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Measuring VRAM usage?

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Flogger23m

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Jun 19, 2009
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I am wondering what programs (if any) are good at measuring VRAM usage? Would EVGA Precision and GPU-Z give accurate measurements of VRAM usage?

I use an Nvidia card if it matters.
 
if you already know about GPU-Z and Precision then why aren't you trying one of them?
 
Best program is MSI Afterburner.

Program can be set to log all data during use for as long as you like.

Also has a graph that will display finite time frame of most any parameter you like.
 
cannondale06 said:
if you already know about GPU-Z and Precision then why aren't you trying one of them?
Click to expand...

Are those accurate? I am always reading posts here about how 1.5GB of VRAM is fine for just about any game, yet I have multiple games pushing around 1.2-1.3GB of VRAM at 1680x1050 according to those two programs.

I guess the people who make those claims just play console ports? :p
 
Flogger23m said:
Are those accurate? I am always reading posts here about how 1.5GB of VRAM is fine for just about any game, yet I have multiple games pushing around 1.2-1.3GB of VRAM at 1680x1050 according to those two programs.

I guess the people who make those claims just play console ports? :p
Click to expand...

Some new games make more dynamic use of VRAM then old games - so they will use what is available. For a single card/single monitor setup, 1.5GB is more than enough as you will run out of GPU horsepower before you run out of VRAM. People are worrying about it way too much - just like SSD lifespan when they first came out.
 
Forceman said:
Some new games make more dynamic use of VRAM then old games - so they will use what is available. For a single card/single monitor setup, 1.5GB is more than enough as you will run out of GPU horsepower before you run out of VRAM. People are worrying about it way too much - just like SSD lifespan when they first came out.
Click to expand...
people said the same thing about 512mb, 768mb and 1gb of vram too. lol, it only took a few months for those 768mb vs 1gb arguments to end. 1.5gb is fine for now but if I were getting a high end gpu today then I would go with more than that.
 
BF3 with 3 monitors here uses 1.8Gb of Vram, at least it's what gpu-z shows.
 
MSI MSI MSI :p I run that awesome company/program every time I game, it also allows me to OC my GPU to 1Ghz GPU Core 2100 shader and 2350 Memory in low GPU demanding games and adjust the GPU fan to whatever speed I desire. (Think Valve games/Source engine helps in twitch shooters)

You also never NEVER want your GPU Memory in game to exceed your cards limit, because it = stuttering. Same as running Windows OS on 256MB of ram don't do it.

Download it from this link , and install it.
http://event.msi.com/vga/afterburner/download.htm

Click this option (settings)
o054wl.jpg


Now click on the monitoring tab, check mark everything you want displayed, you want Memory Usage so check that in OSD (On Screen Display) Choose a color you like / prefer default is red I believe. Also check mark mark that box so it will appear on screen.

34fxo44.jpg


Then boot up your game, wah-la! :D Check your memory usage easy huh?

wb5gz7.jpg
 
EVGA's Precision is basically the exact same program, looks and everything.

As as far as 1.5GB VRAM being enough, for most game, sure. However, AvP DX11 consistently uses about 1.7-1.9GB and Crysis 2 with the DX11 and hi-re patches uses 1.9-2.1GB on average. It really depends on the diversity of the textures and indoor vs outdoor environments at times.
 
What teletran linked is probably the best way to do it, though I had a LOT of problems when I tried to start using the afterburner in game overlay.

Works great with the G15 I bought 5 years ago or so though, fun to watch all your graphics card readings when you're in a game without dragging the program over to a second monitor or sifting through logs.

The highest VRAM I've ever seen used was shogun 2, which took up a little over 2 gigs in the memory on the map screen. Nothing else has really ever come close, a few have gotten over a gig @ 1920x1200 but not many.
 
I use AIDA64 to monitor my vram, gpu usage, cpu usage by core, ram usage, temps on everything, clock speeds etc. The only thing that I couldn't get it to do is framerate. Unfortunately it's a paid program, if you're into paying for shit. It can also output to those mini-logitech lcds.

EDIT: I should add that I have 1.5GB VRAM and it is sufficent in most cases. There have been a couple of games where it's come near to maxing out. The most recent one I remember is Serious Sam 3. I got it up to 1514/1536MB one time last week.
EDIT2: I haven't tried to see if the prgrm has a 3d overlay like the one shown above. I have two monitors, however, and that is how I get my stats!
 
Thanks for the replies everyone. I'll holdout on MSI Afterburner if my current programs do the same things.

Here are a few titles that use over 1024MB of VRAM on my PC at 1680x1050:

Crysis Wars - 1100 MB at most
ArmA 2 - 1180MB
Crysis 2 High res texture pack - 1700 MB or so
BF3 - 1200MB

Looks like I made the right choice in going with a 2GB 560ti over a 1GB.
 
It's crazy if you think about it: my 570 2.5GB has more RAM on it than what a PC would have had (as standard) in it several years ago.
 
magoo said:
Best program is MSI Afterburner.

Program can be set to log all data during use for as long as you like.

Also has a graph that will display finite time frame of most any parameter you like.
Click to expand...

That's what I use.....
 
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