VRAM memory size

specks · Mar 12, 2011

Most of us, if not all, have seen gpu's of the same model and/or specs but with different memory sizes. Whats up with this? Lets say i have "GPU X" having 512mb memory and "GPU Y" having 1gb memory and both of them are exactly the same exept the memory. Is there any significant improvement in performance from 512 to 1gb? If there are, in what ways can the 1gb version be better compared to the 512mb version?

BraveSoul · Mar 12, 2011

similar to the usual memory,,, 1gb of video memory is perfect right now,, just like 4gb of ddr2/ddr3 of system memory,,,512mb vram can really limit ur video performance because there wont be enough room for textrures
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specks · Mar 15, 2011

Does this mean it is practically useless if you pay some extra bucks for some more vram if you use some crappy 19" monitor?

AlienIsGOD · Mar 15, 2011

Not if you ever intend to upgrade that monitor

Seriously though, 1GB for gfx cards is the sweet spot atm. I use 2 x 512MB 4850s and on my 19" Asus and 22" LG widescreens I can already tell that 512MB is holding me back. Ideally I would have 2 x 6850/70 1GB for either of my screens.

JrRacinFan · Mar 15, 2011

Going to soon see that 1GB won't be enough. Another thing to add, 64-bit would be ideal if using a 2GB model graphics card.

Rowsol · Apr 2, 2011

1gb cards are good to 2560x1600. Above that you will need more.

Mussels · Apr 2, 2011

specks said:
Most of us, if not all, have seen gpu's of the same model and/or specs but with different memory sizes. Whats up with this? Lets say i have "GPU X" having 512mb memory and "GPU Y" having 1gb memory and both of them are exactly the same exept the memory. Is there any significant improvement in performance from 512 to 1gb? If there are, in what ways can the 1gb version be better compared to the 512mb version?

why do we see systems with 2GB of ram, and 4GB? why dont they sell them with 512MB anymore?

because as time goes on, you need more. as to whether or not more is always better, well, you can get a pile of crap with heaps of ram, and its a pile of crap.

you could also get leet high end hardware and have no ram, and its worthless.

summary? no easy answer, because it varies based on what you do. 256MB is enough for anyone wanting aero and 1080P hardware accelerated playback, 1GB is fine (for TODAYS games!) at 1080p, and 2GB/3GB/4GB is needed for SLI/crossfire setups, since ram isnt additive (why get 2/4 GPU's with only 1GB of ram between them? you know where the bottleneck will be)

Krony · Apr 2, 2011

All depends mainly on resolution, if u are looking at running 5760x1080 or anything like surround or eyefinity then 1Gb is gonna struggle.

n-ster · Apr 2, 2011

Mussels said:
why do we see systems with 2GB of ram, and 4GB? why dont they sell them with 512MB anymore?

because as time goes on, you need more. as to whether or not more is always better, well, you can get a pile of crap with heaps of ram, and its a pile of crap.

you could also get leet high end hardware and have no ram, and its worthless.

summary? no easy answer, because it varies based on what you do. 256MB is enough for anyone wanting aero and 1080P hardware accelerated playback, 1GB is fine (for TODAYS games!) at 1080p, and 2GB/3GB/4GB is needed for SLI/crossfire setups, since ram isnt additive (why get 2/4 GPU's with only 1GB of ram between them? you know where the bottleneck will be)

your summary is longer than the rest lol

VRAM that you would be comfortable with also depends on if you use texture mods etc, and if you like stuff like AA alot.

atm, buying something under 1GB is stupid. If you are 100% sure that you will stick with 1 monitor at 1920x1080 for the rest of your VGA's life, 1GB should be fine unless you love AA like there's no tomorrow or if you play games with textures mods a lot and it matters to you to have lower settings in these cases. 1GB should be fine at 2560x1600 if you do not put too much AA or texture mods, but it is borderline IMO. For eyeinfinity, 2GB helps TONS

in general however, for single monitors, higher GPU power > RAM (until a certain point)

Mussels · Apr 2, 2011

i suck at summaries.

Jmatt110 · Apr 2, 2011

2gb isn't enough for 7680x1600.

Mussels · Apr 2, 2011

Jmatt110 said:
2gb isn't enough for 7680x1600.

thank you for that overkill related advice. i'm quite sure very few people have tried that res, yourself excluded.

Jmatt110 · Apr 2, 2011

You never know when people will make an impulse buy on a 37% discount sale then figure out they can't use it afterwards.

In any case, a single 2560x1600 display or Eyefinity up to 5760x1200 can be handled easily with 2gb cards. I wouldn't try that with a 1gb card though. If you plan to upgrade to a higher res monitor than 1080p or multi-monitor, I'd get a 2gb card just in case.

n-ster · Apr 2, 2011

Palit released a GTX 580 with 3GB of RAM, that should do perfectly for that res

Disparia · Apr 2, 2011

Mussels said:
thank you for that overkill related advice. i'm quite sure very few people have tried that res, yourself excluded.

There ya go again Mussels, always keeping me and my people down!

Mussels · Apr 2, 2011

Jizzler said:
There ya go again Mussels, always keeping me and my people down!

hey its useful info. (to people who want 90" of screen

)

Disparia · Apr 2, 2011

Ha ha. Re-read it and got a different meaning of what you said.

No more quick posts before my morning coffee!

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VRAM memory size

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