gtx 760 2GB or 4GB?

[cmdrshefardtech]

Should I buy gtx 760 2GB or 4GB considering following?

1. 1080p gaming
2. single monitor
3. medium to high setting
4. futureproof for next 3-4 years

 

[R0H1T]

Should I buy gtx 760 2GB or 4GB considering following?

1. 1080p gaming
2. single monitor
3. medium to high setting
4. futureproof for next 3-4 years

Well at this point in time you'll hardly(if ever) feel the need for 4GB of VRAM on 1080p single monitor gaming, so for that 2GB is enough atm.

The second & third points are pretty much the same, 760 2GB will be enough for 99% of games to be played at medium to high settings on a single 1080p monitor.

Lastly you can't futureproof your GPU purchase, for the next 3 or 4yrs, at this point in time since the PS4 already uses 8GB VRAM & thus sooner or later that threshold will be crossed on the PC side therefore 4GB or more VRAM would be the minimum requirement(medium/high settings) for most games in the next few years.

My advise would be getting a 290x or 780Ti if you really want to delay your next GPU purchase as much as possible 😉

 

[blastingcap]

PS4 does not use 8 GB VRAM, it shares 8 GB between OS (CPU) and GPU. A reasonable assumption is a 50/50 split between the OS/CPU and GPU.

 

[wand3r3r]

I'd definitely go 4GB, 2GB is limiting already in BF4 (unsure at 1080p?) but it's close enough to a limit currently that as new games are released it's only a matter of time when more of them will utilize more than 2 GB. This is the tail end of the kepler cards so 2GB has served it's lifetime and now it's getting outdated, especially with your upgrade cycle.

Undoubtedly 4 GB, it's basically 2014 and demands are going up especially over a long usage period. Look at 570/580 owners, the card is fairly powerful but 1.28GB is quite outdated. I think the 2.5/3 GB owners are a lot better off.

 

[ShintaiDK]

PS4 does not use 8 GB VRAM, it shares 8 GB between OS (CPU) and GPU. A reasonable assumption is a 50/50 split between the OS/CPU and GPU.

The PS4 got 4.5 to the entire game (5GB with flexible memory.). Thats gamecode+VRAM. And looking on consoles and the image quality. I doubt they use much more than 1GB for VRAM.

http://www.vg247.com/2013/07/26/ps4...pers-4-5gb-guaranteed-1gb-of-flexible-memory/

To the OP, get the 2GB.

 

[3DVagabond]

The PS4 got 4.5 to the entire game (5GB with flexible memory.). Thats gamecode+VRAM. And looking on consoles and the image quality. I doubt they use much more than 1GB for VRAM.

http://www.vg247.com/2013/07/26/ps4...pers-4-5gb-guaranteed-1gb-of-flexible-memory/

To the OP, get the 2GB.

So they have more than 4gig of RAM available for the game, but you don't see the reason to want to have more than 2gig on your video card? Doesn't seem logical.

 

[ShintaiDK]

So they have more than 4gig of RAM available for the game, but you don't see the reason to want to have more than 2gig on your video card? Doesn't seem logical.

It seems you confuse the terms. Its 4.5GB as default for gamecode+VRAM.

If you need 2GB for VRAM, the game is already down to 2.5GB. And remember all games are 64bit with its usual 30% overhead in memory footprint for the code. That would be equal to a 2GB GFX card and 3-4GB main memory on a PC.

 

[3DVagabond]

It seems you confuse the terms. Its 4.5GB as default for gamecode+VRAM.

If you need 2GB for VRAM, the game is already down to 2.5GB. And remember all games are 64bit with its usual 30% overhead in memory footprint for the code. That would be equal to a 2GB GFX card and 3-4GB main memory on a PC.

Possibly, but you seem to be throwing away the 3.5gig that they are allocating to the OS. I do understand that you are saying they aren't using that full 4.5gig of "game" memory for graphics. I don't know where you are getting the 2.5 gig is dedicating game ram to something else besides graphics. Some, possibly, but that seems an excessive amount for the game process.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Possibly, but you seem to be throwing away the 3.5gig that they are allocating to the OS. I do understand that you are saying they aren't using that full 4.5gig of "game" memory for graphics. I don't know where you are getting the 2.5 gig is dedicating game ram to something else besides graphics. Some, possibly, but that seems an excessive amount for the game process.

The 3.5GB is only for the OS and any streaming, apps etc. Not related to the gamecode at all.

Its no different than Xbox One. With 3GB dedicated for OS and only 5GB for Gamecode+VRAM.

http://www.handytips.info/1141/microsoft-xbox-one-has-5gb-ram-usable-for-games-3gb-for-os/

2 cores and parts of the GPU is also OS only for that matter. So for the Xbox One for example, you got 6 cores, 5GB and 90% of the GPU for gaming.

 

[R0H1T]

The 3.5GB is only for the OS and any streaming, apps etc. Not related to the gamecode at all.

Its no different than Xbox One. With 3GB dedicated for OS and only 5GB for Gamecode+VRAM.

http://www.handytips.info/1141/microsoft-xbox-one-has-5gb-ram-usable-for-games-3gb-for-os/

2 cores and parts of the GPU is also OS only for that matter. So for the Xbox One for example, you got 6 cores, 5GB and 90% of the GPU for gaming.

Well regardless of whether X console uses 4 or 5 GB of VRAM for just the game I'd argue that since the PC will have more eye candy & being less optimized, than the original game(s) on the console, one should definitely not settle for anything less than 4GB(ideally) on a GPU if he/she is looking for some sort of futureproofing for the next few years on their current rig.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Well regardless of whether X console uses 4 or 5 GB of VRAM for just the game I'd argue that since the PC will have more eye candy & being less optimized, than the original game(s) on the console, one should definitely not settle for anything less than 4GB(ideally) on a GPU if he/she is looking for some sort of futureproofing for the next few years on their current rig.

