5500 question - "Graphics Aperture Mode"

[Tom Bowler]

In my BIOS, under the video options I have something I can alter called the Graphics Aperture Mode. It is set to 64MB but can go anywhere between 32-256MB. What does this exactly do?

I have a 256MB 5500 AGP.

Thanks

[Gnufsh]

This sets the size of the AGP aperture. This allows the graphics card to swap out textures and such to system memory, using up to the size of the AGP aperture. If your card doesn't need to use any system memory none will be used. At one point, the recommendation for this was half of your system memory. You shouldn't need more than 128M (and 64 is probably fine).

[Memphis69]

mine is at 256 on my card and all my demos run better more FPS and IN the BFG book with my 5700le 256 it said to set it at 256