AGP Apeture size

Nacht · Jul 24, 2004, 04:18 AM

I know this is a noob question..but I have read so many conflicting reports that I thought I would bring it up again:

What is the correct setting for your agp apeture?

I always thought it was supposed to be set to the amount of VRAM you have. Now, I read that you should set it the lowest it goes so it prevents your comp from writing to system memory? What's going on here!?!?

MythicaL · Jul 24, 2004, 04:56 AM

>> 128mb; unless you really have a crappy GPU, then 256mb... no discussion really, because this is a fact

"AGP Aperture Size

Common Options : 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256

Quick Review

This BIOS feature does two things. It selects the size of the AGP aperture and it determines the size of the GART (Graphics Address Relocation Table).

The aperture is a portion of the PCI memory address range that is dedicated for use as AGP memory address space while the GART is a translation table that translates AGP memory addresses into actual memory addresses which are often fragmented. The GART allows the graphics card to see the memory region available to it as a contiguous piece of memory range.

Host cycles that hit the aperture range are forwarded to the AGP bus without need for translation. The aperture size also determines the maximum amount of system memory that can be allocated to the AGP graphics card for texture storage.

Please note that the AGP aperture is merely address space, not actual physical memory in use. Although it is very common to hear people recommending that the AGP aperture size should be half the size of system memory, that is wrong!

The requirement for AGP memory space shrinks as the graphics card's local memory increases in size. This is because the graphics card will have more local memory to dedicate to texture storage. So, if you upgrade to a graphics card with more memory, you shouldn't be "deceived" into thinking that you will need even more AGP memory! On the contrary, a smaller AGP memory space will be required.

It is recommended that you keep the AGP aperture around 64MB to 128MB in size, even if your graphics card has a lot of onboard memory. This allows flexibility in the event that you actually need extra memory for texture storage. It will also keep the GART (Graphics Address Relocation Table) within a reasonable size."

Nacht · Jul 24, 2004, 05:25 AM

so I should set mine to 64? because it has 256 onboard?

MythicaL · Jul 24, 2004, 05:38 AM

Set it to 128mb... You can try 64mb, since you do have 256mb onboard, but games like Far Cry, Doom 3, etc. would probably need that 128mb.

MythicaL · Jul 24, 2004, 05:42 AM

Oh, and sorry, you should set it to 256mb if you have a crappy GPU... my mole-stake

Judas · Jul 24, 2004, 08:18 AM

ok.... i've thoroughly tested this with various systems.... so far... if you have 512 or more megs of ram.. DON'T set anything higher the 128mb agp apparture..... it just doesn't help.. and actually in some cases slows things down.... (possibly to much to address)..... this has been tested with anything from a PVR kyro 2 (hercules 4500 AGP) to a radeon 7000,7500,8500le,9000AIW,9200np,9600np,9800pro and some other cards....setting it lower then 64 also produces bad results... if you've a voodoo 3 3500 or lower... set agp apature to 4mb.... (lowest or turn it off)....

Nacht · Jul 24, 2004, 04:46 PM

well, i do have a gig of ram, and that 256 vram, so i set it down on 64mb..and UT seems to run much better. I havent tried far cry yet...ill test it and let you guys know.

Judas · Jul 24, 2004, 06:46 PM

try 128mb apature... i saw a bit of a increase "smoother" display with 128mb... across all the boards... 64 works though still.... i'm not sure about 256 with a card with 256.... some cards just CAN'T address passed a certain amount.... say a card with 128mb of onboard memory.... can only address 192mb.... selecting 128mb apature (256mb combined) may actually slow it down... the Kyro 2 (hercules 4500) could only address up to i belive 72mb (considering BINNING space) so that leaves 8mb of AGP Apature used.... still sometimes things just work out weirdly.... gotta try all the setting yourself.... you may be serprised... 32mb apature might produce the best.. or 4mb... or 512mb... who knows..

No_Style · Jul 24, 2004, 08:00 PM

It delivers nice consistent frame rate for me.

