Should I stepup my 256MB 8800GT to 512MB?

[ps2cho]

Right now the 256MB runs my games really really well....

But I mean is spending the extra $60($59.71 to be exact) to step up worth it in the long run?

I'm pulling easily playable frame rates on Crysis 1024x768 everything on High and I am getting just over 10k in 3dmark2006.

You guys think I should step-up before my 90 day mark? (I got about 45days left)

Or should I just save that $60 for a better CPU first?

[Sm0ldering]

If you only play on 1024x768, I don't think the extra 256mb will make an epic difference. I'd save it for the CPU fund.

[uberwoot]

I vote CPU fund or save up for a 9 seriers or 8800GTS 512mb. You wont see much of a gain unless you play at higher res's with the 8800GT 512mb.

[ps2cho]

If you only play on 1024x768, I don't think the extra 256mb will make an epic difference. I'd save it for the CPU fund.

My monitor supports 1440x900 but the 256MB flops at those resolutions....I don't know if thats due to my CPU, the 8800GT in general, or the lack of VRAM.

I vote CPU fund or save up for a 9 seriers or 8800GTS 512mb. You wont see much of a gain unless you play at higher res's with the 8800GT 512mb.

How long til the 9 series? You think it would be within 45days?

[djrussell]

the best thing to do with step-ups is wait until the last minute and then pull the trigger on it if you so desire. there's not much point in what-iffing until then.

[JamesXP]

It must be the memory, as resolution increases bottlenecks are decreased.

[ps2cho]

the best thing to do with step-ups is wait until the last minute and then pull the trigger on it if you so desire. there's not much point in what-iffing until then.

Oh no doubt I will wait until a week or less before it runs out.

What are ways that I can test to see if its the VRAM that is causing the low frame rates higher than 1024x768?

[Sentential]

Well think of it like this, what's the price difference between buying another 8800GT for SLI? ie ____ - $60 = ?? You might find that you're better off buying another GT.

[ps2cho]

Well think of it like this, what's the price difference between buying another 8800GT for SLI? ie ____ - $60 = ?? You might find that you're better off buying another GT.

Your right! That would be only $150 to make SLI (assuming I would have an SLI board).

I just bumped Crysis up to 1440x900 on High and its not a slide show, just a tad less than comfortably playable. I think thats probably my CPU holding me back.
I'm fine for now, gotta stop spending money :)

I'll wait for a while and see where AMD goes, then at that point decide if I want to go Quad Intel or AMD with an SLI board....then I can just drop another 256MB 8800GT in :) I don't think I'm being bottlenecked at 1440x900 resolution VRAM-wise. My monitor only goes up to 1440x900, and I won't be buying another one any time soon as I love my Hanns G :)

EDIT: On second thoughts maybe I should just sell off my Celeron 420 and get a Penryn (if my motherboard supports it) because that means I would only need the CPU and nothing else -- basically a straight swap of rigs.

[Sentential]

Your right! That would be only $150 to make SLI (assuming I would have an SLI board).

I just bumped Crysis up to 1440x900 on High and its not a slide show, just a tad less than comfortably playable. I think thats probably my CPU holding me back.
I'm fine for now, gotta stop spending money :)

I'll wait for a while and see where AMD goes, then at that point decide if I want to go Quad Intel or AMD with an SLI board....then I can just drop another 256MB 8800GT in :) I don't think I'm being bottlenecked at 1440x900 resolution VRAM-wise. My monitor only goes up to 1440x900, and I won't be buying another one any time soon as I love my Hanns G :)

EDIT: On second thoughts maybe I should just sell off my Celeron 420 and get a Penryn (if my motherboard supports it) because that means I would only need the CPU and nothing else -- basically a straight swap of rigs.


Well what are you running now? Is Xfire an option? Its not like people will look at a 256MB 8800gt and not want it, plus SLI boards excluding intel arent terribly pricey.

[ratbuddy]

Your right! That would be only $150 to make SLI (assuming I would have an SLI board).

I just bumped Crysis up to 1440x900 on High and its not a slide show, just a tad less than comfortably playable. I think thats probably my CPU holding me back.
I'm fine for now, gotta stop spending money :)

I'll wait for a while and see where AMD goes, then at that point decide if I want to go Quad Intel or AMD with an SLI board....then I can just drop another 256MB 8800GT in :) I don't think I'm being bottlenecked at 1440x900 resolution VRAM-wise. My monitor only goes up to 1440x900, and I won't be buying another one any time soon as I love my Hanns G :)


Bear in mind that adding a second 8800GT-256 isn't gonna help much with games that use 256+MB of video memory. You might get a little bump, but adding a 2nd card doesn't double your memory, and if you are running out (and you WILL start running out on modern games) then you will be slowing down..

So to answer your original question, in the long run, yes, it's worth stepping up to at least the GT-512, if not a GTS-512.

[PhysX]

i did research before buying my 512mb gt, and it is much faster than the 256 even then it only has more ram, i was say its upto you,.

[ps2cho]

i did research before buying my 512mb gt, and it is much faster than the 256 even then it only has more ram, i was say its upto you,.

I don't know where you got that information from but its not :confused:
Its not "much faster"....
Here:
http://www.expreview.com/img/review/1gbgt/1GT_card_roundup.png
^ As you can see at low resolutions its a very small %
3dmark=3%
HL2=1%
COD4=2%
In a few other's the %'s are way way higher though....I'm not sure how that works though. I mean 50% boost on a low resolution? I think there numbers are off on those.

At low resolutions, the 256MB is actually a "little" faster due to the small memory size. But in reality they are the same up until the 256MB RAM usage, then the 512MB screams ahead.

[jason4207]

What are ways that I can test to see if its the VRAM that is causing the low frame rates higher than 1024x768?

In XP you can use Riva Tuner to see your vRAM usage using one of the plug-ins and the hardware monitor.

I'd skip the 512-GT, and go straight for the 512-GTS if you want something now. Otherwise wait and see what might come out in the next 45 days.

[chrispycrunch]

I loaded the memory usage monitor in riva tuner. In FEAR @ the highest res (1280x960 i think), it uses 368MB. This is at MAX settings (16x AA). It's definitely worth the extra money to get the 512mb over the 256mb. Why bottneck if you're already spending at least $200 on a card.

I hope this helps your decision.

[PhysX]

get a better cpu first, then a 512mb video card, then a higher res monitor :) you wont regret it, this is 2008 haha standard monitor resolutions at at the very least 1280x800/1440x900 "16:10"