Do higher video cards require more RAM?

Question

Currently I have a 128MB Radeon 9200 video card on a PC with 512 MB of RAM, P4 2.4GHz processor, and a 120GB Hard Drive. I'm thinking of updating my video card to a 256MB Radeon X1600 Pro so I can the most out of my new Flight Simulator X.

Now I'm no computer wiz so I'm asking: If I update for this 256MB graphics card will I need to get more RAM?? I'm also unsure about the Hard Drive because I know that Flight Sim X requires atleast 15GB of free disk space which I think is alot. Keep in mind that I use my PC for more than just gaming so there's a lot of files on it. I'm a little stumped on what to do coz I'm not a wiz,,,, please any info would be great. Thanks!

** MY BAD,,, the Radeon X1600 Pro is 512MB NOT 256 ***

Also does anyone know how I could check to see how much Hard Disk space I have available ?

Answer 1

The graphics card memory is mainly for graphics processing and nothing to do with the system RAM. Increase your graphics card memory will increase your graphics processing speed while increasing your RAM will increase your overall system performance. You do not need to get more RAM to support a higher memory video cards.

It would be great if you can upgrade your RAM to 1GB to act as a buffer, though there will not be a significant increase in overall performance.

Go to My Computer, right click on drive C and select properties. It will show you how much space you have used and how much free space still available.

Answer 2

Thats funny, you have almost the exact same computer as mine was originally. Except I have a 2.8.

You have a 120 gig hard drive, and assuming you haven't used all of it, it will be fine.

To install a new graphics card, you do not need more ram, but, you may need a couple other things. You have to make sure that your motherboard has the ability. Its AGP x8, check to see what the version is on your motherboard.

Another thing is the PSU. Make sure it has enough power to run it. Im not sure if you need a power hookup for the graphics card itself.

Now, though you may not need more ram to run the GC, you will want to add more just so the game runs better. I added an ATI Radeon 9800 pro. Then I added a gig of ram to the present 512. The ram and Graphics card run hand in hand, as well as processor. I would put a total of at least 1 gig of ram.

And a nvidia Geforce 7800 (agp) that is 256mb will run better then ATI Radeon X1600 pro (agp) 512mb. The memory onboard is not the only thing you need to watch for.

ATI - Core clock 500MHz
PixelPipelines 12
RAMDAC 400 MHz

Nvidia - Core clock 400MHz
PixelPipelines 16
Memory Clock 1250MHz
Memory Type GDDR2
RAMDAC 400 MHz


Thats basically the specs to the cards. But the Nvidia, runs better, is also more expensive.

ATI Radeon X1600 pro
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814241034

Nvidia Geforce 7800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814143046#spec



EDIT - To find your disk space, go to "My computer" open it, then highlight your hard drive. It should say to the left in the folder.

Or, right click the drive and hit properties. Thats a more detailed way.

Answer 3

While a new video card does not necessarily mean you need more RAM, it would be a good idea to get some more. The more RAM you have, the less any program will have to access your page file. Your page file is a portion of your hard disk that is used as memory. If you run out of RAM (say during a resource intensive game) your computer has to use the page file while running the program. To do this, of course it must access your hard rive. This is known as "thrashing". While it doesn't hurt your PC at all, it can slow your computer down, although this may not be that noticeable outside of games and video/audio editing programs. Providing programs with enough RAM avoids the need for intense thrashing. If you use your PC for gaming, and especially any of the newer games, you really should be using at least 1 gigabyte. Some of the newest games even recommend 2, but you can definitely get by on 1. Having more RAM speeds up everything on your computer, it's also relatively cheap and easy to install. If you don't know what kind of RAM you have, you can go here:

http://www.crucial.com/
and find out what memory is compatible with your system by using the "Memory Advisor Tool

Answer 4

You do not need more ram if you get a better video card. It all depends on what each individual video game requires. I do recommend you get at least 1gb ram, even 2gb, but you probably wont have to.


If you are short on drive space, you can always purchase an external hard drive and plug it into your usb drive, then install the program onto that drive.


To check how much hard drive space you have, go to MY Computer, then put your mouse over the C drive and it will display how much free space you have on the left side bar near the bottom. Alternatively, you can right click on the c drive and click properties, which will also display how much space you have.

Answer 5

Video card runs directX and 3-D fashions, directX being the manufactured from microsoft, additionally with regards to activeX. The memory on the cardboard determines the clock, or velocity, that it could understand directX, and the cardboard basically serves to technique extra complicated 3-D shapes. as long as you have a direct9x or 10x compliant 512 mb video card, you are able to no longer have numerous a issue. Your ram deals with accessible pool memory, which source video games use an astounding sort of. in case you probably did no longer have adequate, the interest would crash. Your processor is what quite concerns whilst it includes velocity and performance. there's a international of distinction between a duo and a Pentium 4, quite whilst working a interest with as plenty physics and on-show screen element as l4d.

Answer 6

i'm a big gamer. get at least another 512 to run a 1GB. the other guy is correct up to 2 GB is good for gaming. more than that is not needed unless your running SLI (more than one graphics card) i run 3GB just because i don't want to sell the other GB. use this, it's expensive but made for gaming an lifetime warrantee.

Answer 7

The memory used by the video system is important in terms of graphics display purpose. However, it's usually separate from the system memory (RAM). There are cases of "onboard" video configurations that take away from system memory for its own use.