video random-access memory
{{Short description|Type of dedicated computer memory}}
{{Redirect2|Video RAM|VRAM|the dual-ported dynamic RAM type|Dual-ported video RAM}}
File:GDDR5X 1080ti.jpg 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.{{cite book|title=Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice|last1=Foley|first1=James D. |last2=van Dam|first2=Andries|last3=Feiner|first3=Steven K.|last4=Hughes|first4=John F.|publisher=Addison-Wesley|year=1997|isbn=0-201-84840-6|page=859|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-4ngT05gmAQC&dq=vram&pg=PA892}} It often uses a different technology than other computer memory, in order to be read quickly for display on a screen.
Relation to GPUs
{{Multiple image
|image1=Desktop computer bus bandwidths.svg
|caption1=Independent system RAM and video RAM
|image2=HSA-enabled integrated graphics.svg
|caption2=Unified memory
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File:Nvidia@8nm@Ampere@GA102@GeForce RTX 3090@S TW 2032A1 SNNB9W.000 GA102-300-A1 DSC06025-DSC06107 (50740715646).jpg 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,{{Cite web|title=What is VRAM: The Memory Power Behind Real-time Ray-Tracing|url=https://digitaladvisor.com/graphics-cards/what-is-vram/}}{{Cite web|url=https://itigic.com/relationship-between-ram-and-vram-bandwidth-and-their-latency/|title=Relationship Between RAM and VRAM Bandwidth and Their Latency|date=17 May 2021 }} and to achieve lower latency, since VRAM is physically closer to the GPU die.{{Cite web|url=https://www.makeuseof.com/ram-vs-vram-differences/|title=RAM vs. VRAM: What's the Difference?|website=makeuseof.com|date=16 July 2021 }}
Modern VRAM is typically found in a BGA package{{Cite web|title=Encapsulated in CPUs, GPUs, RAM and Flash: Types and Uses|date=23 March 2021 |url=https://itigic.com/encapsulated-in-cpus-gpus-ram-and-flash-types-and-uses/}} soldered onto a graphics card.{{Cite web|url=https://graphicscardhub.com/graphics-card-component-connectors/|title=Graphics Card Components & Connectors Explained|date=29 March 2017 }} The VRAM is cooled along with the GPU by the GPU heatsink.{{Cite web|url=https://graphicscardhub.com/graphics-card-cooling-solutions/|title=Different Types of Graphics Card Cooling Solutions for GPU, VRAM & VRM|date=17 January 2017 }}
Technologies
- Dual-ported video RAM, used in the 1990s and at the time often called "VRAM"
- SGRAM
- GDDR SDRAM
- High Bandwidth Memory (HBM){{Cite web|url=https://www.techdim.com/vram-vs-ram/|title=VRAM vs RAM {{!}} Differences & Applications|website=TechDim|date=3 April 2024 }}
See also
- Graphics processing unit
- Tiled rendering, a method to reduce VRAM bandwidth requirements{{Cite web|url=https://developer.samsung.com/galaxy-gamedev/resources/articles/gpu-framebuffer.html|title=GPU Framebuffer Memory: Understanding Tiling}}
References
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