128 MB VRAM: Is It Enough for GTA 5?
Often, when discussing the appropriate amount of VRAM for running games, the assumption is that more is always better. However, as this article demonstrates, even 128 MB VRAM can sometimes suffice, particularly with careful optimization and leveraging system RAM.
Dedicated VRAM: Not Always Necessary
While dedicated VRAM is commonly associated with high-performance graphics cards, it's not a prerequisite for running demanding games. In fact, a system can function quite well without it, as long as the integrated graphics unit is powerful enough. For example, my current system, which has 0 MB of dedicated VRAM, manages to run GTA 5 at native 1080p settings with 25 vehicle density, achieving frame rates between 24 and 40.
System Resources in Action
Underlying the seemingly magical performance is the effective sharing of resources between the CPU and the integrated GPU (iGPU). In my case, the integrated Intel Iris Pro 6200 iGPU is operating with around 3 GB of memory allocated from the system RAM. This pool of memory acts as the effective VRAM, significantly reducing the system's dependency on dedicated VRAM.
This setup is possible because the Intel Iris Pro 6200 is a powerful iGPU, designed to handle demanding tasks without the aid of additional VRAM. Even though the actual VRAM usage is over 3 GB, this representation is of system memory being temporarily allocated to the iGPU, a process that can be termed as "VRAM" exclusively for the GPU's use.
The Magic Behind Performance
The reason this is possible is due to the system's hardware capabilities. My setup includes a powerful Debian operating system with 32 GB of RAM. The game utilizes the Vulkan graphics API, which demands more memory. This allocation of system memory is a testament to the iGPU's efficiency and the system's overall performance.
The takeaway is clear: despite a complete lack of dedicated VRAM, a sufficiently powerful integrated graphics card can handle demanding games like GTA 5. However, the memory requirements of GTA 5 far exceed 128 MB. My system running on Debian with 32 GB of RAM achieves usage of approximately 3 GB, which is a significant amount of memory when compared to the generally lower VRAM requirements of modern games.
It's important to note that 128 MB VRAM is generally considered insufficient for modern gaming, particularly for high-performance titles like GTA 5. Unless you are running the game on a console like the PlayStation 3, which also had 256 MB of RAM, 128 MB is likely to result in unplayable performance.
In conclusion, while 128 MB VRAM is not ideal for running GTA 5, modern systems with powerful integrated GPUs and sufficient system RAM can make the most of lower VRAM amounts, achieving impressive performance levels. This underscores the importance of considering the complete system configuration, rather than just the VRAM, when evaluating gaming performance.