VRAM for 1080p?

[ZacMelendez]

As of right now, I have no gpu in my system. I'm looking for a new one for gaming, and all I have is a 1080p monitor. I want to know whether a 3gb 1060 is enough to play at the highest settings at games like BF4, BF1, and Mirrors Edge. I also plan to do graphic design, which I know is okay with that GPU. Is 3gb enough or should I opt for a 4gb RX 480?

[LabRat]

fastest gpu you can afford with the most vram on it. I wouldn't buy one with only 3 on it. ( don't look at fps benchmarks regarding vram. it's misleading. there's more to it than that).

 

[Morgan MLGman]

3GB 1060 is not really a 1060, it has cut down cuda cores and other parts of the GPU core making it slower. Also, 3GB of VRAM is a limiting factor in AAA titles at 1080p making the 3GB version slower by even 30% than the 6GB one. 4GB RX 480 is a better buy.

[koolerone]

i have a GTX960 with 2GB of VRAM and play ARK, so I think you should be fine with either. But considering that the 6GB model of the 1060/8GB version of the RX480 are only $30-$50 more than the 3gb/4gb versions, I'd go with the models with more VRAM

[zMeul]

the 3 GB model is not enough to play maxxed out at 1080p - either get the 6GB GTX1060 or RX480

 

[typographie]

BF4 for sure, maybe BF1. Not sure about Mirror's Edge. It might mean having to use 'High' textures instead of Very High/Ultra or whatever the game calls theirs.

 

I know from experience that even 4 GB is not enough to play Rise of the Tomb Raider at 1080p with textures at max. It caused terrible stuttering until I lowered it. I know you didn't mention that game, but it's just an example that there are games out there that demand a lot of VRAM with certain settings enabled.

 

I think the GTX 1060 3 GB would still be a bit faster than the RX 480 in at least some circumstances at 1080p (128 fewer CUDA cores isn't very many), but I think the RX 480 is probably a safer bet for newer games.