Is 16gb GDDR7 enough for 4K gaming in 2025 onwards?

Hostile_18 · 2024-12-23T13:24:05+0000

mrk said:
No. A bunch of games now use 11-15GB of VRAM alone with the remaining being used by the OS and BG apps which is the norm. When you enable other tech like frame gen you increase VRAM usage as well. 16GB is imo not enough for modern 4K gaming, even when upscaled.

If so how could Nvidia get it so wrong? They work hand in hand with these studios with geforce drivers etc. It can't be purely about driving people to the very top end £2k sku if they wish to game at 4k? You would think 24gb Gddr6 would give them a easier time both with fans and financially.

mrk · 2024-12-23T13:25:42+0000

Nothing Nvidia have done in recent years points to them caring about the mid tier gaming scene really.

Hostile_18 · 2024-12-23T13:34:06+0000

mrk said:
Nothing Nvidia have done in recent years points to them caring about the mid tier gaming scene really.

It wouldn't be the mid tier though it's almost the entire product stack, apart from one £2k sku. I suppose in a way it does force devs to optimize to 16gb.

MoonBoots · 2024-12-23T13:34:44+0000

Does DLSS upscaling reduce VRAM usage? If so then I imagine 16GB would be fine?

Ascendancy · 2024-12-23T13:35:02+0000

Hostile_18 said:
It wouldn't be the mid tier though it's almost the entire product stack, apart from one £2k sku. I suppose in a way it does force devs to optimize to 16gb.

Looking at the latest Steam hardware survey, only 4.21% of people even have a 4k display.

I guess Nvidia is telling those 4% of people to buy a 5090

dave28 · 2024-12-23T13:35:30+0000

MoonBoots said:
Does DLSS upscaling reduce VRAM usage? If so then I imagine 16GB would be fine?

yes if i remember correctly it hugely reduces vram usage

Hostile_18 · 2024-12-23T13:38:51+0000

Ascendancy said:
Looking at the latest Steam hardware survey, only 4.21% of people even have a 4k display.

I guess Nvidia is telling those 4% of people to buy a 5090

The word needs to get out that graphics cards actually have a hdmi port!

Ascendancy · 2024-12-23T13:50:42+0000

Hostile_18 said:
The word needs to get out that graphics cards actually have a hdmi port!

Careful, Jensen might hear you and make those exclusive to the 90 class cards too.

Poneros · 2024-12-23T13:58:09+0000

It's fine in 99.9% of cases. For people who want more and were aiming to buy a 5080 - just buy a used 4090 as those will start being offloaded by enthusiasts.

Hostile_18 · 2024-12-23T14:04:08+0000

Poneros said:
It's fine in 99.9% of cases. For people who want more and were aiming to buy a 5080 - just buy a used 4090 as those will start being offloaded by enthusiasts.

I tend to agree, if the savings are used to take it to a £999 price point it will actually be a respectable card.

Gerard · 2024-12-23T15:08:18+0000

TNA said:
Are you saying AMD were right?

They got it working correctly for vega with the hbm cache option, for furyx each game had to be tweaked by hand so it wasn't as effective as simply turning on an option.

ooStevo · 2024-12-23T19:44:48+0000

Hostile_18 said:
I actually think Ultra Wide screens are bit of a scam, pay more for less!

I'm driving a 77" G4 OLED, love playing from a couch in a home cinema. I'm a lazy gamer lol.

I imagine the Gears of War trilogy would look absolutely epic on that screen.

chaparral · 2024-12-23T20:22:01+0000

Hostile_18 said:
Any early thoughts on this?

If you sell that 77" G4 and buy a cheaper model 55" or 65" TV then you will have an extra grand in your pocket to upgrade any other part of your setup like for example paying the extra 1k for a 5090 over the 5080

Hostile_18 said:
It does get a bit silly when you think about it. You could get the second most powerful GPU in the world *AND* a grand in your pocket to upgrade literally any other aspect of your setup or go on holiday for a week lol.

