GPU and Video Ram

[deity_me]

I have a question that I cant seem to get Google to answer for me.

Which would give you better performance
A faster GPU with less video memory
or a lesser GPU with more memory.

Lets say for example I have an nVidia 7800GT with 256MB
and I have an ATI HD4550 with 1GB

Does the memory compensate for the slower GPU?

I'm looking at the Graphics Card Hierarchy and I see a lot of the older generation GPUs ranked above many of the newer ones.

 

[nforce4max]

Not by that much but it does make a difference but not all games will benefit right away till larger textures are enabled then it can decide if it were to be half ass or a slide show.

The 7800gt is ok for older games but it is just to old to play newer ones without having to be on low settings. The 4550 is just to weak to be a gaming card and wouldn't be an upgrade over your current card. So stick with it or pony up more green stuff to get a higher end card.

 

[deity_me]

I'm not really doing any gaming
Maybe some old games but not any of the new ones.
Just using it for watching Videos.

 

[jonpaul37]

In today's world, general rule of thumb is as follows:

1. Higher is better (within that series), so in the ATI 4xxx series, 48xx is better than 47xx, 47xx is better than 46xx, etc... Now, if you are differing between two different series, then it doesn't always apply as the 5770 is pretty equal to performance of the 4870.

1. When it comes to Video RAM, there are a few things that factor in here. First, there are different types of DDR-video RAM such GDDR5, GDDR4, GDDR3, etc... obviously GDDR5 is better than GDDR3. Second, the amount of GDDR video RAM is usually nothing to worry about until you cross a certain threshold in Monitor Resolution, also, having 1GB on a lower end video card is just a marketing scheme. So, if you're gaming at 1280 X 1024 and you have an Nvidia GTX 460 with 1GB, it will have absolutely no gain over a GTX 460 with 768 meg, BUT, if you're gaming @ 2560 x 1600 resolution, you will benefit more from the 1GB as opposed to the 768 meg.

All of the above are just examples to get my point across. I probably could have used better examples but you get my point i hope.

 

[ionut19]

So in short words, the GPU is more important then memory. But at high resolution memory helps a lot that better GPU.

Example: a 4850 512mb video card will run better then any 5550 1Gb video card at any resolution because the GPU of the 4850 is more powerful.

 

[deity_me]

So do you know what that threshold is when Video Ram starts to become an issue?
256MB on a 7800GT vs 1GB on a HD4550
I'm just watching videos

Thanks

 

[ionut19]

I am not aware of the performance of those video cards in high resolution movies. If you are watching movies on a display that is not full HD and not blu ray any will do i think.

I would sell them and buy a 5550 witch is good for movies, they say. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150492&cm_re=5550-_-14-150-492-_-Product

For watching movies, there isn't any threshold.

For games, 512Mb up to 1280x1024, 768Mb up to 1680x1050 and one gigabyte of video RAM at 1920x1080 or 1920x1200 and above, even more, up to 2 Gb for above 1920x1080 or multiple displays. 512Mb can also be used up to 1680x1050. The 768Mb version will work at 1920x1080 too but not that good as the same card with 1Gb of RAM.
You can play with a 512Mb card at 1920x1080 but the 1Gb card will give more FPS.

If you respect those guide lines and buy a decent GPU the balance between GPU power and video ram capacity should be ok.

 

[nforce4max]

The older G70 doesn't offload the world load HD video from the cpu. The newer cards do but do lack one feature that is present in the older cards such as picture in picture support. It will do ok but the cpu can't be crap. Beyond that it will do just fine.

 

[ionut19]

What do you mean by picture in picture? I know what it means on TV's but what does it mean on video cards?

 

[nforce4max]

What do you mean by picture in picture? I know what it means on TV's but what does it mean on video cards?

Lol a novice XD http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nvidia_PureVideo

A basic demonstration http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRi6BYI8CkA

I can't stand how people here only got knowledge going back only one or two generations max about any gpu family. The same for cpus There was a few on here who didn't know hot to spot a pentium 4.

 

[ionut19]

Don't be upset, just because you have a evga 7900gtx does not mean that i have to know everything about it.
I can see why the new cards don't have this thing, it's because why would i watch a movie wile playing a game?

 

[nforce4max]

Don't be upset, just because you have a evga 7900gtx does not mean that i have to know everything about it.
I can see why the new cards don't have this thing, it's because why would i watch a movie wile playing a game?

Dude lol