256MB or faster video meomory?

[stromgald]

I'm planning on building a new system soon. I hope for it to last at least 3-4 years. And by 'last', I mean able to run most of the new top tier games that come out. I've been trying to decide whether to get an ATI X700 Pro with 256 MB or a 6600 GT with 128MB. I know from perusing the articles here and at other sites that the 6600 GT is really good, and it should have better perfromance than the X700 Pro because of the extra pixel pipelines and faster RAM/clock. However, I believe most games usually specify 32 MB of video RAM required etc., and the number keeps getting higher and higher.

I don't plan on getting an SLI board (out of my price range), so should I get a slower card with more RAM or a 6600 GT with less RAM if I'm not planning a video card upgrade in the next 4 years? And although I think I know the response to this question already, I'll ask anyways: what video card would you recommend in the $175-225 price range?

 

[aatf510]

If you like to play games at resolution 1280x1024 (probably with AA and AF on) or above, then you will be better off with a 256MB card. I personally stick to 1028x768 most of the time even though I have a 256MB x800xt pe.
BTW, I don't really know how 6600GT compare to x700Pro, but I am guessing that x700Pro is made to compete with 6600 non-GT, so you are better off with a x700xt if you want similar performance to the 6600GT

 

[halfadder]

I'm most familar with the Radeon 9600/9800, GeForce 6800 Ultra, and older... but these issues have been the same since 1998. So here are my thoughts on the issue:

If you really want your card to last for 4 years, then you really need to get the best card you can get. Either that or a close second-best. Spend your money and enjoy the system for a long time. I really mean it.

A 128 MB card is fine for today, and is almost overkill for a slow card. (For example: why bother having more than 128 MB if you only have a lowly Radeon 9250 or GeForce 5200 Ultra). But next year, and beyond, you will want as much as possible. I seriously would not consider anything less than 256 MB. In 3 years, office users will still have crappy onboard graphics, but gamers will have 512 MB and probably even 1 GB.

If I were to build my "system to last 4 years" today, I would save up for a top-line gfx card and dual raptor drives in a raid. I would also buy 2 GB RAM. Software gets more advanced and the system requirements keep creeping up in the latest and greatest games. Hard drives get bigger and faster, CPUs get faster, etc. If you don't want to upgrade for another 3-4 years, buy big now.

I don't know much about the X700 Pro and 6600 GT. I would suggest you do some research and read the rumor sites. I would suggest getting a fast card, but also one with 256+ MB. Also, try to buy a popular, but new card. If the 6600 GT is about to be replaced, don't go buying one now!

Perhaps a better approach would be to plan on a 2-year machine, aiming for the best price-to-performance ratio.