[G4] Graphics card memory question.

[Doug McNutt]

At 10:00 -0800 12/15/08, John Niven wrote:
>I have merrily gone along with the idea that more memory on a 
>graphic card is good, but now I find myself asking why?
>
>I can understand that the size of the ram would effect how many 
>pixels you can drive and how many levels of color, but if you 
>already have a card that can max out your monitors capability, what 
>advantage (if any) would there be to getting an equivalent card with 
>more ram?

Newer graphics cards are capable of doing threaded image processing 
in a way that will forever be faster than what a general purpose 
computer can do. Some software doing, for instance, 3D image 
rotations or projections can benefit from a lot of memory on the 
video card. It's the open software GPL application language than 
makes it possible with commands rather than images being sent to the 
video card. Games will use it if it's available.

Now does that apply to G4-era boxes.  I donno.

Note also the difference between video RAM and general purpose RAM. 
The former has digital to analog converters inside and is used for 
generating RGB output for CRT displays. The latter is more suitable 
for digitally-connected monitors like some, but not all, LCD flat 
screens. You're right that video RAM need be only as big as your 
monitor.

-- 

--> From the USSA, the only socialist country that refuses to admit it. <--