Buyer in doubt (256Mb or 512Mb?)

[rosu9801]

Ok here comes a couple of questions i would like answers to.

In 3dmarks some figures says i got 512Mb memory (forgot what, total vga memory sumthin?) on my x1600xt even though in every specs i read it says it has 256Mb.
Sapphires own website seems to only have one x1600xt card listed, it has 256Mb so what is 3dmarks on about?

My second question is:
Im about to upgrade my grapichs and again i would like to get some input on whats the difference between the 256MB and the 512Mb x1950xt.
Then if my x1600xt is a 512Mb card would i suffer much in anyway if i got the 256Mb x1950xt?

Thanks for any reply.

 

[darkstar782]

There is a very slight performance benefit in some applications when moving from 256MB to 512MB, but this is normally in the order of 3-4% max.

Even if you do have a 512MB x1600xt (and its more likely that either 3Dmark is lieing or your card is using some system ram as well), the advantage offered by a 256MB x1950xt will be massive.

As well as the x1950xt using much faster RAM, the GPU is in a completely different league than the x1600xt, you'll get massively better results from it.

However, now may not be the best time to buy a high end DX9 card. 8800GTS 320MB is very cheap for what it is, and will outperform an x1950xt as well as providing DX10 functionality.

R600 NDA's are supposed to run out wednesday, so hopefully we will have some news on it then.

8600 Ultra is looking pretty good, and will be out soon.

 

[rosu9801]

Hehe yeah but i want a new card NOW!
And i was thinking of playing with either a x1950xt or xtx until DX10 is supported by lots of more games and such.

And thanks for telling about the difference between the memory amount.

 

[Heyyou27]

Hehe yeah but i want a new card NOW!
And i was thinking of playing with either a x1950xt or xtx until DX10 is supported by lots of more games and such.

And thanks for telling about the difference between the memory amount.

The 8800GTS outperforms the X1950XTX is Direct X9, supports Direct X10, higher quality anisotropic filtering, and since you seem to be obsessing about memory, 640MB of video RAM.

 

[rosu9801]

Would hardly call it obsessing to ask whether a slower card with more memory has an advantage to a faster card with less memory in some way =/
But thanks for your input.

Been looking at the charts on THG and don't see that much of a difference between the 2 cards other then the pricetag and that 8800GTS supports DX10.
Mainly been looking at Oblivion because that is the only game i have played, there i see it as x1950xtx is the faster of the two.
And yeah the price diff is about $100 where i live (sweden) so its an issue, seing as i get enough of a card even with a x1950xt.

So what will those $100-200 extra really give me since im not planning on using Vista in the near future?
I read that it took a while for devs to adjust to DX9, wouldn't you think that it would be the same for DX10?
I must admit gearing up for the future is good but if the future is a year or so away, i could live with a cheaper DX9 card, couldn't i?

 

[cleeve]

1. The amount of memory isn't nearly as important as the bus width or the clockspeeds.
A 256mb X1950 XT will beat an X1600 512mb in every way, shape, and form.

2. The 8800 GTS is much, much better than the X1950 XT, and for $100 more it's still a better buy if you play games, because it's a faster gaming card and will last you longer.

However, it is true that DirectX 9 cards still have a long life ahead of them, at least two years of usability at this point IMHO.