Your Opinion: Geforce2 GTS 32MB or 64MB??

[Shano]

Now that I have my new AMD T-bird 1.1GHZ machine up and running I need to replace my old TNT2 Ultra card. What type or performance differences does the 32mb and 64mb Geforce 2 GTS cards have? Where is a good place to buy them for cheap?



Shano

 

[MCS]

It really depends on two things. How much can you get each card for and what resolution do you like to play at.

In certain games at 1280x1024 and 1600x1200 there is performance diff between the 32MB and the 64MB, but I dont think its huge.

I don't think the price difference for a 64MB is worth it.

You'd be better off getting a 32MB one for now, and upgrading to the next gen card when it arrives, or just waiting completely and dragging out your TNT-2 till then.

 

[jfall]

I made the mistake of buying the 64meg card.. I now realize that all the games that I run can run fine with the 32meg card (some even better in certian cases).. the card cost me well over $150 more and it's going to be obslete soon... my advice to you would be to get the 32meg card and wait for the nv20

 

[Flat]

How bout an ATi Radeon 64ddr instead, faster, cheaper, easier to install (no extra power needed) and a good bit better image quality

 

[MCS]

jfall - You think the 32MB can be faster because they use SGRAM and the 64MB version uses SDRAM?

Another consideration - especially if you play at 1024x768 or under.

 

[dougjnn]

I'm about to build a 1.1-1.2 ghz Tbird system myself. I have about half the components now. (I've been picking off good/great deals, while waiting for the mobo situation to clarify.) I was waiting to decide between the KT133A, and the AMD 760 DDR mobos. I've just about decided to go the KT133a route, after Tom's Hardware joined AnandTech in opining that that is the smarter route for now and the near future, and after Tom's did a comparative review of a bunch of them. (The Abit raid KT133A board looks like a winner to me, edging out the Epox. And it's also available.) So anyway, I have had a similar quandry on the video card front.

I say definitely DO NOT go for a 64meg Geforce2. It is real diminishing returns land. Very marginal improvement over the 32 meg geforce2, and then only in the very highest resolutions, e.g. 1600x1200. Just play one notch lower, at 1280x1040x32, in games which tax and need the highest frame rates.

Then about 3-4 months after the nVidia NV20 comes out, and games are being released which really take advantage of its significantly new architecture, mostly because of the X-Box effect, THEN buy that card. NOT when it first hits. Because of X-box, that card looks to be a real quantum leap. But not until games are writing for it. X-Box comes out in the fall. Which means that is the soonest you should be thinking about an NV-20 card, if you ask me. More likely about now a year from now.

I also strongly considered the Radeon 32meg DDR route. Cheaper. From what I can tell though it really doesn't look any better, except perhaps in playing DVD's (which I do on a seperate DVD player hooked to a big screen TV anyway). eVGA has a Geforce2 GTS with TV out for only $165. You can find it on pricewatch. That particular make/model of card has also gotten a strong review. It's getting down close to the Radeons. I've about decided to go that way.

 

[rommel]

well does anyone really need a farrari...or do you just want one

 

[StanTheMan]

64 meg card allow you to do FSAA at the higher resolution thatn the 32 meg card.

 

[Sunner]

rommel, a 360 Modena Spyder is alot faster than most other cars out there, looks alot nicer, and its something to brag about to say the least.

A GTS64 is NOT alot faster than the GTS32's out there, it doesnt look nicer(neither the card nor the GFX it draws), and its not much to brag about.

There's the difference