Is 256Mb enough?

jared17 · 09-26-2006, 03:29 AM

I'm currently looking to build a new PC

, although it will be a long work in progress, but I was curious about video cards, I don't want to spend an arm and a leg for them. I know I for sure want to run dual cards though, but I wasn't sure if 256 MB cards is enough to play games like FEAR and those types. Any input would be appreciated.

Jared

**The_Other_One** · 09-26-2006, 03:31 AM

Yes and no... It's plenty, but you must take into account the GPU's chipset. Something like a Geforce MX4000 with 256M RAM wouldn't to crap in FEAR.

dark_legacy2006 · 09-26-2006, 03:32 AM

i jsut read on another forum, and it said that 256 was not enoguh for that game but it said nothing about more than 1 card and i know nothing aobut dual cards

[-0MEGA-] · 09-26-2006, 03:33 AM

It's not so much the memory, its the card. What card(s) were you looking at getting?

**The_Other_One** · 09-26-2006, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dark_legacy2006

i jsut read on another forum, and it said that 256 was not enoguh for that game but it said nothing about more than 1 card and i know nothing aobut dual cards

I run FEAR combat at 1024x768 on the highest detail settings(no AF or AA) and it's fine on my 7600GT. It might lag a bit in smokey areas, but never unplayable. I'm sure something like a 7900GT would run it perfectly at this res...

fade2green514 · 09-26-2006, 03:48 AM

a 7300gt with 512mb would be 10-20 times worse than a 7900gt with 256mb.
memory size doesnt always matter when it comes to video cards, not as much as rendering speed at least.

ETSA · 09-26-2006, 04:04 AM

A newer card is way better than one which is older and has more memory...

256 is plenty if you have a good card, ie...x1900 or 7900 series...

Motoxrdude · 09-26-2006, 04:08 AM

What is your budget? If you are on a tight budget ($300 or less) i would not suggest running dual cards. Its never worth the price to run dual cards.

dark_legacy2006 · 09-26-2006, 04:10 AM

what is the benefit of dual cards and how does it work?
like 2 different video cards :S
i have no idea

Motoxrdude · 09-26-2006, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dark_legacy2006

what is the benefit of dual cards and how does it work?
like 2 different video cards :S
i have no idea

You get about a 20% increase when running sli or crossfire, but it costs twice as much, so its not worth it. If you have an unlimited budget then price to performance doesnt even matter.

09-26-2006, 03:29 AM	#1 (permalink)
jared17 Bronze Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 20 Posts: 34	Is 256Mb enough? I'm currently looking to build a new PC, although it will be a long work in progress, but I was curious about video cards, I don't want to spend an arm and a leg for them. I know I for sure want to run dual cards though, but I wasn't sure if 256 MB cards is enough to play games like FEAR and those types. Any input would be appreciated. Jared __________________ 98% of the teenage population will try, does or has tried smoking pot. If you're one of the 2% who hasn't, copy & paste this into your signature

09-26-2006, 03:31 AM	#2 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 23 Posts: 12,368	Yes and no... It's plenty, but you must take into account the GPU's chipset. Something like a Geforce MX4000 with 256M RAM wouldn't to crap in FEAR. __________________ Desktop * Athlon X2 4200 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| 7600GT Laptop1 * C2D T5550 \| 3G RAM \| 120G HD \| Intel x3100 Laptop2 * C2D T5250 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| Intel x3100

09-26-2006, 03:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
[-0MEGA-] Diamond Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Concord, NH Age: 20 Posts: 27,082	It's not so much the memory, its the card. What card(s) were you looking at getting? __________________ Desktop // Laptop Core 2 Quad Q9550 @ 4.0GHz // Core 2 Duo P8400 2.26GHz Asus Rampage Formula X48 // Intel PM45 ATI 4870X2 2GB GDDR5 // 512MB GDDR3 9800M GTS 4GB (2x 2GB) DDR2 940 // 4GB DDR3 800 750GB SATAII w/32MB // 200GB SATAII 7200RPM Creative SB X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty SilverStone 750W +12V@60A 3DMark06: 21391 // 9179

09-26-2006, 03:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
fade2green514 Diamond Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: buffalo ny Age: 19 Posts: 3,623	a 7300gt with 512mb would be 10-20 times worse than a 7900gt with 256mb. memory size doesnt always matter when it comes to video cards, not as much as rendering speed at least. __________________ Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 3ghz HD 4850 512mb (750/2350mhz) 2x2gb G.Skill ddr2-835 (5-4-4-10) 2x80gb sata2 in RAID 0 system drive 250gb sata2 storage drive 13,574 - 3dmark06 score

09-26-2006, 04:04 AM	#7 (permalink)
ETSA Diamond Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: WA Age: 24 Posts: 2,283	A newer card is way better than one which is older and has more memory... 256 is plenty if you have a good card, ie...x1900 or 7900 series... __________________ DESKTOP Antec P180B(4 x 120mm Tricool fans) Antec 500W neoHE Gigabyte GA 965p DS3 E6400 /w Zalman cnps9500 led 92mm (OC'ed to 3.2Ghz) 4 GB Corsair xms2 DDR2 800 HD4850 512mb ddr3 /w Zalman VF1000 (OC'ed to 690/1143) Soundblaster Audigy 4 LAPTOP Core 2 Duo T5750(2.00GHz)/4GB ddr2 667/250GB HD/8600M GT

09-26-2006, 03:32 AM	#3 (permalink)
dark_legacy2006 Platinum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Canada Age: 18 Posts: 588	i jsut read on another forum, and it said that 256 was not enoguh for that game but it said nothing about more than 1 card and i know nothing aobut dual cards

09-26-2006, 04:08 AM	#8 (permalink)
Motoxrdude Diamond Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Nor Cal Age: 18 Posts: 6,222	What is your budget? If you are on a tight budget ($300 or less) i would not suggest running dual cards. Its never worth the price to run dual cards. __________________ RIP Mom 9/17/55-02/22/08. McCain/Palin 08'

09-26-2006, 04:10 AM	#9 (permalink)
dark_legacy2006 Platinum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Canada Age: 18 Posts: 588	what is the benefit of dual cards and how does it work? like 2 different video cards :S i have no idea

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