Does 128mb really matter right now?

[Sniper82]

I don't plan on running any game past 1024x768 max detail so is there any point in choosing 128mb over 64mb right now? I know Doom III will be able to make use of the extra memory but by then I will be upgrading again.

EDIT: Am talking about a video card .

 

[boyRacer]

dunno about you but i hate it when i open the start menu and theres a looooong delay... but that's just me... if you'll be upgrading soon and you seemed to have gone this far without adding that extra 128mb might as well wait i guess.

 

[BigFatCow]

Originally posted by: boyRacer
dunno about you but i hate it when i open the start menu and theres a looooong delay... but that's just me... if you'll be upgrading soon and you seemed to have gone this far without adding that extra 128mb might as well wait i guess.

i think you are both talking about different things here, i think hes talking about Video Card Ram and your talking about actual ram...

 

[erikiksaz]

Originally posted by: BigFatCow

Originally posted by: boyRacer
dunno about you but i hate it when i open the start menu and theres a looooong delay... but that's just me... if you'll be upgrading soon and you seemed to have gone this far without adding that extra 128mb might as well wait i guess.

i think you are both talking about different things here, i think hes talking about Video Card Ram and your talking about actual ram...

Hehe, thought that was funny. But, i think you might as well go to 128 megs of VIDEO ram. It'll be more futureproof!

 

[DannyBoy]

Uhuh, go 128, then you can stick it in another machine and have something decent in the other

Like you can play decent quality network games with ya buddys

You do have buddys though right

 

[boyRacer]

hahaha... ooops... no wonder i was like... wow he's playing games with 64mb... :Q

<---- brain fade...

 

[DannyBoy]

Originally posted by: boyRacer
hahaha... ooops... no wonder i was like... wow he's playing games with 64mb... :Q

<---- brain fade...

You what?

EDIT: Oops silly me, nvm

 

[0roo0roo]

large textures make graphics look better at any resolution.

 

[TheCorm]

I would go with 64MB for now if you are a regular upgrader, get 128MB next time. My Graphics card "evolution" memory size has gone:

4MB EDO > 16MB SDR > 32MB SDR > 32MB DDR > 64MB DDR

Corm

 

[Quick1]

For MOST companies the price difference between the two is very small($20-30). Because of the minimal difference in price, go with a 128MB card!

 

[bgeh]

i'd go with 128MB now as it is more futureproof

 

[ScrewFace]

You got my vote for a 128MB card. You'll even notice the difference in yesterday's games like Jedi KnightII: Jedi Outcast and I don't think that you wanna play all your games at a lowly 1024x768, do you? 1280x1024 and 1600x1200 look much sweeter and that's where the extra 64MB'll come in handy.

 

[jjyiz28]

Originally posted by: ^Sniper^
I don't plan on running any game past 1024x768 max detail so is there any point in choosing 128mb over 64mb right now? I know Doom III will be able to make use of the extra memory but by then I will be upgrading again.

EDIT: Am talking about a video card .

he just said he's gonna upgrade when doom3 comes out, which is summer or fall i believe. so why "futureproof" your video card if he's gonna upgrade again real soon? so get the 64mb version. usually runs faster than 128 version too.

 

[Eug]

A lot of 128 MB cards have slower memory than their 64 MB counterparts.

 

[TimeKeeper]

hmm........I play UT2003 and didn't notice different between 64MB vs 128MB Ati 9100 at same clock speed.
But, 128MB seems to be faster for Simcity4.

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: TimeKeeper
hmm........I play UT2003 and didn't notice different between 64MB vs 128MB Ati 9100 at same clock speed.
But, 128MB seems to be faster for Simcity4.

What resolutions for those games?

 

[CelticDemolition]

i've hit a limit last summer already with my 64mb radeon 8500 when sof2 came out. i play in 16x12 and when i upped texture quality from 'high' to 'very high' there was big time slowdown, most likely cuz the game needed to hit up the system memory for texturing. i mean, nothing to complain about there (hehe) but it just goes to show that there will always be some use for more memory...

 

[BoberFett]

Seems to me if you're buying a last generation card such as a GF3/GF4 or ATI 8500/9000, go 64 MB. The GPU will be a bottleneck before the memory is. If you're buying a GF FX/9700 get the 128 MB. Your GPU will be viable longer, and may see the day when 128 MB is required.

 

[TimeKeeper]

Originally posted by: Eug

Originally posted by: TimeKeeper
hmm........I play UT2003 and didn't notice different between 64MB vs 128MB Ati 9100 at same clock speed.
But, 128MB seems to be faster for Simcity4.

What resolutions for those games?

I only have 15" LCD, so..I am still in stone age of 1024X768X32.

 

[chizow]

I think it depends more on the card, as I wouldn't bother with 128MB on a R200/GF4 or lower GPU if it costs significantly more. By the time you would need 128MB for any game, you'll surely need a faster card to take advantage of it. Also, cards with the same GPU tend to have slower clocked RAM which will have a more tangible impact on performance than an extra 64MB of slower RAM.

The only current "gaming" application that takes advantage of more than 64MB is 3DMark2K3, which states in its whitepapers that some tests can use up to ~124MB of video RAM. I'd go with more system RAM for current games (512MB), as real world games make better use of system RAM for textures than > 64MB of video RAM. 3DMark2K3 performs better using video RAM than system RAM, but in reality system RAM > swap file which would be the first thing impacted by large textures. But then again, 3DMark2K3 would probably run better with a molex adapter from your PSU and the card plugged into a monitor.

Chiz

 

[Sniper82]

Heres the deal. I can get a 128mb PNY Ti4200 for $120 shipped or a Gainward Ti4200 64mb for $95 shipped. Which would you all go for? I prob won't upgrade right when Doom III comes out but will soon after.

 

[human2k]

Get the 128MB version.

 

[TimeKeeper]

Originally posted by: ^Sniper^
Heres the deal. I can get a 128mb PNY Ti4200 for $120 shipped or a Gainward Ti4200 64mb for $95 shipped. Which would you all go for? I prob won't upgrade right when Doom III comes out but will soon after.

hmm.....I really wouldn't call either one good deal, no?
Have you check this week's CompUSA?

 

[Sniper82]

Well I don't have a CC also they are sold out. I only have a 300watt sparkle think I would have any problems running a Ti4200? Says on PNY's web site minimum requirements is 350watt.

 

[jjyiz28]

Originally posted by: ^Sniper^
Well I don't have a CC also they are sold out. I only have a 300watt sparkle think I would have any problems running a Ti4200? Says on PNY's web site minimum requirements is 350watt.

sparkle is a good brand psu so i wouldn't worry bout it. its not all about watts like they make it out to believe. a good, beefy, 300 psu would be able to supply more quality, stable watts compared to a 400 watt psu POS. about 128 or 64, i would get a 128 if you're not gonna get a new card within this year.