ATI X300 has not fully dedicated memory!

Hi,

I've tried to find more informations about the ATI X300 128Mb that can be installed on Dell Inspiron 6000............and what a surpise, it seems that card has not fully dedicated memory

This is what I found:

"The X300 will come in three variations: a discrete solution that uses only system memory, a 32MB integrated version and a 64MB integrated version. Keep in mind that the versions that have on-board memory can still (and probably will have to) utilize the HyperMemory technology to use system memory as well. The on-board memory is still the faster of the two by a long shot and as always, the more the better, in terms of performance, but not in terms of batter life. It’s all a game of weights and balances."

Source: http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=96&type=expert&pid=3

Looking at ATI website gives almost the same!!

"Multiple Variants For Ultimate Design Flexibility
Support for multiple mobile form factors:
- Discrete
- On-chip 32MB DDR (64-bit)
- On-chip 64MB DDR (64-bit)"

Source: http://www.ati.com/products/mobilityradeonx300/specs.html



So it seems that the MAX dedicated memory of the card is 64Mb, all the rest is shared memory Moreover there are some X300 that use only shared memory (discrete versions)

Can anybody confirm this? I'm really disappointed...

 

This is from Dell Switzerland website:

in french:

"ATI® MOBILITYTM RADEON® X300 avec 64Mo de base et jusqu'à 128 Mo de mémoire partagée permettant la création d'images hautes résolutions ainsi que le visionnage de vidéos à qualité numérique!"


This means basically that the X300 used in the Dell Inspiron 6000 has 64Mb of base memory and shares up to 128Mb thus it has not 128Mb of dedicated memory

 

It's called HYPERMEMORY. Read about it here:
http://www.hothardware.com/viewarticle.cfm?articleid=647

 

Interesting discussion of this misleadingly named product here.

 

BUT they also say:

"Graphics:
- Integrated Intel® Media Accelerator 900 Graphics
- Optional: 64 MB DDR ATI MOBILITYTM RADEON® X300 PCI ExpressTM x16 Graphics
- Optional: 128 MB DDR ATI MOBILITYTM RADEON® X300 PCI ExpressTM x16 Graphics"

So how do you know which option you are getting?? [ !]

 

that's referring to system memory, not video memory

 

Although the Dell website does say: "With dedicated ATI graphics:
256 MB of 400MHz DDR2 SDRAM standard, upgradable to 2 GB" on their page on the 6000d.

 

My machine is being built with part number 320-3897:
"128MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X300,I6000,DIS"

 

It seems that no X300 is has full dedicated memory. The "best" Dell can offer is the 64Mb dedicated version so if you get the 128Mb X300, probably you have the dedicated 64Mb + 64Mb of shared memory [ ]

Maybe this is why the upgrade to the X300 is so "cheap".....[ ]

 

I think there are questions of misrepresentation that Dell must answer on this issue. To sell us a "128MB graphics card" when it has 64MB or maybe 32MB or maybe 0MB is not honest, is it?

 

I would like to be wrong, really [ ] You're right, a lot of people trust that the X300 as sold on the Inspiron 6000 has either 64Mb or 128Mb of FULL dedicated memory and this appears not to be correct.

I believe the misinterpretation comes from the "dedicated" word. Dell say it's a dedicated videocard and this is true because it has it's own GPU. However the memory is only partially dedicated (as far as I understand after having read all the above links). At best the X300 seems to offer no more than 64Mb of dedicated memory, all the rest being shared with the system.

Now let's look carefully at Dell's website about details on the X300 sold with the Inspiron 6000:

"A dedicated video card has its own memory, which frees the computer's RAM, so the computer's memory does not have to store graphics. In addition to memory, video cards have their own graphics processor for creating images.

Integrated graphics use the CPU of the computer to create graphics, and shares the system memory, so it typically will not process pictures, video, or games as quickly as dedicated graphics."

