3gb Gpu?

im planing to buy anytime soon but i read about the 3GB nvidia GPU is not worth it and just get the default GPU...

how true is this?
i thought the grater/higher the RAM the better?

 

I got the 3gb card and I'm regretting it. The general theory behind getting the 1.5 over the 3 is that you'll never need/be able to properly use the 3 over the 1.5. It just doesn't help.

I've only ever seen one benchmark for a overclocked 3.0 vs a 1.5 (and note: there was alot of problems/questions about this comparision because it was different games/different OC's) the 3.0 MIGHT have scored 2 or 3 fps higher. Not worth it IMO.

Really wish I would have researched it a little better before I bought the 3.0. If I could re-do it, I would.

 

If you have an application that requires more than 3GB of VRAM, you would also need a more powerful card than a GT555m to handle it.

 

and what application are you talking about that needs more than 3Gb of VRAM that you need to run on m14x?

 

1.5 is plenty. it runs everything ive chucked at it game wise

 

Uh nothing in particular. That statement was intended to imply that the 3gb card is pointless because nothing that is actually playable on an m14x needs more than 3GB of vram.

Was my wording unclear?

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m14x/600447-more-than-1-5gb-vram-used-3.html

May wanna check that out

and http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/3428/crysis64201108042006577k.png

 

I have my m14x connected via displayport to a 30 inch monitor and the 3GB is used very much to push the resolution, AA, etc.

 

So the 3GB video memory IS being used when connecting toan external monitor? I saw you used the display port, I was wondering how I can tell if more than 1.5GB is being used when connecting through the HDMI port?

Thanks

 

I dont use 3, but I use almost 2 or more sometimes like in the screenshot i linked.

 

And are you getting playable frame rates?

 

i can tell you all crysis games and metro 2033 will use over 1.5gb even at stock clocks gearsguy already put up my thread on my discovery lol

 

Well, then this is good news for us 3 gigers.

 

Will definately be interesting for Skyrim as well, especially when you can get better texture packs like for Oblivion or Morrowing.

 

ok so for what i understand here if you will play on a second screen with a higer resolution a 3Gig card will help...
but if not (meaning on the laptop screen only) the default card is good.

is that what i think it is?

 

Fixed it for you.

 

Memory amount needed depends on the GPU you have. If you have a mainstream 128-bit DDR3 card such as the GT 540M, more than 1GB is unnecessary. If you have a high end 256-bit GDDR5 GTX 580M, then 2GB works great. Mainstream cards can offer ridiculous amounts of memory like 3GB in certain laptops and the difference between the same model GPU with lesser memory offer no benefits in any real life situation.

 

Well, I never use external monitors, but use over 1.5gb so..

 

Much of the vram usage comes from AA and AF, and since the screen is not that big I would think they could be turned down a few passes and you wouldn't notice the difference.

Also, how much actual slowdown is there if the program wants to use more vram than is available.

 

I dont turn on AA in crysis, so no AA in that pic. Dont know about AF, but guessing its on as thats not an option in Crysis I believe

 

will 3gb vs 1.5gb improve gameplay yes but it depends on the game and your settings. if it is a ported game like most pc games out there now are not that efficient when it comes to pc's, so more vram will be used thats one reason why it will come in handy. it just comes down to is it worth spending $100. i have to hand it to dell its an easy way to make money being that at most it would cost them around $3 per gb of vram

 

No its not worth the £100. My 580gtx has to rely on a "measly" 1.5gb. The gpu will run out of steam before memory is an issue. Just overclock it

Sorry but its just dells way of weedling more money out of you.

Anybody that thinks different better point me to a benchmark that shows that its money well spent. 1.5gb is perfectly adequate. Save your cash and get a worthwhile upgrade like an ssd..................

 

Okay, just find me a 200$ 500gb SSD :/

SSD's arent for everyone. Just saying if youre going to keep this thing for a long time, I posted multiple screenshots clearly showing over 1.5gb of VRAM being used

 

I see what your saying but I personally think its a waste of money. You dont need a 500gb SSD, loads of people have slapped a small cheap SSD in and removed the optical drive and repurposing the existing drive.

