3.8ns vs 4ns access time....

[InfectedVoice]

Is this a huge difference ?
The Hercules 3D Prophet 3 has an access time of 4ns, whereas all other GF3 cards of a faster time of 3.8. Is this a big enough difference to dishonour a purchase ? I am leading towards the Visiontek, but the 3D Prophet is priced really well, and I believe Guillemot is a good crad maker.

Anyway, your opinions are greatly appreciated !!

 

[mithrandir2001]

Huge difference? No way. In 2 years, any GF3 bought today will be one fourth the speed of the latest and greatest, so who's gonna sweat over a few %?

 

[ledzepp98]

i believe (someone correct me if i'm wrong) the gf3 runs the ram at 460mhz by defualt (230mhz ddr). this translates to roughly 4.3ns ram. some come with 4ns ram which is rated at 250mhz (or 500mhz with ddr). the benefit of the 3.8ns ram should only effect overclocking (3.8ns is 263mhz, or 526mhz with ddr).

 

[dkozloski]

Stroker McGurk says "You can't feel less than 10% in the seat of your pants". Do the math for yourself.

 

[bjc112]

ledzep got it right.. i think 3.8 just overclockes a tad bit higher

 

[drewski]

LedZep is right. It's all going to be in the overclockability, since the two boards are both clocked at 460 for the RAM.

But generally speaking the GF3 has better memory management than the GF2, so with no Overclocking of the RAM 460 should go further. If that makes any sense.

 

[bjc112]

<< Overclocking of the RAM 460 should go further >>



LOL.. do you mean, there is no purpose in going any higher becasue of better mem management.?

 

[ledzepp98]

i think he meant that even though the gf3 and gf2 ultra both have 460mhz ram, the gf3 is faster in part because it uses the memory more efficiently and, since the ram is used more efficiently, you will get a higher marginal speed increase when the gf3 ram is overclocked