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    1GB? 1.5GB? 2GB? 3GB? DDR3? GDDR5? Someone can help me?

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by daniel1112333, Feb 20, 2012.

  1. daniel1112333

    daniel1112333 Notebook Consultant

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    1GB? 1.5GB? 2GB? 3GB? DDR3? GDDR5? Someone can help me?
    Lets say GT555M with 1GB means GDDR5? or DDR3? what does DDR3/5 mean?
    or GTX 460M with 1GB means DDR3? (even if in the website I see 1GB with GDDR5?(
    DDR3 means 128Bit-? and GDDR5 means 192Bit+? which one is better?(Gimped card?)

    Thanks.
     
    daniel1112333, Feb 20, 2012
    #1
  2. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    The GT 555m is the single most confusing mobile card ever released I think. There's like five variations, so you will have to ask the laptop vendor. Even if it's 1GB or 2GB it has to specify type of RAM to know for certain.

    Amount or type of vRAM doesn't necessarily indicate bandwidth. What vendors typically do is mish-mash options of cores, speed, bandwidth, and memory type.

    In the case of the 555m, notebookcheck gives a good breakdown:

    Versions (ordered by performance)

    - 144 cores 709MHz (GF106), 128Bit GDDR5, e.g. MSI GX780
    - 144 cores 590MHz (GF106), 192Bit DDR3, e.g. Dell XPS 17, Alienware M14x
    - 144 cores 590MHz (GF106), 128Bit DDR3, e.g. Schenker XMG A501 / A701 (Clevo W150HRM / W170HN)
    - 96 cores 753MHz (GF108), 128Bit GDDR5, e.g. Lenovo Y570p / Y560p
    - 144 cores 525 MHz (GF116), 128 Bit DDR3, e.g. Medion Akoya P6812

    For the most part 1GB (G)DDR3 or GDDR5 is more than adequate for most mid-range laptops like GTX 560m / HD 6870m and slower. Usually it's higher resolution that really matters the amount of video RAM.
     
    HTWingNut, Feb 20, 2012
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  3. daniel1112333

    daniel1112333 Notebook Consultant

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    Thank you alot! +rep!
     
    daniel1112333, Feb 21, 2012
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  4. Devenox

    Devenox Notebook Evangelist

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    basicly 256bit GDDR3 = 128bit GDDR5 memory bandwidth.
    Also don't get worried about GB size. 1GB is more than enough, you will not use more (unless you want to game on 3 external monitors, which is not the case I guess :p)

    GDDR3/5 means there are versions of that specific card with GDDR3 and others with GDDR5 (which makes a HUGE difference in raw performance!)
     
    Devenox, Feb 21, 2012
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  5. TheBluePill

    TheBluePill Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    What version do they put in the Razor Blade? For what they are asking, you would think it would be 1ghz! :)

    As for the ram. Even on a 1080p display, is 2gb even necessary?
     
    TheBluePill, Feb 21, 2012
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  6. Star Forge

    Star Forge Quaggan's Creed Redux!

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    For 1080p resolution, 2 GB is not necessary. The VRAM only becomes notable if you are going to run multiple screens, each displaying heavy graphical loads of high-resolution textures. The 555M won't be able to power 2 GB VRAM sufficiently in any of its variants so...
     
    Star Forge, Feb 21, 2012
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  7. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    HTWingNut, Feb 21, 2012
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  8. yknyong1

    yknyong1 Radiance with Radeon

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    There's one more variant in the ASUS N55S/N45S. GF116 144 cores 753MHz with 128bit DDR3.
     
    yknyong1, Feb 21, 2012
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  9. thegh0sts

    thegh0sts Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I'd go with GDDR5!
     
    thegh0sts, Feb 22, 2012
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  10. yknyong1

    yknyong1 Radiance with Radeon

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    It is not much faster than the DDR3 version. The highest performing GT 555M should be the ASUS GF116 144 cores 753/900 IIRC.
     
    yknyong1, Feb 23, 2012
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  11. Gearsguy

    Gearsguy Notebook Deity

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    I thought the fastest was the new card in the M14x/XPS 17 with DDR3 192-bit GF116?
     
    Gearsguy, Feb 23, 2012
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  12. TheBluePill

    TheBluePill Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    TheBluePill, Feb 23, 2012
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  13. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    Not really.

    GTX 560m has:

    192 cores / 775MHz GF116 / 192-bit GDDR5

    More cores, faster GPU, wider bandwidth...
     
    HTWingNut, Feb 23, 2012
    #13