The GT555 does not suddenly make any $100 performance gain with the additional memory to warrant purchase. The gpu will date based on its technical merits before memory becomes an issue. Do you not think that any game that requires / utilises that amount of memory in the future will probably be beyond the GT555.

By such a time we will probably be on an r5 by then

 

More is used, yeah, I'll agree. I'll also grant you get playable frame rates on that usage.

I just don't know, quantitatively, how much difference it makes if you don't have enough vram as the program requests.

 

I use my DVD drive and over 500gb of space, so yeah. SSD isnt an option. But you missed my point on my last post. I didnt say right away, but as time goes down, you will notice some difference I think because, again repeating myself, Ive clearly shown 2 screenshots already showing more than 1.5gb being used. I also dont know if an r5 will be out within 3 years btw :\

 

I'm talking purely in actual real world benefits. This is a gaming laptop and I have not seen any evidence that in gaming an extra 1.5gb of ddr 3 ram on the GT555 performs better. Let alone warrant $100 extra.

This has been covered many times in many posts. Whether it uses it or not is pretty irrelevant if it offers little to no performance benefit.

I think we might have to agree to disagree on this one I too like having the dvd drive, hence why I'm still running on the old 7200rpm hard drive.

Each to there own, I just think its money that could be used for something else. I suggested SSD but even a good gaming mouse or quality bag would be a better choice.

 

What we have to remember is that although crysis IS using more than 1.5 gb in those screenshots, (thanks to Gearsguy for posting), it may NOT be necessary to have that much memory.

I believe that because his computer does have more memory, the computer decides to use it for max performance, possibly to reduce strain on the system and keep it cool.

I got this idea because i was thinking about google chrome. It allows you to browse faster because it keeps cached copies of the websites you're on, that way it doesn't need to do a "full" load of the site. This is what i think the extra memory is doing. Storing data so that it can access later during gameplay to improve speed.

Now although this sounds huge, i haven't noticed it making a big difference during benchmarking, and even less of an impact during real-life gaming. Now i don't approve of the mocking of the people who did go for the 3gb card because they made that decision that the extra money WAS worth it and they're completely allowed to do so.

 

All I think Mazzacre is trying to say, is instead of saying the 3GB is irrational, stupid, ect. You should just say not reccomended as it clearly makes an actual difference and I guess he offended

 

i cant believe this topic is still going strong! YES the vram is used and even more so when you overclock, up to 2200mb is used aka 2.148gb a little more actually. im just going to take a WILD guess and say that if a game is limited to using 1.5 and it really needs 2.15 dont you think that fps would suffer?

 

This subject has always been a bit of a hot potato. I certainly do not think or would call someone stupid for purchasing the 3gb option. Was merely pointing out in terms of performance and VFM.........its as much use as a go faster stripe

There are times when greater GPU VRAM is beneficial, for example higher resolutions and a specific app or game that has the ability to address and utilise the additional ram.

Now today? on a GT555. No. Sorry guys but the GT555 just does not have the power to run in a resolution high enough to justify the requirement of that much memory.

Sure Crysis may use the memory, but does it improve performance ? May get the odd 1 or 2 frames but not $100 worth of improvement.

The m14x is superb for what it was designed for and the GT555 is a perfect match for its screen resolution.

The only cards on the market that require this memory are the big boys, the dual gpu cards which are primarily for multiple monitor and high res gaming.

This tricks been going on for years, a marketing ploy to remove cash from your wallets. Manufacturers adding more memory to GPU's.

My 580gtx does not suffer for having 1536mb , you will hit the performance wall of the gpu before memory is a consideration.

Even looking at recommended specs for crysis 2, you get 1.8gb recommended but you have to consider its talking about a 560ti or 4870x2. Both of which are in a different league to the mobile GT555.

Yes you could download the high res texture pack for it but does the GT555 have the legs to play it in dx11 ultra settings? Nope.

 

very well said Croatoan

 

I'll agree the fps suffers significantly when I see data showing it.

 

also, i would like to remind you guys, i do not have the 3.0gb gt555m, nor do i recommend it. I just think the people who DO have it do not deserve to get slammed.

 

Strongly disagree, but I guess nothing will change your minds.

