Memory split with less video memory ?

[rolgiati]

I am looking into freeing more usable memory on a Raspi 256Mb that will be used headless, and only accessed through ssh in CLI mode.

Would it be possible to change the memory split and reduce the video memory to 12 MB ?
( which should be sufficient for a VGA display of 800 x 600 in 16 colours )

How could it be done ?

[pluggy]

If you're using debian, run

sudo raspi-config



I'll let you work the rest out.

You'll find the minimum is 16MB, it will accept figures for less, but sets it to 16MB.

[chris57100]

I think that now the minimum is 8Mb. Also i am not sure but a 8 multiple is recommanded

[pluggy]

I think that now the minimum is 8Mb. Also i am not sure but a 8 multiple is recommanded

Code: Select all

root@raspberrypi:~# uname -a
Linux raspberrypi 3.6.11+ #371 PREEMPT Thu Feb 7 16:31:35 GMT 2013 armv6l GNU/Linux
root@raspberrypi:~# tail /boot/config.txt -n1
gpu_mem=32
root@raspberrypi:~# cat /proc/meminfo|grep Mem
MemTotal:         481288 kB
MemFree:          433492 kB
root@raspberrypi:~# 

edit & reboot

Code: Select all

root@raspberrypi:~# tail /boot/config.txt -n1
gpu_mem=16
root@raspberrypi:~# cat /proc/meminfo|grep Mem
MemTotal:         497544 kB
MemFree:          450076 kB
root@raspberrypi:~#

edit & reboot

Code: Select all

root@raspberrypi:~# tail /boot/config.txt -n1
gpu_mem=8
root@raspberrypi:~# cat /proc/meminfo|grep Mem
MemTotal:         497544 kB
MemFree:          450400 kB
root@raspberrypi:~#

edit & reboot

Code: Select all

root@raspberrypi:~# tail /boot/config.txt -n1
gpu_mem=4
root@raspberrypi:~# cat /proc/meminfo|grep Mem
MemTotal:         497544 kB
MemFree:          452832 kB
root@raspberrypi:~# 

edit & reboot

Code: Select all

root@raspberrypi:~# tail /boot/config.txt -n1
gpu_mem=3
root@raspberrypi:~# cat /proc/meminfo|grep Mem
MemTotal:         497544 kB
MemFree:          450332 kB
root@raspberrypi:~# 

edit & reboot.

Code: Select all

root@raspberrypi:~# tail /boot/config.txt -n1
gpu_mem=1
root@raspberrypi:~# cat /proc/meminfo|grep Mem
MemTotal:         497544 kB
MemFree:          452856 kB
root@raspberrypi:~# 

I rest my case ?

[chris57100]

Excellent ! I never tested and really thought that 1Mb was not possible

[pluggy]

It isn't, it just accepts the figure. The memory is identical to the 16MB setting.

[chris57100]

Oups, bad eyes !!!
Ok thanks for the tip

[rolgiati]

Thanks for the info.

[ProDigit]

Old topic, but,
What if you have bought one of them 3,5" Rpi screens with a resolution of 480x320 pixels?
It should be possible to lower the Vram to a mere 1MB, as there's only about 153k pixels to feed?

[RaTTuS]

no need to necro this , on the older pi's 16MB is as low as you can go with the memory split IIRC
dunno about Pi4

[jamesh]

Impressive necro though, might be a record.