GFX card memory question for new i7 build

[fenderrocker]

Originally Posted by rhythmtechnologies

im using an ati radeon 128mb pci. the nvidia that came in my i7 was just not working right with PT (512mb). since i changed to the ati all has been well.

Yeah, but having more video memory cant hurt, and if you want it to perform well with future application at higher resolution, I would not recommend getting a PCI card. First of all, you won't save much money (or any at all) buying a new one.

I don't think many rtas plugs have very graphic intensive UI's, except my POD farm, but having a good GPU with definitely increase the overall performance of your build. You don't want to have a crappy graphics card holding back your computer.

Just saying, if you're gonna have an i7, don't get a low end graphics card.
fanless and nonfanless, you should probably get one from a know company like EVGA or XFX.

Here's a link to fanless graphics cards on Newegg.com


Jimmy C

[stev]

Originally Posted by fenderrocker

Yeah, but having more video memory cant hurt, and if you want it to perform well with future application at higher resolution, I would not recommend getting a PCI card. First of all, you won't save much money (or any at all) buying a new one.

See this is what I was originally pondering. I found the original article I was talking about in my first post and if you got the time to read it you'll see what I mean about why a lower memory GFX card might be better with Protools. Of course its a 2yr old document so I'm not sure how relevant it is now but heres the link:

http://www.dansdata.com/askdan00015.htm

Start reading after the first picture in the text (the one with all the hex) for the bit about graphics cards.

[TOM@METRO]

Originally Posted by fenderrocker

Yeah, but having more video memory cant hurt,

Jimmy C

All of the tests we have done over the years show: more video RAM= poorer PT and plug-in performance. Pro Tools will not look better with a bigger card. This is a DAW. Save the bigger cards for your gaming or other GPU intensive computers.

[stev]

That echoes much of what I was reading Tom. In that sense then you're saying the less video Ram the better for Protools right? To be clear, i'm thinking of going the Gigabyte route with the build using the GA-EX58-UD3R motherboard and it seems now like I should be looking for a pci express board with 128mb or less of memory (which don't seem so common now). Does this seem right? (the build btw is for Protools only)

[TOM@METRO]

Originally Posted by stev

That echoes much of what I was reading Tom. In that sense then you're saying the less video Ram the better for Protools right?

Absolutely.

[stev]

hey just edited my last post if you wanna re-read and confirm.... thanks!

[The Weed]

Originally Posted by stev

pci express board with 128mb or less of memory (which don't seem so common now). Does this seem right? (the build btw is for Protools only)

Not if it's 128mb of video built into the board. Pro Tools doesn't like integrated video, but rather wants a separate video card. A 256 mb video card should be more than enough for PT.

Cheers,

[stev]

no I meant the ram on the graphics card. Anyways the Gigabyte motherboard (GA-EX58-UD3R) I refered to above doesn't have on-board graphics. But I'm a little confused again at this juncture. The UD3R offers a choice of PCI Express 2.0, PCI Express or PCI. PCI based GFX cards seem to offer the lowest video ram but they don't seem that common now. I was hoping to go the ATI route given the problems people were having with Nvidia cards but the only ATI card I can find at 128mb rings in at £325 which seems ridiculous. I'm probably going a little overboard with all this but if there performance gains to be had by installing a video card with less memory then i'd like to find one that doesn't cost the earth.