How to Change Shared Video Memory in the Phoenix Technologies BIOS

The BIOS, basic input/output system, runs when you start your computer and is responsible for initiating certain hardware checks before the computer loads Windows into the temporary memory. If your computer does not have a separate video or graphics card (with stand-alone memory) the integrated video card must share memory with the system. You can increase the amount of memory that the system allocates to the integrated video device by making changes to the computer's BIOS.

Instructions

1. Boot your computer and press one of the following keyboard combinations (depending on your specific motherboard model and BIOS version) while the system is booting to access the Phoenix Technologies BIOS setup utility:

   Ctrl + Alt + Esc

   Ctrl + Alt + S

   Ctrl + Alt + Ins

2. Scroll over to the right and select the "Advanced" menu tab. Use the keyboard arrow keys to scroll.

3. Scroll down to "Video Configuration" using the arrow keys and press "Enter."

4. Scroll down to "AGP Aperture Size (MB)" and make adjustments to the shared video memory using the "+" and "-" keys on your keyboard.

5. Press "F10" to save the changes, exit the BIOS and restart the computer.

Tips & Warnings

• Take precaution when making changes to your BIOS settings. Some changes can cause your system to not boot correctly.

• Increasing the shared memory can cause your computer to run slower or experience hardware problems. Ensure you have adequate memory before you make an adjustment to your computer's shared video memory.

References

• Michael Stevens Tech: Access/Enter Motherboard BIOS
• Computer Hope: Phoenix BIOS Help and Simulation
• Tech Powerup: What is AGP Aperture Size