6800XT 512Mb or a faster 256Mb? (AGP)

[1stPersonTooter]

Hello... I like to play games like F.E.A.R. and Oblivion, but there is too much lag when I turn the textures up, especially when I have added texture packs enabled in Elder Scrolls.

I guess what I'm asking is what would make a bigger difference? A slightly faster 512mb card or a more than slightly faster 256mb card? I really don't want to spend more than $200, because I plan to upgrade to PCI-Express after Windows Vista has been out for a couple of months and those nifty 1gb video cards come down in price a little.

I currently have a vanilla 6800 video card, 1gb of RAM, and a 2.6 P4


Thanks

 

[ShadowOfMyself]

200$? Do yourself a favor and get a x1800xt, or if thats IMPOSSIBLE, 1800GTO/7600GT

NEVER GET A 6800XT

Edit - oh crap, I read "pci express" and though you had it already... get an AGP 7600GT anyway

 

[1stPersonTooter]

So don't worry so much about memory, just get the higher model number? Wouldn't the texture in Elder scrolls look better if there is more memory?

 

[mancunian]

If you are playing at 1600 x 1200 type resolutions, then more memory would benefit you.


However, if you're doing 10 x 7 or 12 x 9 type resolutions, 512mb would be of little to no benefit.

 

[Running]

it would make no difference even if you had more memory, most vid cards in that price range aren't fast enough to take advantage of 512mb

 

[mancunian]

Originally posted by: Running
it would make no difference even if you had more memory, most vid cards in that price range aren't fast enough to take advantage of 512mb

Actually, Running is right. I forgot we were talking about a 6800 class of card. No point at all in getting the 512 model.