Does a UHD GPU Use the RAM as VRAM?
When considering upgrading your laptop with a UHD GPU like UHD 620, you may wonder if increasing the RAM could potentially boost your gaming performance. While this idea might seem appealing, it’s generally not the most effective strategy. Understanding how the UHD GPU utilizes the system RAM and how to optimize your setup for better gaming performance is crucial.
Understanding UHD Integrated Graphics and VRAM
The UHD 620 is an integrated graphics solution found in many laptop models based on the Kaby Lake 8th generation processors. Integrated GPUs like UHD 620 are designed for lightweight tasks and casual gaming but may struggle with more demanding games due to limited VRAM compared to dedicated graphics cards.
BIOS Settings and VRAM Reservation
In BIOS settings, a minimum amount of RAM can be allocated to the integrated GPU as virtual RAM (VRAM). This reserved memory can vary from 128 MB to 1 GB. This setting can be adjusted to potentially free up more RAM for other processes, but it’s not a straightforward solution. Games may still report low VRAM availability, leading to performance issues.
Dynamic VRAM Allocation
Some operating systems can dynamically allocate up to half of the remaining RAM to the GPU as virtual VRAM. This is a feature that can make integrated GPUs more useful for gaming, but it’s unreliable and inconsistent, leading to variable performance and potential crashes.
Impact of RAM on Gaming Performance
Upgrading the normal RAM may or may not improve gaming performance on integrated GPUs. This depends on whether the reserved VRAM setting is changed in the BIOS. Without altering this setting, a game that failed to run due to insufficient VRAM may still fail despite more RAM. The extent of any FPS improvement, if any, is hard to predict and highly game-dependent.
Veteran Integrated GPUs vs. Modern Games
Even if you increase the RAM to a substantial amount (e.g., 216 GB 32 GB), it may not significantly enhance gaming performance with integrated GPUs like UHD 620. These integrated solutions are inherently limited by their low VRAM and the age of the CPU they are paired with. For example, the UHD 620 paired with an i3/5/7 from the 8th generation is quite dated, making it difficult for modern games to run smoothly at high frame rates.
Modern PC Gaming
For optimal gaming performance, a dedicated graphics card is recommended. However, if upgrading to a dedicated GPU is not feasible, focusing on upgrading the memory type (e.g., DDR4 3600 C16) can provide better performance benefits than increasing the amount of RAM. This can potentially reduce the wait time for the GPU to access the system RAM, thereby improving overall performance.
Laptop Gaming Constraints
Laptops, especially those with integrated graphics, have inherent limitations due to the compact size and power constraints. Even laptops with dedicated GPUs often struggle to meet the demands of modern games, making them unsuitable for high-performance gaming.