 

Very bad comparison. Your desktop card has a 384 bit memory interface which is no match for the 555m, and if you count in the higher memory speed, the GTX580 has 3 times the memory bandwith of the 555m (at stock). Of course you won't have any issues with a bandwith of 150GB/s...

The 3GB RAM of the 555m can definitely help, but if it comes to games probably only in very few, at least as long as the resolution is 900p or lower.

 

Come on guys, noone is slamming anyone over buying it. Just because I think its a waste of money.............. does not mean I'm rolling around laughing about people who have paid for it.

Other people read these threads and spend money based on other peoples opinions. Thats not my money, and I wont be recommending it on a thread.

All these people who disagree? Show some proof that there are tangible gains from the 3gb card. Thats all I'm asking. An opinion is just that, an opinion.

As to whether my reference to a 580gtx is valid, thats a small hole in an otherwise rational point of view. I mentioned this as I have one and for no other reason.

For crying out loud, its a mid range mobile GPU.

"Strongly disagree, but I guess nothing will change your minds."

"The 3GB RAM of the 555m can definitely help, but if it comes to games probably only in very few, at least as long as the resolution is 900p or lower"

These too are opinions, its your right to disagree................thats what forums are for

 

@croatoan, i believe gearsguy was saying "Strongly disagree, but I guess nothing will change your minds." towards you're remark about the gt555m not having "the legs" to play games

 

Apologies to gearsguy just a spot of reading

Tom's Hardware US

Whilst a lack of memory I agree is a problem, I still think 1.5gb is more than adequate. Used to be a prob on both the 256mb 8800gt and 3850.

Comparisons in other reviews benchmark crysis with 512mb and 1gb, granted these were older articles and the game has had many updates since then.

I stand 100% by the 3gb being completely unnecessary.

If dell had chosen higher clocks and increased memory bus then i would be firmly be in the other camp. They didn't, they merely added extra memory and dragged another hundred bucks/pounds out of your wallets.

My only point is that, it's money for nothing

 

Again, we're not trying to express our opinion, we're simply stating facts that the 3GB GPU does more than "nothing". It does help improve importance a very tiny bit. We're not trying to force whether it's 100$ or not to you. Just saying it does do something

 

Ok prove it or at least quantify it because to be frank, the amount of benefit your talking about equates to one or two frames if lucky.

If you want to convince anybody that its worthy $100 investment then please share the benefit of your knowledge with the rest of us mere mortals.

 

Did you read my last post?

 

a 100$ for 1 to 2 frames...?!
id rather get a kick gaming mouse for my 100$ bucks =)

 

Kinda like the whole 1600mhz RAM vs 1333. Those that bought the 1600 swears on their life it helps with application booting, performance boost, less "hangs", etc, whereas everyone who have the 1333 point out it's completely negligible in any realistic sens.

On a side note, just because you're "using" more than 1.5 GB of VRAM, doesn't necessarily mean it's showing up as "performance improvement". You can still be bottlenecked by the bus-width, which is quite likely given the DDR3 format.

 

I know, but now hes just trying to ridicule me and completely ignoring what I'm trying to say. Remember I didnt even start this thread, Im just pointing out something.

 

I'm getting a little annoyed here, and i think Gearsguy is too.

THE POINT OF THIS THREAD IS TO SHOW THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE 1.5 AND THE 3.0 GB GT 555M.

Opinions on whether or not it is worth it are ENTIRELY up to whomever is considering to buy!!!!

I DO think that the GPU does show some improvements with the 3.0gb, and will add SOME fps when it comes to high res texture packs, because they USE MORE MEMORY.

Does this warrant $100? That is up to the buyer, NOT US. *looks at croatoan*

 

Then the point of this thread is incredibly boring. Like, who cares about the 2 fps difference?

 

enthusiast do

 

This is what the thread is about. I suggest you stick to answering the question that someone has taken time to ask.

This is not a personal dig or ridiculing someone else's point of view.

I am saying it's not worth it based on the price and lack of performance gain.

Simples

 

It was worth it to me since it was bundled with the PC purchase. I saved $300+ and I didn't have the choice of one or the other, it was the 3GB or nothing.