Graphics card memory 128MB vs 256MB ?

[ewilson248]

As I do research into my new card purchase for xmas '04 , I see one thing that we really have not touched on yet in our conversations thus far.

have we finally reached the point where we are actually using all 256MB in the video card all the time, and that is the minimum standard now?

at this very moment I can buy a 128MB geforce 6800 for $285
but a 256MB ATI X800pro is $405

$120 difference is no small matter my friends.

your thoughts?

 

[filipeg165]

im not telling you to buy a 256mb one, but today's games actually don't use all the 256mb as far as i know, a 128mb would be just great, cuz i saw some comparisons (don't remember where tho... sorry) that the difference between 128mb and 256mb on the same card is only about 5 fps... so i just recommend 128mb, cuz i think were a little far away from using the WHOLE 256mb... correct me someone if im wrong, hope this helps =)

 

[Axyon]

A few games have been dipping in further than the 128mb memory, like Ut2k3/4, but nothing else currently really challenges it further than 128. However, with the release of these next-gen games - Doom 3, Half-Life 2, STALKER etc. I'd imagine we will begin to really make use of that full 256mb of memory.

 

[lePobz]

With all current and previous games, the only time a 256mb card has advantages over a 128mb card is when running in extreme resolutions (HD/16x12 etc) - this is because these games are designed to have all their content fit within the video memory of 128mb cards (as it's been the standard for a while)

However, newer games like HL2 and Doom3 are now making way for the next generation of video cards, and as such, have increased texture resolutions and lots of them - so for high resolution + high detailed graphics you'd be needing at least 256mb(and in doom3's case, even 512mb for maximum).

 

[ewilson248]

so this goes back to what we heard way back, that the onboard memory is used mainly for textures, used to be 256x256, but now getting closer to 2048x2048
hence the need for more storage? am i thinking correctly here?

 

[bosox188]

Guess I don't need 256 then since my monitor only supports 1280x1024.

 

[lePobz]

for new games you will, as I said... Doom3 will need 256mb+ for high details even at 1024x768, as it is the number of high resolution textures that fill the video memory... the only way to get a good framerate with 128mb would be to reduce the size of these textures (smaller textures = less detail)

 

[ewilson248]

ok, so if the new games will actually use 256MB of video card memory now, what about having enough main memory in conjunction with that?? will 1gb system memory be enough to compliment a 256Mb graphics card?

 

[ailevation]

:thumbs: 1 Gig should be good. But, look at the CPU... that can be a real bottleneck problem. I myself own a 2.8C and I plan onto upgrading to a 3.4C, take a look at this article.

http://www.guru3d.com/article/article/136/ The performance differences is incredibly shocking.

 

[ewilson248]

your point about the cpu is well taken, but 250-300 for a new video card is a whole different animal then going from socket A to 754/939. right now thats big bucks.
but it is on my roadmap, thats for sure.. maybe xmas '05...