System and method for video memory usage for general system application

A system for facilitating access to graphics memory comprising:

• performance mode monitor for determining a performance mode of a graphics processing unit (GPU) of a graphics subsystem, wherein said GPU subsystem also comprises graphics memory;
• a memory available module for determining an amount of said graphics memory available for use by a general system application;
• an interpretation module for interpreting memory access requests;
• and
• a resource signaling module for signaling that said amount of said graphics memory is available for general system application.

A graphics processing unit (GPU) subsystem comprising:

• a graphics processor for executing graphics instructions;
• a frame buffer coupled to said graphics processor and comprising memory for storing data related to execution of said graphics instructions;
• a signaling module for signaling that a portion of said frame buffer is available for use by a computer system for general system use;
• and
• a frame buffer access module for facilitating access to said portion of said frame buffer memory by said computer system, wherein said portion of said frame buffer is operable to be accessed via a bus.