How much RAM do I need to run 1024 textures?

[Krusty]

I've got a P4 2.66GHz and 512MB of RAM. I have a Ge 4400Ti (128MB). I run ay 1280x1024 (my LCD only supports 4 screen sizes, next down is 1024x768, too small for me).

Some time ago Pyro or Skuzzy (somebody from HTC) let me know that the best texture size for me at these settings is 215. I'm going to be getting some more ram, adding 1GB, and wanted to know how much I could bump that texture resolution without screwing myself over.

Is the texture size based on your video card capabilities, or on your system ram?

EDIT: Also, are the range and detail sliders (in-game options) based on vid card capabilities (vertexes/shapes etc) or on how much memory you have (to store those shapes)?

I get really good FPS most of the time, so I don't mind losing a little.

[AKDogg]

FYI: I am running a AMD 64 3200+ with 2 gig cas 2 ram.  A NVidia 7800GS with 256 meg ram.  I am running a 1280x1024x32bit at 8xAA at 512 textures.  Now I have ran 1024 textures at same settings but I didn't really see any diff.  I also have all the sliders to the left.  My fram rate never goes below 55fps and I max out at 75 which is my refresh rate.  Now if I turn vsync off I can get up to 250+fps.  When I was at 1024 my FPS was min of 30 and as high as 75fps.

[Krusty]

I think you have a far far far superior 3D card, compared to mine. I think that (more than the RAM) accounts for your 3D performance.

Just a hunch.

[Skuzzy]

Depends.  If you also have skins enabled?  Right now, about 1.2GB of memory are needed for the 1024 textures (if they are all loaded in memory).  It grows with each skin pack release, or with each new plane/vehicle we add.

[AKDogg]

Yes, skins enabled.  Everything has a check in the video settings.  Now I also had a ATI X800XL 256 meg card which was able to almost do the same.  Yes I might have a more powerful video card but alot has to do with the windows setup itself.  When I log into the game I only have 13 processes running(14 if u include the task manager when checking).  Normally I have about 28 processes.  

The 7800GS card is the most powerful AGP video card u can get.  I got it for $298.95 at newegg.  Its clock speeds on it is 440mhz core and 1.3ghz memory.

[Krusty]

Well I'll have 1.5 GB soon. (0.5 now, 1 on the way). Should get this Friday or next Monday. It's in the mail. Good to know I can bump it up to full res (I do so love the 1024 textures!)

[Skuzzy]

Well, that is just the system RAM.  With your current video card (Ti4400), you will be over loading it.  Expect some stutters as it swaps out textures.

And you cannot go by what the video card is reporting as memory used.  It seems this does not take into account the amount of video ram needed as textures are uncompressed for usage.

[AKDogg]

Use this website to give yourself a comparison of all video cards.  To get to nvidia cards scroll to the botton and click page 2.  U want to use the last chart on the page to tell ya what the video card is able to do as in throughput.

U might have to change your text size in Internet explorer to view the whole chart.  Click on view at top and go to text size and select smaller.

http://www.rojakpot.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=88&pgno=0

[38ruk]

My 7800GT 256mb swaps out textures at 1600X1200 with 2X AA 1024tex  . Imho it takes a heck of system to run 1024 smoothly . Maybe some 512mb high end cards will with 1.5-2gb of ram . Even with the ram krusty, your asking too much out of that card.

[Krusty]

Awww....

Well maybe I can go up to 512 at least.

[Skuzzy]

Krusty, you can try 1024, but it would not surprise me if you get stutters.

[fuzeman]

[from the peanut gallery]
stutters are ok, the tough part to not noticing them is to correctly time when you vertically maneuver your eyelids, or blink.