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Video random-access memory

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GDDR5X SDRAM on an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti graphics card

Video random-access memory (VRAM) is dedicated computer memory used to store the pixels and other graphics data as a framebuffer to be rendered on a computer monitor.[1] It often uses a different technology than other computer memory, in order to be read quickly for display on a screen.

Relation to GPUs

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Independent system RAM and video RAM
Unified memory
A GPU die surrounded by VRAM chips

Many modern GPUs rely on VRAM. In contrast, a GPU that does not use VRAM, and relies instead on system RAM, is said to have a unified memory architecture, or shared graphics memory.

System RAM and VRAM have been segregated due to the bandwidth requirements of GPUs,[2][3] and to achieve lower latency, since VRAM is physically closer to the GPU die.[4]

Modern VRAM is typically found in a BGA package[5] soldered onto a graphics card.[6] The VRAM is cooled along with the GPU by the GPU heatsink.[7]

Technologies

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Foley, James D.; van Dam, Andries; Feiner, Steven K.; Hughes, John F. (1997). Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice. Addison-Wesley. p. 859. ISBN 0-201-84840-6.
  2. ^ "What is VRAM: The Memory Power Behind Real-time Ray-Tracing".
  3. ^ "Relationship Between RAM and VRAM Bandwidth and Their Latency". 17 May 2021.
  4. ^ "RAM vs. VRAM: What's the Difference?". makeuseof.com. 16 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Encapsulated in CPUs, GPUs, RAM and Flash: Types and Uses". 23 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Graphics Card Components & Connectors Explained". 29 March 2017.
  7. ^ "Different Types of Graphics Card Cooling Solutions for GPU, VRAM & VRM". 17 January 2017.
  8. ^ "VRAM vs RAM | Differences & Applications". TechDim. 3 April 2024.
  9. ^ "GPU Framebuffer Memory: Understanding Tiling".