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I have purchased a new laptop, Acer Aspire 5738z a year ago. Since the second month of using it, I wondered why the maximum Graphics Memory in Use is 128 MB... Am I misunderstanding what "up to 1244mb Mobile Intel GMA 4500m" means?

Thanks in advance...

Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator Driver for Mobile Report


Report Date: 08/15/2010
Report Time[hr:mm:ss]: 12:07:08
Driver Version: 7.15.10.1624
Operating System: Windows Vista (TM) Home Basic* , Service Pack 1 (6.0.6001)
Default Language: English
DirectX* Version: 10.0
Physical Memory: 3000 MB
Minimum Graphics Memory: 64 MB
Maximum Graphics Memory: 1308 MB
Graphics Memory in Use: 125 MB
Processor: x86 family 6 Model 23 Stepping 10
Processor Speed: 1995 MHZ
Vendor ID: 8086
Device ID: 2A42
Device Revision: 07


* Accelerator Information *

Accelerator in Use: Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family
Video BIOS: 1718.0
Current Graphics Mode: 1366 by 768 True Color (60 Hz)

* Devices Connected to the Graphics Accelerator *


Active Notebook Displays: 1


* Notebook *

Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Display Type: Digital
Gamma Value: 2.20
DDC2 Protocol: Supported
Maximum Image Size: Horizontal: Not Available
Vertical: Not Available
Monitor Supported Modes:
1366 by 768 (60 Hz)
Display Power Management Support:
Standby Mode: Not Supported
Suspend Mode: Not Supported
Active Off Mode: Not Supported

* Other names and brands are the property of their respective owners.

Edited by nickguletskii because: Added info.
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Short answer: “Up to 1244 MB” is a theoretical, shared‑memory limit — not dedicated video RAM. The Intel Mobile GMA on that Acer is an integrated GPU that borrows system RAM as needed. The driver/BIOS advertises a maximum it may allocate; the “Graphics Memory in Use” value in the report is what is actually allocated right now (≈125 MB in the posted report), which is normal for light desktop use.

How the numbers relate: the report’s “Minimum Graphics Memory” is the small block reserved at boot, “Maximum Graphics Memory” is the upper bound the driver/BIOS will allow, and “Graphics Memory in Use” is the current allocation. Intel’s dynamic allocation (DVMT/UMA) grows and shrinks with workload and depends on total system RAM, BIOS limits and driver reporting — which is why ’s report shows ~1308 MB while the spec says “up to 1244 MB.” Those differences are just reporting/rounding and tool/driver version artifacts.

Practical notes and troubleshooting: increasing the pre‑allocated value in BIOS (often labeled DVMT Pre‑Allocated, UMA Size, or Video Memory) only raises the minimum reserved block; it doesn’t magically turn an integrated GPU into a discrete one. Adding more system RAM or updating the Intel/Acer graphics driver can increase the maximum headroom, but real 3D performance is still limited by the GPU’s shader throughput and memory bandwidth. For diagnostics, use the Intel graphics control panel (Options & Support → Information) or the driver report already posted to confirm current allocations.

’s linked article is a useful deeper read on CPU/RAM/GMA interactions; this clarification explains why the “up to” figure is a soft ceiling and why the small “in use” number seen in the report is expected.

Member Avatar for dee101g

This article has a good discussion of the relationship of processor speed, RAM, and GMA card maximum.

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