This article teaches you how to check how much VRAM you have on your computer. It also looks at what that means and how it affects the performance of your system.

What to Know

  • On Windows, check VRAM by going to Settings > Display > Advanced Display > Display AdapterOn Mac, click Apple Icon > About This Mac > See the figure next to the graphics card name.4GB is the minimum VRAM gamers need while 8GB or more is best for video editors.

How to Check VRAM on Windows

Checking your VRAM in Windows is simple but only if you know where to look. The details are often hidden away. Here’s how to check VRAM on Windows.

  • On the Windows search bar, type Settings.
  • Click Display.
  • Click Advanced Display.
  • Click Display Adapter Properties for Display 1.
  • If you have multiple displays and graphics cards, you may wish to check others.
  • Next to Dedicated Video Memory, you’ll be told how much VRAM your graphics card has.

How to Check VRAM in More Than One GPU in Windows

If you have more than one GPU on your computer, a better way of checking VRAM is by using dxdiag. Here’s where to look.

These instructions and screenshots are for Windows 11 but the process is near identical in Windows 10.

On the Windows search bar, type Settings.

Click Display.

Click Advanced Display.

Click Display Adapter Properties for Display 1.

If you have multiple displays and graphics cards, you may wish to check others.

Next to Dedicated Video Memory, you’ll be told how much VRAM your graphics card has.

  • On the Windows search bar, type dxdiag.
  • Wait for it to open then click either Display 1 or Display 2 to view your other GPU.
  • Under Display Memory, you’ll be able to see how much dedicated VRAM the GPU has.

How to Check VRAM in macOS

On a Mac-based system, checking VRAM is slightly different. Here’s what to do.

On the Windows search bar, type dxdiag.

Wait for it to open then click either Display 1 or Display 2 to view your other GPU.

Under Display Memory, you’ll be able to see how much dedicated VRAM the GPU has.

  • On your Mac, click the Apple icon in the top left corner of your desktop.
  • Click About This Mac.
  • Next to Graphics will be the name of the graphics card followed by how much VRAM it has.
  • If you’re using an M1-based MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, this will not be displayed and it’s not possible to view how much VRAM is available as it is all built into the CPU/GPU.
  • For more information, click System Report.
  • Click Graphics/Display.
  • Alongside VRAM will be listed how much VRAM is available.

Is 4 GB of VRAM Enough?

Whether you need 4 GB of VRAM or more depends on what you plan on doing with your PC or Mac. 

On your Mac, click the Apple icon in the top left corner of your desktop.

Click About This Mac.

Next to Graphics will be the name of the graphics card followed by how much VRAM it has. 

If you’re using an M1-based MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, this will not be displayed and it’s not possible to view how much VRAM is available as it is all built into the CPU/GPU.

For more information, click System Report.

Click Graphics/Display.

Alongside VRAM will be listed how much VRAM is available. 

If you plan on playing the latest games, you may struggle to be able to play them at anything above minimum quality. Some games will struggle to run at all with less than 8 GB of VRAM. It all depends on what games you plan on playing with older games or titles like Fortnite or Final Fantasy XIV more likely to scale appropriately with the hardware you have.

Video editors typically require a minimum of 8 GB of VRAM to be able to edit videos effectively. However, for general usage such as typing up documents or browsing the internet, no specific VRAM is required so you don’t need to consider upgrading to a different graphics card.

Is 128 MB VRAM Good? 

No. 128 MB is very low compared to modern graphics cards and their capabilities. If you plan on playing games or editing videos, you need something with 4 GB as a very minimum although 8 GB is much preferable. 

  • How much VRAM is enough?
  • 4GB of VRAM is the bare minimum for playing games at 1080p, with 6GB or more necessary in many cases. Generally, the more VRAM, the better. Video editors should have at least 8GB; 12GB or 16GB typically the ideal number. If you don’t plan on playing games or editing videos, however, there’s no required minimum VRAM involved.
  • How do I increase VRAM?
  • To allocate more VRAM in Windows, you can do one of two things. The first option is to enter BIOS according to your computer’s manufacturer instructions, and then go to Advanced Features > Graphics Settings > VRAM Size (these options may have other names in your system). You can also make some changes to the system registry, but that option is riskier and may damage your installation of Windows.

4GB of VRAM is the bare minimum for playing games at 1080p, with 6GB or more necessary in many cases. Generally, the more VRAM, the better. Video editors should have at least 8GB; 12GB or 16GB typically the ideal number. If you don’t plan on playing games or editing videos, however, there’s no required minimum VRAM involved. 

To allocate more VRAM in Windows, you can do one of two things. The first option is to enter BIOS according to your computer’s manufacturer instructions, and then go to Advanced Features > Graphics Settings > VRAM Size (these options may have other names in your system). You can also make some changes to the system registry, but that option is riskier and may damage your installation of Windows.

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