Doom 128 or 256mb?

[mito]

Should I go after an 9800pro 256mb because of Doom III and HF2? Or will the 128mb version suffice?

Also, will my asus deluxe board and xp2600 be enough?

Thank you.


/\/\ito
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asus a7n8x dlx, xp2600/333, 2x512mb pc2700, geforce 4 ti4200 64mb, win xp pro, dx 9.0b, nforce 2.45, det 43.45, samsung 40gb 7200rpm
Note: no SP1 and no OC!

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Yes

and

Yes.

The real question is what do you EXPECT from these setups (like res. settings AA/AF)?

if it's the same price 256 over 128 is a good idea (all else being equal). The difference is MINOR now, and may even remain so, but heck, if it's the same price, and that your focus is buying something you NEED <b>NOW</b>, that does look towards the future somewhat, then that's what I'd recommend. But <b>NEVER</b> buy anything FOR a game that hasn't released yet.

Edited for terrible mix/mash grammar and spelling (trying to multi-task while talking on phone ).


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red> GA to SK
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by TheGreatGrapeApe on 05/13/04 01:35 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[cleeve]

Back when Tom's Hardware did their review of the alpha, I believe 256mb didn't make a difference over the 128mb cards they tried, unless it was at high res with AA (which is what 256mb will provide anywayas a rule), and then only a small difference.

So chances are the high-res doom texture set is made to fit into 128 megs. I wouldn't bother with a 256mb card just yet, not for a year or two anyway when games that support it come out. Might be a title or two available now and in the next 6 months, but it's hardly a mainstream feature. Won't be a requirement for quite a while, yet.

But like Ape said, if they're the same price, why not? If 256 megs is more money, I guess you have to decide if it's worth it.

Yeah, a 2600+ and a 9800 PRO will be very playable with both D3 and HL2, I reckon... based on the alpha versions of both games.

________________
<b>Radeon <font color=red>9500 PRO</b></font color=red> <i>(hardmodded 9500, o/c 340/310)</i>
<b>AthlonXP <font color=red>~2750+</b></font color=red> <i>(2400+ @2.2Ghz)</i>
<b>3dMark03: <font color=red>4,055</b>

 

[mito]

Thank you guys for your nice answers.
Also, how many FPS do you think (an estimate) will I gain if I upgrade from fsb333/pc2700 to fsb400/pc3200?

Thankx again.......... )

/\/\ito
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asus a7n8x dlx, xp2600/333, 2x512mb pc2700, geforce 4 ti4200 64mb, win xp pro, dx 9.0b, nforce 2.45, det 43.45, samsung 40gb 7200rpm
Note: no SP1 and no OC!

 

[cleeve]

Meh, if you're running a 333 bus, you probably wouldn't want to run asynchrous memory anyway.

I wouldn't bother. We're talking single-digit percentage points, you'd never see the difference in game.

________________
<b>Radeon <font color=red>9500 PRO</b></font color=red> <i>(hardmodded 9500, o/c 340/310)</i>
<b>AthlonXP <font color=red>~2750+</b></font color=red> <i>(2400+ @2.2Ghz)</i>
<b>3dMark03: <font color=red>4,055</b>

 

[scottchen]

You'll probably see a difference if you up your FSB a little, don't buy new ram, pump your vdimm to 2.7, and see how high it'll go, actually if you have PC2700 samsung, you'll reach PC3200's speeds without problems, however you may need to use relaxed timings.

<A HREF="http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/myrig.php?do=view&id=17301" target="_new">My PC</A>

 

[sweatlaserxp]

I read an interview with John Carmack a while ago, although I can't remember where, but I specifically remember him saying that Doom does NOT benefit from the 256Mb cards. Perhaps that's changed, but even if there is a difference it's not worth the extra $50. Get the 128Mb version and in a couple of years, when games really benefit from 256 or 512, it will be time to upgrade again anyway. Don't waste your money on faster RAM either- the performance benefit is not worth $250, never mind $50. If you have 1 gb then you're good to go. just think: if you were to buy the 9800 Pro AND new RAM, you would be able to buy an X800 Pro...

