Thanks a bunch for taking the time to make this! I did this change and actually received what seems to be negative performance in Monster Hunter Rise. I thought it might've been a result of a game update or steam os update, but it could be because of this. The impact was minimal, but in such a fast paced game I could def notice the small dips from the previous smooth 60fps!

Hmm I wonder if a balanced approach would be more effective like setting it to 2gb since it barely used 1gb. So leaving a bit of overhead while not effecting system memory

The reason Valve set UMA 1GB instead of 4GB is: More VRAM you will have less RAM, if you have less RAM the System will use SWAP (use SSD as RAM). But what happen if you only have 64GB SSD Steamdeck ? That why they use UMA 1GB

@vrilm6746

Жыл бұрын

So, recommended with more SSD storage?

Hey buddy, thanks for the great videos...but I have several questions if you don't mind. One is I did the dual boot set up step by step from your video...and somehow I got Windows installed perfectly...by my Steam OS disappeared. I can't even see the available storage which was step up for the Steam OS...and when I try to force boot it by doing the power button and down button on the volume..It won't load...like if i'm missing something. Now my question is there a way to add the Steam OS in the background or how ever without completely wiping my SD? Other question is much simpler....How did you get an ICON of the Steam OS and Windows OS to be able to click on it and letting you load that option...as in one of your videos shows? Any help is appreciated sir

@ViciousXUSMC

Жыл бұрын

That is the ReFind boot loader, its part of the dual boot tutorial. I suggest you start there from the very beginning and do it all from start to end with a fresh image.

What about frametimes? From the information I've gathered, thats the main selling point of changing the memory allocation in the first place.

@ViciousXUSMC

Жыл бұрын

In my testing here, there is a frame-time graph on every benchmark, and as noted there were no perceivable changes. That does not mean it may not help in a specific circumstance, but it seems by far and in large, there is no real change.

@ricardofranco4114

Жыл бұрын

@ViciousXUSMC it looks like on windows the games still use 1gb lf v ram. It could be a bug that valve can fix with an update, but they don't care about windows as much as they do Linux. Which is why I'm sticking to Linux since this issue is only on non steam games while using linux. While on windows it seems like an issue all around. Maybe it's a bug where it is actually using more than 1gb vram and just displaying 1gb...

I believe Windows is actually reading the UMA buffer as actual VRAM allocation. So despite the AMDGPU being able to allocate more, Windows just shows you 999MB/1000MB because it doesn't directly know the difference between RAM being used as VRAM vs regular RAM usage. I've got screenshots from multiple games on SteamOS showing values way above 1GB for VRAM usage even with the UMA buffer set to 1GB. And I think it's users using Windows which is contributing MASSIVELY to the misunderstanding of what the UMA buffer does. I should add as well, that by setting the UMA buffer to 4GB causes the system to hold back on RAM allocation during games. I have seen the same thing myself. This could subjectively lead to worse performance in CPU/RAM intensive games as you're reserving VRAM entirely for the GPU when it doesn't always necessarily need it. I think people should leave this setting untouched and wait for Valve or AMD to patch things appropriately (or even in kernel). It should be worth noting as well that for games that cause performance issues or limitations due to misreading the VRAM usage, there are often ini edits or workarounds for iGPUs like the one in the Steam Deck

@ricardofranco4114

Жыл бұрын

Look the system will still have 11.1gb of ram left. It's more problematic to have 1gb vram since most games use way more than 1gb vram. While 15gb if ram is good for the system, it's not needed. It's wasted potention that could be used for the igpu. 1gb vram is more detrimental to any system than 11.1gb of system ram. Most games don't even go above 8gb of ram. While most games go well over 1gb of vram. Its a bottleneck that can be easily fixed.

@Kickassdave

Жыл бұрын

@@ricardofranco4114 this is the problem with most of the videos/Facebook posts/Reddit posts telling everyone to change this setting. It's mass miss-communication at it's finest. And it's why I keep asking KZreadrs who know better to stop saying "increase VRAM". I will say it again... Increasing the UMA buffer is NOT "increasing your VRAM". The default setting does NOT "limit you to 1GB VRAM". The UMA buffer sets a desired MINIMUM allocation of VRAM and the system will still intelligently allocate RAM between GPU/CPU as required. There is a preference for the CPU which is *possible* could starve the GPU of its desired RAM... HOWEVER...... If a game is wanting a tonne of RAM for CPU, the performance impact of NOT getting the RAM it needs can be a lot worse...

Great detailed test except you've forgotten to test Non-Steam games. Most of the other youtube videos or tutorial mainly solve games like GTA5 (rockstar launcher), GOG, battlenet, origin games. Non-steam games are not smart enough to see the available VRAM. Something to do with pre-caching IIRC. Only steam games has this. Could you update us on using NON-STEAM games. 4GB vs 1GB.

@ViciousXUSMC

Жыл бұрын

About half of those were downloaded stand alone Non Steam Games. Actually the majority 3/5 of them were.

I think you're the only person that's bothered to actually benchmark this. Literally sick of hearing everyone going on about it yet not providing any actual evidence to show it is beneficial.

@YGTVYassirsGamingTechVlogs31

Жыл бұрын

I’ve seen plenty of ppl benchmark it. Videos showing them are Easy to find

@MrQwertypoiuyty

Жыл бұрын

@@YGTVYassirsGamingTechVlogs31 OK. Kindly send a link here in YT reply please. I've been searching but to no avail.

@YGTVYassirsGamingTechVlogs31

Жыл бұрын

@@MrQwertypoiuyty the vids are here on youtube. Start with pixel decks channel and also another guy that’s done really good work is cryobyte33

@MrQwertypoiuyty

Жыл бұрын

@@YGTVYassirsGamingTechVlogs31 Thanks. I am watching Cryobyte from my PC as of this writing, and typing this in my iPhone. Cryobyte has videos based on games. But there are no comparisons whatsoever between 1 GB or 4 GB VRAM. It's just graphs. But I want are real time comparisons in video, just like this one.

Seems to me setting it to 2 would be beneficial, but not the full 2.

@HolyTotemic

Жыл бұрын

Horizon is a gpu hog.

You clearly underuse the GPU. Steam Deck is CPU Limited by Power Budget, so you have to push the GPU at 99% to get best performance.

@ViciousXUSMC

Жыл бұрын

The goal is to test the real life scenario just playing a game at normal settings, not create a worst case scenario artificially. Due to the low resolution of the deck, its more common the CPU is limited not the GPU. But that is why we included so many games, including high demand AAA titles where the chances are highest for all demands on the system.

@Zer01neBDTDev

Жыл бұрын

@@ViciousXUSMC By not pushing the GPU you actually create a worst case scenario. The Deck is CPU Limited, what ever you will do, to avoid that, you have to push the GPU as its limit so the CPU sleep as much as possible. Its a Technique that as always been used, because its how Gaming workload work.

@ViciousXUSMC

Жыл бұрын

@@Zer01neBDTDev Wording, what I would mean is create the best case scenario.The point is to show the REAL WORLD change to be expected, not artificial situations. Because what is being advertised is a performance boost for the real world person under every day circumstances. This is a 720P (800) screen, this is what you get when setting the deck for any realistic setting to actually play a game. If you watch the video and pay attention, we used AAA games, and as an example Tomb Raider is clearly maxing out the GPU not the CPU.