A computer system that initializes a fraction of the computer system's memory for execution of video during booting of the computer system is provided. The computer system can include a first portion of BIOS code on a ROM device, wherein the first portion includes instructions for initializing the fraction. The computer system further can include a second portion of BIOS code that copies itself to the fraction upon completion of initialization of the fraction, wherein the second portion executes on the fraction and wherein the second portion initializes system memory and initializes a video buffer. The computer system further can include a copy of the second portion located on the ROM device, wherein the copy of the second portion executes until video buffer initialization is completed but before all of the system memory is initialized. Further, the video buffer displays video before all of the computer system's memory is initialized.