512Mb 7900GT : Is there one? Is it worth it?

[SithUK]

Hi,

Questions in the title really...

I recall reading Doom3 refuses to run in top quality mode without 512Mb of gfx card memory. Can anyone clarify this for me?

I'll be gaming at 1280x1024 so if there is a resolution caveat please state that also.

Thanks.

 

[SithUK]

Are any other current game engines constrained by 256Mb? I realise having more memory can give higher FPS, what I'm getting at is are there any games which will not even run at max eye candy without the 512Mb regardless of the card's speed.

Will the likes of Crysis and the upcoming Unreal3 etc be quality limited by 256?

 

[SithUK]

I have to say I'm coming down on the side of the 512Mb version. I'm limited to 1280x1024 at the moment so I want to be able to run the very highest QUALITY setting. Looks like that isn't possible with 256Mb for the duration of the next 12months.

How badly bottlenecked will a P4 Northwood 3.5Ghz be on a 7900GT 512Mb?

I'm holding off a complete system upgrade till DX10 and the next gen CPUs.

Thanks

 

[SithUK]

The reason I'm favouring a 7900 over an 1800 is that the 7900 runs quieter and uses less power.

I'll be watercooling and have just bought a seasonic S12 power supply to try and beat the noise levels of the Antec truepower I did have.

My pc is a 24/7 rig and I value silence and power efficiency.

Any recommendations for an interim card that'll handle HL2 and FEAR at max 1280x1024 quality if a 7900GT is too much for me just right now till the upgrade?