For source, go here:
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&oc=i6000S3&s=dhs
and look under "Help Me Choose" right next to "Video Card"

Dell say that the X300 is a dedicated videocard and following this description this should mean that it has its own memory! This appears to be only partially correct for the X300 however so Dell is not fair in that sense [ ]


EDIT:
I'm having the same discussion on Dell's forum and here is an interesting comment speaking about the X300 128Mb on the Inspiron 6000:

"As I said before, this card has been available for longer than ATI's hypermemory technology. I am sure that the discrete option from ATI's page applies here.
On-chip means that the memory is built into the GPU itself (low cost solution). Discrete means that the RAM chips are separate and built into the graphics card. This is normally the case on higher-performing graphics cards and I believe that this is the case on the Inspiron 6000 - it does not share system RAM. Dell would have to say if it did use system RAM and it would be advertised as a hyper-memory card."

Reading this comment gives us back hope as the "discrete" memory design means full dedicated memory and should be the design form used in the Inspiron 6000. However I still wonder why Dell Switzerland states on their website that the X300 has 64Mb of dedicated memory and shares up to 128Mb with system............ [?] This story is still not clear.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by kilou

 

Apparently the "128 meg" X300 and X600 really only have 32 meg dedicated memory, the rest comes from system memory when needed. The "256 meg" cards come with 128 meg dedicated memory. See the reviews at
http://www.hothardware.com/viewarticle.cfm?articleid=647
http://www.elitebastards.com/page.php?pageid=9297&head=1&comments=1

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by kilou

"As I said before, this card has been available for longer than ATI's hypermemory technology. I am sure that the discrete option from ATI's page applies here.
On-chip means that the memory is built into the GPU itself (low cost solution). Discrete means that the RAM chips are separate and built into the graphics card. This is normally the case on higher-performing graphics cards and I believe that this is the case on the Inspiron 6000 - it does not share system RAM. Dell would have to say if it did use system RAM and it would be advertised as a hyper-memory card."

Reading this comment gives us back hope as the "discrete" memory design means full dedicated memory and should be the design form used in the Inspiron 6000. However I still wonder why Dell Switzerland states on their website that the X300 has 64Mb of dedicated memory and shares up to 128Mb with system............ [?] This story is still not clear.
<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'></font id='quote'></blockquote id='quote'>

I don't think that's true. I believe it IS a HYPERMEMORY CARD. Follow this thread:
http://notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=72100

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by MarkAM

 

MarkAM and other with the X300 128Mb,

if you look at the available system RAM in Windows, how much do you get?

 

Yassarian, I understand your point however what bothers me is why Dell Switzerland (I'm there...) states that the X300 has 64Mb dedicated and shares up to 128Mb with the system? Maybe they use now the new HyperMemory X300 for their Inspiron 6000 without letting people know it's the HyperMemory version. I think if they say it has only 64Mb of dedicated memory then it should be so.

I'd like to have a reliable way to know if the X300 that'll come with my Inspiron has 128Mb of dedicated memory or not. Having a phone call with Dell support is not always "successful" until you find the technician who knows a little bit more than what everybody can see on the website [ ]

 

I don't have this machine. I suggest everyone with this machine download the free Everest software to investigate how much RAM in on these suckers.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by kilou

 

I downloaded this program but I'm not really sure where I'm supposed to be looking. Under Display > Windows Video it lists the X300 and says "Memory Size 128 MB." Under Computer > Summary it says "System Memory 512 MB (DDR SDRAM)" and "Video Adapter ATI MOBILITY RADEON X300 (128 MB)"

 

The amount of misinformation and slanderous comments towards Dell in this thread without an ounce of proof is astounding... Tempted to report it to Dell's lawyers.

Here's a clue.. 16x PCI Express is an interface that's only used with a graphic card with DEDICATED memory.

Clueless..

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by MarkAM

 

The argument is over how much dedicated memory, you pompous pillock. "Dell's lawyers" indeed. Who the hell are you, cry baby?

 

Answers here:
http://notebookforums.com/showthread.php?p=777427&posted=1#post777427

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by Yeoman

 

I hope we can sort this out before Thursday because the special offer closes at that time by Dell Switzerland [ ]

MarkAM, I've looked at the interesting results with PowerStrip on http://notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=72100&page=7&pp=15 and it seems the X300 128Mb is listed as having 120.7Mb of "AGP non-local memory". While this may sound scary at first glance, I doubt the "non-local" means system memory since actually the X300 uses PCI Express and not AGP. Maybe Powerstrip does not support PCI Express cards and thus recognized the video memory as being non local because it's not AGP (what is true since it's PCI Express). Maybe there is a newer revision of Powerstrip that supports PCI Express or another software may give us better informations.

sorry I cannot post on notebookforum since I have only a free email address and those are not accepted unfortunately...so please also give us your comments here [ ]

 

About the "non-local memory" thing: ATI's website says that the cards are supplied with maximum 64MB (have I misread it?). This implies that the 120+MB non-local memory we see listed in these tests cannot all be on the card (unless Dell has its own special card built up).

