Need help deciding on which card to get, 2gb or 4gb GTX 670.

[Dburwebby]

Ok so it's time for me to upgrade my video card which is an ATI HD5850. At first I was looking to get the GTX 680, then I came across some reviews for the GTX 670 and it seems like there's a very small difference between them which made me consider the GTX 670 instead, I just thought it's not worth the extra money to get a card that's 5% better at most or something. However now I'm wondering which 670 to get, should I get the 2gb or the 4gb model?

 

 

So this is what I do right now for you to get an idea on which one would be better for me. Right now I have 2 monitors running at 1680x1050 each (not sure if this makes much of a different or not), however I don't play games where it's expanded on two monitors. So I'll play on one monitor while I might have a video playing on the other or have any instant mesenger windows open on the other, but the other monitor is always on and active. So I'm not sure if having another monitor running but not having the game expanded onto it will matter how much memory the card has. Now I do have a 50" Plasma TV that I just bought so I'm thinking that some times I might want to play on that and have it running at 1920x1080 resolution. Now I wouldn't play on that all the time, but having that option would be great. Now the other part is Skyrim. I'm obviously playing it modded, and I read somewhere that having a 4gb would be good for that. I do want a better frame rate than what I get now with my 5850 running it at ultra.

 

So considering all that, should I spend extra and get the 4gb or would I do just as good with the 2gb? Or should I even consider the GTX 680 again, but again from what I saw on a couple of sites it didn't seem like there was a big difference between the 670 and the 680 and since a 4gb of that would be a bit too much for me so I'd probably go with a 2gb of that if I did get it. I plan on buying this some time next month, so any suggestions would be appreciated.

[ERzine]

I only recently got into gaming hardware but this is what I understand of it.

 

Currently most games do not eat up more than 2gb, popular exceptions is Battlefield 3 in some situations and Skyrim. If you want to go crazy with High res mods and the like in Skyrim then you would definitely need more than 2gb.

Because being mods they are not optimized so it will eat up Vram, Multi-monitor setups and increasing resolutions will increase use of vram.

Personally I would recommend the Gtx 670 4gb if you can spare the cash.

Edited September 3, 2012 by ERzine

[Rennn]

No, even 2GB will handle Skyrim with a total 2k HD overhaul. 1GB almost gets the job done. If you were running triple monitors in eyefinity you'd want 4GB, because 4GB is made for people gaming on multiple monitors at crazy resolutions. You use two monitors, but one isn't used for gaming. I'd bet almost anything that 2GB would easily be enough for any game on a single monitor, even with HD textures.

 

I'd get a 2GB 670 if I was in your position. A friend has one, and last time I checked he was getting way above 60 fps in the newest games on ultra.

Edited September 3, 2012 by Rennn

[Dburwebby]

No, even 2GB will handle Skyrim with a total 2k HD overhaul. 1GB almost gets the job done. If you were running triple monitors in eyefinity you'd want 4GB, because 4GB is made for people gaming on multiple monitors at crazy resolutions. You use two monitors, but one isn't used for gaming. I'd bet almost anything that 2GB would easily be enough for any game on a single monitor, even with HD textures.

 

I'd get a 2GB 670 if I was in your position. A friend has one, and last time I checked he was getting way above 60 fps in the newest games on ultra.

What about if you use a lot of mods and also use ENB, isn't that going to impact the memory usage a bit more?

[Dan3345]

No, even 2GB will handle Skyrim with a total 2k HD overhaul. 1GB almost gets the job done. If you were running triple monitors in eyefinity you'd want 4GB, because 4GB is made for people gaming on multiple monitors at crazy resolutions. You use two monitors, but one isn't used for gaming. I'd bet almost anything that 2GB would easily be enough for any game on a single monitor, even with HD textures.

 

I'd get a 2GB 670 if I was in your position. A friend has one, and last time I checked he was getting way above 60 fps in the newest games on ultra.

What about if you use a lot of mods and also use ENB, isn't that going to impact the memory usage a bit more?

It is, but not to the extent you think. I have the EVGA 4gb 680 and with a lot of graphical mods installed and ultra settings its rare that I even see the game use more than 1 gb of VRAM, let alone 2. I only use 1 monitor plus a 15 inch peripheral monitor though. I only bought the 4gb version because my local fry's mixed up the prices so I got it cheaper, and I may buy two more 1920 x 1080's. So if this is you, and you have three monitors go for it. But only having one 1920 x 1080 and a peripheral monitor is rarely ever going to use more than 1.5gb's of VRAM.

 

Bottom line, 2gb's is plenty. Oh and definitely go for the 680, you will not be disappointed.

[Rennn]

My 768MB runs Skyrim at 1080p with some hd textures and a lot of mods, at 60fps. 4GB is just overkill. The current generation of 4GB cards literally exist only for people who play on at least 3 monitors. Edited September 4, 2012 by Rennn

[Dburwebby]

Thanks for the replies guys, I guess that answers the 2gb vs 4gb question. I guess I just need to decide if I should get the 670 or the 680.

[Dan3345]

Thanks for the replies guys, I guess that answers the 2gb vs 4gb question. I guess I just need to decide if I should get the 670 or the 680.

If you have the money, definitely go for the 680. You won't be disappointed I assure you ;)

[hoofhearted4]

from everything ive read, the 680 isnt really worth the extra $100 over the 670, unless you really have the money floating around. the 670 keeps up with the 680 even when OCed give or take 5-10% performance. which shows in benchmarks, but its like 5-6 FPS TOPS in a game.

[Rennn]

A superclocked 670 has performance almost identical to a 680, but costs $80 less than a 680. Ofc the superclocking will wear on the card a little faster.