How to Check and Increase Video RAM in Windows 10

If your games stutter or your screen flickers during video playback, the problem might not be your computer’s age—it could be your Video RAM (or VRAM). Whether you’re a casual gamer, a video editor, or just someone trying to squeeze more performance from your PC, understanding VRAM can make a huge difference. Let’s break down what video RAM is, how to check it on your Windows 10 computer, and whether it’s possible to increase it.

What is Video RAM (VRAM) and Why Does It Matter?

Think of VRAM as your graphics card’s short-term memory. Just like your computer has RAM for handling temporary tasks, VRAM specifically helps handle graphics-related info—things like textures, images, videos, and effects in games or 3D software.

If your VRAM is too low, your system might struggle when trying to load high-resolution games or videos, leading to poor visuals, lag, and slow performance.

Here’s the good news: You don’t need to be a tech expert to manage your VRAM. Let’s start by finding out how much you already have.

How to Check Your VRAM on Windows 10

Checking how much video RAM your system has is easier than you might think. Follow these simple steps:

Using Display Settings

1. Right-click anywhere on your desktop and select Display settings.
2. Scroll down and click on Advanced display settings.
3. At the bottom, you’ll find Display adapter properties—click it.
4. In the pop-up window, look for Dedicated Video Memory. That number is your VRAM.

Easy, right? If you see something like 128MB or 256MB and you’re struggling to run modern games or apps, you might be wondering if it’s possible to increase that number. Well, let’s talk about that.

Can You Actually Increase VRAM?

Here’s where things get a little tricky. In most cases, you can’t just slap in more VRAM like you would with regular RAM. The amount of VRAM is determined by your graphics card. That said, there are a couple of workarounds if you’re using integrated graphics (which shares system memory, like those found on Intel or AMD CPUs).

If You Have Integrated Graphics

Integrated graphics don’t have a dedicated graphics card. Instead, they use your system’s regular RAM to mimic a graphics card. So tweaking VRAM here is possible—kind of.

Change VRAM via BIOS (for Advanced Users)

If you’re feeling brave, here’s how to increase VRAM through your BIOS settings:

1. Restart your PC and enter BIOS (usually by pressing Delete or F2 during startup).
2. Look for an option titled Advanced or Video Settings.
3. Find a setting like Graphics Memory Allocation, DVMT Pre-Allocated, or UMA Frame Buffer size.
4. Adjust this setting to allocate more memory—maybe go from 128MB to 512MB if the option is available.
5. Save and exit BIOS.

Warning: Not all BIOS menus offer this setting, and if you’re not careful, you could mess up other important configurations. If you’re unfamiliar with BIOS, it might be best to get help or read your motherboard’s manual.

Alternative “Tricks” to Boost VRAM Performance

Can’t increase VRAM directly? Don’t worry—there are a few tweaks you can try to improve overall graphics performance without splurging on a new GPU.

1. Update Your Graphics Drivers

This is probably one of the easiest ways to boost graphics performance. Outdated drivers can limit how your PC uses VRAM effectively.

1. Right-click on the Start menu and pick Device Manager.
2. Click on Display adapters.
3. Right-click your graphics card and hit Update driver.

2. Lower Graphics Settings in Games and Apps

This helps reduce the demand put on your VRAM. Drop features like:

• Shadow Quality
• Anti-Aliasing
• Texture Resolution
• Post Processing

You’d be amazed how much smoother games run when you lower these settings.

3. Upgrade Physical RAM

If you’re using integrated graphics, remember—it borrows from your computer’s main memory (RAM). Adding more RAM can help your graphics run more smoothly.

For example, going from 4GB to 8GB could free up more resources for your graphics needs. Kind of like giving your computer more brainpower to juggle tasks.

When It’s Time to Consider a Dedicated GPU

If you’ve tried everything and still find yourself frustrated with lag, low frame rates, or crashing apps, it might be time for an upgrade. A dedicated graphics card comes with its own VRAM (often 2–12GB), which takes a huge load off your system’s main RAM.

Sure, it’s an investment, but if you work with heavy programs like Adobe Premiere or play intense games like Call of Duty or Cyberpunk 2077, it’s worth every penny.

Before You Go: A Quick Recap

Still wondering what you can do about your PC’s VRAM? Here’s the summary:

• Check VRAM: Through Display Settings under Advanced Display
• Increase VRAM: Mostly possible only with integrated graphics via BIOS
• Boost Performance: Update drivers, lower graphics settings, and consider upgrading RAM
• Final Fix: Consider getting a dedicated GPU for a real graphics boost

Final Thoughts

VRAM may seem like a techy topic reserved for PC enthusiasts, but knowing how it affects your computer’s performance can make a world of difference. Whether you plan to squeeze more performance from integrated graphics or upgrade to a powerful GPU, understanding your system’s capabilities is the first step.

So next time your computer struggles to keep up, remember—it might just need a little more memory power for its visual workload.

Got questions about VRAM or need help deciding on a GPU upgrade? Let me know in the comments below!