Widescreen Gaming Forum

I'm debating whether I should wait for the 2GB card version (and pay more) versus getting the 1GB. What do you guys think? I'm thinking wait for the 2GB version. More video memory helps with higher resolutions, does it not? Also, I'd like to play Grand Theft Auto 4 in triple display, I know it eats a lot of video memory.

Anyone got ideas/comments on the video memory size debate?

IMHO, the more video memory the better. And sense I've yet to see any 2GB or greater cards available, it means several weeks of the 1GB card guys figuring out all the bugs and workarounds for us while we wait. :wink:

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Brad Hawthorne
Product Manager
Nthusim Pty. Ltd. | www.nthusim.com

Is there any hard evidence to say a 2GB is on the way? Or is it just expected that OEMs will make 'em cos they can?

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Dipping bags at Mach1.9

The 5870 'Six' is supposed to be 2GB only.

Makes sense - driving six monitors as one will mean some big VRAM gulps by games.

So now the question when will the 5870 "6" 2gb be out? :/ I don't wanna wait to long getting 2 excited. But maybe the 5870x2 "6" 2gb or 4gb will be better for us since it got 2 gpu's if it will ever be out that is.

But maybe the 5870x2 "6" 2gb or 4gb will be better for us since it got 2 gpu's if it will ever be out that is.

you mean the 5870X2 4GB (2x2GB with 2GB of usable framebuffer)

since one with only 2GB would only have a 1GB framebuffer, that seems a bit on the low side...


GTA4 asks for 1530MB @1280x1024 all options ON

I'd love to play GTA 4 at 5040x1050 with all the options on, or maybe just like medium settings. But that might still be unrealistic expectation.

For me it's more about the ability to run more than 3 screens at all vs splitting hairs on what the performance might be. If there ends up being a 5850 Six or a 5870 Six 1GB I'll ponder those as options too. For me it's not about the fps, but merely being able to do it at all. I'm sure I'd prefer 2GB or 4GB version of the card, but only if it's not going to do a gut check on my pocketbook. As is I have a rather large exponential issue with whatever projectors I pick. The more I dig the more I'm not sure what to do on that front. 5x $599 goes a lot further than 5x $999. I know it's an apples vs orange argument, but there are a lot of variables to take into account with this new greater than 3 display gaming concept now.

_________________
Brad Hawthorne
Product Manager
Nthusim Pty. Ltd. | www.nthusim.com

I'd love to play GTA 4 at 5040x1050 with all the options on, or maybe just like medium settings. But that might still be unrealistic expectation.

resolution don't increase the GTA4 Graphics memory requirements by that much in fact, so with a 2GB framebuffer it's doable ...
on the framerate side ... well it's another story

my GTX285 [email protected] can handle all options ON but there's a bit of slowdowns, moreso when fighting, in this case the framerate drops below my needs and I begin to be killed cause I can't fight back at 100% effectiveness

that said the "100% vehicle density" setting is pure awesomeness !

For me it's more about the ability to run more than 3 screens at all vs splitting hairs on what the performance might be. If there ends up being a 5850 Six or a 5870 Six 1GB I'll ponder those as options too. For me it's not about the fps, but merely being able to do it at all. I'm sure I'd prefer 2GB or 4GB version of the card, but only if it's not going to do a gut check on my pocketbook. As is I have a rather large exponential issue with whatever projectors I pick. The more I dig the more I'm not sure what to do on that front. 5x $599 goes a lot further than 5x $999. I know it's an apples vs orange argument, but there are a lot of variables to take into account with this new greater than 3 display gaming concept now.

Sure at 40 vs 80 FPS it may not matter much in single player, but once you drop to like 10 FPS then it's completely unplayable. So you really do need some consistent FPS that doesn't dip.