new card

[Dorkenstein]

Should I save a few bucks and get a 256 mb card or spring for 512? Is the extra memory that helpful? Thanks.

 

[Matt2]

High resolution with goodies turned up make 512mb a must for high-end cards.

512mb cards on the mid-low end is useless.

What resolution are u planning on playing at?

 

[Dorkenstein]

I usually play at 1280 by 1024 but I don't know, is it good to go up to 1600 by 1200?

By the way the card is an ATI x1950 pro.

 

[Nightmare225]

I think, with that card, it might help a bit.

 

[imported_Kiwi]

VRAM onboard larger than 256 MB is used by various photo editing programs, including PhotoShop, at all speeds of core and memory. However, for game play, medium resolutions still run with only 256 MBs' worth. When you are running high resolutions, and do have the core speed, plus the memory speed, to handle the graphics at that setting, then 512 MBs will be used in games. Generally, only an 800 level (and upward) for the performance number in a card's name, will have the needed hardware speeds.

 

[TanisHalfElven]

Originally posted by: Kiwi
VRAM onboard larger than 256 MB is used by various photo editing programs, including PhotoShop, at all speeds of core and memory. However, for game play, medium resolutions still run with only 256 MBs' worth. When you are running high resolutions, and do have the core speed, plus the memory speed, to handle the graphics at that setting, then 512 MBs will be used in games. Generally, only an 800 level (and upward) for the performance number in a card's name, will have the needed hardware speeds.

please explain

 

[Arkaign]

512MB is only useful for the following conditions :

You have a 7800/7900 or 1800/1900 series card [EDIT, whoops, left off the 8800 series!]

AND

You want to play at resolutions of 1600x1200 or 1680x1050

AND

You want high detail / AA / AF

AND

You have the cpu to handle the task [Athlon X2, FX, Core2]

AND

You have the memory to handle the task [1.5 or 2GB of Decent DDR, DDR2]

AND

The game has textures that need 512mb at the max settings

So, if your situation meets all those criteria, 512mb is worth it. Otherwise, you're spinning your wheels. It never ceases to amaze me how vendors will put gobs of memory on some slow cards, and people buy them, though running at any detail level which would fill the ram would CRUSH the gpu in its tracks. Examples :

7600GS w/512MB
ATI X1300 w/512MB
etc..

 

[Dorkenstein]

Well, I do want AA/AF/detail but my processor is a lowly A64 3700+. Still worth it?

 

[Matt2]

Yes, get 512mb if you plan on playing at 1600x1200 like i think you said you would.

1280x1024 isnt likely to need 512mb VRAM even with AA/AF.

If you have a CRT, which I am assuming you do, then 512 would be a good idea.

 

[Dorkenstein]

Cool, thanks!

 

[Matthias99]

VRAM onboard larger than 256 MB is used by various photo editing programs, including PhotoShop, at all speeds of core and memory.

...guh? It's sure not allocating 300+MB of framebuffers in your video card's memory (in your system RAM, maybe, but not on your video card).

3DSMAX, maybe. Photoshop, no.

 

[Dorkenstein]

How does this card look, and does anyone know if it comes in 512 mb models?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814161043

 

[customcoms]

Thats a fast card, at a low price. Anandtech's realtime price engine will answer the second question...

 

[Dorkenstein]

Looks like 256mb only. Hmm, more memory or a fast card with less memory?

 

[Munky]

512mb can be useful even at 1280x960 resolution in some games like FEAR with all the eye candy craned up. However, you need to look at the big picture and see how much difference the additional 256mb actually makes. For example, the x1900xt 256 was almost as fast as the x1900xt 512, but cost like $60 less, and in this case the 512mb memory wasn't worth the price difference. Also, the x1900xt 256 was faster than the 512mb 7950gt, so a faster gpu core matters more than bigger memory.