Did you know ?......... 128mb vs 256mb

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Keith Sebastian

Padawan
Most graphic card manufacturers use slower cheaper high latency
RAM chips on 256mb cards as opposed to 128mb cards ??

I know this for a fact as PowerColor did this on R9800 Pro cards
and hence I ended up with a 128mb version with faster 2.7ns
latency Samsung memory as opposed to 256mb Samsung chips
which had 4ns latency. This was about a year ago.

There aren't many games that can make full use of 256mb graphics
RAM. I've read somewhere that DOOM3 on a 6800 with 256mb and
1GB system RAM might perform better as opposed to 128mb.
Now that's just hypothetical and I am yet to see some solid proof.

Didn't you always wonder why 256mb cards where just a little bit more
expensive than 128mb ones?? Now you know why.

So, stick to you 128mbs for the time being and don't let manufacturers
sell you sub standard stuff.

256Mb cards are just a hyped up marketing trick

If you still want 256mb cards, note the codes on the memory chips and
check online to see associated latencies and any comments on them.
Do this before you buy the card :wink: :wink:

Keith
 
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Keith Sebastian

Padawan
valtea said:
So strange.

associated latencies

What are these?
Click to expand...

Low latency RAM = Low access time = Fast RAM = Better performance = More expensive

Remove the heatsinks off the RAM chips on a PowerColor 9800 Pro 128mb
and you'll see Samsung K4D26323RA-GC2A. These chips have a latency
of 2.86 nanoseconds.
Source
www.samsung.com/Products/Semiconductor/GraphicsMemory/DDRSDRAM/128Mbit/K4D26323RA/K4D26323RA.htm
See DATA sheet for details

I've seen a PowerColor 9800 Pro 256mb with Elixir N2DS25616BT-5T
RAM chips. These are rated at a very slow 5 nanosecond access time.

Download DATA sheet at
www.elixir-memory.com/products/file/N2DS25616BT-5.pdf
 
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blade_runner

Cyborg Agent
Thats wot i and a lot of forum regulars have been shouting hoarse about for quite some time now. Sometimes people have this tendency to think that bigger is always better. In case of powercolor, cards with 256Mb memory always have slower memory. Although Club3d dont resort to such tricks, they have their own set of problems.
 
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gamefreak14

Journeyman
Very good research there, m8...Good work. I didn't know maufacturers played such tricks when buying high end cards...Imagine the plight of the budget segment out there. (like me :cry: )
Keith Sebastian said:
Now that's just hypothetical and I am yet to see some solid proof.
Click to expand...
Not at all hypothetical..Actually , D3 on ultra high does make use of 256MB RAM. It's used for caching large textures, and future games will use incredibly detailed environments. Sure you'll be able to play it on ultra on a 128 MB card too. Play it on 256, and the difference is easilydiscernible. For those who are buying high end cards, a 256 MB card is the only way out. Otherwise they risk buying another card within a 18 months of purchase.
 
Satissh S

Satissh S

Youngling
Hey! One Question, Are you guys meaning to say my fx5200 128 mb card would work the same way as any 256 mb card. I Don't tink so.
 
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blade_runner

Cyborg Agent
Satissh S said:
Hey! One Question, Are you guys meaning to say my fx5200 128 mb card would work the same way as any 256 mb card. I Don't tink so.
Click to expand...
Not as any 256Mb card ! We meant to say ur fx5200 128Mb = Fx5200 256Mb
Actually yours might be a frame or two faster since 128Mb memory generally comes equipped with faster memory. Thats the way costs are balanced.
 
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shefzomania

Broken In
Can we set up a thread in which every1 can put in the experiences regarding compalibility of different components?
E.g. what processor is best compatible with what motherboard and such stuff.
This makes it easy for pple who plan to buy new PC's to buy the hardware that gives best performance and will also give every1 an oppurtunity to compare performance vs. price at a much better level.
PPle who plan to upgrade can also make excellent use of the information.
 
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