This is across all games.

dipstick · Jul 24, 2004, 09:13 PM

I always found it best to match to the amount of memory on the card. But I dont notice a difference at anything over 256 or even 128 to be honest. 64 shows some slowdown on my setup

Jul 24, 2004, 04:18 AM	#1
Nacht ein Krieger Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Clemson Uni Posts: 3,127 Rep Power: 0	AGP Apeture size I know this is a noob question..but I have read so many conflicting reports that I thought I would bring it up again: What is the correct setting for your agp apeture? I always thought it was supposed to be set to the amount of VRAM you have. Now, I read that you should set it the lowest it goes so it prevents your comp from writing to system memory? What's going on here!?!?

Jul 24, 2004, 04:56 AM	#2
MythicaL I like computers. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In front of a monitor Posts: 3,399 Rep Power: 89 System Specs	>> 128mb; unless you really have a crappy GPU, then 256mb... no discussion really, because this is a fact "AGP Aperture Size Common Options : 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256 Quick Review This BIOS feature does two things. It selects the size of the AGP aperture and it determines the size of the GART (Graphics Address Relocation Table). The aperture is a portion of the PCI memory address range that is dedicated for use as AGP memory address space while the GART is a translation table that translates AGP memory addresses into actual memory addresses which are often fragmented. The GART allows the graphics card to see the memory region available to it as a contiguous piece of memory range. Host cycles that hit the aperture range are forwarded to the AGP bus without need for translation. The aperture size also determines the maximum amount of system memory that can be allocated to the AGP graphics card for texture storage. Please note that the AGP aperture is merely address space, not actual physical memory in use. Although it is very common to hear people recommending that the AGP aperture size should be half the size of system memory, that is wrong! The requirement for AGP memory space shrinks as the graphics card's local memory increases in size. This is because the graphics card will have more local memory to dedicate to texture storage. So, if you upgrade to a graphics card with more memory, you shouldn't be "deceived" into thinking that you will need even more AGP memory! On the contrary, a smaller AGP memory space will be required. It is recommended that you keep the AGP aperture around 64MB to 128MB in size, even if your graphics card has a lot of onboard memory. This allows flexibility in the event that you actually need extra memory for texture storage. It will also keep the GART (Graphics Address Relocation Table) within a reasonable size." __________________ Always knew I didn't belong in this world. I wasn't made for this. But I'll never forget those who betrayed me, and those who never failed my trust. Last edited by mYthicaL; Jul 24, 2004 at 05:42 AM.

Jul 24, 2004, 05:38 AM	#4
MythicaL I like computers. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In front of a monitor Posts: 3,399 Rep Power: 89 System Specs	Set it to 128mb... You can try 64mb, since you do have 256mb onboard, but games like Far Cry, Doom 3, etc. would probably need that 128mb. __________________ Always knew I didn't belong in this world. I wasn't made for this. But I'll never forget those who betrayed me, and those who never failed my trust.

Jul 24, 2004, 05:42 AM	#5
MythicaL I like computers. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In front of a monitor Posts: 3,399 Rep Power: 89 System Specs	Oh, and sorry, you should set it to 256mb if you have a crappy GPU... my mole-stake __________________ Always knew I didn't belong in this world. I wasn't made for this. But I'll never forget those who betrayed me, and those who never failed my trust.

Jul 24, 2004, 08:00 PM	#9
No_Style Styleless Wonder Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 6,034 Rep Power: 0	I like my mobo default of 64 MB It delivers nice consistent frame rate for me. This is across all games. __________________ "The Best Style Is No Style" Specifications Here

Jul 24, 2004, 05:25 AM	Thread Starter #3
Nacht ein Krieger Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Clemson Uni Posts: 3,127 Rep Power: 0	so I should set mine to 64? because it has 256 onboard?

Jul 24, 2004, 04:46 PM	Thread Starter #7
Nacht ein Krieger Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Clemson Uni Posts: 3,127 Rep Power: 0	well, i do have a gig of ram, and that 256 vram, so i set it down on 64mb..and UT seems to run much better. I havent tried far cry yet...ill test it and let you guys know.

Jul 24, 2004, 09:13 PM	#10
dipstick HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: USA Posts: 3,609 Rep Power: 71 System Specs	I always found it best to match to the amount of memory on the card. But I dont notice a difference at anything over 256 or even 128 to be honest. 64 shows some slowdown on my setup