← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8

Video memory (VRAM)

Video RAM: fast memory on a graphics card that holds the images and textures the GPU is working on. It is measured in GB. More VRAM helps with detailed games and big video files.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Hardware and Performance — Module 27

Understanding Video memory (VRAM) in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8

What it does: A dedicated GPU is a separate graphics card with its own VRAM, so the spec lists the VRAM amount for the card. An integrated GPU is built into the CPU and borrows some of the system RAM, so it has no VRAM of its own. VRAM is a type of memory, so its size is measured in GB. GHz measures the clock speed of a processor. Large video files have big frames the GPU must work on. More VRAM helps the GPU handle them smoothly. VRAM is only used while the computer is running. VRAM stands for video RAM, the memory the GPU uses to store the pictures and textures it is drawing.

Common mistakes: A dedicated GPU has its own VRAM on the graphics card, so has_own_vram should be True. An integrated GPU has no VRAM of its own. It shares the computer's system RAM, so vram_source should be "system RAM".

Class: _____________________ · Name: _____________________ · Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

🖨 Print worksheet + answer key Add Video memory (VRAM) to a class →

This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 13–40) and word search (Modules 13–68).

Take this worksheet further — free with Cloodit

Each concept is reinforced from every angle — learned, then applied, then tested.

Learning

Duo

What does VRAM hold on a graphics card?

The images and textures the GPU is working onThe files you saved on your computer long term

Matches

Integrated GPU: 8 GB of its own VRAM

↓

An integrated GPU does not have its own VRAM. It shares the system RAM with the CPU.

Applying

Meanings

Term

VRAM

Meaning

Video RAM: fast memory on a graphics card that holds the images and textures the GPU is working on. It is measured in GB. More VRAM helps with detailed games and big video files.

Practice

Dedicated GPU: 8 GB VRAM

Testing

Gaps

Memory on a graphics card is called

Check Answer

Spots

1gpu = "dedicated"

2has_own_vram = False

Cloodit turns curriculum-aligned coding content into journeys students work through one biome at a time.

Students earn collectable badges

Over 100 of them, across seven natural biomes.

Study Buddy

Students build a real study resource

Turns their work into revision material ready for Flash Cards and Exam study.

Diamond Dash — one of Cloodit's live, competitive Sprint games

Students lock in with Sprints

Live, competitive practice for the start of the lesson or a teacher-led lesson finisher.

A Cloodit certificate of achievement, ready to personalise and print

Custom printable certificates

Honour your top performers, or encourage a student who's trying hard — ready to print in seconds.

Add to class →

Quick Questions

1. What does VRAM hold on a graphics card?

A. The images and textures the GPU is working on ✓

B. The files you saved on your computer long term

VRAM is fast memory on the graphics card. It holds the images and textures the GPU is working on. Saved files live in storage, not VRAM.

2. A dedicated GPU has its own VRAM.

A. True ✓

B. False

A dedicated GPU is a separate graphics card with its own VRAM, so it does not need to borrow memory from the rest of the computer.

3. Where does an integrated GPU get its video memory from?

A. It has its own separate VRAM chips

B. It shares the system RAM ✓

An integrated GPU is built into the CPU or motherboard. It shares system RAM with the rest of the computer, so it has no VRAM of its own.

4. Which unit is VRAM usually measured in?

A. GB (gigabytes) ✓

B. GHz (gigahertz)

VRAM is a type of memory, so its size is measured in GB. GHz measures the clock speed of a processor.

5. Which job would benefit most from more VRAM?

A. Typing a short story in a word processor

B. Playing a detailed game with high-quality textures ✓

Detailed games use lots of large textures. More VRAM lets the GPU keep them close at hand. A word processor needs very little graphics memory.

Match the Pairs

VRAM → Video RAM: fast memory on a graphics card that holds the images and textures the GPU is working on

GPU: 8 GB VRAM → The graphics card has 8 gigabytes of its own memory for images and textures

A dedicated GPU has its own VRAM that is separate from the computer's main memory → Graphics: Dedicated GPU, 6 GB VRAM

An integrated GPU has no VRAM of its own and shares system RAM → Graphics: Integrated GPU, shared RAM

Integrated GPU: 8 GB of its own VRAM → An integrated GPU does not have its own VRAM. It shares the system RAM with the CPU.

VRAM is measured in MHz, so more MHz means more memory → VRAM is measured in GB (gigabytes), not MHz. MHz measures speed, not how much memory there is.

Key Term

VRAM

Video RAM: fast memory on a graphics card that holds the images and textures the GPU is working on. It is measured in GB. More VRAM helps with detailed games and big video files.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Memory on a graphics card is called VRAM

Hint: Type the short name for memory on a graphics card.

2. VRAM size is measured in GB

Hint: Type the storage unit used for VRAM size.

3. An integrated GPU shares system RAM

Hint: Type the name of the computer's main memory that an integrated GPU borrows from.

4. A dedicated GPU has its own VRAM chips

Hint: Type the kind of GPU that has its own separate video memory.

5. Large 4K video files need more VRAM

Hint: Type the comparison word that shows how much VRAM big, detailed files need.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A gpu = "dedicated"

B has_own_vram = False

C if has_own_vram:

D print("Own VRAM used")

Line B — A dedicated GPU has its own VRAM on the graphics card, so has_own_vram should be True.

Question 2

A gpu = "integrated"

B shares_ram = True

C vram_source = "own VRAM"

D print(vram_source)

Line C — An integrated GPU has no VRAM of its own. It shares the computer's system RAM, so vram_source should be "system RAM".

Question 3

A vram = 8

B unit = "GHz"

C print(vram, unit)

Line B — VRAM is measured in GB (gigabytes). GHz measures CPU clock speed, so unit should be "GB".

Question 4

A game_textures = 6

B vram_gb = 4

C if game_textures < vram_gb:

D print("Needs more VRAM")

Line C — A game needs more VRAM when its textures are bigger than the VRAM available. The test should use > not <.

Question 5

A function show_vram(gb):

B return str(gb) + " GB"

C print(show_vram(8))

Line A — Python defines a function with the keyword def, not function. It should be def show_vram(gb):.

Student with a class code? Join your class →