GTX 960 (2GB) vs (4GB)

I would say yes!

VRAM helps with higher resolutions, you can play games on 1080p with 2GB but may (depends on the game and settings) run into FPS drop at times. If you are going to game over 1080p, then 4GB is almost mandatory. For the extra $46, I would certainly get the 4GB unless you are on a tight budget and plan on upgrading again at a later time (1-2 years).

Go for the GTX 960 4GB version. Or even better, if you can get $100 more, go for GTX 970 which is also a 4GB card but with better specs.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NN0GIA0/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=1944687562&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00NN0GEXQ&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1SM99HBHFPSSH1EM365V

The GTX960 is intended to play games at 1080p. The 4Gb version is a bit of a nonsens to me since there are very few games that will reach the 2Gb cap at 1080p.

The GTX 960 4GB is almost a con. The GPU can't even handle settings needed to really buffer anywhere near that.

Vram is important for high res textures and such. If you play high res, you DON'T want a 960.

Hence it has no place really.

2GB or look for a 970 where it will actually get nearer the Vram limit in some games.

Yes. But what is he wanted to try a triple monitor setup or when the prices of a 4K monitor drops and newer more efficient game engines are used for future games?


at that time, a GTX 960 with 4GB or GTX 970 would be more helpful for him. He can relax without upgrading the GPU for at least 2-3 years without loosing on the better side of greater resolution or gaming experience.

senseijtitus said:

Yes. But what is he wanted to try a triple monitor setup or when the prices of a 4K monitor drops and newer more efficient game engines are used for future games?


at that time, a GTX 960 with 4GB or GTX 970 would be more helpful for him. He can relax without upgrading the GPU for at least 2-3 years without loosing on the better side of greater resolution or gaming experience.

If the GPU can't make use of the given 4GB VRAM because of other lower-end specifications then there is no point trying to play at higher resolutions or multiple monitors with it.

But it would be a future proof choice. Right.

We really don't know what would be available for how much $ next year. If everything goes good, you can get better resolution monitors at cheaper prices and that would require larger VRAM to run at ultra settings on a triple monitor setup,

But in any case, If OP can afford it, a GTX 970 would be the best choice.

Besides, I heard GTX 970 can utilize DX 12 to its max. And DX 12 can make avail all the resources of the card for better performance.

senseijtitus said:

Yes. But what is he wanted to try a triple monitor setup or when the prices of a 4K monitor drops and newer more efficient game engines are used for future games?


at that time, a GTX 960 with 4GB or GTX 970 would be more helpful for him. He can relax without upgrading the GPU for at least 2-3 years without loosing on the better side of greater resolution or gaming experience.

If he had a triple monitor setup for gaming and used a 960 or even 2...he would be stupid. A 960 couldn't give decent FPS on high settings at those resolutions...let alone make use the 4GB of Vram.

A 970 is also a poor choice for multiscreen or high res setups as is repeatedly over and over proven by the 290x in crossfire. It is simply better at high resolutions and it is cheaper.

So in this case...just no.

OP,, your original question: NO, don't pay $40 for dormant ram you can't use!

senseijtitus said:

But it would be a future proof choice. Right.

We really don't know what would be available for how much $ next year. If everything goes good, you can get better resolution monitors at cheaper prices and that would require larger VRAM to run at ultra settings on a triple monitor setup,

But in any case, If OP can afford it, a GTX 970 would be the best choice.

Future Proof, NO

It simply isnt powerful enough to use it, and bumping the resoulution is the only way to make it use more than 2gb, playing 4k will see almost double fps.... but thats useless when the max fps the GPU can support at 4k is 20fps... Barely playable.

Just NO

VRAM has vecome a marketing issue.
My understanding is that vram is more of a performance issue than a functional issue.
A game needs to have most of the data in vram that it uses most of the time.
Somewhat like real ram.
If a game needs something not in vram, it needs to get it across the pcie boundary
hopefully from real ram and hopefully not from a hard drive.
It is not informative to know to what level the available vram is filled.
Possibly much of what is there is not needed.
What is not known is the rate of vram exchange.
Here is an older performance test comparing 2gb with 4gb vram.
http://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Video-Card-Performance-2GB-vs-4GB-Memory-154/
Spoiler... not a significant difference.

Hm... I did'nt knew that. SO the 2 GB GTX 960 would do so as it seems.

Lol and he still selects that as the best answer. His problem.

RCFProd said:

Lol and he still selects that as the best answer. His problem.

You can't help some people

That may be, but some people can also unselect them =D

Congrats RCFProd

Thank you dude!
sorry I picked the other one though it was a mistake through my email
have a nice day!

HarryGRGamer said:

Is it worth it to buy the GTX 960 with 4GB
it costs around 245$
and the 2GB costs around 199$
Thank you for helping me out!

I also have a Geforce GTX 960 4GB and yes 4GB is better, because i seen more then a few games play better on the 4GB version then the 2GB version, and a R9 290 4GB uses a LOT more energy than a Geforce GTX 960 4GB.


Does games run better on a 4GB Geforce GTX 960:

GTA 5

Assassin's Creed Unity

Far Cry 4

Battlefield: Hardline


http://www.gamersnexus.net/guides/1888-evga-supersc-4gb-960-benchmark-vs-2gb/Page-2

And i know for sure there are more games, and coming.

Once the card runs out of memory frames will start swapping back and forth in the frame-buffer, resulting in a performance loss, and that is happening in some games.