2900 Pro 256 bit versus 512 bit

[AmongTheChosenX]

What is better?

 

[Silus]

What is better?

I was unaware that there was a HD 2900 Pro with a 256 bit memory path.
The HD 2900 Pro is basically a "failed" HD 2900 XT, which means it has the exact same features as the XT (including the 512 bit memory interface), but at lower frequencies.

To answer your question directly, there's not a whole lot of difference. At higher resolutions, you may notice a couple of frames difference, favoring th card with a 512 bit memory interface, but that's it. R600 is just not powerful enough for that much memory bandwidth...

Also, if you really want ATI, you should forget about the HD 2900 Pro. You should be looking at a HD 3870, which is basically a 55 nm HD 2900 XT, with a 256 bit memory interface and a few more features. It consumes less power, is usually a bit faster and is cheaper, than a full blown HD 2900 XT.

 

[cannondale06]

I was unaware that there was a HD 2900 Pro with a 256 bit memory path.
The HD 2900 Pro is basically a "failed" HD 2900 XT, which means it has the exact same features as the XT (including the 512 bit memory interface), but at lower frequencies.

To answer your question directly, there's not a whole lot of difference. At higher resolutions, you may notice a couple of frames difference, favoring th card with a 512 bit memory interface, but that's it. R600 is just not powerful enough for that much memory bandwidth...

Also, if you really want ATI, you should forget about the HD 2900 Pro. You should be looking at a HD 3870, which is basically a 55 nm HD 2900 XT, with a 256 bit memory interface and a few more features. It consumes less power, is usually a bit faster and is cheaper, than a full blown HD 2900 XT.

the only 2900pro cards on newegg are 256bit but they did have a 512bit not too long ago though. I agree the op should just forget about the power hungry 2900 and go for a 3870 or maybe even a 3850 with 512mb.

 

[vanilla_guerilla]

you can get the 2900 pro for around $150 now. great buy. go for 2. this one claims to have 512 bit interface but i have seen the same part number with specs that indicate it is 256 bit. about half the sites on froogle say this card is 256, other half say 512.http://www.laptops4me.com/product_i...dvi-vivo-hdcp-pci-express-v/products_id/11382

 

[munkle]

It's a decent buy, but I would still go with a 3850 over it. Not as hot, consumes less power, more features.

 

[AmongTheChosenX]

its not cheaper than a full blown 2900XT.


its stupid to think that because all the 3870 equals is a die shrink of the 2900XT with improved cooler and PCI Express 2.0 added and DirectX 10.1 included (pretty much useless anyways).

if it is, its usually a close to nothing amount. i cwon't die over 2 frames per second lost, especially when considering the crossfire setup for a little over 300 bucks. a single 3870 is like 240!