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theone29

macrumors member
Original poster
May 6, 2013
63
13
Hi guys,
I just picked up a Zotac GTX 680 4GB to replace my EVGA GTX 680 2GB in my cMP4,1>5,1. With all the same apps opened and the memory usage is higher than the 2GB model. I was expecting the usage to go down 40-50%, obviously it didn't. Any ideas to why?
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Last edited:
Hi guys,
I just picked up a Zotac GTX 680 4GB to replace my EVGA GTX 680 2GB in my cMP4,1>5,1. With all the same apps opened and the memory usage is higher than the 2GB model. I was expecting the usage to go down 40-50%, obviously it didn't. Any ideas to why?
View attachment 813210
You have more memory. ;)

Seriously, it might be that with more memory data is being cached in VRAM.
 
Yes sir. I wanted the 4GB model because the 2GB was running steady at 80-90%, and I wanted to have more vram to run virtual machines. I'm running a stress test right now with Unigine Heaven to see if it would settle afterward.
upload_2018-12-29_13-3-18.png
 
Seems like I just wasted some $$$. :(
Not necessarily. GPUs usually don't run out of memory and crash the app.

Instead, they "page" needed data to and from system RAM and disk if the local VRAM is smaller than the task data. This takes time and costs performance.

Even though it looks like both cards are using around 90% of RAM, things might be faster with the bigger card.

"Wasting $$$" would be if you went from 90% with the 2GiB card to 45% with the 4GiB card.
 
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I got a really good deal on the 4GB, so I can always resell it or sell my 2GB. After running the stress test for about 30-40 minutes. The usage is down to about 48%. Weird. Thanks for your input though.
 
I had the same 680s for a while. Def a good option, if you need additional vram you can’t go wrong. Also easily flashed for Mac which is nice. As others have mentioned programs may just be using the additional space for caching. I used mine for gaming at 1440p and definitely got a little bump with the extra vram. But a 680 is a 680 is a 680. Unless you’re topping out on memory the performance is likely to be very similar to 2gb card.
 
I don't game, but I usually have a lot opened like youtube, movies, vm...etc. The 2Gb was constantly utilizing 80-90% of the vram. I found the 4GB on the cheap, so why not.
 
You pay for it for work, but not pay for it to sit idle. High utilisation rate is good (assume the system / driver use it properly).

And if you want to know what's inside that 4GB VRAM now, you can run the following command in terminal.

Code:
IOAccelMemory

And you will see something like this.
Screenshot 2018-12-30 at 3.03.09 PM.png
 
How can you tell if it is being used properly? I was gone last night, it was sitting/idling at 90%. About 15-20 minutes after being on it and using it, it went down to 60%. I have no ideas what's going on.
upload_2018-12-30_18-9-3.png

[doublepost=1546222302][/doublepost]Is this normal?
upload_2018-12-30_18-11-12.png


upload_2018-12-30_18-11-37.png
 
It's not flash yet. I thought there was a 4GB flashed ROM for the Zotac out there, didn't know that it would only use 2GB after it's flashed.
 
Here is a video I made to show how Safari / facebook use the VRAM.


My 1080Ti has 11GB VRAM, and the system can easily use most of them to speed up the browser.

And at the beginning of the video, it shows that before I start to load up the VRAM, the idle consumption is about 30%. which is 3.3GB VRAM on a 1080Ti.

Anyway, your screen capture shows VRAM usage 2.24GB. Since that's 60%, your card can utilise all 4GB VRAM at this moment.
[doublepost=1546245847][/doublepost]Anyway, your VRAM usage looks very normal to me. No apps use up too much unnecessary VRAM erroneously.
 
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