Developer Documentation
PATHHardware Documentation > Original Power Mac G3 Computers Developer Note


Expanding Video RAM

Increasing the size of the installed video RAM from 2 MB to either 4 MB or 6 MB increases the maximum color depth allowed at specific monitor resolutions. The only additional display mode supported by using 6 MB instead of 4 MB of video memory is 32-bit color at 1280 by 1024 at 60 hz. Supported display modes are listed in Table 4-2 . Any additional video RAM that isn't used for the current display mode is available to QuickDraw 3D applications for more data storage, such as textures, which results in faster 3D graphics performance. A more detailed explanation of video RAM and QuickDraw 3D graphics performance can be found in Chapter 5 of the Power Macintosh 5500/6500 Developer Note, where the use of the video frame buffer for front frame buffer, back frame buffer, optional Z buffer, and available texture memory are described.


© 1998 Apple Computer, Inc. - Revised 8/13/98