Memory Interface?

[GimmeDaMic]

Okay, what's the memory interface do? I've seen cards with 256-bit and some 128-bit and 64-bit, etc... What are they for?
Can someone please enlighten me on this? Thanks.

[ckyskate0]

It pretty much goes, the higher the number the better...unfortunately as the memory increases so does the price

[icallmedan]

Are you talking aout 256-bit....

Or 256 Mb? If it is Mb not bit, which I think you are talking about, the Mb is the RAM on the card. The higher the amount of RAM the faster your card will be able to draw textures and the faster it will be able to draw larger textures.

[Vigo]

The memory interface is associated with the amount of ram/memory on the chip. I've never seen it otherwise, anyway.

Example: A 256mb card has 256 megabytes of ram and has a 256 bit memory interface.

[imbest123]

Originally posted by Vigo
The memory interface is associated with the amount of ram/memory on the chip. I've never seen it otherwise, anyway.

Example: A 256mb card has 256 megabytes of ram and has a 256 bit memory interface.
Umm the ram size has nothing to do with its memory interface http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-332&depa=0 there is 256mb with a 128-bit interface.

[GimmeDaMic]

icallmedan, thanks, but I'm talking about the Memory Interface. The 9600's are 128-bit except for the XT I think which is 256-bit. Don't quote me on that though, lol. It may be the 9800's I'm thinkin' of...
Anyway, so do any of you know what the "bit" is for? What exactly is that particular function doing?

[pillainp]

I believe it is the "width" of the data path used to transmit data from the memory to the system: i.e. a 256-bit interface transmits 256 bits of data at a time, while a 128-bit interface transmits 128 bits of data at a time.

Therefore a card with 256 MB memory and a 256-bit interface is capable of transmiting and receiving data twice as fast (theoretically) as a card with 256 MB memory but a 128-bit interface.

Thus the first card would have a better performance index, all other things being equal.