Video card Memory...what for?

[Sebouh]

hey guys. I want to know how the memory in the video card are used by the card, since the application is loaded in the physical or virtual ram, so what is loaded in the video memory.
thanks.

 

[DanLatimer]

i would say what the ram for inside the video card would be rendering 3D objects, all that pixel 'n polygon stuff

 

[jancz3rt]

Haha

Yeah the memory on-board the graphics card is used to load up textures I believe. These are then quickly available. Consider DOOM 3 for example. In there, you would need a 512MB card to play it without any hitch because the highly detailed textures are not compressed and take up up to 512MB of memory. The RAM plays a different role in gaming.

JAN

 

[The_Other_One]

I also heard it was for textures. Though, Doom3 runs pretty well with my 256M card on Ultra

 

[Cromewell]

It stores completed scenes before they are sent to the RAMDAC which converts the signal so the monitor can display it.

Consider DOOM 3 for example. In there, you would need a 512MB card to play it without any hitch

There are people who play on high-ultra with 128MB cards without too much problem. And a 256MB card is plenty for Ultra regardless of what ID says