What is the optimal amount of memory for a video card?

Answer 1

Almost impossible to answer. Why do you need a video card? To watch movies? Any cheap 256M will do. To play the latest and greatest games? No card will ever be big enough because there's always the next game. However, the chipset makes more difference than the DRAM size. That said, I've never been restricted by memory size on my trusty 1gig, but I believe I will upgrade. I'm no gamer, but I prefer a smooth 3D on my CAD stuff. 1GB is what I would call optimal. If you have the extra cash, 2GB will probably do for a few years.

However, it should be noted than on a 32-bit system, you cannot have more than 4GB total memory, which includes memory provided by your graphic card. Thus if your graphic card has 2GB, you can only utilise 2GB of system memory. So while game play will be perfectly adequate, day-to-day usage will suffer from lack of memory. If your needs are less graphic-centric, the less graphic memory the better. On 64-bit systems this is not a problem as there's effectively no memory limits other than those stipulated by the motherboard. In other words, graphic memory is in addition to the installed system memory.

Ultimately, the optimum graphic memory depends on what you use your computer for. If you manipulate static images or edit videos, you don't need a huge amount of graphic memory, but you need as much system memory as possible. But if you manipulate or render 3D models or play the latest games, the more graphic memory the better. For the best of both worlds, you need a 64-bit system.