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Notebook GPU..

peted

peted

peted

Associate
Joined
30 Dec 2005
Posts
5
Hi all,

I'm in the process of getting myself a new notebook, a new Asus G1.
This machine has a nvidia 7700 GPU, unusually (for a midrange notebook) this card has 512MB of dedicated VRAM (no Hypermemory or Turbocache) and runs a 1680x1050res screen.

I expected that having 512MB of dedicated VRAM would be an advantage, however a respected fellow on a notebook forum mentioned that having 512MB of VRAM on a mid range card such as this, may NOT actually be an advantage but more of a marketing ploy?

I was hoping someone could shed some light on this, e.g. would having 512MB over 256MB of VRAM actually help some games run better?
 
Hi there,

Welcome to OcUK forums!

256mb is the current standard for how much memory a gpu has, expect that to change to 512mb over the next year or two.
But your fellow advisor is correct, gpu ram beyond 256mb doesn't really affect medium or low range gpu's as there simply isn't enough power to use the space to effect whilst processing smooth fps at the same time.
(turning up quality of textures in games, enabling filtering) these use up vram but without a top end gpu in the mix you cant get smooth fps making it pointless. So in other words, low/medium gpus with huge amounts of ram = marketing ploy.

However, if the premium is small or non existent then i would go for 512. (no harm in having 512mb anyway)
 
Ah... thanks for the answer, I guess the extra VRAM won't hurt then :)

The Nvidia 7700 part is a new one cooked up mainly for the notebook market
 
more vram is a benefit. look at GRAW, can;t even put it into max texture mode or run higher resolutions unless 512mb is present. yet the stupid xbox can run it with its fully combined 512mb gpu and system ram all in one. :mad:
 
Cyber-Mav said:
more vram is a benefit. look at GRAW, can;t even put it into max texture mode or run higher resolutions unless 512mb is present. yet the stupid xbox can run it with its fully combined 512mb gpu and system ram all in one. :mad:
Click to expand...

Same for quake 4.
 
lay-z-boy said:
Same for quake 4.
Click to expand...

My 256 7900GT can handle quake 4 1400 x 900 on ultimate quality....but only on single player. In multiplayer there's too much stuff happening and frame rates drop into the 40s...unacceptable!
 
yea forgot about quake 4, its doom2 engine game so benefits from the added memory.

then again if this procedural texture thingy kicks off anytime soon then even 128mb cards will seem like overkill.
 
gurusan said:
My 256 7900GT can handle quake 4 1400 x 900 on ultimate quality....but only on single player. In multiplayer there's too much stuff happening and frame rates drop into the 40s...unacceptable!
Click to expand...

go7900gtx (512mb) handles 1920x1200 and everything on max - 60fps (vsync) :p
 
lay-z-boy said:
go7900gtx (512mb) handles 1920x1200 and everything on max - 60fps (vsync) :p
Click to expand...

really...try playing CTF with 16 players on the screen shooting rockets and see if you are falling below 60fps then. ;)
 
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