32mb v 64mb GeForce2s ?

[TheOverlord]

How much performance gain is there between the 2 cards...specifically these 2:

1. 1. MSI StarForce 820, GeForce 2 GTS, 32MB

1. 2. MSI StarForce 831, GeForce2 Pro, 64MB

I realize that the Pro has faster memory which is the real bottleneck with the GF2, but what does the extra memory do? Looking at the reviews its hard to tell if its worth the extra 25 bucks (@ newegg.com)

 

[Dark4ng3l]

The memory does about 3-4% unless you play the most recen games. The pro is alot faster though(memory speed)

 

[soulm4tter]

The extra memory doesn't come into play very often, but its nice to have when u need it. I would pay the extra $25 because the Pro will have a longer life span as more games and apps use more texture memory. And of course the Pro has faster memory also.

 

[Rand]

I'd say it's definitely worth the extra money. The Pro is a decent amount faster then the GTS. The extra memory seldom benefits in anything but the highest resolution color depths, but the faster memory definitely helps out.

 

[BFG10K]

Even if they were both GTSs it would still be well worth the extra $25 for the 64 MB version. Since the 64 MB version just also happens to be the faster Pro, it's a no-brainer. You should definitely get it.

 

[mylam]

get the Pro

a nice card

 

[heffe734]

I would go pro...i have the pro GTS @ 64mb...and i don't regret it at all.

 

[Wingznut]

Definitely worth the extra $25.

 

[SuckerZ]

Get the PRO version, faster memory speed which makes quite a lot of difference in frame rates in all resolutions, however the PRO really flies off against the GTS at higher resolutions/higher bit depth. The 64Mb would hardly do much, but adds a few frames here and there at the higher resolutions.

 

[BatmanNate]

The only difference between the pro and the gts is the memory being 400MHz instead of 333...that's a pretty easy overclock for a 64mb GTS, the hercules at least.

 

[MCS]

Get the Pro. The larger memory does help. For example UT will not let you play in 1600x1200x32 on a 32MB card but will let you on a 64MB card. The faster memory clock helps to limit the bandwidth problems that the 32MB version has.

 

[TimeKeeper]

MSI StarForce 820, GeForce 2 GTS, 32MB using 6ns RAM. (mod it to quadro PRO)
I have it running 210/400 non-stop for couple months now.

Compare to the 831, I help to mod (into quadro PRO, also) for a friend of mine,
Running at default speed.

I run bench both w/ 3Dmark2001, ELSA Gloria III SBA, DX8.0a, Win98SE, 1Ghz, the differences is only little over 100 point.

Is it worth extra $25? It is your call.

 

[Martijnos]

I think the Pro is worth it, especially at the current price. I upgraded from a Creative 32mb GTS to the MSI 64 mb Pro card and I feel it's worth it. Now if only the 2d quality would be better...

 

[MichaelD]

Are the MSI cards NE good? I know they make nice mobo's...but I've never heard of MSI as a player in vidcards. I'm strongly considering a vidcard upgrade (as MCS well knows! ) and been thinking about the Pro vs. Ultra thing. There's a $100 diff there...don't know if it's worth it or not. The GF3 isn't an option right now. I don't think it's capabilities will be utilized for quite some time...besides, who says I'm going to even BUY a particular game that's optimized for the GF3? Maybe I won't like that game/genre.

Anyway, if you have an MSI card, what do you think of it? Is is as nice as an Elsa or a Herc?

 

[TheOverlord]

thanks for all the input...

 

[MichaelD]

^

 

[MCS]

<< who says I'm going to even BUY a particular game that's optimized for the GF3? >>



Now where have I seen THAT before MichaelD?

 

[Wingznut]

I only know of one person who owned a MSI GF2 card. He told me that the 2D quality (particularly text, at higher resolutions) was pretty bad. Granted, that's only one sampling, so take that for what it's worth.

 

[Pabster]

I purchased a MSI MX/400 card off the forums for my Duron box. It runs reasonably well. Decent performance, certainly night and day above the TNT2 I had in there. I've no problems with 2D or 3D quality.

As to the original poster, the answer is to get the 64MB GeForce 2 Pro. Make sure it has 5ns RAM, though. (200/400 core/mem default). Don't get stuck with a &quot;semi-Pro&quot; which is clocked at 200/366 and uses 5.5ns RAM.