How much Graphics Card memory?

[Lateuk]

Is there a way to tell how much GFX card memory is used when playing games?

The reason i ask is a am tempted by the 8800GTS but i hear that there is a much cheaper version coming out soon with the same specs, but half the memory. Do you really need 640Mb?

Thanks

Late

 

[silversurfer]

Atitool can be made to show this, I dont know if thats for ati cards only though.

I think lots of memory helps for high levels of AA maybe

 

[Tombo]

Lots of memory helps with high res textures.

 

[joeyjojo]

Lots of memory helps with high res textures.

512 plus is preferable, though 386 or whatever the 8800 has is acceptable.

 

[jaykay]

lots of memory helps with textures but cards eith 512mb of ddr2 ram will suck compared to cards with 256mb ddr3 ram

 

[HangTime]

No, you don't really need 640meg. If I was in the market for a new card and the 320meg GTS came in at a decent price then it'd probably be top of my list.

 

[Rroff]

Depends on the games you play... Oblivion on my PC (using riva tuner graph) uses upto 390megs of video memory (with 4096x4096 landscape texture mods) you wouldn't get this kinda visual detail and playable fps with a 256Mb card, but if you can live with high rather than ultra quality then 256Mb is fine for now.