64 Bit Or 128 Bit Memory Interface

[zenhawx]

I'm trying to buy a graphic card. I'm confused about the memory interface (24 & 128 bit) What is the difference between them and how does it affect my gameplay on PC?

 

[Maddhatter]

you'll see almost double the frame rates with 128 over 64 it will allow more memory from the games to be stored on the card meaning it will load faster and run faster

 

[Maddhatter]

you may want to upgrade some memory tho if you're planning on gaming...with 256 mb you may not see a difference from 64 and 128 in games since you will have to run most at lower settings

 

[mrjack]

you'll see almost double the frame rates with 128 over 64 it will allow more memory from the games to be stored on the card meaning it will load faster and run faster

It's quite not that straight forward you know. And he's not talking about 64Mb and 128Mb of memory, he's talking about the width of the memory interface. 128-bit can theoretically move double the amount of memory per clock cycle compared to a 64-bit memory bus. But since the world we live in is far from perfect it doesn't always work at full potential. Sure the memory will be faster and thus most likely give a performance boost but it depends a lot on the size of the textures, like are they big or small files.

 

[Cromewell]

64bit cards are GeForce2 era, it's hard to find new cards that aren't at least 128bit now. What card are you looking at?

 

[SC7]

You definitely want the higher level. The memory bus interface is a critical part of cards. 64-bit really doesn't cut it, 128 is better. I honestly can't find a card in today's world that's 64-bit (except for a few). This does make a big difference.

This is one of the reasons the 7600 is lower than the 6600, the 6600 has 256, 6600 has 128. Basically what the technology is how much data throughput the memory can have with the card. The higher, the better.

sc7.

 

[Geoff]

This is one of the reasons the 7600 is lower than the 6600, the 6600 has 256, 6600 has 128. Basically what the technology is how much data throughput the memory can have with the card. The higher, the better.

What are you talking about? The 7600GS/GT is significantly better then anything from the 6600 to the 6600GT, as well as some of the 6800 series cards...

 

[SC7]

What are you talking about? The 7600GS/GT is significantly better then anything from the 6600 to the 6600GT, as well as some of the 6800 series cards...

In speed and overall performance, yes, but in the memory bandwidth, it is not.

 

[Clutch]

This is one of the reasons the 7600 is lower than the 6600, the 6600 has 256, 6600 has 128. Basically what the technology is how much data throughput the memory can have with the card. The higher, the better.

Both the 7600 and the 6600 have a 128bit memory bus interface.

In speed and overall performance, yes, but in the memory bandwidth, it is not.

You might want to check this out.

6600GT = 16GB/s
7600GT = 22.4GB/s

Contrary to what you say, the 7600GT has a higher memory bandwidth than the 6600GT.

you'll see almost double the frame rates with 128 over 64 it will allow more memory from the games to be stored on the card meaning it will load faster and run faster

I hope you're not trying to convey the idea that because you double something you get a 100% performance increase, as it is nearly impossible to attain 100% effeciency due to various types of overhead which are encountered. And anyways, he is talking about the memory bus width, not the VRAM size.

 

[SC7]

Both the 7600 and the 6600 have a 128bit memory bus interface.

You might want to check this out.

6600GT = 16GB/s
7600GT = 22.4GB/s

Contrary to what you say, the 7600GT has a higher memory bandwidth than the 6600GT.


I hope you're not trying to convey the idea that because you double something you get a 100% performance increase, as it is nearly impossible to attain 100% effeciency due to various types of overhead which are encountered. And anyways, he is talking about the memory bus width, not the VRAM size.

Very good, news to me. I apoligize about my false statement.