Video Card Memory 1gb vs 2gb

[Duane]

I'm thinking of getting back into boxing before Cataclysm hits and want to do a few upgrades. Right now I'm running the following setup:

Q9550
X48 mobo
8gb ram
HD4870 512mb ram

I want to add a new HD5870 video card and SSD drive.

Is there a major performance increase using 2gb of video card memory compared to 1gb? Or is this a total non-issue?

[Iru]

you don't say how many toons you're boxing but in general 1Gb is plenty. CPU & memory are more limiting than video RAM

[jstanthr]

In my experience with those cards (i've bench tested both 1gb and 2gb) where the difference really shows is in the number of monitors that your wanting to drive. if your doing 2 1gb should be pleanty, but if your going for 3 or more i'd go with the 2gb version. The reason this matters is because of the screen real estate involved, more means more to render and the more memory that is available, the fasters the shaders can crunch that data and get you on your way. i hope this helps.

JsT

[Duane]

I'll be running 5 toons on a 22" and 24" monitor. Later on I'd like to add another monitor but for right now two is fine.

Thanks for the help.

[Sajuuk]

In my experience with those cards (i've bench tested both 1gb and 2gb) where the difference really shows is in the number of monitors that your wanting to drive. if your doing 2 1gb should be pleanty, but if your going for 3 or more i'd go with the 2gb version. The reason this matters is because of the screen real estate involved, more means more to render and the more memory that is available, the fasters the shaders can crunch that data and get you on your way. i hope this helps.

JsT

It's not the number of monitors that matters, it's the resolution you want to run at AND the amount of eye candy you want running. For most of us we turn down the details of our extra characters, so the extra VRAM would go to waste. I've ran five characters at 3240x1920 with little issue on a 1GB 5850. So for the most part it's just extra that won't get used.


If the price difference is slight (And I'm thinking it's not), sure, go ahead with the 2GB version. If it's not, don't bother.

[Sam DeathWalker]

More memory means less transfers for new textures. I would get the most memeory on the video card as is possible.

In Darlen I am sure 2GB will be a very noticable improvment.

[MiRai]

More memory means less transfers for new textures. I would get the most memeory on the video card as is possible.

In Darlen I am sure 2GB will be a very noticable improvment.

Must be a new city in Cataclysm.

[Sajuuk]

In Darlen I am sure 2GB will be a very noticable improvment.

No.





I firmly believe the most performance to be gained is to be found in the SSD. You will NOT need 2GB of VRAM for multiboxing five characters.

[alcattle]

No.





I firmly believe the most performance to be gained is to be found in the SSD. You will NOT need 2GB of VRAM for multiboxing five characters.

But do you relize how big Darlen is, it's gianormous! Bigger than Sam's ego and WoW budget combined.

[ZooljinX]

But do you relize how big Darlen is, it's gianormous! Bigger than Sam's ego and WoW budget combined.

Haha