Quick Video card question (building a computer)

Which should I choose, if both are compatible with my motherboard?

nVidia

256MB w/ 256 bit, and GDDR3

or

512MB w/ 128 bit, and GDDR2

I really don't know which way to go. I'm leaning towards the 512, but I'm not sure.

Thanks!

Get the 256MB w/256bit and GDDR3. The 512 MB card is actually slower believe it or not, it may sound crazy but it's true. The memory is slower and the bandwidth is less making the extra memory kinda useless. If you don't believe me go ask on nvnews.net.

Well I'd say the 256mb w/256 bit and GDDR3.

Btw, what's the actual model number of the card? 6600, 7900, etc?

256/256.

Always go for the one with the 256bit memory interface.

that ddr2 kills it ...............just plain kills it.

Read what he asked, read what I posted

nVidia

256MB w/ 256 bit, and GDDR3

much better, but i have a 512/128bit

Please tell us the cards. A 512 7800GTX will pwn a 256 Radeon 9550.

the 256 is 6800XT, 512 is 6800GS

btw, whats ur take on nVidia vs ATI?

i do not disagree at all.

i was adding the DDR2 memory was a bottleneck compared to GDDR3

6800xt IMO is a bad card. just pick up the 6800gs eVga card. It has GDDR3. Besides. 512mb of ram cards that are cheap only have 256 bit memory interface, also almost no game on the market needs 512mb

Get a 256-bit GS. The GS has MUCH higher memory clock speeds than the XT, on average about 1100MHz as compared to the XT's 600MHz. 256-bit 6800GS cards are readily available. They cost probably about $50-60 more than the XT cards, but it's more than worth the money.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130271

CO=Copper HS=Lower Temps=More OC.
VS the cheapest GDDR3 6800xt at 159$ from XFX. 171$. 12$.

I agree

eVga is IMO the best nVidia company, BFG and Asus are close 2nds, but eVga features lifetime warranty like BFG, plus it has a step-up program. Where you can trade in your card after some time to upgrade to another one. I forget how it works, but my friend stepped up his 7800gt to a 7900gt. Only 1 use, but hey beats nothing at all eh?

Too bad I went with XFX =\. Dam Green LEDS do not make up the mess of problems I'm getting with my 7800gt

Thanks a ton guys! I'll mark that down for my video card.
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130271)

I think I've chosen this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103562
for my CPU and this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813130037
for my motherboard

Two 1GB sticks of RAM,
Question about the RAM though. ECC-registered is mainly for servers, correct? What about ECC-unbuffered, or non-ecc unbuffered?

this for my HD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148105

This awesome case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811144151

this DVD+-RW w/lightscribe:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827151118

COPPER heat spreaders for RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835110105

and

this power supply:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817103931
^thats a good one, right? heheh, i dont really pay attention to power supplies


That hardware configuration sound good?

Thanks again guys!

Wow that thing sold out fast.... Jesus 10 min and gone..

First, I Despise Aspire. hehehheh. Crap Quality Cases, IMO, but it's personal preference.

Motherboard. Shelling 194$ for a mobo is a good decision, however not in your case. I would definetly reccomend toning it down, maybe to a DFI N4 ULTRA LP.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813136152

Or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131540
Asus Premium SLi.

HD=Personal Pref (Seagate is nice, I prefer WD, but my 200gb Seagate have no probs with.)

Lightscribe again is personal pref

Powersupply= no. I personally hate Antec power supplies. Many of the time they die out on you in less than a year. Yes there are exceptions, however go it a lot safer with this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817711002

Ignore some comments about it blowing up etc etc lol.... that's because people do not get the powerflex feature, and overvolt their PSU's so high it short circuits. This powersupply will out live your entire computer, and will be a part you carry into a next or one you keep for another upgrade.

Although many may disagree, this is just my opinion.

Heat Spreaders. No. Applying heatspreads to RAM Automatically Voids Warranty.
If your not looking to OC

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227210

OCZ has amazing Customer Support. They have step up programs+overnight air shipping

If you are looking to OC, then

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231032

However, if you run an OC on a divider, this RAM will not work.

There's my thoughts... Besides what is your budget? Also, keep in mind your computer, not mine our anyone elses, so you decide what you want to do, and if you do run into problems, come back hehe

hmmm, well, I really have heard amazing things about the motherboard i chose for myself, plus I do want to be able to upgrade (major upgrade) later on. Ehh, really thanks for the help with that, but unless anyone comes up with a real good reason to not get it, im going with it.

Yea, i like seagate for internal HD's. WD heats up a ton, and I always think of Maxtor as external (probably because i own an external maxtor).

LOL, thanks for the advice on the power, ill put that down too.

The RAM, i understand now about that heatspreader thing, so im going to be needing to buy them WITH the heatspreaders on them. The RAM you suggested however costs at least $60 more than some others w/ heatspreaders and 5/5 rating. I see you're an ocz fan, but there were some cheaper ones too. Any reason why you picked those?

The reason why I picked that set is, because of the timings. 2-3-2-5, is the tightest timings on the market for 1gb sticks. Tighter Timings=Better Performance. Also, the good things about your MSI Motherboard is that it has Audigy ZS as the BUILT-IN sound card. The problem I find with this is that, MSI had to solder on a -5v regulator to the board.(PSU's with no -5v rail could not run sound. 9/10 PSUs do not have a -5v rail.) Soldering anything is bad. Not sure if they fixed it on this new board, but that was the case on the MSI n4 SLi neo Platinum. If you are ready to spend 200$ on a mobo. Go for the ASUS a8n SLi-32 Deluxe. This mobo uses 8 phase power, which provides cleaner power than a standard server even at 4 phase. Also, look closely on the MSI Board, you need an 8 pin connector+4pin Molex+24pin connector. If you buy this board you can forget about your antec powersupply, and would have to be forced to buy an OCZ powerstream or above that incorporates 8 pin mobo connector.

Upgradeability on this board closely mimics other regular 16 not 32 SLi boards. PCI-E cards do not run at 16x, but 6-8x. Splitting 16-16 to each slot, will not magically or dramatically increase performance. 8-8 is perfectly fine. So the thing is buy a cheaper board now, plus I highly reccomend actually to cut the Dual Corefor now, and wait for AMD to release their M2 or whatevers, which may incorporate DDR2 ram. Yay PC8000 speeds. Alternative to a dual core would be the 3200+ Venice. However, once again your choice in the end. Plus taht would cut u 150$s more to spend. 171$+150$=321$ for a gfx card. Go buy urself something nice. 1800xt etc etc

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127180

Even though there is the 256 bit memory interface. You will still pull a lot more FPS than a 6800gs. Or double up and SLi 2 6800gs's. However that kills upgradeability. For dear god though no 7800gs