Which graphics card is better?

Which graphics card is better?

• Which of these 2 computers has the better graphics card? Compare graphics cards ONLY, nothing else. (Everything else is pretty much the same) http://www.amazon.com/Dell-XPS-8300-Desktop-processor/dp/tech-data/B005PHDY2E/ref=de_a_smtd OR http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/gateway-gateway-intel-core-i7-2600-desktop-computer-dx4860-ef12p-dx4860-ef12p/10191921.aspx?path=584b9edcadc83bbb74e497abd71d32aben02 Also, after telling me which 1 is better, also tell me if the worse graphics card is still okay to play games on medium settings with. I can get the gateway for about $80 cheaper( $100 off coupon, and i have to buy speakers for the dell, and not the gateway), so I am hoping the graphics card is good enough on the gateway. Remember, I am not hoping to play on ultra high settings, just medium.

• Answer:

  Assuming they both use GDDR5 video memory (VRAM), the two HD 6670 should perform the same. The HD 6670 comes in GDDR5 or the slower DDR3 flavor. http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150587 http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121442 More VRAM will not necessarily give more performance. VRAM is essentially a temporary storage point/buffer for all the images, effects in games...etc BEFORE they are sent to your monitor/TV for display. The full 2GB of VRAM will only be fully utilized if a high resolution display is used (i.e. multiple monitor setup all being 1080p or better). For a single 1920x1080, 1680x1050, etc display, 1GB is usually more than enough. Besides, the Radeon HD 6670 won't be powerful enough to use the full 2GB. The initial "slowness" of the card and the small 128-bit memory interface won't be able to run multiple high resolution monitors without suffering from performance hits (i.e. stuttering). I'm 100% sure the "shared" memory on the Gateway system is a mistake. All present discrete GPUs (Graphics card) only uses the VRAM that's built onto it; it is unlike integrated graphics...that mainly rely on normal system memory (RAM) - hence the term "shared memory." There are exceptions with some of AMD's processors and motherboards (Hybrid Crossfire), but this is not applicable for you as the two system given uses a 2nd generation Intel iCore processor. From the little specs given by Futureshop and Amazon, I would go for the Gateway system. From the looks, they are very similar but the Gateway system has a 2TB Hard drive (vs 1TB on the other) and USB 3.0 ports (vs not indicated on the DELL). Depending on what games and resolution you plan to run, you should have not much problems running most modern games on Medium (MW3, Starcraft 2) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/HD_6670/ http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/42636-amd-radeon-hd-6670-1gb-hd-6570-512mb-review.html