Graphic cards memory interface

[Dragono]

What exactly does memory interface do for a graphics card, and is there a signifigant difference between 128-bit and 256-bit?

[ski]

256 bit will typically transfer pixels at a higher rate than 128 bit assuming everything else is the same, i.e., core clock speed, memory speed, etc.
However, it's always best to compare the performance of different video cards in test results at different sites, like Tom's Hardward, before making a final selection.

[saphalline]

Or just ask us. Given a specific game, I can usually tell you which vid card will provide the best performace for the cost.

[Dragono]

Okay, I'll just ask then. What AGP card under $200 would have the best proformance with Oblivion?

[mjc]

hehe...go for it Saph...:D

[saphalline]

GeForce 6800 GS. Right around the $200 mark. 256-bit RAM bus width for 32GBps of RAM bandwidth. Plenty good and it comes with 256MB of onboard RAM to boot. And the 12 pipes at the 425MHz core put up quite the fight. Decent shader performance and the "6800" follows the recommended vid card specs for Oblivion. It isn't quite the shader powerhouse that the latest PCIe vid cards are, but you have to take what you can get with AGP these days. It is SM 3.0 capable, though, so it will have no problems with the eye candy if you stick to a medium res (1024 x 768). You can also turn on AA at 2x or 4x since the GF6 GPU's all have greatly improved AA handling, though not quite as good as ATI. 2x is practically free on all modern vid cards (as in your performance doesn't noticably go down) and makes the game look much better. The 6800 GS is like all the other 6800's in its power consumption, so you need to have enough PSU power to back it up! The manufacturers say 350W minimum, but I personally would feel safer at 400W+.

Another runner-up for that price range is the Radeon X800 GTO. Slightly less power than the 6800 GS due to slightly slower clock speeds, it is also a bit cheaper. The 256MB AGP versions are now floating around the $170 range, making it nearly identical to the 6800 GS in terms of its price/performance ratio. It lacks SM 3.0, however, so it won't have the full range of eye candy, but that's why it's cheaper, right? ;) This slimmer version of the X800's also requires less power than its bigger brothers and the 6800's, so it consumes a bit less power and produces a bit less heat.

Either way, these are the two vid cards I would recommend. And these are the only two I would recommend for the $150-200 range for AGP. I pick the best.

[Dragono]

I was looking around for cards, and found a X1600 for about $140 Here (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102679)
Is there something wrong with this card, or is it just a really good deal? As far as I can tell, there's nothing wrong and it's at least better then the x800. What do you think?

[saphalline]

The X1600 Pro does have more shader power than either the X800 GTO or 6800 GS, but it has less raw polygon-pushing power and far less RAM bandwidth (12.5GBps vs 31-32GBps) mostly due to its 128-bit RAM bus width. You'll get SM 3.0 with it, but the pure performance is definitely going to be less than the other two I listed. In other words, it will look pretty, but you won't be able to play at higher resolutions.

I guess at that point it's up to you. Buy what you like - it's your money afterall.

[Dragono]

Alright, thanks man.