Graphics card questions

[Itronix]

Hello, everyone. Sorry for all the questions, but I have a few more about graphics cards if anyone has the time.

What is the difference between a pixel shader processor and a pixel pipeline?

What is better, 256mb of GDDR3 or 512mb of GDDR2?

And finally, what would the estimated physical size for a card such as a 8600GS 512mb be (LxWxH type of measurement, but I don't really care about the thickness of the card, just the length and width).

Thanks everyone, I'm just a noob and I don't want to screw up my first build by buying the wrong card or not buying a case big enough for the card.

 

[Geoff]

I can only answer the memory question, as I can't say with certainty the difference between a pixel shader processor and pixel pipeline, other then that pixel pipelines were used in cards before the 8 or HD2K series cards.

As for the memory, it really depends on the card. If you're talking about the 8600 card, then go with the 256MB GDDR3.

 

[Itronix]

Crap! Did it again. 8600GT not GS. Sorry. I actually just found a 512mb GDDR3 for amother $30 or so, so I think I'll do that (faster core too). I just mainly wish that I knew the actual size of the card. Thanks.

 

[Geoff]

Crap! Did it again. 8600GT not GS. Sorry. I actually just found a 512mb GDDR3 for amother $30 or so, so I think I'll do that (faster core too). I just mainly wish that I knew the actual size of the card. Thanks.

For $30 I would do it for 512MB of GDDR3 vs 256MB GDDR3, as well as a faster clock.

However just a note for the future or for others, a card such as the 8600GT(S) doesn't need 512MB of video RAM. 256MB should be more then enough, so spending more money on the same card with 512MB of RAM will show little to no difference.