need opinion about my video card

[gameson]

To intro, here is my system

SG33G5
Intel E6550
2 GB dual channel DDR2-800 MHz PC6400 Crucial Ballistic
eVGA GeForce 8600 GTS 512 MB
Hitachi Deskstar T7k500 500 GB SATA 3 Gb/s
Samsung DVD burner

What do you think? The video card is about $210. Is it worth the ~$35 upgrade from 256 to 512 MB? Or with the $210, there are better options out there? The main purpose for the PC is for HDTV OTA (OnAir USB HDTV GT).

Thanks.

[Kheldar]

Re: need opinion about my video card

i'd spend the $35

[Claybert]

Re: need opinion about my video card

More video memory isn't always better, it might look that way to start but research your specs to see what it is you are actually buying.

If it's the exact same card for $35 more and gaining the extra 256mb in ram sure go for it. This unfortunately isn't the case for most 512mb value and mid-range cards which usually have some combination of the following "features" in comparison to their 256mb counterparts:

1. Slower in the:
   • GPU
   • Memory
   • Ramdac
2. Have a different Memory type i.e. DDR3 for the 256mb and DDR2 for the 512mb
3. Have a different Memory interface i.e. 256-bit for the 256mb and 128-bit for the 512mb

In your case,

the 256mb card:

675 MHz GPU
32 Pixel Pipelines
400 MHz RAMDAC
256 MB, 128 bit DDR3
2000 MHz (effective)
32 GB/s Memory Bandwidth

The 512mb card:

540 MHz GPU
32 Pixel Pipelines
400 MHz RAMDAC
512 MB, 128 bit DDR3
1400 MHz (effective)
22.4 GB/s Memory Bandwidth

So, to get the 512mb card, you'll be slowing down your GPU and your Memory speed, thus limiting your bandwidth for your gfx subsystem. Naturally it's your call, but I'd say the 256mb card is better for you.