Question on Graphic Card Statistics

[ryan.d.rembaum]

I have read some review as to the best video cards and in researching
recommendations I believe I have narrowed my choices down to three
cards, but each have different specs depending on the manufacturer,
and I am not sure which numbers being listed are most important.

The cards are the:
7600 GT
7800 GS
X1650 XT

I have a p4p800e so PCI-e is not an option; it is an AGP motherboard.

The statics given are (in order listed above)
Core Clock : 560, 430 , 630
Pixel Pipeline: 12, 16, ?8?
Memory Speed: 1400, 1300, 1460
Total Memory: 256, 256, 512
Memory Interface: 128-bit, 256-bit, 128-bit

Basically, the cost is very close for all these; which number(s)
really influence the cards performance? (i.e. is a 512mb video card
better than one with a 256-bit interface, is a 16 pixel pipeline
better than a 630 MHZ core clock, etc)

Thanks!

 

[Paul]

I have read some review as to the best video cards and in researching
recommendations I believe I have narrowed my choices down to three
cards, but each have different specs depending on the manufacturer,
and I am not sure which numbers being listed are most important.

The cards are the:
7600 GT
7800 GS
X1650 XT

I have a p4p800e so PCI-e is not an option; it is an AGP motherboard.

The statics given are (in order listed above)
Core Clock : 560, 430 , 630
Pixel Pipeline: 12, 16, ?8?
Memory Speed: 1400, 1300, 1460
Total Memory: 256, 256, 512
Memory Interface: 128-bit, 256-bit, 128-bit

Basically, the cost is very close for all these; which number(s)
really influence the cards performance? (i.e. is a 512mb video card
better than one with a 256-bit interface, is a 16 pixel pipeline
better than a 630 MHZ core clock, etc)

Thanks!

The best way to judge them, is with benchmarks.

There are tables here, and while the 7600GT and 7800GS differ
in memory interface width, the memory speed is cut in half. Which
means they'll have about the same memory bandwidth.

http://www.techpowerup.com/gpudb/

My guess would be, the cards are all in the same ballpark.
Ideally, you'd want to see your favorite game benchmarked,
to see exactly what you are buying.

http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics.html

The amount of memory (512MB versus 256MB) doesn't influence
instantaneous speed. It does give the ability to hold more textures
before a level starts, which may be beneficial. The memory
interface width helps with bandwidth, but I'd prefer to
see a table showing the final memory bandwidth calculated out,
so there is no confusion about whether the clock listed,
already includes the effect of DDR or not.

Paul

 

[Sleepy]

I have read some review as to the best video cards and in researching
recommendations I believe I have narrowed my choices down to three
cards, but each have different specs depending on the manufacturer,
and I am not sure which numbers being listed are most important.

The cards are the:
7600 GT
7800 GS
X1650 XT

I have a p4p800e so PCI-e is not an option; it is an AGP motherboard.

The statics given are (in order listed above)
Core Clock : 560, 430 , 630
Pixel Pipeline: 12, 16, ?8?
Memory Speed: 1400, 1300, 1460
Total Memory: 256, 256, 512
Memory Interface: 128-bit, 256-bit, 128-bit

Basically, the cost is very close for all these; which number(s)
really influence the cards performance? (i.e. is a 512mb video card
better than one with a 256-bit interface, is a 16 pixel pipeline
better than a 630 MHZ core clock, etc)

Thanks!

http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=435&card2=473

 

[ryan.d.rembaum]

The best way to judge them, is with benchmarks.

There are tables here, and while the 7600GT and 7800GS differ
in memory interface width, the memory speed is cut in half. Which
means they'll have about the same memory bandwidth.

http://www.techpowerup.com/gpudb/

My guess would be, the cards are all in the same ballpark.
Ideally, you'd want to see your favorite game benchmarked,
to see exactly what you are buying.

http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics.html

The amount of memory (512MB versus 256MB) doesn't influence
instantaneous speed. It does give the ability to hold more textures
before a level starts, which may be beneficial. The memory
interface width helps with bandwidth, but I'd prefer to
see a table showing the final memory bandwidth calculated out,
so there is no confusion about whether the clock listed,
already includes the effect of DDR or not.

Paul- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks for the advice Paul/Sleepy! I think video cards are horribly
complicated things to buy, since even once you pick the type, each
maker seems to vary their specifications, and so it's tough to know if
even the benchmarks shown are those of the brand being looked at.

From what you said Paul it seems that really it might all come down to

price, at least among the particular cards I am looking at! Also,
Sleepy, your benchmarks are really helpful! Thanks to you both!

 

[ryan.d.rembaum]

The best way to judge them, is with benchmarks.

There are tables here, and while the 7600GT and 7800GS differ
in memory interface width, the memory speed is cut in half. Which
means they'll have about the same memory bandwidth.

http://www.techpowerup.com/gpudb/

My guess would be, the cards are all in the same ballpark.
Ideally, you'd want to see your favorite game benchmarked,
to see exactly what you are buying.

http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics.html

The amount of memory (512MB versus 256MB) doesn't influence
instantaneous speed. It does give the ability to hold more textures
before a level starts, which may be beneficial. The memory
interface width helps with bandwidth, but I'd prefer to
see a table showing the final memory bandwidth calculated out,
so there is no confusion about whether the clock listed,
already includes the effect of DDR or not.

Paul- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

PS Thank you for your benchmarks too Paul!