Can we get to the bottom of 1900x1080 4xAA and video ram usage?

[Keysplayr]

The GTX480 had 1.5GB, the GTX470 had 1.28 and the GTX460 had 1GB. In the 5000 series, there were no standard releases with above 1GB, right? Look, both companies are releasing cards (now) with more than 1GB of memory and this is not unique to the 6XXX/5XX series of cards. In fact, Nvidia seems to have beat them to the punch by offering 1.5GB on their single gpu flagship at the time and AMD only 1GB on their single gpu flagship.

I recall seeing enthusiast versions of the 5970 (2x2GB) and the 5870 (2GB). When we looked at benchmarks I believe that the 5970 gained quite a bit of performance, and the 5870 did not.

My problem here is that this discussion (if it isn't about AMD vs Nvidia) didn't take place back when the 480 shipped with 1.5 gigs. Were people creating threads going "Wow, Nvidia tacked on 50% more memory on their flagship card! Is it even used?" Now that AMD have 2GB on their single gpu flagship, it gets called into question whether the memory is used or not?

Well, perhaps through this testing we'll see that extreme settings use up to 1.5GB but never over that, rendering the extra 0.5GB useless, for now. (Aside: where are all the tessellation people and their 'futureproofing! support for future games!' now?)

If there is a way to test in game memory usage that works for both vendor's cards in the same way I say we do it and see. The end result might indeed be that anything above 1GB is rarely ever used - but that'll be a stain for both parties, not just one.

You're protesting too much here IMHO. Just participate would ya?

 

[toyota]

in the past AMD was slightly more efficient than Nvidia with the same amount of vram. anyway GTA 4 is probably about the only game that can utilze more than 1gb at 1920x1080 with playable settings on any single gpu. even if you run sli/crossfire there are only a few other games where you could exceed 1gb at that res. thats usually with tons of AA and/or high res textures mod.

I know there are only about 3 or 4 games that I do get over 768mb vram usage at playable settings but thats with just a gtx260. heck in Clear Sky I was around 870-880mb in spots. so I guess it is possible that 1gb of vram will still be cutting close in some future games at 1920x1080.

 

[Aristotelian]

You're protesting too much here IMHO. Just participate would ya?

Check the new, improved, edited version.

 

[happy medium]

in the past AMD was slightly more efficient than Nvidia with the same amount of vram. anyway GTA 4 is probably about the only game that can utilze more than 1gb at 1920x1080 with playable settings on any single gpu. even if you run sli/crossfire there are only a few other games where you could exceed 1gb at that res. thats usually with tons of AA and/or high res textures mod.

I know there are only about 3 or 4 games that I do get over 768mb vram usage at playable settings but thats with just a gtx260. heck in Clear Sky I was around 870-880mb in spots. so I guess it is possible that 1gb of vram will still be cutting close in some future games at 1920x1080.

Thats about how I see it.
It's just lately I've been hearing this 1gb @ 1920x1080 is not enough too much, and just wanted to set the record straight.

thanks toyota

 

[toyota]

Thats about how I see it.
It's just lately I've been hearing this 1gb @ 1920x1080 is not enough too much, and just wanted to set the record straight.

thanks toyota

if there are any specific games you want me to check let me know.

 

[happy medium]

if there are any specific games you want me to check let me know.

Crysis warhead 1920x1080, enthusiast, with no AA.
Thanks

 

[toyota]

Crysis warhead 1920x1080, enthusiast, with no AA.
Thanks

okay but give me about 15-20 minutes to install and test it.

 

[toyota]

in Warhead I am pegged at my video cards 896 vram limit at 1920x1080 Enthusiast DX10 with 4x AA. somebody with more vram would have to test it...

 

[SickBeast]

I wonder how much of a performance hit you take by transferring 100mb across the PCI-E bus.

 

[happy medium]

in Warhead I am pegged at my video cards 896 vram limit at 1920x1080 Enthusiast DX10 with 4x AA. somebody with more vram would have to test it...

ahh I asked for no AA ,but thanks

 

[toyota]

ahh I asked for no AA ,but thanks

oops, brb

 

[endlessmike133]

what a retarded argument 1GB is quite clearly enough for 1080p for every single game out there and will probably continue to be for the next few years or so

 

[toyota]

what a retarded argument 1GB is quite clearly enough for 1080p for every single game out there and will probably continue to be for the next few years or so

for the most part yes but its NOT enough for EVERY game.

ahh I asked for no AA ,but thanks

even with no AA I was still getting over 890 of vram usage.

 

[Skurge]

for the most part yes but its NOT enough for EVERY game.


even with no AA I was still getting over 890 of vram usage.

