What's More Importaint size of MB or bit

[lostinDtown]

I'm between a couple of video cards 256MB, 320MB, 512Mb. Some have 128-bit and some have 256-bit.
What is more importaint when choosing a GPU?

Would it be better to choose a (256 MB w/256-bit) over a (512MB w/ 128-bit), or the other way around?

I apreciat any help you can give me.

[Eric]

the more memory bandwidth the better
so yea a 256 MB w/256-bit would be better then 512MB w/ 128-bit

[synic]

the more memory bandwidth the better
so yea a 256 MB w/256-bit would be better then 512MB w/ 128-bit

Is that correct. I am trying to clarify the same question as Eric.

I am tossing up the decision between buying a last generation XFX 7950GT 512meg 256bit @ 610mhz or an 8000 series 8600GT with only 256 meg memory and 128 bit memory bus.

Its for a Linux system so dont need to worry about WindowZzz Direct X 10 or Vista or anything like that. But that dosnt mean it wont get some heavy usage.

The XFX 7950GT Im looking at is a passive cooling card which I need for a media centre PC so silence is the next big concern after performance.

Commants?

[Eric]

well if your not gonna use dx 10 then you should get the 7950GT since its much faster then the 8600GT/GTS

the 7950GT is prety much one of or the fastest single slot video card

[synic]

well if your not gonna use dx 10 then you should get the 7950GT since its much faster then the 8600GT/GTS

the 7950GT is prety much one of or the fastest single slot video card

I was thinking that. I just got a bee in my bonnet about purchasing a 7000 series card when all the 8000 series cards are dropping in price.

Unless I am mistaken too, it is just about the only silent graphics card with 512 mem & 256 bit bus out. Everything else has much less performance than the XFX 7950GT.

And I cant find hardly any 8000 series cards in my price range that have 256 bit bus... crazy...

[Eric]

Well there are no 8000 series with 256bit bus they have 64-128-320-384

The only cards in the 8000 series that are faster then the 7950GT are the 8800GTS/GTX/ULTRA.

If you are able to wait 1 more year too get the 9000 series the midrange cards are suposedly gonna have 256bit bus. Suposedly will be faster then the 8600GTS and a tad slower then the 8800GTS.