Overclocking and memory

[mactronix]

I was wondering if when you oc a graphics card so making the core run faster so doing more calculations what effect it has on the memory.
For instance does it follow that as its using the stored info faster then you can get away with less ram or do you need more ram on a card you want to oc.
Mactronix

 

[Gravemind123]

Well, it depends on the card. A lower end card can't utilize more then 256Mb of video ram, where as a more powerful card can. Just because you have faster core and memory speeds doesn't always make up for having less memory, as you can store less textures in the memory at once. Is there any specific card you are looking at?

 

[mactronix]

No specific card just wanting to know how it works and learn a bit.
My thinking was why would you need more ram if the card is running faster then isnt it clearing the memory faster or is it all linked and the memory is filling up just as quickly.
I understand that if you have a good card running at high res and high detail in a game using lots of textures then for example the 640GTS would be better than the 320 and it you were just doing run of the mill stuff then there would be no need for more than the 320.
But if you had a card like the 2900 would you benefit from the 1 gig over the 512 when over clocking and why.
Thanks
Mactronix

 

[kpo6969]

How would a higher clock differ and which would offer better performance between:
256bit, 256mb vram
or
256bit, 512mb vram

What I'm trying to determine is if I need a 512mb card or would 256mb be enough running a 19" LCD (1280x1024) maximum resolution. Thanks

 

[Ilander]

256 is fine for a 1280x1024 display. There's not much of a difference until you hit 1600x1200...that's 600,000 pixels' difference, more or less.

Once you hit around 2 million pixels, you need more VRAM is what I'm trying to say here...and again at 3 million.

I don't think there are any single card solutions for 4 million pixels yet, even if the GTX does actually support those resolutions.