8800 GTS, 320 OR 640MB?

joffy · 29 May 2007 at 13:47

I wanna get ready for DX10 gaming goodness and have my eye on the 8800GTS. With a res of 1440x900 I know the 320mb is ideal, but will it be future proof for Crysis etc? Should I save up a lil more and get the 640mb?

TheDean · 29 May 2007 at 13:52

320mb is fine

gurusan · 29 May 2007 at 15:16

I dunno....if you want to play Crysis without having to scale back eye candy a ton I would go for the 640mb.

There are even a few current texture-heavy games that seem to benefit greatly from the extra memory even at lower resolutions such as 1024x768...games like GRAW, RB6: Vegas, Stalker...

Tute · 29 May 2007 at 15:20

I really would get the 640MB version. Even now, at 16x12 with all visuals on and AA/AF, the 320MB struggles.

If anything, it at least gives you that peace of mind that you can upgrade your TFT without possibly requiring a new video card.

jrodga2k5 · 29 May 2007 at 15:21

320 is fine, thats lower than 1280x1024

no worries with that res my man

gurusan · 29 May 2007 at 15:21

Tute said:
I really would get the 640MB version. Even now, at 16x12 with all visuals on and AA/AF, the 320MB struggles.

If anything, it at least gives you that peace of mind that you can upgrade your TFT without possibly requiring a new video card.

Thanks for your input...on another forum I seem to always have to battle with people who seem to think 320mb will be enough for future games.

TheDean · 29 May 2007 at 15:24

gurusan said:
Thanks for your input...on another forum I seem to always have to battle with people who seem to think 320mb will be enough for future games.

It's all to do with resolution. If you will be playing at 1600x1200 or above get 640mb or GTX.

gurusan · 29 May 2007 at 15:25

TheDean said:
It's all to do with resolution. If you will be playing at 1600x1200 or above get 640mb or GTX.

but my point is that it's not as black and white as that. Some games demand a lot of memory even at lower resolutions.

Tute · 29 May 2007 at 15:26

TheDean said:
It's all to do with resolution. If you will be playing at 1600x1200 or above get 640mb or GTX.

It's not just that though. Personally I don't think the 320MB version is worth buying, what with the current prices of the 640MB version and also of large TFTs.

It's just too restrictive in case you ever come to upgrade.

wellibob · 29 May 2007 at 15:30

I went for the 8800 GTS 640 meg version , mainly because of its price against the 320 meg version, and the fact i game at 1680x1050 , and the extra will stand me in good stead.

LoadsaMoney · 29 May 2007 at 15:50

Wait till Dx10 games are here then grab a 2nd gen Nvidia G92 or whatever ATi will have out at the time, could be the x2950's.

TheDean · 29 May 2007 at 15:54

LoadsaMoney said:
Wait till Dx10 games are here then grab a 2nd gen Nvidia G92 or whatever ATi will have out at the time, could be the x2950's.

Agreed. Crysis doesn't even have a release date yet

I shudder to think about PSU requirements though

joffy · 29 May 2007 at 15:55

Yeah think I'll wait and see whats what later in the year. My X1800XT will do just fine for now.

paradigm · 29 May 2007 at 16:09

Would two 8800GTS 320MB's cut it at 1680x1050? My two 7800GT's (512MB versions) are really showing their age these days, and I can blag the 320MB versions through work (possibly).

Or should I stump up the cash myself and get two 640MB's?

Inazuma · 29 May 2007 at 16:31

I know some games don't allow me to use 'Ultra' textures because my card only has 256mb; I wonder if they would allow it for 320mb though?

Old Wino · 29 May 2007 at 18:22

ignore

Tute · 29 May 2007 at 18:24

paradigm said:
Would two 8800GTS 320MB's cut it at 1680x1050? My two 7800GT's (512MB versions) are really showing their age these days, and I can blag the 320MB versions through work (possibly).

Or should I stump up the cash myself and get two 640MB's?

Still only going to give you 320MB mate, which is what the problem is.

The core is capable of pushing some serious frames, it's just at 1600x1200 with high details and AA/AF that it starts to struggle, as the frame buffer fills up.

Ross1234 · 29 May 2007 at 18:27

how do two 320's only give you 320mb? I thought 2x320=640 or does it not work like that?

Boogle · 29 May 2007 at 18:29

Ross1234 said:
how do two 320's only give you 320mb? I thought 2x320=640 or does it not work like that?

To render a frame u need all the neccesary data, hence each card contains its own copy of all the textures & its own framebuffer. Only 320MB 'usable', not 640MB.

willhub · 29 May 2007 at 18:32

Ross1234 said:
how do two 320's only give you 320mb? I thought 2x320=640 or does it not work like that?

Memory is only used from the main card I think

.

I think the 8800GTS 640 will play Crysis in DX10 ok but thats about it, Crysis could be one of the most optimized and quality coded games for DX10.

I have an 8800GTS 640mb EVGA with one of those unusual looking coolers arriving tommorow, in a month I am going to upgrade to an 8800GTX for £100 then or maybe I will feel the 8800GTS is good enough untill G92 or R650.