Hostile_18 · 2024-12-23T20:28:28+0000

chaparral said:
If you sell that 77" G4 and buy a cheaper model 55" or 65" TV then you will have an extra grand in your pocket to upgrade any other part of your setup like for example paying the extra 1k for a 5090 over the 5080

Once you go OLED you never go back, much bigger upgrade than any graphics card.

What I mean is, is getting 130fps over say 175fps worth over a thousand more? Both are very similar experiences from an enjoyment point of view.

chaparral · 2024-12-23T21:20:45+0000

Hostile_18 said:
Once you go OLED you never go back, much bigger upgrade than any graphics card.

What I mean is, is getting 130fps over say 175fps worth over a thousand more? Both are very similar experiences from an enjoyment point of view.

Bought my first 65" OLED in 2018 and my second 65" OLED in 2022

But buying an OLED to use as a monitor still worries be to much. But if my monitor died then i would buy an OLED to try.

Housey · 2024-12-23T21:27:15+0000

I’ll buy the best as always so i can die quicker and quicker in anything running over 5fps.

5090TI in quad SLI on 16k 600mhz screen for 50k i’m in.

Ok, let’s play battlefield

dead dead dead dead

turn it off and watch telly

Next day “@gibbo when can i get the 6090, i think my electric is faulty?”

bemaniac · 2024-12-23T21:56:12+0000

Not a debate: NO

Nitefly · 2024-12-23T22:42:25+0000

Hostile_18 said:
Once you go OLED you never go back, much bigger upgrade than any graphics card.

What I mean is, is getting 130fps over say 175fps worth over a thousand more? Both are very similar experiences from an enjoyment point of view.

Good point well made. When you put it like that… a grand is a lot! That’s paying for your new OLED etc.

mountaincow · 2024-12-23T23:05:18+0000

Hostile_18 said:
Once you go OLED you never go back, much bigger upgrade than any graphics card.

What I mean is, is getting 130fps over say 175fps worth over a thousand more? Both are very similar experiences from an enjoyment point of view.

The problem is running most new games at 4K is still a pipe dream. Upscaling has become the norm, so most are not actually running 4K native and either way most people are unlikely to be running anything recent at half decent settings at those frame rates even before they add ray tracing.
RT adds a whole lot more to performance requirements which make it unrealistic for the majority.
I recall chatting with a friend 6 years ago about how GPUs weren't up to 4K gaming and it doesn't seem like a whole lot has changed since.
1440p 16:9 has been in a good spot for a while now both for productivity and gaming while being reasonably priced. 1440p 21:9 gives a nice boost for both without the hefty premium of a 4K panel and the GPU to run it well when gaming.

I also just upgraded to an OLED after snagging a good deal in a sale and I also agree it's an excellent upgrade.

Gray2233 · 2024-12-23T23:25:34+0000

mountaincow said:
The problem is running most new games at 4K is still a pipe dream. Upscaling has become the norm, so most are not actually running 4K native and either way most people are unlikely to be running anything recent at half decent settings at those frame rates even before they add ray tracing.
RT adds a whole lot more to performance requirements which make it unrealistic for the majority.
I recall chatting with a friend 6 years ago about how GPUs weren't up to 4K gaming and it doesn't seem like a whole lot has changed since.
1440p 16:9 has been in a good spot for a while now both for productivity and gaming while being reasonably priced. 1440p 21:9 gives a nice boost for both without the hefty premium of a 4K panel and the GPU to run it well when gaming.

I also just upgraded to an OLED after snagging a good deal in a sale and I also agree it's an excellent upgrade.

Unless you pay the premium of a top tier card, and even then likely playing slightly older games, you're not going to have a legitimately good experience at native 4K.

It's bordering on scam level when we see consoles selling the idea they're outputting 4K but it's poorly upscaled 1080-1440P at best with awful framerates.

I do feel that 4K DLSS looks good in a lot of scenarios, I was quite happy to play 4K maxed out FF16 with DLSS balanced at a constant 60fps. But even with my being happy with DLSS "balanced." I'm still not convinced any card I buy for £1000, with 16gb of VRAM will not be adequate for more than 2 years.