Faster video processor or more video memory?

[salty]

I'm making a new computer specifically just to play civ 4 bts. Would getting a faster GPU be better than getting more video card memory? Or does it matter because the bottleneck is probably the main cpu? The computer is a AMD x2 4600+ winsor and I'm probably going to just settle for a 7300 gt w/256 mb, but i 'm also looking at the 7300 gt w/512 mb and 7600 gt w/256 mb.

 

[GVBN]

Radeon X1950Pro

 

[reclaimer122]

The 7600GT is the best choice of the ones you listed. It has GDDR3 memory, which is far better than having a 512MB 7300GT with only GDDR2. Not to mention the 7600GT just has a faster core. Comparing an eVGA 7300GT (512MB) to an eVGA 7600GT (256MB), you would probably see an amazing leap in performance. Despite having more memory, the 7300GT is just a very slow card with very slow memory. The 7600GT has GDDR3 which is much faster and a huge improvement over GDDR2. Plus, it's core speed is 210Mhz faster. All this for just $20 more. Definitely get the 7600GT.

PS: The 256MB 7300GT looks like it only has a 64-bit memory interface, which is a very big drop in performance over the 128-bit interface of the 512mb version and the 7600GT.If you can drop the extra $20-25, definitely go for the 7600GT. It will blow away the 7300 series.

 

[dfi]

If you settle too low on your video card... you'll regret it. Just make sure you do lots of price/performance research before you buy... but i would recommend at least getting up out of the low end 7000 series cards. Looks like that is at about $100 these days.

newegg $$:

7300GT 256 - $60
7600GT 256 - $75

8600GT 256 - $100
x1950GT 256 - $115
8600GTS 256 - $139
7950GT 256 - $180
x1950Pro 512 - $200

 

[salty]

Are you guys sure I need such great performance for Civ4? I had been playing vanilla with just a Radeon 9250 128 mb. Seemed okay, graphics wise.

I can get the 256 MB (ddr2) 7300 GT new for $37, the 512 MB (ddr2) i think was around $60 and the 7600GT (ddr3) was around $70. I'm pretty sure the 7300 GT has the 128 bit bus, the GS series seem to be the ones that are crippled with 64bit or lower.

 

[salty]

The other thing is i really don't need some card that's going to hog more wattage than my processor.

 

[reclaimer122]

You're probably right about the GS and GT bus differences. Even still, the 7300GT probably could not give you half the performance of the 7600GT. There really isn't a need for an 8 series card such as the 8600GT unless you want to be able to play DirectX 10 games (won't be important for another year or more as most will still support DirectX 9). If you really just want to be able to play Civ4 the 7300GT would do fine, better than your Radeon 9250. However, I recommend going for the 7600GT only because you at least have the power if you ever decide to play something else. If you know for a fact that Civ4 will be all you play, then you could probably get away with the 256MB 7300GT. The 512MB will really only add performance to Civ if you play at a super-high resolution.

 

[salty]

okay I think that what I'll do, despite the clock speed on the 7300gt being 666mhz <oooh spooky>. I can always get a better card when prices drop. I was rather disappointed to find that I need to match identical cards to use SLi unlike Crossfire. oh well. Stuck with SLi for now.

 

[angelus512]

I bought Intel Core2 Conroe E6750 333 FSB is the main diff from 6600 I think and paired it with 2GB DDR and Nvidia 640meg 8800GTS

I know its probably overkill but i just wanted a flawless experience.
The above quick specs i should have zero issues yes?

 

[CivDude86]

I hope your just not going to be playing just Civ4 with that computer as it would be a terrible waste.

 

[reclaimer122]

Wow I agree. I really hope you plan to at least play like Crysis or something when it comes out. But yes, you should have no problem. Then again, you wouldn't have a problem with a system like mine or even lower.

 

[angelus512]

Nice to hear, have played a bit of civ with it so far, seems to run great.

But does anybody have any general estimates as to how long a turn takes to "think"/Load in the late game of huge maps with say 16 civs?

On my prior computer it would be around 1 minute i'm hoping with this one to keep it to 15 seconds or less.
So any estimates?

 

[reclaimer122]

Uhh my computer usually can do later turns in a 12-civ game on Huge in around like 4 seconds or less. Not too sure, but somewhere around that. OC your processor! You could probably easily do 3.4+ Ghz

 

[GarretSidzaka]

im pretty happy with PCI-E 7900 GT nvidia

 

[reclaimer122]

Bah, 7900GS is more than enough When Winter rolls around I'm hoping to build myself a new computer... quad-core, probably Q6600 and a new nVidia 9800GTX with an X38 mobo! It's a gonna be a beast

 

[angelus512]

Uhh my computer usually can do later turns in a 12-civ game on Huge in around like 4 seconds or less. Not too sure, but somewhere around that. OC your processor! You could probably easily do 3.4+ Ghz

Really unfamiliar with OC my hardware. Some of my mates back in the day were hard into it but I just left it alone.

Be happy to give it a shot as long as I don't have to touch hardware too afraid I'll break something.
Can anybody recommend a good tweaking program for that?

Last time I tried rivatuner it seemed confusing and I destroyed my graphics options/setup so bad I had to uninstall the graphics drivers and reinstall to get it working right...

 

[reclaimer122]

Well I don't mean to thread-jack, but OC'ing your hardware effectively kills your warranty on that nice new E6750. If you think you want to risk it, send me a PM sometime. Oh, and you need to have a non-OEM Mobo (no Dells, HPs, etc...)