512MB over 256MB?

[Oobie-]

Hey guys,
I can't figure out, what do the 512MB versions of cards have over 256MB cards?

Would it be worth forking out about £100 more for a 512mb version?

Thanks

[Hottentot]

Hey guys,
I can't figure out, what do the 512MB versions of cards have over 256MB cards?

Thanks

About 256MB.

Worth it on a high end card as it will let you play at high resolutions 1280+ with high quality settings. By High end I mean X1900 or equiv cards.

[dave87]

This is my personal opinion, but with anything lower than a 7800GTX it is pointless having more than 256, as the card simply wont make use of it. Above that, and if you are playing at insanely high resolutions, with af and aa on full, then it may be worth it.

[Smokey21]

Doesn't make much of a difference. Depends on the card, and the extra price.

[NightshadowUK]

Would it make a difference on an X1800XT?

[kevpuk]

Mainly just of use at higher resolutions (>1280x1024) and for more demanding textures.....

[dangel]

Worth thinking about if you're running a very high res or dual monitors - and in Vista it becomes all the more important again for the desktop. I'm upgrading my work card for vista - 128mb isn't enough for two monitors in 1600x1200 on the vista desktop (glass effects get disabled).
I think i'll get a x1800xt 512mb for work - they're cheap for the power they give you imho.

[sawyen]

512MB on an x1800xt? depends the price difference and ur system setup.. on lower res.. 1280 and below it makes little difference (if any at all).. but if u cud get it for like £30 more I would just go for it. The scare factor of the massive frame buffer is enough to make envy ripples when ur mate comes along ur place.

Having said that 512MB does make ALOT of differnece in G.R.A.W.

[kalniel]

Depends on the game as well. It makes a difference in Quake 4, and in Oblivion if you use all the user texture enhancements.

[Smokey21]

Everyone says at high res it makes a difference, but it doesn't make much difference even then. Sure it's nice to have, but it's a marketing gimmick really.

The X1800XT 256mb is an awesome card, because it's 60quid cheaper than the 512mb.

[jonathan_phang]

Yeah, wish i had waited a bit before getting my X1800XT, the prices for a X1900XT have come tumbling quicker that i had anticipated...But, its still a good card. Personally, i cant explain the difference between 256 and 512 as i never owned a 256. Jumped straight from 128 to 512...

[sawyen]

Yeah, wish i had waited a bit before getting my X1800XT, the prices for a X1900XT have come tumbling quicker that i had anticipated...But, its still a good card. Personally, i cant explain the difference between 256 and 512 as i never owned a 256. Jumped straight from 128 to 512...

Eheh.. And to think I was one of the forces that made u spend it on an X1800XT..

But it the card does rock.. there is NOTHING today this card cant handle at 1440x900 smoothly.. not even one that actually hitched with AA and HQAF enabled.

[Oobie-]

THanks guys - I will have a long hard think about this - <thinks> *512mb means it lasts longer and I can run higher res with better performance, but at a heftier cost, whereas 256mb is cheaper and just as good in some respects - End question is will I be needing to run all my games in >1280 res' *</thinks>

[Smokey21]

Eheh.. And to think I was one of the forces that made u spend it on an X1800XT..

But it the card does rock.. there is NOTHING today this card cant handle at 1440x900 smoothly.. not even one that actually hitched with AA and HQAF enabled.

You must have a high tolerance for low framerates.

With 4X AA and 16x AF at 1600x1200, i cannot play DOW, or Empire At War. Serious Sam 2 is pretty sluggish as well at times.

[sawyen]

I did say 1440x900... which incidently is lower than 1600x1200..

dude.. you need to read my post carefully..

[chuckskull]

It makes a difference in some games that use very large textures, QIII, Doom III and GRAW, but most of the time the extra money would be better spent on a stick of RAM