Video card with 1GB (512MB installed)

[Modelworks]

I noticed over on newegg several cards that are listed as 1GB, 512MB then in the fine print listed as 256MB installed, etc.

Are these cards just promoting 1GB then using 512mb on the card and 512mb system ram ?

I've been looking for a cheap 512MB card, I need it for the texture storage.
Card would be used in a cad like environment. I've got some new scenes I am working on that push the limit on a 256mb card. Card doesn't have to be a screamer, just suppport opengl and have 512mb+ memory.

So when I saw these I started to wonder.
Whats the experience with the whole 1GB (512mb installed) cards ?

 

[Pete]

Link?

 

[RussianSensation]

ZOGIS ZO72GS-CLTC GeForce 7200GS 512MB(128MB on Board)

In lamest terms, these are called "TurboCache" graphics cards where your current system ram is used for videocard ram. Of course you can imagine the performance hit of using not only slower system ram, but taking ram from your system, and using ram not natively on the board of the videocard means latency delay is through the roof.

This graphics card requires:
For full 256MB supports, 512MB of system memory is required
For full 512MB supports, 1GB of system memory is required

Also, most of these cards have very slow GPUs.

Go for this HIS X1600 Pro 512mb (native ram)

It's passively cooled, supports 1 30 inch lcd at 2560x1600 through dual-link DVI and is $50 after $40 MIR which expires July 31.

 

[Modelworks]

thanks for the info.
I thought something strange was going on.
This is the card I looked at first.
It doesn't mention anything about what system requirements are to get that 1GB memory.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814241053

They might as well say its a 2Gb card

 

[Pete]

I thought it might be TC/HM, but I didn't think they'd actually advertise them with the inflated figure. But surely there's something to these techs that make them faster than a regular card that swaps in system RAM when it overflows its local pool?

*crickets*

You can get some decent cards for not much more than that 128bit X1650 (vanilla) you linked, like this $120AR 512MB 256bit X1950GT. Dunno how ATI compares to NV in CAD programs, though, or if you'd prefer a lower-power-draw card than an X1950. I'm pretty sure this 2600 Pro draws a lot less power than that X1950GT, but it's likely slower, and it costs $20 more. Maybe there's a 7600GS/GT, 7900GS, or even 8600GT/GTS that'd fit the bill. I just searched for 512MB GDDR3 cards to avoid potential GDDR2 dogs (be wary of cheap, RAM-heavy cards with slow RAM or narrow memory buses, like certain 7600GSs).

Actually, there are some non-GDDR3 2600Ps that are $100, which'd be more interesting than any X1600 or X1650 (non-XT), and I see an $80 HIS X1650P with an Arctic Silencer (should be quieter than the typical tiny cooler found on cheaper cards, another thing to consider), so a search should turn up some interesting choices. I see a few 512MB 8600GTs, too, though I don't know their RAM speed. I think they're generally decently faster than 2600Ps (at least in games), though, so even if they've got slower-than-stock RAM they should still be good competition.