What is shared GPU memory and why is it 8GB (half of the System RAM)?

[Mark Kaine]

I've been googling this, there's no conclusive explanation what it *actually* does. 

Some say they want less.

Some say they want more. 

Some say they don't want it at all. 

 

I'm also unsure how to actually change the shared GPU memory in Windows 10?

 

 

I just know I have some weird stutters in games sometimes even though GPU memory is far from maxed out and CPU usage hovers between 50 and 80% usage. 

 

 

It *does*  feel like Windows sometimes unnecessarily loads stuff in the background   but ultimately I'm really not sure what's going on.

 

So yes, "shared GPU memory" what is it, and do I really need it?

 

Specs: 

Win 10 Pro 

R5 3600 (stock settings)

16GB DDR4 @ 3200, dual channel 

GTX 1060 6GB OC to 2076 core clock, 2400 memory bus clock 

250 GB Samsung Evo 860 (system drive)

2TB Seagate Barracuda (games) 

 

 

[Ashleyyyy]

basically, if your gpu runs out of vram then it uses your system's ram as vram. however this is much slower and you'll notice a massive performance drop if it does happen. 

[Stormseeker9]

I have it too on my pc. Nothing to worry about

[Mark Kaine]

17 minutes ago, Twilight said:

basically, if your gpu runs out of vram then it uses your system's ram as vram. however this is much slower and you'll notice a massive performance drop if it does happen. 

I see thanks. That's basically what I thought yeah. So is there any situation windows loads stuff from this shared memory even though the GPU doesn't run out of Vram yet? 

 

I would really like to test this by making this shared pool smaller,  maybe 4GB or indeed disable it completely,  of course temporarily at first - for testing purposes. 

 

 

But how'd I do that? 

[Ashleyyyy]

4 minutes ago, Mark Kaine said:

I see thanks. That's basically what I thought yeah. So is there any situation windows loads stuff from this shared memory even though the GPU doesn't run out of Vram yet? 

there shouldn't be.