by Smiley•Info Software — http://members.tripod.com/~smileyinfo/
What is VRAM Calculator?
VRAM Calculator lets you determine how much VRAM you’ll need/are using for a specified resolution/bitdepth. For example, let’s say you want to calculate 1280x1024 in full, glorious 32-bit color. Soooo…
How do I use VRAM Calculator?
When you start VRAM Calculator, you’ll get a dialog box asking how many horizontal pixels (columns). In our example, this is 1280.
Next you’ll get a dialog asking how many vertical pixels (rows). In the example, this is 1024.
Finally, you’ll get a dialog asking how many bits per pixel. Remember to think in power-of-two:
2 ^ 1 = 2
2 ^ 2 = 4
2 ^ 3 = 8
and so on. The main bitdepths you’d normally use are:
1 - Black and white (2 colors)
2 - 4 colors (only applicable to older Macs)
4 - 16 colors
8 - 256 colors
16 - 32,768 colors (thousands)
24 - 16,777,216 colors (millions [though not the one you select in the Monitors or Monitors and Sound control panel])
32 - 16,777,216 colors (millions, with 8-bit alpha channel [this is the one you select in the Monitors or Monitors and Sound control panel; the alpha channel is for transparency <as in Mac OS 8.5’s icons>])
The result of all this being:
You will need at least 5122K of VRAM to run at 1280 x 1024 resolution with 4294967296 colors (32 bits/pixel). A typical computer that supports this resolution/BPP will have at least 6 or more MB of VRAM in it.
So what’s the point?
Armed with info from VRAM Calculator, you can make more informed buying decisions about VRAM. If you’re only going to be running a modest 640x480 at 24 bits/pixel (for most games), you don’t need a 6 MB VRAM module.
What’s new this time around anyway?
VRAM Calculator now correctly does its job. No more inaccuate readings. Sorry :D
It also properly calculates large bitdepths (29 bits thru 32 bits). Since it now just has them memorized, you can no longer go over 32 bits. (The AppleScript bug that introduced the VRAM Calculator bug still exists - 2 ^ 29 is still 5.36870912E+8.)
And, it properly handles huge resolutions, up to a 36 MB in-typical-computer max. (I tested this with 65536x65536 @ 32 bits... heheheh.) It also returns “a lot” if you give it a total that would require more than 36 MB. ;)
