Is the 256mb or 128mb card better for HL2?

[aeroripper]

I am trying to decide between a Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB or a Radeon 9800 Pro 256MB.

I've read a little on them and they say the only real advantage to the 256 is when your running in real high res, with the AA pumped up.

I typically play all my games on 1024x768x32 and probably will on HL2. Does Half-Life 2 support larger textures or something if you have the 256mb version? Or any other advantages that you guys have seen?

 

[63]

Depends on the price difference.

 

[The Terminator]

obviously the 256 is better, cant hurt anyway, but they are more money.

 

[SMT]

High res textures, lots of vertex and pixel operations... the more video memory, the better.

 

[ndr]

I do believe I read something about Half-Life 2 making use of cards with 256Mb available with large textures. If you're happy to spend the extra money, get the 256

 

[Shuzer]

High res textures, lots of vertex and pixel operations... the more video memory, the better.

On the flip side, the memory is usually slower. Meaning games not utilizing these features won't run as well as the 128MB version

The cost difference is NOT worth the extra RAM. Save a little more and get an X800 series card if you're willing to shell out close to $250 for the extra RAM

 

[Kazuki_Fuse]

I'd definitely go for the 256MB version of the 9800Pro, because the current range of 256MB 9800Pros are built on the R360 core not the R350 one. This means that the 256MB version of the 9800Pro is actually the same as a 9800XT, 'cause it has the same core. The advantage the the R360 core hasover the R350 are various shader optimizations. So secretly the 256MB 9800Pro is an XT.

All you need to do to unleash the optimizations and extra speed that comes with an XT is to buy a newcooler, (I bought myself a Giant 3, I'm sure there are just as efficient solutions that don't take up 2 PCI slots), download radclocker to make the card run at the same speed as an XT for both memory and core clocks. Then all you have to do is re-flash the existing bios with an XT bios according to the memory manufacturer on your card. Here's the link for the full guide, it's such a breeze to do, no soldering or anything like that.

http://www.rojakpot.com/default.aspx?location=3&var1=101&var2=0

 

[aeroripper]

Have any of you guys overclocked a 256mb card to a XT successfully. Is it more than moderately dangerous?

 

[SidewinderX]

if you have that kind of money, get an x800 pro... better overall quality and speed.

 

[Kazuki_Fuse]

My 128 MB Radeon 9800Pro was successfully modded to an XT. It's true that only a portion can be modded to an XT, but there are ways you can tell if it's an R360 Core.

Even if you flash the card as an XT and it's not, graphic artifacts can occur. That's not to say it can't be fixed by flashing the bios to it's old version. So I dunno about "royally" screwing the card up.

The thing is, if you take off the cooler and it doesn't have an R360 Core then you don't do it, simple as that.

 

[aeroripper]

I'm thinking of just going with the Radeon 9800 Pro off newegg for $210. Although i am gonna wait till I see that HL 2 goes gold so the price might go down even further :-D

Although the overclocking to a XT part sounds cool i figure by the time i'm hurting for the extra speed it'll probably be time for a new video card anyways :-D

Any of you guys buy the 9800 Pro 128 -bulk off newegg?

 

[Shuzer]

Any of you guys buy the 9800 Pro 128 -bulk off newegg?

Just make sure it's the 256 bit version one
I haven't personally, but anything you order from newegg is refundable/exchangeable AFAIK. I've never had a single problem with any of my newegg orders

 

[joule]

Get 256 MB over 128 MB...make sure it's 256-Bit and not 128-Bit
You'll feel better in the end that you did

But then again...I heard that the new 512 MB cards will be shipping in Q3 2005

 

[Letters]

I think that's far enough away to be comfortable...

 

[joule]

Yeah, I guess so...

 

[blahblahblah]

aeroripper - What are your system specs?

 

[bosox188]

I'm thinking of just going with the Radeon 9800 Pro off newegg for $210. Although i am gonna wait till I see that HL 2 goes gold so the price might go down even further :-D

Although the overclocking to a XT part sounds cool i figure by the time i'm hurting for the extra speed it'll probably be time for a new video card anyways :-D

Any of you guys buy the 9800 Pro 128 -bulk off newegg?

If you are the type who can afford to upgrade often, and are planning on getting an X800 or something from next generation later on, I would just stick with a 128mb 9800 pro.