Video Memory: Why get 256 Meg?

[Rags]

This article seems to suggest that you only need 256 Meg if you are running at high resolutions; for example greater than 1024x768. http://www.rojakpot.com/(r3u3h1551nrhtz554rbj4r55)/default.aspx?location=3&var1=92&var2=0

I always thought the more video memory the better. But now I am not so sure...

I have 640 meg of system ram. I always run at 1024x768 @ 32pp. Why would I ever want to spend money on more than 128 meg video memory?

 

[W1zzard]

there is no reason except to have a bigger e-penis

 

[gR3iF]

i tested it with aquamark3 and my x800pro
i didnt get more fps when having 256 mb video ram and so i use atm 64 mb because its the fastest way for me but if u have one gigabyte ram activate 128 mb video ram

 

[grisnak]

It's just a trick to fool costumers that dont know better.

 

[djbbenn]

there is no reason except to have a bigger e-penis

Lmao...I was weak when I read that.

-Dan

 

[watzup_ken]

Actually, I think the prob lies with what graphic card you are using in the first place. 256mb on a current high end card will be a good addition especially at higher resolution and with AA and AF on. I do think that the 512mb version will be totally crap as of now. Its really a marketing gimmick...

 

[djbbenn]

Ya I agree with that, if you get a card like a X800 your going to get 256mb. But when it comes down to choice, it doesn't matter really. Plus none of the high end ones...X800's X850's, come with the choice of 128mb. The 512mb X800XL did nothing for performance, just price.

-Dan

 

[Rags]

Actually, I think the prob lies with what graphic card you are using in the first place. 256mb on a current high end card will be a good addition especially at higher resolution and with AA and AF on. I do think that the 512mb version will be totally crap as of now. Its really a marketing gimmick...

Ken, I was not aware that video memory affects the degree of AA or AF you can use. I may be wrong here but I thought these features were a function of processor speed and efficiency. Hence, overclocking can avail you of these features.

The more I read the responses to my question of memory size, the more I think the higher memory cards are just a marketing ploy to sucker the uninformed.

Do other members have an opinion on AA or AF and memory size?

 

[djbbenn]

You need more memory to load the AA and AF, thats why higher cards have that much mem, because they can produce better quility pictures so they need more mem. But with lower end cards 256mb is a waste of money.

-Dan

 

[gR3iF]

hmpf look at the reviews with the x850xt pe with 512 mb ram they arent faster only 10 percent so the bigger memory isnt as goo as the price is higher k?

 

[SPHERE]

heres what i have to say on the mater

128 <minimum for a "gamer" i have run out of texture mem many times (resulting in on-screen coruption)

256mb <perfect for all curent games and will stay that way in the near future

512mb <compleately pointless no reason to get it even for a bigger "e-penis" <lol

thg has benched a xl (256 mb) against a xl (512mb) and in many ov the tests the 512mb xl actualy scored lower

 

[gR3iF]

sean thats wrong there is no difference between 256 and 512 mb and u only need to give your card 64 because all ramm that is vga ram is away from windows
example:
512 mb ram on your sys u give 256 to your vga card so windows has only with games and so on 256 mb of system ram

 

[djbbenn]

heres what i have to say on the mater

128 <minimum for a "gamer" i have run out of texture mem many times (resulting in on-screen coruption)QUOTE]

You ran out of mem with 128mb, what were you playing? What was you apperture size set for? I'v seen games like farcry and that, played on 128 with the graphics all they way, and they never ran out of texture mem.

-Dan

 

[watzup_ken]

There are some cases of benches showing the insufficient mem error, but they are pretty rare as of now. May jsut experience slow downs that's all. Played Farcry with highest settings with my 9800Pro flashed to XT and the game was still laggin occasionally. I doubt it will lag using a full fledge 9800XT with 256mb mem.

 

[SPHERE]

sean thats wrong there is no difference between 256 and 512 mb and u only need to give your card 64 because all ramm that is vga ram is away from windows
example:
512 mb ram on your sys u give 256 to your vga card so windows has only with games and so on 256 mb of system ram

bud i have no clue what u are trying to say cause it seems like ur talkin bout shared mem whereas im talkin bout dedicated mem as for the first party of ur response well... care to explain that one to

heres what i have to say on the mater

128 <minimum for a "gamer" i have run out of texture mem many times (resulting in on-screen coruption)QUOTE]

You ran out of mem with 128mb, what were you playing? What was you apperture size set for? I'v seen games like farcry and that, played on 128 with the graphics all they way, and they never ran out of texture mem.

-Dan

doom 3 max setings agp arputure 256 (1 gig in that sys at the time)

yah it was lagy but the point reamains the same i run out of texture mem on those setings

 

[djbbenn]

Was that on your 9700?, I see 3 setup's so like... The 9700 might cause doom 3 to lag a bit on full settings. And you don't need 256mb of app size, 64 or 128 is plenty.

-Dan