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by drumfu

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by drumfu

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by drumfu

 

that's too bad, mine's 128 megs dedicated

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by drumfu

 

forgot to mention i ran sandra when i first got my i6000 with an x300 128mb card and 512mb ram and it showed exactly that

 

you really don't need any other tool than xp's My Computer / Properties / General tab. the RAM shown on this tab is [system memory - vid card allocated memory] meaning if you have 512 RAM and your vid card allocates 64 MB of system memory, this tab will only show [512-64=]448 MB of RAM.

 

the ati link says that there are three configs...

Multiple Variants For Ultimate Design Flexibility
Support for multiple mobile form factors:

* Discrete
* On-chip 32MB DDR (64-bit)
* On-chip 64MB DDR (64-bit)

what's the problem?

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by MarkAM

 

my roommate has a 700m running shared graphics and that is how it works. can anybody here with a 6000 running shared graphics verify this on the 6000?

 

On Dell's community forum one has said that Hypermemory X300 are not yet available so we shouldn't have problems with the Inspiron 6000 for now. However this kind of "issue" has been made by Nvidia who had to change their advertisement because they listed their "TurboCache" technology (essentially similar to HyperMemory from ATI) as if the cards used only dedicated memory to attract customers.........so better look 2 times before buying [ ]

 

Dell Switzerland confirmed me their X300 use 128Mb of full onboard dedicated memory so I'll trust them [8D]

 

3dMark tells me my 128MB card has 128MB of "Total Local Video Memory"

inspiron 9300
1.6GHz
1GB DDR2
X300 128mb
DVD DL

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by drumfu

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by MarkAM

 

Hello all, this is my first reply on this forum. The topic caught my attention since I just ordered an Inspiron 6000
Intel® Pentium® M Processor 715 (1.50 GHz/2MB Cache/400MHz FSB), with ATI128MB DDR ATI's MOBILITY™ RADEON X300 PCI Express x16 Graphics card. I almost certain you could find true video/system memory stats either at the BIOS startup or in windows display options. Interesting post as it pertains to my purchase, I hope to find the facts as well.

 

I personally think that the card has 128 mb seperate from the main system memory. If it was System shared you would have to allocate or see that it is using system memory in the bios or even under control panel/system info. The 32 and 64 mb people are talking about I would have to say are the minimum amount of memory that is in usage at any one given time. When the card needs more memory it takes more from the 128 mb. When the task is done and you are requiring less it drops back down to the minimum. My guess is to save power. No point in using 128 mb of video memory to look at a text document right?

Probably wrong since I am less tech savior then most of you but from what I've read this is my take on the card.

 

The Answer is Exactly HERE!!!:

http://notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=72100&page=12&pp=15

cheers

 

Can you explain that to me?

Would the x300 64meg card be better than the Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 900™ (apparently up to 128 meg)????

thanks.

 

Hi, can someone tell me if the 64 meg x300 card is a better option than the Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 900™?

Also if you get a dedicated graphics card, does that not mean your screen resolution can then be increased (is screen resolution related to the graphics card)? why does dell tell you the max screen resolution?

thanks.

 

Yes, it probably is. The ATI card has it's own GPU (graphics processing unit) whereas the IMA900 doesn't.

Wanna see if the ATI X300 uses shared or dedicated memory? Why doesn't someone open their laptop and take a look. If it has it's own memory shouldn't there me memory chips on the card? I'm getting an ATI MRX300 128mb in the mail in a couple weeks, I should be able to see about this memory issue.

Dell I6000

 

If you read the article about HyperMemory, it lists the 128 MB card having 32MB dedicated with up to 128MB using shared memory. It's not 64x64, but rather 32x96.

 

Has anybody actually called an asked them?