256 or 512MB

[Thunder]

Any idea whether 512MB is better to run games at 1680*1050 resolution? Do games take advantage of that much RAM yet or can I save a few quid and just buy a 256MB version. (looking at X1800XT)

 

[dale1uk]

I think at that res maxed out with aa + af on the extra ram would do you good BUT the x1800xt 512 is £240 compared with the 256 version that is £160. If your going to splash out on the extra then why not go the whole hog and get the x1900xt @ £260. It would be a scandel not to pay £20 more for the x1900 over an x1800

EDIT: if you look around you can get the connet3d 512mb x1800xt for £225 inc vat and delivery.

 

[ACESHIGH]

I think at that res maxed out with aa + af on the extra ram would do you good BUT the x1800xt 512 is £240 compared with the 256 version that is £160. If your going to splash out on the extra then why not go the whole hog and get the x1900xt @ £260. It would be a scandel not to pay £20 more for the x1900 over an x1800

EDIT: if you look around you can get the connet3d 512mb x1800xt for £225 inc vat and delivery.

Completely agree!!

 

[Darkwave]

Benchmarks show that 512MB makes no difference in pretty much any game, in any resolution, regardless of antialiasing/anisotropic filtering, even on mainstream systems, so long as there isn't a huge bottleneck elsewhere. Just buy an X1800XT 256MB secure in that knowledge or get the X1900XT 512MB for £260.

 

[dale1uk]

Benchmarks show that 512MB makes no difference in pretty much any game, in any resolution, regardless of antialiasing/anisotropic filtering, even on mainstream systems, so long as there isn't a huge bottleneck elsewhere. Just buy an X1800XT 256MB secure in that knowledge or get the X1900XT 512MB for £260.

Fair enough, I did state that "i think" but nice to see some benchmarks stateing otherwise, makes me feel better about only having the 256 version

 

[Darkwave]

Fair enough, I did state that "i think" but nice to see some benchmarks stateing otherwise, makes me feel better about only having the 256 version

It's okay mate, I wasn't addressing that toward you personally. Just to anybody who wonders about 256 vs 512.

 

[jim5000]

Thing is tho, if you are buying a graphics card for £200+ you are going to want it to last a fair while... Surely games like Crysis & ET:Quake Wars (and the games that come out after) are going to prefer cards with 512mb?

 

[nbkpsycho]

Thats with 7800gtx's so surely you cant compare that to the x1800xt

 

[Darkwave]

Thats with 7800gtx's so surely you cant compare that to the x1800xt

There's three sets of benchmarks there mate. What they did in that particular test over at Anandtech though is downclock a 7800GTX 512MB to the same speeds as a 7800GTX 256MB (which is equal in performance to the X1800XT) and compare the results against a real 7800GTX 256MB.

The other benchmarks have different cards etc. but they all say the same thing; 512MB is not important yet.

 

[Thunder]

Interesting points, ta. Looks like I can save myself 100 notes

 

[lay-z-boy]

For nvidia, it makes little diff (unless you play q4) but for ati is not the same result style as nvidia, x18/900 cards like 512mb of memory.

 

[Darkwave]

For nvidia, it makes little diff (unless you play q4) but for ati is not the same result style as nvidia, x18/900 cards like 512mb of memory.

The benchmarks I provided also indicate that it's actually Nvidia cards that benefit better from 512MB, if only infinitecimally. Not to mention that X1000 cards have the 512bit ring bus which makes a small difference.

Of course, that's with the X800 series. I can't find any for X1800 but I am confident it's similar having used both memory capacities and still using 256MB.

 

[lay-z-boy]

i invite you to argue with nn_step at xtreme systems over the subject

 

[Darkwave]

i invite you to argue with nn_step at xtreme systems over the subject

Why argue about something I know, even in my own personal experience, to be true?

 

[Hlebio]

Benchmarks show that 512MB makes no difference in pretty much any game, in any resolution, regardless of antialiasing/anisotropic filtering, even on mainstream systems, so long as there isn't a huge bottleneck elsewhere. Just buy an X1800XT 256MB secure in that knowledge or get the X1900XT 512MB for £260.

So just what the hell is the point in 512mb cards?

 

[Darkwave]

So just what the hell is the point in 512mb cards?

The point of 512MB is to be released long before it's put to good use, just like Shader Model 3.0 was being touted as the big I Am with the Geforce 6 series, but has only recently been used properly when Shader Model 4.0 is out very soon.

That point is to make companies like Nvidia and ATi a lot of money. That's what gimmicks are for, and people eat it up.

 

[PinkFloyd]

So just what the hell is the point in 512mb cards?

One word.

Marketing


it sounds better, notice how Dell and other companys claim there graphics cards to be a "256mb graphics card" because ofcourse that is better than a "128mb grahics card"
To the untrained eye 512 sounds better because its a bigger number.

 

[Cyber-Mav]

more ram is always the best.

 

[titaniumx3]

512mb was meant to come out with DX10 gen cards, but unfortunately too much money gets the better of some people.

Thats said I noticed a big difference with my 512mb card, though the previous card was only 128mb. It would be cool if I could put apart 256mb for system ram, like the reverse of that AGP aperture thing; would make a fair bit of difference for people stuck with 1gb ram.

 

[Darkwave]

more ram is always the best.

Word.