Graphics Memory - Definition

The graphics memory, also known as “video RAM”, is a computer memory used by the graphics hardware. It can either be a reserved area of the main memory (shared memory) or dedicated graphics memory.

Various information is stored in the graphics memory, including:

• Z-buffer: Depth information for optimized display of 3D content.
• Framebuffer: Digital copy of the current monitor image for image synthesis.
• DirectX and OpenCL: System-specific graphics libraries that access vertex shader and pixel shader programs in the graphics memory.
• 3D representations: Based on triangles, with geometry data in graphics memory.
• Textures: Surfaces of a scene, compressed in the graphics memory.
• VRAM functions: Processing of image and video data as well as buffer function for faster recording speed and avoidance of jerks.

The amount of VRAM affects gaming performance and image quality, with recommended amounts given for different resolutions (1080p: 4 GB, 1440p: 6-8 GB, 4K: at least 8 GB). There are different types of VRAM, such as SGRAM, WRAM, MDRAM and Rambus DRAM, but the exact type is not always critical. Overall, VRAM plays a critical role in graphics card performance, especially in demanding applications and games.