[DUMB QUESTION] - How Do I Actually Compair Video Cards

[Harper]

Dumb Question Time!

How do I actually compair video cards when it comes down to performance?
Like firstly, I am a nVidia Fan Boy. And due to that, I have been braught up on the idea of the bigger the number on the chipset, the better (Not Always The Case I Know)

Anyways, when it comes down to compairing video cards, which clock speeds do I really need to look at?

Reason being is that I got my Sister BF wanting to upgrade his existing GeForce FX5200 128Mb to a GeForce 6600GT 128Mb. And he wants me to talk to him in some numbers (like CPU Clock Speed)

Can any one help?

 

[RockyZ]

I dunno, compare their clock speeds and do benchmarks?

 

[gaara]

Easiest way to stastically compare cards is simple math to determine the pixel fillrate

Pixel Pipelines x Clock Frequency = Pixels per Second

In the case of current high end nvidia and ATI cards:

x1800XT: 16 x 625 = 10,000,000,000
7800GTX: 24 x 430 = 10,320,000,000

Of course there are always outside factors such as drivers and instruction sets used in games, it's basically like comparing AMD and Intel, you technically can do so but one will always come out on top in specific tasks

 

[Harper]

Easiest way to stastically compare cards is simple math to determine the pixel fillrate

Pixel Pipelines x Clock Frequency = Pixels per Second

That means :-
WinFast A6600 GT TDH (GF 6600GT) = 8 x 500 = 4000
WinFast A340 TDH (GF 5200) = 4 x 350 = 1400

Therefore :-
4000 Devide 1400 = 2.9

So effectively, I can say that this the GF 6600GT is nearly 3 times as powerful as the GF 5200.

 

[Avalanch3]

yup...harper if he is getting the 6600GT...try and find him a 256mb DDR3 one...i have one and its better than my friends leadtech 128mb DDR3

 

[Flanker]

Useful thread, learned something myself for once.

 

[Silver Shamrock]

A 256mb version of the same card will only better a 128mb one at high resolutions, which the 6600GT can't do anyway so it's just a waste of money.

The 6600GT's core and 128bit memory are the limiting factor here. Anything over 1280x1024 and the 6600GT will struggle. No matter how much onboard memory.

Speed and bandwidth are the important factors. Not size.

I see that there is now a vanilla 6600 512mb card for sale! That's just rediculous. The extra memory will NEVER get used. The card is simply not fast enough to utilise that much memory!

It is no faster than the 128mb version at the resolutions it can do.

EDIT I meant 1280x1024

 

[waynejkruse10]

you wont see much improvement in games from 128mb to 256mb. Even so, i run all my games at 1024x768 because i find all the games look similarly proportioned even if my 6600gt can run them higher.

 

[Waphlez]

So that means the 7800 Ultra is 24 x 550 = 13,200,000,000

The XFX that is going to be at 24 x 580 = 13,920,000,000

And the origional 7800GTX is 10,320,000,000 so that is pretty close to a 30% increase; statistically it is almost a third more powerful.