 

[mito]

In the 9800pro benchmarks, aren't the 256mb versions a bit faster than the 128mb ones?



/\/\ito
----------
asus a7n8x dlx, xp2600/333, 2x512mb pc2700, geforce 4 ti4200 64mb, win xp pro, dx 9.0b, nforce 2.45, det 43.45, samsung 40gb 7200rpm
Note: no SP1 and no OC!

 

[cryo]

only in some situations (High res with high AA&AF). Most of the time, they perform about the same (sometimes the 128MB version performes better, because some 9800 Pro 256DDR use slower memory)

"I cannot give you a brain, but I can give you a diploma"
- The Wizard of Oz, talking to the Scarecrow

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Which R9800Pro-256 use slower memory? It uses DDRII memory and stock speeds are higher than the PRO-128. Now overclcokign is sketchy with their being different heat issues, but at stock speeds the PRO-256 should be faster simply because it's clocked faster, not slower.

But like I said, it's more of a question of price. the 10mhz increase in memory speed isn't much, and there are more heat issues, but if it's at the Same Price, and running stock, then I'd go with the PRO-256, which will perform better in most if not all cases.


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red> GA to SK

 

[mito]

Which models do use DDR2 memory?
I was looking at <A HREF="http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/ATI_Graphics_Cards.html" target="_new">these models</A> and none use ddr2. Please correct me...

/\/\ito
----------
asus a7n8x dlx, xp2600/333, 2x512mb pc2700, geforce 4 ti4200 64mb, win xp pro, dx 9.0b, nforce 2.45, det 43.45, samsung 40gb 7200rpm
Note: no SP1 and no OC!

 

[Willamette_sucks]

It's clocked a big higher to compensate for the crappier timings, but they should have compensated more. The 128mb 9800 is faster sometimes because of this.

And Mito, no need to buy new stuff, just OC ur system a bit. Run at 200x11 (3200 stock speeds), with the memory syncd (also at 200 [400 theoretical]), you may have to use 6-3-3-2.5, or 6-3-2-2.5 or 6-2-3-2.5 timings. Increase your ram voltage to 2.8 in the BIOS, and increase your vcore to 1.75-1.8 (whatevers neccessary to make it run at 2.2).

I also recommend flashing your BIOS to the "UBER 1007 (or 1008)" BIOS, which can be found with a google search. It's likely based off a newer BIOS than your current one, and it allows higher (2.9) memory voltages, and is, like it's title implies, UBER.

Me: are you saying I can't provide?
Me: cause I know I can provide.
Me: oh and I can provide money too
Rachel: why do we need money when we can just stay in our room and have sex all day?<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Willamette_Sucks on 05/15/04 09:07 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[dhlucke]

Post this in the games section

<font color=red>_______________________________________________</font color=red>
Nov. 6, 1971: "I gave back, I can't remember, six, seven, eight, nine medals"

- John Kerry, a Presidential Candidate

 

[Willamette_sucks]

Shutup dhlucke, this is fully relative to the graphics cards section. The question clearly relates to graphics HARDWARE.

Those fargs in the gaming section don't know a zbuffer from their own ass hole. They think DXTC is a rave drug.

Me: are you saying I can't provide?
Me: cause I know I can provide.
Me: oh and I can provide money too
Rachel: why do we need money when we can just stay in our room and have sex all day?

 

[dhlucke]

I resent that. Your mother would be ashamed of your behavior here.

This thread clearly violates section ii of article vi.

<font color=red>_______________________________________________</font color=red>
Nov. 6, 1971: "I gave back, I can't remember, six, seven, eight, nine medals"

- John Kerry, a Presidential Candidate

 

[mrface]

heheh it belongs here

"This Steel ain't stainless, Your bloodstains are all over this steel."

<A HREF="http://www.cameronwilliamson.com" target="_new">-={Messianic Maniac.}=-</A>