256MB or 512MB GeForce 7 Card...?

Michael Cargill wrote:
> I am looking to replace my GeForce 6800 GT with one of the GeForce 7 cards
> and have around £150 to spend.
>
> Do the 512MB cards actually offer much extra performance over the 256MB
> cards, or do most games not use all the memory?
>

I wouldn't have said it was worth the extra it seems to cost, I've just
picked up a 7800GT and I'm not bothered that it's "only" 256MB.

--
[ste]

"[ste parker]" <imaginey.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:53t7r0F1u3ls8U1@mid.individual.net...
> Michael Cargill wrote:
>> I am looking to replace my GeForce 6800 GT with one of the GeForce 7
>> cards and have around £150 to spend.
>>
>> Do the 512MB cards actually offer much extra performance over the 256MB
>> cards, or do most games not use all the memory?
>
> I wouldn't have said it was worth the extra it seems to cost, I've just
> picked up a 7800GT and I'm not bothered that it's "only" 256MB.

I got a 256MB 7950GT in the end!

A bit late, but what-the-hell....

A 512MB card is useful for games that use lots of high resolutions textures
& geometry. Which games are these? I don't really know, but these games are
going to be the latest and most demanding ones.

Naturally, even for these games, the benefit is not going to 2 x a 256Mb
card or anything; at best you will avoid a bit of a stutter or a slow-down
at key points within a game. The main reason for buying is future-proofing.
Things are moving fast enough that it won't be long before having less than
512MB will be a bind.

That said, if you replace your card regularly enough, this new card you have
bought should be fine throughout it's lifetime.

CJM