4 GB or 8 GB

[pcslookout]

For my next video card purchase should I go with 4 GB or 8 GB of video ram ?

 

[ylin0811]

There are some 4k games that go slightly above 4gb. Large vram comes with the benefit of a higher resolution. I would go with the larger vram for future proofing.

 

[biostud]

What videocard? What price range? What resolution?

 

[pcslookout]

What videocard? What price range? What resolution?

GTX 1070 (maybe) $300 to $500 1920x1200

 

[tviceman]

GTX 1070 only comes in 8gb, so that solves your dilemma.

 

[frozentundra123456]

Yea, true that for the 1070. Anyway, do we really another vram thread?

 

[mohit9206]

If your budget is over $300,you only have 8gb vram standard on all cards.
But for someone with budget between $200-300, the only options worth buying are GTX 1060 6GB, RX480 8GB and RX 470 8GB.
Avoid 4GB models of RX470/480 if goal is to use the card for 3+ years.This should be a common lesson for all.

 

[techne]

For my next video card purchase should I go with 4 GB or 8 GB of video ram ?

If you want to keep the card for some time (two years or more), 8GB.

If you intend to sell the card and replace it after some time (two years or more), 8GB.

 

[zinfamous]

IMO the price difference going from 4gb to 8gb with those cards is so negligible that there is very little reason to settle for 4GB. A lot of new games today are topping off close to 4gb with ultra texture packs, so I feel that you are doing yourself a disservice if you want high IQ in new games with that same card over the next several years if you go with 4gb now.

The cost difference in doubling VRAM on cards today is so vastly different from what it was only 2 years ago, and that is when 4gb was pretty much within the high end. I recall when going from 2gb to 3gb was a real decision to make @ nearly $100 more. Now going from 4 to 8 is what--$30, $40? pfft.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I recall when going from 2gb to 3gb was a real decision to make @ nearly $100 more. Now going from 4 to 8 is what--$30, $40? pfft.

I hear ya.

Do you think that there will ever be an 8GB RX 460? Are there any technical reasons (DRAM bus width, chip fan-out, etc.) why there couldn't be an 8GB variety?

And would that even make sense?

 

[Bacon1]

I hear ya.

Do you think that there will ever be an 8GB RX 460? Are there any technical reasons (DRAM bus width, chip fan-out, etc.) why there couldn't be an 8GB variety?

And would that even make sense?

Not worth the cost, even the 4gb isn't really used except in a few games. Price between the two is ~$10 right now though so worth it for the 4GB over 2GB. @ $20 (25% price diff) difference though 2GB is better buy for a short lived card anyway.

 

[Carfax83]

Even if the extra VRAM isn't used for rendering, it can be used or caching, which can affect performance substantially in certain games like Deus Ex MD which are very dense and have long draw distances with minimal pop in.

 

[Leyawiin]

If you game on 1080p or 1440p it really doesn't matter. If you are in the market for anything lower than a GTX 1070 it doesn't matter (and is a moot point for the 1070 or 1080). If you buy a new GPU every three years or less it doesn't matter.

If you think you want to crossfire an RX 470 or 480 down the road instead of upgrading to a new card, it matters.

 

[Sadist]

I hear ya.

Do you think that there will ever be an 8GB RX 460? Are there any technical reasons (DRAM bus width, chip fan-out, etc.) why there couldn't be an 8GB variety?

And would that even make sense?

Nah, the 128-bit memory interface would be a significant bottleneck.

 

[bononos]

For my next video card purchase should I go with 4 GB or 8 GB of video ram ?

Take a look at this thread with benchmarks:
https://forums.anandtech.com/thread...-vs-8gb-gddr5-vram-frametime-testing.2486265/

 

[Hossain84]

I prefer 8 GB

 

[nopainnogain]

If you buy a new GPU every three years or less and want to sell more easily the old card, you want 8GB.
If you bought a GTX 1070 or 1080, well, you already have 8GB.
If you think you want to crossfire an RX 470 or 480 down the road instead of upgrading to a new card, 8GB (in each card) will be better.

If you game on 1080p or 1440p and you're absolutely sure you're not going to buy a new monitor any time soon, and/or never use your GPU to do adult tasks (like video rendering), and/or also if you never sell your old cards, and/or you really would feel bad spending four tasty hamburgers to have 8GB instead of 4GB, then you may consider 4GB.