080p resolution, 4 – 6 GB of VRAM is generally recommended.
- 6 – 8 GB is ideal for 1440p or 4K gaming and tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, and graphic design.
How to Increase VRAM Size?
Unfortunately, you can’t directly increase VRAM in most cases, as it’s physically built into the GPU. However, there are a few ways to work around VRAM limitations, depending on your system and GPU requirements:
- The most straightforward way to increase VRAM is to get a new graphics card with more VRAM. This is ideal if you are using a desktop computer, as upgrading a graphics card in a laptop is much more challenging and often impossible.
- If you are using an integrated GPU (like Intel HD graphics), you can sometimes adjust the amount of system RAM it uses as VRAM in your computer’s BIOS settings. Keep in mind that this approach is limited and won’t match the performance of a dedicated GPU with more VRAM.
- Optimizing usage like lowering the resolution, reducing texture quality, and adjusting other graphics settings can reduce VRAM demand, which might be necessary for smoother performance.
- Some systems allow you to set virtual memory to offload processes, but this generally impacts CPU performance rather than VRAM directly.
Conclusion
You can follow one of the above explained methods to easily check the VRAM size in your Windows PC. Whether you are gaming, designing, or simply checking system specifications, knowing VRAM size is helpful for assessing your system’s capabilities in handling graphics-intensive tasks.
