Difference between a 128mb and a 256? Created 18 years ago2005-10-05 12:03:55 UTC by Luke

Is there a difference between a 128mb and a 256mb fgx card?

Alls i hear is that there is no reall difference.

From what I hear it isn't 'that' much better and just costs more...

It's making more and more of a difference. I'll be going for a 256MB card when I next get one.

Most of what that memory is for is for "pages", where the card draws the screen before actually putting it on the computer screen. Here are some memory requirements for 1 "page" for various resolutions
800x600 - 1.37mb (all @24 bit color)
1024x768 - 2.25 mb
1280x960 - 3.51mb
1280x1024 - 3.75 mb
1600x1200 - 5.5 mb

Keep in mind that the video card probably will have several pages in memory at once, and that there will be other things in memory as well.
btw, if you have a different resolution the formula for the space taken up by a page is: ((xres*yres*3)/1024)/1024 (in mb)

Actually, I'm pretty sure that most of the memory is used for storage of textures and maps. I'm not at all sure that you're not confusing the concept of paged memory with what I believe is the frame buffer? I could be wrong, though ? I don't know enough about graphics cards.

I always thought video card memory was for textures and storing rendered frames before they are displayed..?!
Mines got 256mb, it's only a Geforce 5700LE but it made quite a difference from my 128mb Geforce 5200 I got in my other computer.
Usually it doesnt cost too much extra, unless you get into the really top end 7800's! I need a pair of them druels...

me=stupid right now. You're right, I think. But I do know that the video memory on the card is used for pages, anyone who has ever written graphical applications knows that you have to use page flipping or you get a crappy framerate. I don't know much about gfx cards either, but I do know that unless your game (i.e. hl2) has to load an absolute shitload of textures, having a card over 128-256mb is probably overkill (at least now.) My card has 128mb, and can almost run hl2 @ 1600x1200, and a slow hd. So a 256mb card should last you for a while, anyway.

At what texture 'quality' settings?

This thread is really dumb. Of course more RAM helps, but the GPU is almost important. For example, there's a huuuuge difference between a 256MB 9600XT and a 256MB X850XTPE. A HUUUUUUUGE difference. But, in general, 256MB is better.

Ok, and i was thinking, i heard that PCI cards (no im not gonna build a new computer so dont say shit about a new motherboard... shitty Dell...) dont borrow from memory if needed.

So im guessing i should get the highest amount of memory possible for a PCI card, right?

I hope you mean a PCI-E card? Very different beast... if you don't, then there's no point whatsoever in buying a new card. Get a new motherboard, etc., as necessary.

What did i just say?

I meant PCI, and i stick by that. So please, if you really care, send me like 2,000 american dollars, otherwise, read what i said.

I don't care that much. Face up to the facts, though.

A far superior PC wouldn't cost you anywhere near $2000, anyway. Maybe $300. Really ? and your computer goods are cheaper than ours.

I dont like the truth :

And i dont like trusting low cost stuff, just seems, not safe to me.

and your computer goods are cheaper than ours.

MUCH SO!

I'd have a nice holiday, build a computer over there and bring it back here, but the British bloody government would tax me on the bastard!

@Luke: It's either AGP or PCI-E. Go with AGP if you can't use PCIE.

the difference is 256 won't suck up as much of your normal ram as it takes longer to use all of it's own ( i think ) , but if you have like 512+ ram this won't matter as the main ram consumed by a gfx card isn't very high, it'll only realy matter if you have like 128 mb ,or maybe 256 in your pc itself.

most 128 cards are still better becouse of the cost and qualaty, there isn't much good affordable 256s out there yet.

the memory on a gpu doesnt matter. the most imprtant thing is the speed

there isn't much good affordable 256s out there yet

Sure there are, lots and lots of them: as m0p says, from 9600s to X1800s.

Replace the PC, Luke. If you're worried about stability, etc., get a kit, like the one I linked to ? then you can be pretty sure that you won't have problems. Otherwise, get a job and an Athlon64.

Otherwise, get a job and an Athlon64.

LOL!
Thats the route I'm taking!

You could just as well buy 2 128mb cards, works excellent.

blah blah blah shouldnt of asked.

And rabid, i would, if this shitty Dell had a AGP port...

Build a new PC, then, from some mid-range components, such as those which I pointed you to before. They'll improve performance much more than upgrading to a different PCI (haha) card would. Don't throw your money away.

Don't you think the fact that that's what everyone has said might indicate something?

Ok, like pepper once told me:
Its a good gfx card if it improves your current graphics.

Im going from integrated to an actual card.

Just close this thread...

It's a complete waste of money.

Your loss...