Is 1gb of video memory useless on a 256-bit card?

[thilanliyan]

Is 1gb of video memory useless on a 256-bit memory interface card? Or will it still be able to use it effectively?

 

[jonmcc33]

The two have nothing to do with either in regards to performance. 1GB video memory is where textures, etc are loaded into. The 256-bit memory bus is in regards to bandwidth, so when you increase resolution and add in AA/AF you are dependent upon that bandwidth.

 

[imported_Scoop]

Originally posted by: jonmcc33
The two have nothing to do with either in regards to performance. 1GB video memory is where textures, etc are loaded into. The 256-bit memory bus is in regards to bandwidth, so when you increase resolution and add in AA/AF you are dependent upon that bandwidth.

Yes and everyone knows that when you go for higher resolution and AA/AF settings the cards don't benefit from larger memory quantity

So I'd say the effectiveness of 256-bit bandwidth stops at 512MB.

 

[toyota]

Originally posted by: Scoop

Originally posted by: jonmcc33
The two have nothing to do with either in regards to performance. 1GB video memory is where textures, etc are loaded into. The 256-bit memory bus is in regards to bandwidth, so when you increase resolution and add in AA/AF you are dependent upon that bandwidth.

Yes and everyone knows that when you go for higher resolution and AA/AF settings the cards don't benefit from larger memory quantity

So I'd say the effectiveness of 256-bit bandwidth stops at 512MB.

Why? Yes at some point there would be diminishing returns but we dont know exactly where. If you took two cards with 1024mb but one had a 256-bit bus and the other a 512-bit I bet there would be very little difference. The card itself would need the power to run at high enough settings for 1024gb to be useful in the first place. As of right now I dont think we have such a card.

ATI thought their 2900xt 512-bit card was worthy of 1024mb but it clearly wasnt. The next generation of high end cards will without a doubt be able to utilize 1024mb. They will have the power to run games like Crysis on very high settings at higher resolutions. Of course then the bus width will be more critical too. As for now 256-bit is not whats holding 1024mb back.