Anyone know how fast graphics memory requirements are growing?

[DanceswithUnix]

I noticed the Palit 2GB GTX460 card is only about 20 quid more than the 1GB card. Now I know there isn't any point *right now* in having a 2GB card, but anyone seen any indicators of when 1GB is going to start being a bit of a squeeze?

Was about to order the 1GB card when I saw the 2GB model and it threw me. Might just order one anyway, given the ram is just as fast in the two cards so there isn't a downside.

[Skulltrail]

Some 2GB get slightly lower benchmark scores than their 1GB counterparts, and almost always over-clock less so I would say that a higher clocked 1GB model would be more beneficial than a standard 2GB. Having said that you do have a very high resolution monitor so look at benchmarks at 2560x1600 and see how 2GB models compare to 1GB counterparts. This was done a fair amount with the 4870s if I remember correctly.

[DanceswithUnix]

Yeah most big memory cards use slower RAM, but...

Anandtech have said in their 460 article that the Nvidia memory controller is the weak point and they found overclocking memory just made the ECC work harder and hence slow things down, so I am guessing in this case there isn't really a downside to the 2GB model as both 1GB and 2GB are the same GDDR5 memory and clock speed.

Just been looking on the Steam hardware survey, %24.61 and rising of their users have 1GB video cards so that is becoming the standard amount. The 128MB, 256MB and 512MB numbers are dropping quite fast.
edit to add: There are %5.86 and rising listed as "other", and looking at the bands there they must be the over 1GB boards. Combining that with the 1GB number, on October >=1GB will overtake 512MB cards.

There, easy to justify a purchase to yourself if you dig around a bit

Now, I wonder when it will turn up on Today Only again!