Help me choose a GPU!

[OnionRings]

1. 1080p uses less VRAM right? Approx how much? I know it can't be determined exactly as each game varies but is it roughly 500mb less or 1 whole GB less or is it only a few MB? Again I know it varies but a rough estimate is better then me being left wondering. Asking because I watched hardware unboxed's video of the 3GB 1060 vs the 6GB and all his games he tested at 1440p and all of them ran only about 7% average slower on the 3GB (because of the 1 less core, not the vram) but in a couple games there was a slightly more noticeable difference and some cards went above 3GB, in his tests none of them suffered from the VRAM limit but he also has a fancy rig with an SSD and a lot of RAM, doesn't a GPU grab from those when it runs out of VRAM? I only have a HDD and 8GB of ram, I do plan to upgrade to 16GB but that won't help too much, so will playing in 1080p be a better option? Here is the video if you want to take a look.

 

 

2. Approximately how much VRAM do texture mods take? This also varies I know by what kind of mod it is, how well the mod author optimized it, some other variables, but again what's the estimate? 100MB each for a 4k mod? We're talking not real 4k but upscaled (I think) so hopefully not too much. I like playing fallout 4 and I want to add some 4k texture mods like pip boy, P armor, stars, moons, sky, trees, rocks, a few things here and there, I won't be rendering the entire game in 4k though.

 

Edit : Before anybody says just get the 6GB to be sure, I might not be able to, I think my budget this year to spend on myself is gonna be 260$ and that can grab a 1060 but with my dual monitor setup I also need a DP > hdmi adapter since my monitors only except HDMI or VGA, not DP, and I also need another stick of ram. 8GB is not enough to game and record/stream.

 

Edit 2 : Title change, now using it as a megathread for people to give me their opinions on other cards. I took a look at the older lineup and the 970 and 980 both seem to go strong and aren't too bad on ebay but a used card will have no warranty and possibly have issues the owner doesn't state, also they both only have 4GB of vram compared to the 1060s 6GB. Thoughts?

[DrMacintosh]

1.) Yes, it depends, again it depends, it can but a GPU pulling from system memory is doing so so that it can stay alive. 

 

2.) It depends, there can not be an estimate for questions as broad as these. 

 

I suggest that if you are trying to buy either of these cards, that you save and forget considering the 3GB GTX 1060. That card should be avoided if you plan to do the things that you are suggesting. Not to mention that those 3GB of VRAM will mean that this card will be unable to remain relevant into the future. 

 

Im sorry I cannot give you specific answers, but you questions are far to broad to make a specific answer possible unless you work off a case by case bases. 

[fjdhdhcyfhf]

19 minutes ago, OnionRings said:

doesn't a GPU grab from those when it runs out of VRAM?

The GPU RAM influences system ram as some is reserved for it. Nvidia recommends 6GB system RAM for the 1060 6GB card http://www.nvidia.com/content/geforce-gtx/GTX_1060_User_Guide.pdf

[OnionRings]

1 hour ago, SCHISCHKA said:

The GPU RAM influences system ram as some is reserved for it. Nvidia recommends 6GB system RAM for the 1060 6GB card http://www.nvidia.com/content/geforce-gtx/GTX_1060_User_Guide.pdf

So having a bit more will help if the GPU needs extra? That's good to know as I'll be upgrading to 16.

[OnionRings]

2 hours ago, DrMacintosh said:

1.) Yes, it depends, again it depends, it can but a GPU pulling from system memory is doing so so that it can stay alive. 

 

2.) It depends, there can not be an estimate for questions as broad as these. 

 

I suggest that if you are trying to buy either of these cards, that you save and forget considering the 3GB GTX 1060. That card should be avoided if you plan to do the things that you are suggesting. Not to mention that those 3GB of VRAM will mean that this card will be unable to remain relevant into the future. 

 

Im sorry I cannot give you specific answers, but you questions are far to broad to make a specific answer possible unless you work off a case by case bases. 

Dam... I was really hoping to save some cash and just get the 3GB but I really don't want to have stutters from VRAM limit either.

[OnionRings]

Scratch edit 2, I'm an idiot, all those 980s on ebay were not working.