Troubleshooting: "Running Out of GPU Memory" Warning
What Does This Warning Mean?
When VStitcher displays a "Running out of GPU memory" warning during rendering or 3D display, it means your graphics card's video memory (VRAM) is almost full.
Note: Your render may still complete successfully even when you see this warning. It's telling you that your GPU — specifically its VRAM — is close to its limit for the current scene. Depending on how close, you may notice:
Slower 3D navigation
Performance drops
Crashes on larger or more complex projects
Note: This is a different message from the one that says VStitcher is running on your Integrated Graphics Processor (iGPU) instead of your dedicated GPU. That warning usually comes from a laptop's power-saving mode, a desktop BIOS default, or a driver issue — see the GPU-configuration fix below, which resolves both.
Quick Fixes
1. Switch Your Rendering Display Mode
The fastest fix is to reduce how much GPU memory VStitcher uses — no hardware change required.
Go to Preferences → Rendering and change your 3D Display Engine:
Your VStitcher Version | Use This Engine | Why |
26.1 and newer | Unreal Lite | Lightweight mode with better performance than OpenGL and significantly lower VRAM use, while keeping modern display quality |
26.0 and older | OpenGL | The legacy engine, but it uses the least video memory of the options available on older versions |
2. Check Your GPU Configuration
Even with a capable GPU, incorrect settings can force VStitcher onto your slower integrated graphics instead of your dedicated GPU.
Follow Set Up Your Graphics Card for VStitcher to:
Set VStitcher to High Performance mode in Windows
Configure the equivalent setting for NVIDIA or AMD GPUs
Check your laptop's power mode or your desktop's BIOS setting, if applicable
3. Confirm Your Monitor Is Wired to the Right GPU
This step catches an issue that the software settings above can't fix on their own: even with VStitcher correctly set to High Performance mode, the physical port your monitor is plugged into can override that setting. If the cable is connected to a port wired to the integrated GPU (rather than the dedicated one), Windows may still default to the integrated GPU for anything shown on that display.
Ask your IT team to confirm:
Is the monitor cable plugged into a port on the dedicated GPU — not the motherboard?
When You Need to Upgrade Your GPU
If the steps above don't resolve the warning, your GPU's VRAM may simply be insufficient for your workflow. If so, work with your IT department to select a replacement that meets our system requirements.
Quick Troubleshooting Checklist
[ ] Switched 3D Display Engine to Unreal Lite (26.1+) or OpenGL (older versions)
[ ] Followed Set Up Your Graphics Card for VStitcher to confirm High Performance mode is set
[ ] Confirmed with IT that the monitor cable is connected to the dedicated GPU (not the motherboard)
[ ] Checked current GPU VRAM — Windows (
dxdiag) or Mac (System Report)
Still Having Issues?
If you've tried everything above and still see the warning, contact our support team with the following:
Your system specs (GPU model, VRAM, CPU, RAM) — from System Information
Your VStitcher version and build number
The project file that triggers the warning