Thats what I've been saying, its sufficient for most games, but not in every case. Some people seem to have taken what I said waay out of context.

Happy, I think you should apologize to Insomniator for insinuating he was lying about his vram usage in that game.

 

[endlessmike133]

for the most part yes but its NOT enough for EVERY game.


even with no AA I was still getting over 890 of vram usage.

name one game it isnt enough for

 

[Skurge]

name one game it isnt enough for

Crysis.

 

[toyota]

name one game it isnt enough for

Clear Sky with mods, Fallout 3 with mods, GTA 4, Crysis on very high with more than 4x AA or with some mods. thats just a few I know of. so again 1gb is usually fine but not for EVERY game.

 

[notty22]

I'm under the impression, the driver , adjusts to your gpu's frame buffer and works with the game to successfully run. Meaning if more communication is needed per frame it happens and other times, more of your frame buffer is used almost as a buffer for frames ahead.
Here are reviews for past 512mb cards and there are points where there is clear fps drop off, but its usually above 1920x1080

Palit HD 4870 Sonic Dual Edition 512 MB

other 512 reviews
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/?q_reviews=512&p=1&pp=25&order=date&category=Video+Cards

 

[happy medium]

Clear Sky with mods, Fallout 3 with mods, GTA 4, Crysis on very high with more than 4x AA or with some mods. thats just a few I know of. so again 1gb is usually fine but not for EVERY game.

So basically every STOCK game except GTA 4 thats maxes at 1280mb,I think?.

 

[flexcore]

This has been an issue every time games get close to the memory capacity at that time. Its getting close now. I thought one of the benefits of DX11 was that games wouldn't need as much memory for even better graphics? But thats another topic anyway. At some point card makers are going to have to have more RAM so games can use it. I actually wish AMD could use 1.5GB of RAM, I think it would make more sense at this time. Unfortunately that would require a 384bit bus, making the card more complex and expensive.

 

[toyota]

So basically every STOCK game except GTA 4 thats maxes at 1280mb,I think?.

I would say right around 1024mb with no mods and AA below 8x will let you play anything but GTA 4 at 1920x1080 maxed without vram issues. 1280mb is certainly the best bet with a powerful card and I dont see anyway of going over that anytime soon.

 

[Elfear]

what a retarded argument 1GB is quite clearly enough for 1080p for every single game out there and will probably continue to be for the next few years or so

Bad habit to use absolutes.

After a little searching on the internets.

5 games that use >1GB of vram at 1920x1200
Divinity II, FarCry 2, and Metro 2033 at 1920x1200 (post #34 & 47)
Napoleon TW 1279MB at 1920x1200 (midway down post #1)
Starcraft II >1200MB & Crysis Warhead >1300MB (post #4 & 5)
Oblivion with high res textures would be >1GB at 1080p (see post #34)

With most games at 1080p you'd be fine but some will cause 1GB cards to whimper. I'd be willing to bet that some of the Stalker: COP mods require >1GB of vram too.

 

[busydude]

Here are reviews for past 512mb cards and there are points where there is clear fps drop off, but its usually above 1920x1080

LOL, That is the problem when reviewers show only averages, those FPS do not show VRAM limitation.. like this one:

You just don't see the whole story just by looking at the averages.

 

[happy medium]

Bad habit to use absolutes.

After a little searching on the internets.

5 games that use >1GB of vram at 1920x1200
Divinity II, FarCry 2, and Metro 2033 at 1920x1200 (post #34 & 47)
Napoleon TW 1279MB at 1920x1200 (midway down post #1)
Starcraft II >1200MB & Crysis Warhead >1300MB (post #4 & 5)
Oblivion with high res textures would be >1GB at 1080p (see post #34)

With most games at 1080p you'd be fine but some will cause 1GB cards to whimper. I'd be willing to bet that some of the Stalker: COP mods require >1GB of vram too.

1080p is 1920x1080 not 1920x1200. and we were talking plain 4x AA.

quote:
"Ok so heres Crysis Warhead maxed out with 16xQ AA from the start -> the harbour overlook"

1300mb? yea with 16xaa
"
We just had a member here do Crysis with no aa and he got only 800+mb of vram usage. Would 4x AA increase the memory by 180mb? mabe. but thats just one example.

 

[endlessmike133]

Fact is, even all the games you guys mentioned that are limited by 1GB VRAM can run pretty smoothly on a good 1GB GPU.

It's honestly not even worth thinking about; from my research getting a 2GB GPU over a 1GB GPU does not offer any significant gains in ANY game.