What VRAM is needed for maximum settings and 4K?

[Gregster]

A bit of a contentious thread but something worth considering when thinking of going for a 4K monitor. I have been monitoring fps but also I have noticed the amount of VRAM used in some games. I am running on a pair of SLI Titans for reference with 6GB per GPU.

First up we have Assassins Creed Black Flag.

Spoiler

As you can see, I was seeing over 4.5GB of VRAM being used.

Next up we have BF4. A very modest 3.1GB being shown here.

Spoiler

Next we have Crysis 3, which is showing 4.3GB being used on this game.

Spoiler

Next is FarCry 3 and another modest user of VRAM with just over 3.3GB being used.

Spoiler

Another low user next with Hitman Absolution only using 3.4GB

Spoiler

And finally we have Titanfall and this is quite a big user of VRAM with over 4.3GB being used.

Spoiler

As you can see, 3 of those games use over 4GB, so is it worth grabing a couple of 6GB GPU's for the future or lower settings if you want 4K? I would be interested if anyone has a couple of 290X's and a 4K monitor to ompare and if anyone would like to know the usage for a particular game, let me know and if i have it, I will run it.

 

[Fruitbooter]

I think at the minute you can get away with 3GB, but as more people will be switching to 4k now panels are dropping in price I think we need to start seeing at least 4GB cards from both teams...

 

[LtMatt]

Interesting thread Greg. As always though, how much caching is going on there? I expect for 99% of things 4gb will be enough and when its not you may be running short on gpu grunt anyway. Unless of course you have a 3/4 way gpu setup.

 

[4737Joker]

Are you the only person on the firums currently running 4k Gregster?

 

[bakes0310]

So Titan blacks are the only option at the moment if you want max settings, yikes

 

[tommybhoy]

As you can see, 3 of those games use over 4GB, so is it worth grabing a couple of 6GB GPU's for the future or lower settings if you want 4K? I would be interested if anyone has a couple of 290X's and a 4K monitor to ompare and if anyone would like to know the usage for a particular game, let me know and if i have it, I will run it.

By the looks of the fps in those screens, 3X290 for the same money as 1 titan will give higher fps, there's next to no point running settings to hit over 4Gb just to get 15-40fps.

Outwith BF4 2x6Gb it's looking like Titan SLi can't cope.

6Gb 780 tri/quad sli, or 8gb 290 Tri/quadFire would be money better spent(price dependant) than Titan Sli.
^
That's all in the context of maxing settings, twin 780/290's will scale with playable settings to suit as a cheaper entry point for 4K gaming, it doesn't have to be maxed out.

 

[Quartz]

Just over 5 GB needed for 3x 4K surround. See this thread on [H].

 

[Rusty0611]

They're better options if you don't already have 2 Titans and have had them since release Tommy.

 

[LtMatt]

Just over 5 GB needed for 3x 4K surround. See this thread on [H].

Jesus H Christ.

Maybe 4gb is enough then.

 

[Gregster]

By the looks of the fps in those screens, 3X290 for the same money as 1 titan will give higher fps, there's next to no point running settings to hit over 4Gb just to get 15-40fps.

Outwith BF4 2x6Gb it's looking like Titan SLi can't cope.

6Gb 780 tri/quad sli, or 8gb 290 Tri/quadFire would be money better spent(price dependant) than Titan Sli.
^
That's all in the context of maxing settings, twin 780/290's will scale with playable settings to suit as a cheaper entry point for 4K gaming, it doesn't have to be maxed out.

Of course it doesn't have to be maxed out and looking at those results, a 290/X couldn't max out 3 of those games even if they had the grunt, as they could be hitting the VRAM wall

 

[tommybhoy]

I never answered in the context of greg owning Titan SLi, I answered in the context of the question greg asked-'is it worth grabbing a couple of 6Gb'

Greg makes me laugh, the purpose of the thread is revealed.

It doesn't matter if 4Gb gpus can't max 4k, 6 Gb can't either at the settings you forced vram to exceed 4Gb.

Suppose we'll have to wait for 8Gb gpus, then you will agree that they can't max 4K either as the fps isn't good enough.

 

[TheRealDeal]

Of course it doesn't have to be maxed out and looking at those results, a 290/X couldn't max out 3 of those games even if they had the grunt, as they could be hitting the VRAM wall

There is an older article somewhere showing a good list of cards in quad sli and crossfire. The only cards to run out of ram were the 3gb 780/ti's. They were almost able to play the games as there average was still high but minimums were 0 due to frames crashing when hitting the wall. I doubt 4gb was even coming close to being breached.

 

[rare]

The irony is the textures in Titanfall really aren't that impressive and yet look at how much VRAM it uses!!

 

[Gregster]

I never answered in the context of greg owning Titan SLi, I answered in the context of the question greg asked-'is it worth grabbing a couple of 6Gb'

Greg makes me laugh, the purpose of the thread is revealed.

It doesn't matter if 4Gb gpus can't max 4k, 6 Gb can't either at the settings you forced vram to exceed 4Gb.

Suppose we'll have to wait for 8Gb gpus, then you will agree that they can't max 4K either as the fps isn't good enough.

The question for the heading was rhetorical and was a statement of my usage.

Not sure what purpose you are meaning and I said from the time I got a 4K monitor I would do some VRAM usage and I have been asked a few times now to show what is used. Take your foil hat of Tommy please. No hidden agendas and something I felt worthy to show.

As for the rest of that drivel, I don't feel it warrants an answer but will gladly answer any sensible questions you have

 

[andybird123]

The irony is the textures in Titanfall really aren't that impressive and yet look at how much VRAM it uses!!

will be interesting to see what happens when they DO add 4K textures

 

[Geeman1979]

There is an older article somewhere showing a good list of cards in quad sli and crossfire. The only cards to run out of ram were the 3gb 780/ti's. They were almost able to play the games as there average was still high but minimums were 0 due to frames crashing when hitting the wall. I doubt 4gb was even coming close to being breached.

I'd like to see that.

 

[Gregster]

I'd like to see that.

I did some extensive searching to see if caching was indeed going on but every time I came across 4K testing, they had lowered settings. Max AA isn't needed of course but something about running with all the settings maxed out gives the IQ that "icing on the cake"

 

[Kaapstad]

I think it is important to see the VRAM usage figures, yes some of it maybe cached but if people are considering 4K they should be aware of all the info.

I also don't think there is anything for anyone to debate here, the figures are what they are.

 

[Gregster]

I think it is important to see the VRAM usage figures, yes some of it maybe cached but if people are considering 4K they should be aware of all the info.

I also don't think there is anything for anyone to debate here, the figures are what they are.

Absolutely. I was asked from a few people what VRAM usage was and so picked 6 demanding games to show what I was using. If I was considering going 4K I would love to see a thread like this and you can clearly see what usage I was seeing.

Maybe I should have picked games that stayed under 4GB or even 3GB so people with those amounts of VRAM don't get upset but that wouldn't be honest and would be giving misinformation (something I don't do).

Anyway, like you say "it is what it is"

 

[bakes0310]

You could never upset me Gregster that was a good thread, welldone.