8600gt 512mb vs 256mb

Hi, could anyone tell me the difference between these two cards. I have heard that the 256mb is usually GDDR3 and the 512mb is DDR2.. What does this mean? Also which one is betters and by how much? Is it a noticeable difference? I hear that GDDR3 is better than DDR2, but it seems like 512mb would be better than 256.. so how does this all add up? Also if anyone knows how the hd2600 series compares to the 8600gt cards please feel free to talk about it. Thanks.

 

8600gt 512mb vs 256mb

put that in the box to the upper right and hit search

 

get the gddr3 card the 512 mb is just to make newbies are getting something good when tht are not. the gddr3 is faster. much more powerful than the ddr2

 

What GeForce are you actually referring to? Is this the mobile version (8600M GT)?

 

More RAM is effective only with a higher bit bandwidth. You may have 1GB of GPU memory, but if it is only a 128-bit card, then that much memory won't even affect the performance.


See it as a tank of water. You may have a large tank to supply you tons of water at once, but if your pipe is only an inch in diameter, you'd probably drain the tank's whole capacity in a month. lol. Thus, not maximizing the tank's whole capacity.

 

yes the mobile version.

 

There are four flavours of the 8600M GT - there are 256 and 512 MB flavours, and DDR2 and GDDR3 flavours. Here's how the differences add up:

DDR2 vs. GDDR3: This refers to the type of memory used. GDDR3 is much faster than DDR2 - it runs at 700 MHz versus the 400 MHz of DDR2 (sometimes you'll see 1400 and 800 MHz, reflecting their double data rate [DDR]). In practice this equates to somewhere in the range of 20-25% performance increase.

256 MB versus 512 MB: This refers to the amount of memory. In practicality, 256 MB is almost always enough today, and the performance increase for 512 MB is fairly small, almost always less than that of going from DDR2 to GDDR3. As alberttwomi said, the reason for the lack of an increase is the 128-bit bus.

So when comparing models with the 8600M GT, you should go for them in this order:

512 MB GDDR3
256 MB GDDR3
512 MB DDR2
256 MB DDR2

I wouldn't pay much to go from 256 MB DDR2 to 512 MB DDR2, use it as a differentiator when all else is equal. Even the 256 MB DDR2 can play almost all new games well - for example I can play Call of Duty 4 with it at Medium settings, 1024x768 resolution.

Notebookcheck's benchmarks show the ATI Mobility Radeon HD2600 as 4.6% below the 8600 GT. I'm pretty sure this refers to the 256 MB GDDR3 8600M GT; if not it refers to the 512 MB GDDR3 version. Considering it, I'd order them as follows:

8600M GT 512 MB GDDR3
8600M GT 256 MB GDDR3
ATI HD 2600 256 MB
8600M GT 512 MB DDR2
8600M GT 256 MB DDR2

and I'd be willing to pay slightly more for the HD 2600 over the DDR2 8600M, and slightly more for the GDDR3 8600 over the HD 2600. Slightly, though, not much - these cards are certainly all in the same performance class.

 

Hm, that makes sense. So would a 8600gt with 256 mb running at GDDR3 be equal to a hd2600 256mb running at GDDR3 as well? Thanks.

 

Yes, their performance is almost identical

 

eyecandy vs speed... ATi vs nVidia. It's actually a personal reference. I'd go for the 8600M GT anyday.


*OC the card a bit and get 8700mM GT clocks. Remember that the controversial 8700M GT is just an overclocked 8600M GT (with the small 3GB/sec difference set by the dual-rank bus bandwidth).

 

So the hd 2600 is definatly up there with the 8600 gt? Because I heard that the hd2600 series is on par with the 8600gs cards. I am thinking about getting either one of these laptops..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220296

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834210011

I am trying to figure out what is the best overall deal. The gpu is a big part.

 

I'll get the ZT laptop if I were you... Intel processor, more RAM, more storage space, 8600M GT.

If you can overclock, be aware that 8600M GT can yield 8700M GT performance (or anywhere near) through clocks.



I have no idea about ZT tech support though. Asus is a big name, so you're probably paying for the brand with the relatively low spec'ed laptop.


Anyway, good luck on your notebook.

 

I called ZT to ask about the customer support, they were super cool with everything. They asked what model i was looking at and pulled it up to talk about it and explain some things. I will probably get this laptop. Anyway i jsut want to thank everyone for posting, and giving advice.

 

So which one runs cooler HD2600 or NV8600GT?

 

If I were to choose, I'd burn money on 8600M GT anyday over the HD2600.

that was my first video card of choice, until I stared at AW M9750's dual 7950 GTX.

*and now I'm on a dilemma.

 

thanks alberttwomi, after reading AW M15 overheating, cracking issue , I have been so worried about the heat generated by GPU.

since I 'm getting a 14.1, I am really concerned with the over heating issue and I think my friend's ASUS F8 SV is getting a bit too hot and my HP with NV8400GS never gets hot. So, I start thinking maybe because of the 8600GT, the F8SV gets so hot or only his copy of it has the over heating issue ?

I 'm not sure but I feel I should get the F8SV for myself since I can not upgrade graphics and screen(the ASUS has better resolution than my HP's) later and sell or give the HP to my room mate.

I will go to a shop and try an ASUS on Sunday.

take care all.

 

Well, since the 8400M GS is a relatively low-end card compared to the 8600M GT (which is quite a performer), it should work on low temperatures. 8600M GT is clocked higher = more electricity flow = more heat. That's the reason the 8400M GS runs cooler.


Anyway, a decent cooler can fix that heating problem (actually it's not a problem because it's 8600M GT's normal operating temperature and normally runs at a higher temp over the 8400M GS, which unlike the m15x's heating problem is indeed a HEATING PROBLEM).

Good luck on the ASUS mate.

 

thanks alberttwomi, it is very clear and I feel better now.