Does the 64-bit vs. 32-bit in graphics card matter?

Question

I've had some graphic card woes lately...I think it's time I get a new card. My pc's fairly old, running xp, soon to be dual-booting vista as well. Both OS are 32-bit, whatever that really means. I'm searching around for an inexpensive cheap video card, and a difference. One card is 32-bit, the other is 64-bit. The 64-bit card looks all around better, but is what does that 64-bit memory or whatever really mean? Does it matter? thanks for answering and Merry Christmas

okay, thanks, sounds like I'm in okay shape here then... I'm going really cheap, just something that can keep the computer running without crashing and maybe play a few games. the thing I'm looking at has 512mb memory and 64-bit memory interface(I think that's the correct term...) which is the highest I can get for my price range.

Answer 1

The bus size tells you how big a gulp of memory your card takes when it grabs a chunk of memory.

Many (if not most) memory buffered cards work from a bit-mapped image first built in your video card's memory, which gets transferred to the physical display's memory in a copy operation handled by a hardware block transfer function. The block transfer takes a chunk of memory at a time and transfers it to the bits of the actual display buffer. The bit sizing tells you how fast that occurs. 32 bits at a time, 64 bits, 128 bits, or more. The higher the bit count, the faster the transfer occurs.

This isn't ALL of the factors that make up the quality of a card, but it is definitely a contributor. (The other biggie is the nature of the processor that fills the on-board memory when you build an image in the video processor buffer.)

Answer 2

64 Bit Graphics Card

Answer 3

New graphics cards now come with 512bit memory bus, a 32bit or 64bit is getting out-dated. The bit's basically tell you how wide the memory interface is, in this case the 32 and 64bits will not support a lot of memory for the video card to use. You should definitely go with the 64bit but try and find a cheap 128bit atleast.

Answer 4

anything bellow 124bit isn't worth getting. spend a little more and get the 8600gt or if you want to get the best price to value card, get the 3850. those cards are pretty cruddy. anyway, just make sure you have a pci express slot and a 400w psu. btw, the 8600gt is 99 bucks after rebates and the 3850 is 140-180, both are really good cards. the 3850 will max out crysis with the right cpu at low res.

Answer 5

The 32bit and 64bit you are referring to is the video cards memory bus. The 64bit is faster than the 32bit. Has nothing to do with the operating system. Some ATI video cards have a 512bit memory bus.