Video random-access memory: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Type of dedicated computer memory}}

'''VRAM''' is a common abbreviation for '''Video Random Access Memory''', which is memory in a computer system that holds the pixels and other information displayed on a computer monitor. This is often different technology than other computer memory, to facilitate being read rapidly to draw the image. In some systems this memory cannot be read/written using the same methods as normal memory; it is not [[memory mapped]].

{{Redirect2|Video RAM|VRAM|the dual-ported dynamic RAM type|Dual-ported video RAM}}

[[File:GDDR5X 1080ti.jpg|thumb|[[GDDR SDRAM|GDDR5X SDRAM]] on an NVIDIA GeForce [[GTX 1080 Ti]] graphics card]]

'''Video random-access memory''' ('''VRAM''') is dedicated [[computer memory]] used to store the [[pixel]]s and other graphics data as a [[framebuffer]] to be rendered on a computer monitor.<ref>{{cite book|title=Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice|last1=Foley|first1=James D. |last2=van Dam|first2=Andries|last3=Feiner|first3=Steven K.|last4=Hughes|first4=John F.|publisher=[[Addison-Wesley]]|year=1997|isbn=0-201-84840-6|page=859|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-4ngT05gmAQC&dq=vram&pg=PA892}}</ref> It often uses a different technology than other computer memory, in order to be read quickly for display on a screen.

The term "VRAM" sometimes means a specific technology used in the 1980s to implement it, [[Video RAM (dual-ported DRAM)|dual-ported DRAM]].

==Relation to GPUs==

{{Multiple image

|image1=Desktop computer bus bandwidths.svg

|caption1=Independent system RAM and video RAM

|image2=HSA-enabled integrated graphics.svg

|caption2=Unified memory

|total_width=400px}}

[[File:Nvidia@8nm@Ampere@GA102@GeForce RTX 3090@S TW 2032A1 SNNB9W.000 GA102-300-A1 DSC06025-DSC06107 (50740715646).jpg|thumb|A [[GPU]] die surrounded by VRAM chips]]

Many modern GPUs rely on VRAM. In contrast, a GPU that does ''not'' use VRAM, and relies instead on system RAM, is said to have a [[unified memory architecture]], or [[shared graphics memory]].

System RAM and VRAM have been segregated due to the bandwidth requirements of GPUs,<ref>{{Cite web|title=What is VRAM: The Memory Power Behind Real-time Ray-Tracing|url=https://digitaladvisor.com/graphics-cards/what-is-vram/|access-date=2022-05-16|archive-date=2022-05-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522170614/https://digitaladvisor.com/graphics-cards/what-is-vram/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://itigic.com/relationship-between-ram-and-vram-bandwidth-and-their-latency/|title=Relationship Between RAM and VRAM Bandwidth and Their Latency|date=17 May 2021 }}</ref> and to achieve lower latency, since VRAM is physically closer to the GPU die.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.makeuseof.com/ram-vs-vram-differences/|title=RAM vs. VRAM: What's the Difference?|website=makeuseof.com|date=16 July 2021 }}</ref>

Modern VRAM is typically found in a [[Ball grid array|BGA package]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Encapsulated in CPUs, GPUs, RAM and Flash: Types and Uses|date=23 March 2021 |url=https://itigic.com/encapsulated-in-cpus-gpus-ram-and-flash-types-and-uses/}}</ref> soldered onto a graphics card.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://graphicscardhub.com/graphics-card-component-connectors/|title=Graphics Card Components & Connectors Explained|date=29 March 2017 }}</ref> The VRAM is cooled along with the GPU by the GPU heatsink.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://graphicscardhub.com/graphics-card-cooling-solutions/|title=Different Types of Graphics Card Cooling Solutions for GPU, VRAM & VRM|date=17 January 2017 }}</ref>

==Technologies==

* [[Dual-ported video RAM]], used in the 1990s and at the time often called "VRAM"

* [[SGRAM]]

* [[GDDR SDRAM]]

* [[High Bandwidth Memory]] (HBM)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gpus.axiomgaming.net/video-memory/HBM|title=HBM Graphics Cards - 7 GPUs with HBM Memory|website=Axiom Gaming|date=16 August 2025 }}</ref>

==See also==

* [[Graphics processing unit]]

* [[Tiled rendering]], a method to reduce VRAM bandwidth requirements<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://developer.samsung.com/galaxy-gamedev/resources/articles/gpu-framebuffer.html|title=GPU Framebuffer Memory: Understanding Tiling}}</ref>

==References==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Types of RAM]]