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X800 128mb VS 3650 GDDR3 256/512mb

Combat squirrel

Combat squirrel

Combat squirrel

Soldato
Joined
7 Aug 2004
Posts
11,279
As title, Im trying to decide what to do, I currently have an x800 128mb in windows vista 64bit on 2x24" panels, at 1920x1200 res each, and to be honest its struggling compared to my old 8800GTX in windows at '2d' stuff and watching movies/TV while working. I sold the GTX as I dont play games anymore.

My requirements are vista64bit desktop working on a lot of photoshop stuff, and video watching / encoding, as well as normal office work etc.

-IF- I sold the x800 and got the 3650 GDDR3 256/512mb I hope the 'sluggishness' will stop on desktop ? :confused:tbh I think the x800 128mb Ram struggles as thats what windows specifes as minimum.

SO whats the ideal card in the 3650 GDDR3 256/512mb series ? Can I get away with 256MB ram ? or would 512Mb be ideal?

Anyone who can address my concerns, it would be greatly appreciated :)
 
I would say you should look for a 512mb card, as they aren't that much over the 256mb counterparts and with 2 x 24" screens it would be worthwhile having that extra memory just incase :)

A 3650 512mb should do the job fine, but as said a 3850 512 would be a bit better and they aren't that expensive anymore ...
 
Thank for feedback, I really didnt want to go over £50 if poss, £70 tops so looking at this range, how would a 3850 help more if i dont play games? I assume all the media and 'features' are in the 3650 as they are in the 3850 ?
 
You absolutely do not need 512mb for Windows. You only "need" 512mb if you play new games at big resolutions (over 1280x1024).

You can runs Windows Aero no problem on a Intel onboard gfx chip so a 512mb gfx card would be overkill of the highest magnitude.

I have a 3850 256mb card and it plays all games bar Crysis very well on my 1280x768 monitor.
 
A bit of Math for you:

32bit Colour Depth means 4 bytes per pixel for required memory.

1920x1200 = 2,304,000 Pixels per display (PpD)

PpD x2 x4 = 18,432,000 bytes required for the display

= 18,000KB

= 17.578 MB of Display Memory required. Triple that for Display buffers and the like.

This calculation does not include any textures that are placed in memory for Aero (if it even does, unsure).

So, still think you need a 512MB Card?

(Btw, feel free to dispute my calculations its been a while since I've had to work this out lol).
 
Arthalen said:
A bit of Math for you:

32bit Colour Depth means 4 bytes per pixel for required memory.

1920x1200 = 2,304,000 Pixels per display (PpD)

PpD x2 x4 = 18,432,000 bytes required for the display

= 18,000KB

= 17.578 MB of Display Memory required. Triple that for Display buffers and the like.

This calculation does not include any textures that are placed in memory for Aero (if it even does, unsure).

So, still think you need a 512MB Card?

(Btw, feel free to dispute my calculations its been a while since I've had to work this out lol).
Click to expand...


Exactly, I would have even thought the 128mb card would be fine running windows, you sure the "sluggishness" isn't being caused by something else?
 
The other thing is as well, the 2D hardware on Video cards has not significantly change in several years, only the addition of hardware video acceleration, really (Purevideo, Avivo ect).

I'd poke around your system and check all the obvious things - Is DirectX 2D acceleration enabled? Are the drivers installed and correct?
 
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