How to Disable the Shared Video Memory on My Gateway Laptop

Shared video memory refers to a computer's use of main memory to assist in rendering video graphics. This means that any tasks you perform on your computer like playing games or editing image files all pull from the same limited pool of memory. You can't completely disable shared video memory, but you can limit how much of your RAM is used. Before you begin, please note that you must have a separate video card with built-in memory installed in your computer to adjust shared video memory.

Instructions

1. Restart your computer and repeatedly press the "Delete" key to launch the system BIOS memory.

2. Locate the entry titled "Intergrated Peripherals."

3. Select "System Share Memory Size" and press "Enter" to load the options window.

4. Select "4" or "8" megabytes to allocate the lowest possible amount of shared memory to the integrated card and press "Enter." Press "F10" to save changes and force a computer restart.

Tips & Warnings

• While editing your shared memory settings may free up some space to run your software, if you are experiencing slowdowns the best solution is always going to be upgrading your RAM.

• Be careful in the system BIOS menu. Errors made here can cause irreparable harm to your system.

References

• Tom's Hardware: Integrated Peripherals
• MaximumPC: Ultimate BIOS Guide: Every Setting Decrypted and Explained!
• PremioPC: How do I adjust the amount of system memory allocated to the onboard video?