Graphic memory [GB] Help me !

[RusKoV S]

Hi, I'm looking to buy a Graphic card and I'mhesitating between the GTX 970 and the GTX 960, The problem is that I dont know what's the graphic memory and for what it is. Could some one explain me how to know how much GBs do I need if I want to play on a FPS game with good graphics ? And I'd also like to know what does it change between 2GB and 4GB in game (like Battlefield 4). Do I really need 4G or 2G is ok ?

 

Thanks in advance, I read every comment !

[Prastupok]

Hi, I'm looking to buy a Graphic card and I'mhesitating between the GTX 970 and the GTX 960, The problem is that I dont know what's the graphic memory and for what it is. Could some one explain me how to know how much GBs do I need if I want to play on a FPS game with good graphics ? And I'd also like to know what does it change between 2GB and 4GB in game (like Battlefield 4). Do I really need 4G or 2G is ok ?

 

Thanks in advance, I read every comment !

 

If you're playing 1080p with details cranked up, you should go for the 970. Although if you want to save some money with comparable performance, a R9 290x is close in price at the AMD side of things.

[Glenwing]

Memory doesn't directly increase performance, it's just where the GPU stores information that it's working with. On high resolution displays like 4K, the GPU may need more memory. At 1080p, 2-3GB is enough. Having more memory than necessary won't give you any additional performance.

[DeViLzzz]

What resolution and detail level will you be playing games at?  Also do you care about PhysX at all with any games?  Seriously right now if you give Nvidia money I think it is a bad idea as a consumer.  There are some excellent options from AMD if you don't care about PhysX and want great performance. There are affordable 290 and 290x cards. Insane prices have shown up over the past week or so.  Now if you have to go Nvidia and you want PhysX then try to find someone looking to unload their GTX 970 used.

[Xaring]

the "vram" or "Graphical memory" is the memory your GPU uses to store all the information it needs to render the images that your screen displays. The higher the resolution and textures, you will use more VRAM. 

 

If you want to run everything maxed out at 1080p, get a 970. the 960 is not worth it, get a R9 280 or R9 280X for a GPU in that price point.

[Sauron]

-edit-

sorry nvm I had two tabs open and posted in the wrong one

[RusKoV S]

What resolution and detail level will you be playing games at?  Also do you care about PhysX at all with any games?  Seriously right now if you give Nvidia money I think it is a bad idea as a consumer.  There are some excellent options from AMD if you don't care about PhysX and want great performance. There are affordable 290 and 290x cards. Insane prices have shown up over the past week or so.  Now if you have to go Nvidia and you want PhysX then try to find someone looking to unload their GTX 970 used.

1080p or maybe 1440p later this year, I dont know many things about AMD, can you suggest me some GPUs from AMD that are as good ? I have about 300-400$ for a GPU.

[Prastupok]

1080p or maybe 1440p later this year, I dont know many things about AMD, can you suggest me some GPUs from AMD that are as good ? I have about 300-400$ for a GPU.

 

R9 290x is the top of the line single-card solution...

 

AMD used to be eh as far as driver support goes, but they make a much better product now.

[Megahurt]

Video memory is the same as system memory, having more doesn't increase performance but running out has a big negative impact on performance.

[DeViLzzz]

1080p or maybe 1440p later this year, I dont know many things about AMD, can you suggest me some GPUs from AMD that are as good ? I have about 300-400$ for a GPU.

http://hexus.net/tech/news/graphics/80130-amd-takes-aim-nvidias-gtx-970-cuts-r9-290x-price/

This gives you an idea of what is going on with 290x pricing.  $50+ cheaper than Nvidia and you get similar performance.  Also if you were seriously going to consider 4K gaming at all with these cards ever you would be getting a 2nd one and guaranteed 2 x 290x is a better option cost wise. 

[RusKoV S]

R9 290x is the top of the line single-card solution...

 

AMD used to be eh as far as driver support goes, but they make a much better product now.

 

But as I saw, AMD looks more expensive than AMD, I saw some benchmarks and NVIDIA looked better.

[Prastupok]

But as I saw, AMD looks more expensive than AMD, I saw some benchmarks and NVIDIA looked better.

 

It is, but the 290x at ~$350 US is about on par with the $500 GTX 980... so there is that.

[DeViLzzz]

Also the R9 290s can be had for even cheaper than the R9 290X and really are right there up there with the top cards.

[RusKoV S]

Also the R9 290s can be had for even cheaper than the R9 290X and really are right there up there with the top cards.

Ya but I dont understand, The AMD are way more expensive with MSI and ASUS, is it normal ?

[GrimNeo]

Ya but I dont understand, The AMD are way more expensive with MSI and ASUS, is it normal ?

What is your budget for the gpu and what area?

[RusKoV S]

What is your budget for the gpu and what area?

300-400$

Canada , Quebec.

[Prastupok]

Ya but I dont understand, The AMD are way more expensive with MSI and ASUS, is it normal ?

AMD makes chipsets for both MSI and Asus. There is "reference" and non-reference cards.

[GrimNeo]

300-400$

Canada , Quebec.

The gtx 970 cards are over 400$ on ncix

 

The MSI AMD 290x is 339.99$ after 100$ mail in rebate. That's a good deal if you like mail in rebates. http://www.ncix.com/detail/msi-radeon-r9-290x-gaming-df-92892-1229.htm

 

OP I would go with 4GB vram for the long run if you are trying to run very high on 1080p settings. A lot of games use more than 2GBs of vram.

[Ertman]

The OP is comparing VRAM as performance indicators and that the 2 cards they have chosen do not offer similar performance.

970>960

Even if the 960 had 4gb of VRAM the performance difference would be significant.

[Geldar]

960 -> 1080/1440p

970 -> 1440/entry level 4K

980 -> 4K

 

edit: The vram on the card is generally appropriate for the power/purpose of the card

[Bananamancer]

Guys I usually play Dota 2 all the time and have Afterburner running to monitor my Zotac GTX 970 dual-fan gpu as welll. Now when I checked my memory usage(MB), it maxes out to 3506 and wont go any further. I really dont think that Dota 2 requires that much VRAM. Is this normal?

 

 

 

 

EDIT: I think I posted this in the wrong topic LOL