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GeForce 7400 on DV8230

post #1 of 14
5/8/06 at 2:43pm
Thread Starter 
Hi,

I got a DV8230 (T2300 / 1GB DDR2 667 / 160 GB HDD 5400). I love the laptop. I have a question thoough. The specifications on this laptop tell me that I have a NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400 with 128 MB RAM on that, but when I check display properties, it reports 512 MB RAM on Graphic adapter. I'm sure it's not sharing RAM (It reports 1.00 GB RAM).

I have called Tech support and they don't have any explanations. That's weird.

Have you noticed that on your laptops? Pls let me know.

Thanks,
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post #2 of 14
5/9/06 at 7:51am
The Nvidia Geforce 7400 utilises TurboCache allowing it to borrow a bit of your RAM to utilise it for games. The dv8000 uses a 256 MB graphic card so most likely it just borrowed only 256 MB from you RAM for gaming use.

PSG22
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post #3 of 14
5/9/06 at 10:39am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by PSG22
The Nvidia Geforce 7400 utilises TurboCache allowing it to borrow a bit of your RAM to utilise it for games. The dv8000 uses a 256 MB graphic card so most likely it just borrowed only 256 MB from you RAM for gaming use.

PSG22

Well, I examined the laptop with Everest application and it reported that 128 (which is exactlly what HP reports). So I assume there should be more than 256 MB borrowed by graphic adapter.

Thanks,
-Ali
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post #4 of 14
5/9/06 at 4:15pm
Hi Ali, PSG22. I posted a similar question/problem in the general fourm on Apr 28 titled "Help with dv8000t video options". It's at:
http://www.notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=149175
In my case, the application PCWizard reports 512 video memory, but some of the timings/frequencies seem wierd. Also, I am looking for the way to turn off TurboCache to increase the video frame rate, but I can't find the option in the bios (latest version F.09A). Take a look at my old post there and see what you think.

- chris
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post #5 of 14
5/9/06 at 4:38pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by chris_b
Hi Ali, PSG22. I posted a similar question/problem in the general fourm on Apr 28 titled "Help with dv8000t video options". It's at:
http://www.notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=149175
In my case, the application PCWizard reports 512 video memory, but some of the timings/frequencies seem wierd. Also, I am looking for the way to turn off TurboCache to increase the video frame rate, but I can't find the option in the bios (latest version F.09A). Take a look at my old post there and see what you think.

- chris

Yeah, I couldn't trun it off either. The Problem is that in HP web site they say 128 MB Dedicated Memory and 128 MB Shared Memory (Total 256) however nVidia utility reports it as 512 (!!!!!!). I'm confused here.
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post #6 of 14
5/9/06 at 4:47pm
Thread Starter 
Well, I read your old thread. To be honest (As far as I have seen), if Windows reports that you have 1.0 GB RAM so it means that it's not been shared by Graphic adapter. Having said that, it seems 7400 is using TurboCache and it's different than sharing it directly (I don't know if I'm right, so somebody corrects me if I'm wrong)

Samething happens on Toshiba P100-JR5 (Canadian Version at least). It has a GeForce 7300 with 256 MB memory on that (as advertised in Canada) and all by sudden windows reports 512 MB. Same story happens there too.

I have called HP too, but they didn't know why it's reporting 512.

I will continue doing reaserch on that and If I find a good answer, I'll post it here.

-Ali
HP dv8230ca
T2300 - 1 GB RAM 667 - 160 GB HDD 5400
17" WXGA+ (1440 x 900)
Wireless a/b/g
NIC 10/100
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post #7 of 14
5/9/06 at 4:57pm
HP tech support has not impressed me at all. Granted, these are new models which they probably haven't had much experience with, but when I had problems with the computer not running properly on AC power 5 days after I got the laptop, the first service tech told me I had to reinstall Windows to make sure it was a hardware and not a software problem! Luckily, I begged off temporarily and, when I called back a second time, a different tech was much more helpful in (correctly) diagnosing the problem as a bad AC adapter. Of course, it took HP Support over 4 weeks to send me a new one (claimed they were on backorder). IMHO, also a problem with the newness of the dv8000.

Please, let me know if you find out anything more on this. I keep checking HP for an updated bios since this is probably the best chance of getting access to the video memory options.

- chris
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post #8 of 14
5/10/06 at 12:31pm
That's strange. When you upgrade to 1 GB, it will utilise at least 384 MB of your RAM, making it 512 MB. I will try to figure out why it happens for now.

PSG22
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post #9 of 14
5/10/06 at 12:48pm
PSG22, that's what I see as reported by diagnostic tools. It tells me I have 369MB texture memory and 512MB total video memory. (An aside - but DirectX reports 385MB of total, local, and testure video memory - wierd).
It's not that I object to the "extra" memory of the turbocache, it's that I can't turn it off that get's my goat. If I need to maximize the graphics performance, the best way to do that is to use only dedicated video memory.

- chris
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post #10 of 14
5/10/06 at 2:35pm
same here! i just got my new laptop, the one the same as here. it also says i have 512mb on my geforce go 7400. my hp box says i hav 256mb on my 7400 but sticker on my laptop says i hav 128mb on my card..>.< im confused! XD

128mb, 256mb, 512mb which one is it??!! XD >.<
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post #11 of 14
6/6/06 at 11:36pm
Hop on over to
http://notebookforums.com/showthread...5&goto=newpost
to see what a new BIOS does for the reported memory.

Chris
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post #12 of 14
6/7/06 at 2:37am
who cares? does it affect the performance? no? who cares?
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post #13 of 14
6/7/06 at 12:44pm

i do

i care just cause i do
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post #14 of 14
6/7/06 at 1:55pm
The bothersome thing is, it should affect the performance. Using dedicated memory will always be faster than using a shared memory configuration. I want to have the option of turning off the share. It doesn't affect me right now because the games I'm playing are a bit old, but it could make the difference between playable and unplayable for more recent or future titles.

Chris
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