Video Card Description?

Question

Okay first of all, if you have no idea what the heck I'm talking about don't reply...

I have a good graphics card in my computer. A Variant of the 6800.


Here is the specs:
256MB memory
256-bit memory
325mHz Core Clock
700mHz Memory Clock
12pp, 5vp

Okay now I know my way through a computer, but I wanted to get some things about the video card cleared up. Anyone who is willing to describe these specs and what each actually does for my gameplay are more then welcome.

I know the memory stores the video textures.
I don't know what the bit of the memory benifits.
The core i'm not sure completely.
The memory clock I believe affects performance greatly but i'm not sure how.

And the pp and vp, i dont know what they offer.

Answer 1

1- Yes the Memory stores the textures in the games, so the more memory your card has the easier it will be to increase the eye candy in your game.

2- The bits , means how wide the data path is. The wider it is , then the more info can go through. Compare it to an 8 lane highway as opposed to a 16 lane highway. The latter will allow way more cars to go through.
So it's good 256bit bus is the norm today.

3- The core processes the data, so the faster it runs at, the more data it can process. At 325Mhz your core is in the middle/low end of the pack today.

4- Same for the memory , the faster it is the more data it can process.

In my tests having a faster core increases performance more than having faster memory.

The 12pp means your card has 12 Pixel pipelines. so the more you have, the more faster it can render pixels.

The 5vp, means your card has 5 Vertex pipelines. so the more you have, the more faster it can render vertexes.

Answer 2

>>I know the memory stores the video textures.

correct, but also contains the vertex data, and the video frame buffers, and so on.

>> I don't know what the bit of the memory benifits.

256-bit memory interface means 256-bits can be send at a time. In this case, the more the merrier, basically. Remember, you are using a 32-bit PC. :)

>> The core i'm not sure completely.

The core clock is the GPU's speed. The more the merrier. This would actually have greater effect on the perf than the mem clock.

>>The memory clock I believe affects performance greatly but i'm not sure how.

Memory clock is the "front side bus" equivalent of the video card. Again, the more the merrier.

>> And the pp and vp, i dont know what they offer.

Nothing. That just tell you what kind of power connections it'll need. In this case, it needs one of those hard drive power connectors inside the PC.

Answer 3

Geforce 8500 GT isn't a lot of a valuable card. quite so a lot greater valuable than integrated answer. yet once you will spend some money, then make it nicely spent. i exploit to apply 8500 GT. The distributors does rely. superb could be BFG. I strongly advise Ati 2600 professional or XT. could be in the comparable funds. 8500 GT will carry out nicely. yet as with time, i found the cardboard cant save up with the standards of upcoming technology video games.

Answer 4

Good question

toms hardware has all the answers to those question and more in their Beginners guide to graphics cards Series (see sources below).

Basically as far as i know the number of bits affects bandwidth, the more bits the more information can be passed on.
The pixel and vertex processor still confuses me.

You can find an accurate record of the capablities of different chipsets at http://www.neeyik.info/3dspecs/