You assume the 760 would be fast enough for that, in 3-4 years.

 

[3DVagabond]

The 3.5GB is only for the OS and any streaming, apps etc. Not related to the gamecode at all.

Its no different than Xbox One. With 3GB dedicated for OS and only 5GB for Gamecode+VRAM.

http://www.handytips.info/1141/microsoft-xbox-one-has-5gb-ram-usable-for-games-3gb-for-os/

2 cores and parts of the GPU is also OS only for that matter. So for the Xbox One for example, you got 6 cores, 5GB and 90% of the GPU for gaming.

The link there says the PS4 has 1gig for OS. I'm not too sure how to interpret all of this from what you've linked. I don't see where they mention CPU cores, but I also don't see how that's relevant to video ram anyway.

 

[R0H1T]

You assume the 760 would be fast enough for that, in 3-4 years.

Nope I never said that, 780Ti or 290x would be my choice rather than 760 with 4GB VRAM(see my OP) & so if the OP is going with 2GB then 760 would do him just fine for the next couple of years otherwise the other two options would last probably twice as long(or more) as the 760 4GB version.

 

[ShintaiDK]

The link there says the PS4 has 1gig for OS. I'm not too sure how to interpret all of this from what you've linked. I don't see where they mention CPU cores, but I also don't see how that's relevant to video ram anyway.

PS4 got 1GB extra of virtual memory, its the flexible memory part.

4.5GB for game+vram, 3.5GB for OS. 1GB flexible memory to add on top if needed.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-ps3-system-software-memory

There is nothing from the consoles that makes him want a 4GB VRAM GPU.

 

[3DVagabond]

PS4 got 1GB extra of virtual memory, its the flexible memory part.

4.5GB for game+vram, 3.5GB for OS. 1GB flexible memory to add on top if needed.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-ps3-system-software-memory

There is nothing from the consoles that makes him want a 4GB VRAM GPU.

Well, for the sake of discussion, let's assume everything you say as far as available vram is correct. PC's run higher game settings, higher AA, shadows, AO, etc... You'll need more vram on a PC than a console. Personally, I would want more than 2 gig of VrAM on a card I was planning on keeping for a few years.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Well, for the sake of discussion, let's assume everything you say as far as available vram is correct. PC's run higher game settings, higher AA, shadows, AO, etc... You'll need more vram on a PC than a console. Personally, I would want more than 2 gig of VrAM on a card I was planning on keeping for a few years.

On a GTX760? And what about the price premium?

Futureproofing and computers just doesnt mix.

 

[3DVagabond]

On a GTX760? And what about the price premium?

Futureproofing and computers just doesnt mix.

Yes, on a 760. He plans on hanging onto it for 3-4 years. Call it what you like. He hasn't mentioned price. You are over analyzing the data we have.

 

[R0H1T]

PS4 got 1GB extra of virtual memory, its the flexible memory part.

4.5GB for game+vram, 3.5GB for OS. 1GB flexible memory to add on top if needed.

That would imply a max of 5.5GB just for the game, including VM, so you're telling me that 4GB would just be a waste 😵

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-ps3-system-software-memory

There is nothing from the consoles that makes him want a 4GB VRAM GPU.

The keyword is not yet but I bet come next gen 2GB would be the standard VRAM size for any GPU & by the end of next year it'll start holding back gamers, that have limited amounts of VRAM(2GB or less) on their dGPU, big time !

So looking at the time frame the OP is supposedly going to keep that GPU 4GB is a must, ideally he/she should get a 780Ti or 290x class GPU & they'd be around the same price bracket as two 760's I guess.

 

[Deders]

Rome II total war can use more than 2GB at 1680x1050, there will be the odd few games that can take advantage of it so as long as the ram is no slower then the 2GB model and it doesn't cost too much more it could be worthwhile.

 

[ShintaiDK]

That would imply a max of 5.5GB just for the game, including VM, so you're telling me that 4GB would just be a waste 😵

The PC comparable is main memory+VRAM. The PS4/Xbox One shares memory like any IGP.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Rome II total war can use more than 2GB at 1680x1050, there will be the odd few games that can take advantage of it so as long as the ram is no slower then the 2GB model and it doesn't cost too much more it could be worthwhile.

Rome 2 doesnt use more than 2GB VRAM, not even at 2560*1440 with everything maxed. I play that game.

 

[3DVagabond]

Arguing what games use today is not particularly relevant.

 

[Maxima1]

Rome 2 doesnt use more than 2GB VRAM, not even at 2560*1440 with everything maxed. I play that game.

Not surprising. XD

 

[wand3r3r]

That escalated quickly.
9 out of 10 off topic.

I still say 4GB for 3-4 years. Some games can already use around 2GB, it will be a bottleneck, at least worth considering. If he was upgrading next year it'd be different.

 

[Deders]

Rome 2 doesnt use more than 2GB VRAM, not even at 2560*1440 with everything maxed. I play that game.

I monitor video ram usage in game amongst other things and it is so far the only game that actually maxes out my 2GB Vram.

Admittedly I haven't played it since patch 1.2 as I thought it would be best to wait till all the bugs were ironed out before starting an epic campaign.

I also remember wishing I had 1GB Vram when I eventually got to play GTA4 but these cases generally are few and far between, hence my argument if it doesn't cost much more, and it's not running slower than the 2GB version (overclocking a 670/760's ram will give massive performance boosts, so slower than usual would hamper it even more) there will be the occasional situation you'd be grateful for that 4GB.