Does memoty matter for HTPC performance?

[chrisralston]

I've seen that extra memory can help with gaming performance, but what about non-gaming performance? Will the increased memory on a 6600 card improve performance for a MCE HTPC?

 

[StrangerGuy]

No. 128MB vs 256MB doesn't matter if you are talking about 2D only, just get the 128MB version.

 

[chrisralston]

Thanks, you saved me about $40. I guess I owe you.

 

[exar333]

in fact, the 128 is generally much better than the 256 for these 660GT's...cuz the 256 mem is slow DDR....and the 128 is usually fast GDDR @ 1ghz or so...go with the 128

 

[ddogg]

even a 16MB or 32MB card would be enough for you if you only work in 2D environments. the CPU would then be important depending on what kind of work your doing. memory only matters when u immerse urself in the gaming world

 

[rise]

so would intel extreme graphics an a hardware encoding pvr card suffice for waching, recording and editing tv?

 

[SergeC]

I'm not the one to ask, but yes, I'd think so.

 

[bjc112]

Originally posted by: SergeMan
I'm not the one to ask, but yes, I'd think so.

You AREN'T the one to ask.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: rise4310
so would intel extreme graphics an a hardware encoding pvr card suffice for waching, recording and editing tv?

Maybe the new one coupled with a heat-spewing high clocked P4. WMV-HD decoding performance was pretty good on those, IIRC.

But even a vanilla 6600 should handle those duties just fine. Sink more money into the CPU so you can stack on some fancy video postprocessing.

- M4H

 

[user1234]

for 2D you should get the 6200 for $50

 

[rise]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: rise4310
so would intel extreme graphics an a hardware encoding pvr card suffice for waching, recording and editing tv?

Maybe the new one coupled with a heat-spewing high clocked P4. WMV-HD decoding performance was pretty good on those, IIRC.

But even a vanilla 6600 should handle those duties just fine. Sink more money into the CPU so you can stack on some fancy video postprocessing.

- M4H

well, i have a p4 2.4c, 1 gig ram and a micro board i was gonna throwin an htpc of some sort. i just don't want to keep runniing up the cost if its not needed. maybe a 6200 would make sense.

 

[chrisralston]

I wanted to get at least a 6600 just incase I decide I want to do some gaming after I have built this machine (hopefully within the next month?). I feel the 6200 won't give me that flexibility. And from what I have read about the 6200TC, I feel that it will use too much memory and CPU usage if I do decide to game.

Actually, there's a question. I have already bought a MSI NF Ultra mobo, 1 gig of Corsair VS PC3200, and plan to get a Venice 3500. Could a 6200TC be sufficient for a mostly HTPC with the occasional game?

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: ExarKun333
in fact, the 128 is generally much better than the 256 for these 660GT's...cuz the 256 mem is slow DDR....and the 128 is usually fast GDDR @ 1ghz or so...go with the 128

No graphics board uses DDR. They all use a variant of GDDR (Graphics Double Data Rate).

The only 6600 that has memory clocks around and in excess of 1ghz is the GT which is considerably more expensive (~180) than the 6600 regular.

The 6200 would probably be a much better buy. In my PVR i am using onboard Nvidia IGP (Equivelent of a Geforce 4 MX) and it runs wonderfully.

-Kevin

 

[imported_Kensai]

The 6200 will be adequate for basic PVR/HTPC duties, but if you've got a cash flow for it, go 6600. And since you said you might want to do some gaming on it the 6600 or 6600GT will be right for you.

 

[chrisralston]

Thanks for everyone's input. I guess I'll just have to wait until the MSI 6600 cards are back in stok at ZZF or Newegg!