X1900 XT 256MB vs 512MB

[achitophel]

Hullo

I'm in the process of a complete new rebuild, crossing to the Intel side for the first time since my Pentium 90, back in 1992! One of the last 2 issues I am dithering over is whether to go with the 256MB or 512MB version of the card. Idea generally is that I'll get a 6600 Conroe, ASUS mobo and 2Gb of branded DDR2 and generally high spec components. Monitor is likely to be a 19" widescreen.

Only issue with the video card is whether to go all out now or wait for Vista / DX10 compliant versions - currently inclined towards the latter and hence the interest in the 256MB card.

Have searched this forum and generally googled the 256MB version of the card and it looks to be very close in terms of performance. The performance only drops off significantly (i.e. more than 5% or so) once the res + AA + AF and HDR are all increased as the card presumably has to start swapping textures in and out of VRAM.

What I'd be very interested to know are real-world experiences (rather than benchies) of the 256MB card and peoples' views on the difference it has made in games like Oblivion / Doom3 / HL2 etc, and what res and eye-candy options are enabled whilst running these.

TIA

 

[Cyber-Mav]

get the 256mb card. in newer games like call of juarez the x1900xt is not powerful enough to get up to high resolutions or AA settings to make use of the additional ram. this is going to be the case for most of the newer games which get released. only time you will see the 512mb card perform faster will be pointless since at the settings in which its faster it will probably be giving unplayable framerates.

 

[2StepSteve]

I agree with cyber mav.

DX10 isn't that far away from being here, its not worth going all out with getting the best card at the moment IMO. Normally id say buy when u want to, and dont worry about when things are coming out.. but DX10 is going to be important just like when every DX release is.

I have bought a 256MB x1800XT a few months ago to see me thru and im happy with the performance. To me it would have been a waste of money payin for a higher priced card when you will at some point soon have to wave goodbye to them when DX10 is here to play latest gen of games.

Speaking of that game it does lead me to believe that call of juarez has been coded like a pig tho lol

 

[probedb]

But it's going to be a while before there's lots of DX10 games around.

The 512Mb cards are extremely good value right now too Depends what resolutions you play at to I guess.

 

[2StepSteve]

True it will take abit of time and not gonna be an overnite thing...

Havin said all what ive said above hope my x1800xt will manage flight sim x ok tho and UT2k7.... lol cos if not then id prob upgrade again if they ran them terribly!

 

[achitophel]

Thanks for all of the help - you've convinced me to stick with the 256MB version for the moment. Res won't be too high anyway, since I think the native res on a 19" widescreen is 1440 x 900 or something like that.

Cheers

 

[G-MAN2004]

Which would be better for a game like Crysis?

 

[Cyber-Mav]

Which would be better for a game like Crysis?

kind of hard to say since the game is nout out yet.

Do not buy a gfx card today for the sole reason for it to play the games of tomorrow.