8800GTS _ ?

[pendulum79]

I'm looking to upgrade my X800 XL and it will be to an 8800GTS. My question, is the 640MB version going to be much more useful to me?

I'm thinking I wouldn't need the 640MB version because my max res would be 1280*1024 so I'd never use the extra 320MB really.

But my other thought is that 320MB isn't much of a step up from 256MB for a 'next gen' part and I'm thinking I might eventually be using the extra 320MB when I get Crysis and even more so when I eventually play it with DX10 (as I'm planning on this card lasting at least a couple of years). My other pro for a 640MB is that I am getting £40 back from a return (which happens to be the difference between the two memory sizes )

Are geforce prices expected to go down very much when the HD range is launched (next monday, right?)? I know the dailytech numbers weren't the most scientific benchmarks ever but the HD2900 isn't going to smoke the 8800 series is it? Because I'm thinking of just ordering this week

Thanks in advance for any answers.

Edit: I'm looking to get an EVGA card, and from looking at the specs, am a bit puzzled as to why the 640MB ACS³ is clocked slower than the 320MB version :S

 

[idiotekniQues]

that is a good question.

current thinking says at that res you dont need the extra vid memory.

however, it really is speculative when it comes to dx10 games and their newer features.

will the textures be that much more memory intensive where even at lower resolutions the extra vid memory will come into play? or something else?

maybe there is more solid info on this out there, but i havent seen it yet.

 

[TanisHalfElven]

if you can get the 640.
i play obivion with quarls texture pack (4xlarger than regular oblivion textures) and i still seldom go over 320 mb. BUT that at 12x10 and no AA. any AA (except 2x) pushes mem usage above 320 even without the texture mods.

hope that helps.

 

[eno]

Originally posted by: tanishalfelven
if you can get the 640.
i play obivion with quarls texture pack (4xlarger than regular oblivion textures) and i still seldom go over 320 mb. BUT that at 12x10 and no AA. any AA (except 2x) pushes mem usage above 320 even without the texture mods.

hope that helps.

What do you use to test GPU memory usage? I bought the 320mb since I was planning on using my CRT (1600x1200) for a little while longer. What do you know I bought a 24" LG yesterday and now kicking myself. Suprised though @ 1920x1200 4xAA in BF2 it still runs well and I am picky about smooth framerate in FPS games. I too am curious about how the DX10 will affect the 320mb over 640mb+ at lower res.

OP : For those resolutions I would still shoot for the 320mb since it's $100 cheaper. I have learned my lesson for buying for the future. My logic was if I am not heavily into DX10 titles for another year then that $100 will go along way towards a newer GPU instead of investing it into todays high end parts. I could sell my 320 on Ebay/Craigslist and then use the saved $100 towards a nice new Nvidia 9800GTS/GTX (or whatever is on the market a year from now).

 

[betasub]

Originally posted by: eno
What do you use to test GPU memory usage?

ATi Tray Tools is one utility that allows graphics memory usage to be tracked and monitored.

 

[Laminator]

You can also try Video Memory Watcher.

 

[Extelleron]

Pick up the ATI HD 2900XT when it launches. At a $400 (hopefully sub $400 shortly after launch) it will offer a fairly large performance improvement over the GTS and perform closer to the GTX.

 

[yacoub]

if it has 512MB thats decent but 640mb would last longer (hold more memory)

 

[Extelleron]

Originally posted by: yacoub
if it has 512MB thats decent but 640mb would last longer (hold more memory)

Memory sizes cannot be compared across architectures nor can it be accepted that "higher memory = higher performance." The GeForce 7xxx chips, for example, saw very little difference in performance from 256MB to 512MB. The X1800 and X1900 chips saw a much larger difference. The GeForce 8xxx chips see a huge difference.

 

[Airs]

isn't that just because games now use more texture memory?

 

[TanisHalfElven]

Originally posted by: eno

Originally posted by: tanishalfelven
if you can get the 640.
i play obivion with quarls texture pack (4xlarger than regular oblivion textures) and i still seldom go over 320 mb. BUT that at 12x10 and no AA. any AA (except 2x) pushes mem usage above 320 even without the texture mods.

hope that helps.

What do you use to test GPU memory usage? I bought the 320mb since I was planning on using my CRT (1600x1200) for a little while longer. What do you know I bought a 24" LG yesterday and now kicking myself. Suprised though @ 1920x1200 4xAA in BF2 it still runs well and I am picky about smooth framerate in FPS games. I too am curious about how the DX10 will affect the 320mb over 640mb+ at lower res.

OP : For those resolutions I would still shoot for the 320mb since it's $100 cheaper. I have learned my lesson for buying for the future. My logic was if I am not heavily into DX10 titles for another year then that $100 will go along way towards a newer GPU instead of investing it into todays high end parts. I could sell my 320 on Ebay/Craigslist and then use the saved $100 towards a nice new Nvidia 9800GTS/GTX (or whatever is on the market a year from now).

rivatuner has a osd option