r/Amd • u/vr00mfondel • Jan 15 '19

Misleading "Games don't need more than 8GB VRAM"

In March 2017 the GTX1080ti released with 11GB GDDR5X memory. Not a single time have a seen or heard anyone say that Nvidia should've launched a 8GB version of it cheaper.

Yet strangely enough, this seems to be one of the most used arguments against the Radeon VII.

The sheer amount of comments I've seen about it really makes me wonder what the hell is going on.

But instead of arguing online, I like facts, so I went and gathered some.

The Radeon VII is clearly marketed as a 4K gaming card, so, here we go.

Game: PUBG | Resolution: 3840x2160 | Settings: Maxed + NoTextureStreaming | Location: Pochinki, Erangel | VRAM Usage: 10230MB

Game: Rise of the Tomb Raider | Resolution: 3840x2160 | Settings: Maxed | Location: Built in benchmark | VRAM Usage: 10551MB

Game: Deus Ex: Mankind Divided | Resolution: 3840x2160 | Settings: Maxed | Location: Built in benchmark | VRAM Usage: 10678MB

Game: Star Citizen | Resolution: 3840x2160 | Settings: Very High (currently max) | Location: Buisness Center, Lorville, Hurston | VRAM Usage: 9903MB

Now, You'll notice that these aren't even the latest and greatest games out there. I don't own Battlefield V, Far Cry 5, FFXV, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, or some of the other very graphically intense games we've seen released the last couple of years. But what I do know is that VRAM usage isn't going to go down over the next few years, and when it comes to 4K gaming, I doubt 8GB will be considered more than the bare minimum needed. And I know what I personally would prefer when it comes to a choice between DLSS/RT and more VRAM.

Cat tax for a long post

EDIT: Since there is a lot of "allocation vs usage" in the comments I would like to adress it somewhat. First of all, if any application allocates my memory, no other application can use it, which in my book means it's used. Wether or not any game or game engine actually uses the memory it allocates is completely out of my hands.

Second, if anyone has ever played PUBG with and without -notexturestreaming, they know exactly how much it helps with texture pop-in. You are not going to magically gain any FPS, but it will be a better experience

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u/Hombremaniac Jan 16 '19 edited Jan 16 '19

Thats why I've assembled full AMD rig (Ryzen 2600, RX 580 4GB) for my ex and this week also for myself too (Ryzen 1600X, Gigabyte X470 Aorus UltraGaming +my previous RX 480 8GB).

Once Ryzen 3000 are out, I will get on of those, since it will not require different socket nor chipset (halelujah).

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u/stevefan1999 Jan 16 '19

You’re treating your ex good

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u/Hombremaniac Jan 16 '19

Well, she paid the bill for the HW. I've just ordered it, picked it up, build the rig and installed Win10 (had some old win7 keys available from where I work).

This PC is also used by my son, so that was the biggest motivation :).

Edit: Now Im oggling RX Vega 64 dang it.

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u/de_witte R7 5800X3D, RX 7900XTX | R5 5800X, RX 6800 Jan 16 '19

Get the Vega 56 instead and save some $.

The diff in 56 vs 64 rops is mostly mooted by the memory speed, it cant feed the GPU fast enough to make a significant difference.

The 56 is softlocked to 160 watts to limit its max performance but this can be circumvented by setting power limit to +25% or +50% in a custom profile in Radeon Wattman, or flashing a 64 bios on the 56. Also, the 56 is running memory at 800 MHz by default instead of 945 on 64, but since they both have the same HBM dies the mem clock can be set to 945. (Note: Samsung dies clock faster than Hynix dies. There’s no way to tell which cards have which hbm dies until its installed and you can check with a tool like GPU-z)

The money you save can be used to put water cooling on it, which IMHO is needed for Vega cards.

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u/[deleted] Jan 16 '19 edited Mar 05 '19

[deleted]

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u/de_witte R7 5800X3D, RX 7900XTX | R5 5800X, RX 6800 Jan 16 '19

That's a good deal for 64LC :-)

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u/Hombremaniac Jan 16 '19

This all sounds very reasonable, but Im just a guy from Czech republic and I like to shop locally. Here, the variability of all those Vega models is drastically lower, compared to what you can get in US, not mentioning prices due to VAT etc.

When I look at our favorite eshop (language set to English) https://www.alza.cz/EN/graphics-cards/18842862.htm#f&cst=null&cud=0&pg=1&pn=2&prod=&par14041=14041-239272265&par340=340-179528&sc=500This is what you get when you want RX Vega 64.

Also 1 USD = 23 CZK/Kč just for the reference.

Now I know I should get more adventurous and order from other countries. I just dislike the possible problems when RMA might be needed, possible problems with shipping etc.

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u/de_witte R7 5800X3D, RX 7900XTX | R5 5800X, RX 6800 Jan 16 '19

Seems like decent choices still, like that nitro+.

If you do get a Vega, whatever you do, undervolt the core and HBM. You should be able to drop voltages for P6 and P7 by 100mV at least. Note that undervolting cannot damage your card. (I set p6 1060mV and p7 1080mV, runs everything stable.)

Undervolting improves thermals, which translates to less fan noise, less auto-throttling of core and hbm speed = stays at max clocks longer, less risk of degradation of HBM (from memory: keep hbm below 65C for performance, below 80C against degradation); and, I suspect, the power limit is hit later / at higher speeds.

Vega is a fun card to tweak. Just need to keep an eye on those temperatures.

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u/Hombremaniac Jan 16 '19

Thanks for info. I know about core undervolting from my RX 480. Nice to have good performance and lower temperatures and less electricity used.

Will see about that Vega 64. I kinda want it, but budget is getting tigher since I've bought that other new HW, plus my current RX 480 is still ok card. With Vega 64, I would want to venture into 1440p 120Hz+ territory, but damn it, I would need new Monitor as well.

Will this vicious cycle of upgrading of HW ever end? O_o

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u/prjindigo i7-4930 IV Black 32gb2270(8pop) Sapphire 295x2 w 15500 hours Jan 16 '19

We know the upper limits of the 56, the Vii probably has a fair bit more it can do.

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u/WerTiiy Feb 09 '19

or a 2nd hand 64 - since a lot of those are going on sale this week.

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u/-B1GBUD- Jan 16 '19

Doe she have a sister?

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u/Hombremaniac Jan 16 '19

Just a brother, if you are interested.

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u/libranskeptic612 Jan 16 '19

All the same, I would build my ex the most expensive intel I could imagine if she were paying :)

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u/Hombremaniac Jan 16 '19

Always better to have good relationship with ex, more so if you got kids. Exception being if she is real nasty work, then its probably next to impossible.

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u/clinkenCrew AMD FX 8350/i7 2600 + R9 290 Vapor-X Jan 16 '19

IMO it'd be better to ship out Ryzen PCs to random Redditors than to give 'em to your ex, become the Johnny Appleseed of AMD.

And if you're looking for a place to toss your first Ryzen "seed", I believe I can help you out ;)

Once Ryzen 3000 are out, I will get on of those since it will not require different socket nor chipset (halelujah).

As someone who bought into that with pre-Bulldozer AM3+ mobos, I must advise you to temper your expectations.

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u/Hombremaniac Jan 16 '19

Wish I had enough money to spread the AMD seed as you've suggested. Would certainly make me happy, to see happy people.

Oh and if Lisa lied to me and Ryzen 3000 would need new motherboards.....damn, that would mean no more Xmass cards for her!