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Geek Culture / 256 to 512 VRAM Upgrade?

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Torsten Sorensen
19
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Joined: 23rd Oct 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Posted: 21st Jul 2006 00:21
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Hey, I have been thinking for a long time about upgrading my video card. Right now I have an XFX GeForce 6800 XTreme PCI-E, with 256mb of vram, and with that, oblivion runs at an average 14 fps in cities, 9 fps in the great forrest/mountains etc, and 24 fps inside buildings. I wanted to upgrade to the same card, but get the 512mb version, but I really don't know how much of a difference it will make. I run oblivion on the highest settings, but I'm not changing that, because I'm so used to it. So my question is-- Would it make a difference having 512 compared to 256, and how much of a difference? And would it be worth the money to upgrade it?

Thanks

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indi
22
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Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: Earth, Brisbane, Australia
Posted: 21st Jul 2006 04:25
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use google to compare those cards.
find oblivion forums and ask there.
take the game into a store and run it on a machine with the card you want.


if the speed of the cards gpu is the same, what is your first thought?
extra video ram will allow for an increase in textures loaded at once.
extra video ram will allow for larger texture sizes if limited by the program with other cards.

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UnderLord
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Joined: 2nd Aug 2003
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Posted: 21st Jul 2006 04:56
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If you have a PCI-E slot why not go for a 1gb card? but if you get a 1gb card make sure you up your ram to atleast 2 or 3gb's....Thats my 2 cents. But im sure you'll see a diffrence in performance.

If not a 1gb card then get the next generation version of your card in 512mb's IE if you have a geforce 6600 256mb get a geforce 7600 512mb or which ever is next in line.

Host your site for free www.darkuniverse.net

E-mail UnderLord @ UnderLord AT darkuniverse DOT net
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Phaelax
DBPro Master
21
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Joined: 16th Apr 2003
Location: Metropia
Posted: 21st Jul 2006 05:49
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Quote: "I have an XFX GeForce 6800 XTreme PCI-E, with 256mb of vram"


And that's already not good enough for you anymore? sheesh. I'm still satisfied with my 128mb fx5900 agp.

"Using Unix is the computing equivalent of listening only to music by David Cassidy" - Rob Pike
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Torsten Sorensen
19
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Joined: 23rd Oct 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Posted: 21st Jul 2006 07:06
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Well, not to long ago I have an FX 5500 PCI 128 mb...hated it..

Now I have High standards..

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Saikoro
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Joined: 6th Oct 2003
Location: California
Posted: 21st Jul 2006 07:33 Edited at: 21st Jul 2006 07:52
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I have that exact card. Let me get some FPS counts for you.

EDIT:
Cities: 20
Forests: 18
Indoors: 23


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ionstream
20
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Joined: 4th Jul 2004
Location: Overweb
Posted: 21st Jul 2006 08:06
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Quote: "use google to compare those cards.
find oblivion forums and ask there.
take the game into a store and run it on a machine with the card you want."


Why don't we just put a sign on the forums that says "Go somewhere else"?

Upgrading from 256 to 512 may make a difference, but not significant enough to warrant buying a card of the same GPU. I suggest you upgrade GPU's altogether, since you'd probably be spending the same amount of money. The ATi X1600 is a good choice, or pretty much anything in the nvidia 7000 family. Check online for pricing.

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indi
22
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Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: Earth, Brisbane, Australia
Posted: 21st Jul 2006 08:27
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is that really called for ion?
I was trying to make the user use his noggin in regards to his question.
no one answered it until i perked up, now the peanut gallery takes a jab.
if he spent a little time searching the web, he would have a lot more information regarding his question instead of the diatribe this forum can produce.

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Torsten Sorensen
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Joined: 23rd Oct 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Posted: 21st Jul 2006 19:33
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Ok-- Before this I knew nothing about GPUs at all, besides what they are capable of. I didn't know if VRAM effected the speed at all, and now I know it would not be worth buying that card, because it might increase speed and detail a very small amount, I'm going to get a high end card that should last me a few years.

Thank you all that helped.

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UnderLord
21
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Joined: 2nd Aug 2003
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Posted: 22nd Jul 2006 01:56
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Quote: "Ok-- Before this I knew nothing about GPUs at all, besides what they are capable of. I didn't know if VRAM effected the speed at all, and now I know it would not be worth buying that card, because it might increase speed and detail a very small amount, I'm going to get a high end card that should last me a few years."


That is your best bet, good choice.

Host your site for free www.darkuniverse.net

E-mail UnderLord @ UnderLord AT darkuniverse DOT net
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Torsten Sorensen
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Location: Seattle, WA
Posted: 22nd Jul 2006 02:06
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Ok, well thank you aoll for your help.

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code master
20
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Joined: 4th Dec 2003
Location: Illinois
Posted: 22nd Jul 2006 06:29
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Quote: "And that's already not good enough for you anymore? sheesh. I'm still satisfied with my 128mb fx5900 agp."


Heck, I've got a 32mb ATI Rage Fury pro...

Weapon Creator for sale soon!

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Torsten Sorensen
19
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Joined: 23rd Oct 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Posted: 22nd Jul 2006 06:30
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Quote: "Rage Fury pro"

wtf, they make some wird names for graphics cards, lol.

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UnderLord
21
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Joined: 2nd Aug 2003
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Posted: 22nd Jul 2006 18:11
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Quote: "Heck, I've got a 32mb ATI Rage Fury pro... "


So does my father in-law and he still uses it...Thinks its the best card in the universe. Actually he hates it since it always overheats on him but thats what he gets for having a HP....

Host your site for free www.darkuniverse.net

E-mail UnderLord @ UnderLord AT darkuniverse DOT net
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TopGunSF
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Joined: 16th Jul 2006
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Posted: 23rd Jul 2006 03:32
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Upgrading your amount of VRAM will make little or no difference to your frame rate. The only improvement you may see are lower graphic load times and the ability to run higher res graphics. Frame rate is almost completely dependant on the GPU, if you want better frame rates get a card with faster GPU. I personally use a Radeon x1900GT (256 meg ram). I can run Doom 3 on high graphics with an fps of 40+, any situation. Not sure what that translates to for Oblivion but if you own Doom 3 it will give you a good idea.

Computers are like air conditioners, they stop working when you open windows.
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