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SLI, Crossfire and VRAM
http://www.wsgf.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=72&t=19300		 Page 1 of 3
Author:  Downtown1 [ 27 Feb 2010, 07:19 ]
Post subject:  SLI, Crossfire and VRAM
Can someone clue me in? What practical benefits will there be from having twice as much video RAM besides feeling good about having more video RAM?

Specifically, are there actually any benefits in going from a 2GB dual-GPU card to a 4GB dual-GPU card?
Author:  Paradigm Shifter [ 27 Feb 2010, 07:26 ]
Post subject:  Re: The 4GB 5970 is coming: Asus ROG 5970
The major advantage is in EyeFinity scenarios, where with 1GB of VRAM you're going to be heavily framebuffer limited with respect to performance. A 1GB card can do 1920x1200 with no worries (although with some of the texture mods for some games, even 1GB isn't always enough) but in a 5760x1200 situation, each frame is constituently larger and more complex.

Right now, we don't know how much the extra memory will help... but it certainly can't hurt.
Author:  Downtown1 [ 27 Feb 2010, 07:39 ]
Post subject:  Re: The 4GB 5970 is coming: Asus ROG 5970
Not true, it can hurt your wallet :lol:
Author:  skipclarke [ 27 Feb 2010, 13:54 ]
Post subject:  Re: The 4GB 5970 is coming: Asus ROG 5970
Can someone clue me in? What practical benefits will there be from having twice as much video RAM besides feeling good about having more video RAM?


The larger frame buffer means less swapping for textures in larger resolutions, especially in ultra-wide aspect ratios with more objects on the screen. And, especially with AA turned up. I showed this in my benchmark of the GTX 275 896MB and 1792MB cards. The overall average FPS in the Far Cry 2 benchmark didn't change, but there were far fewer hiccups and stuffers. This resulted in a smoother gameplay experience.

http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/wiki/WS_and_WTH_Benchmarking_(GTX_275)

These graphs in particular. Notice all the little dips with the 896MB card as it swaps out for new textures? That is a stutter.



Once I get my Eyefinity6 card to test, I will be able to do the same comparisons between the HD 5870 (which has 1GB) and the Eyefinity6 edition (which as 2GB). This should provide a good baseline for how the basically "HD 5870 CrossFireX on a card" HD 5970 will perform with increases in the frame buffer.
Author:  Downtown1 [ 27 Feb 2010, 18:52 ]
Post subject:  Re: The 4GB 5970 is coming: Asus ROG 5970
That graph doesn't have enough information, what resolution and settings was it at (and yes I went to the wiki url you linked first). It also says it only has a .7 fps benefit.

Anyway I was more thinking of the 5970 4GB that we are talking about in this thread (not a 5870 1GB vs 2GB), I somehow doubt 2GB vs 4GB will be a significant difference.
Author:  Mach1.9pants [ 27 Feb 2010, 19:41 ]
Post subject:  Re: The 4GB 5970 is coming: Asus ROG 5970
As Ibrin said, look at the dips. I notice frame rate dips a lot. They really annoy me (to put it politely), having a bigger frame buffer reduces those dips. I will pay for that, it makes a much better gaming experience.. If you cannot see the difference in those graphs then you have nothing to worry about with your standard 1x1GB 5970 :)
Author:  Mach1.9pants [ 27 Feb 2010, 19:58 ]
Post subject:  Re: The 4GB 5970 is coming: Asus ROG 5970
Once I get my Eyefinity6 card to test, I will be able to do the same comparisons between the HD 5870 (which has 1GB) and the Eyefinity6 edition (which as 2GB). This should provide a good baseline for how the basically "HD 5870 CrossFireX on a card" HD 5970 will perform with increases in the frame buffer.
When are you getting the 6 card? That will be an interesting test.
Author:  Downtown1 [ 27 Feb 2010, 20:10 ]
Post subject:  Re: The 4GB 5970 is coming: Asus ROG 5970
As Ibrin said, look at the dips. I notice frame rate dips a lot. They really annoy me (to put it politely), having a bigger frame buffer reduces those dips. I will pay for that, it makes a much better gaming experience.. If you cannot see the difference in those graphs then you have nothing to worry about with your standard 1x1GB 5970 :)

Yes.. it dips a lot on a 1GB vs 2GB, the 5970 is already 2GB.
Author:  iThinman [ 27 Feb 2010, 20:22 ]
Post subject:  Re: The 4GB 5970 is coming: Asus ROG 5970
it's really confusing to people when people say 'the 5970 is already 2GB'. It's not. It's 1GB per GPU.
Author:  Mach1.9pants [ 27 Feb 2010, 20:44 ]
Post subject:  Re: The 4GB 5970 is coming: Asus ROG 5970
[quote]As Ibrin said, look at the dips. I notice frame rate dips a lot. They really annoy me (to put it politely), having a bigger frame buffer reduces those dips. I will pay for that, it makes a much better gaming experience.. If you cannot see the difference in those graphs then you have nothing to worry about with your standard 1x1GB 5970 :)

Yes.. it dips a lot on a 1GB vs 2GB, the 5970 is already 2GB.
No it is not 2GB, it has 2GB but only in parallel (basically) not series. The VRAM usage on SLI/CrossFire is copied on both sets of RAM, so for all intents and purposes, it is 1GB.

EDIT: ninja'd
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