GTX 960 (2GB) vs (4GB)

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RCFProd
No, the 4GB is 100% NOT worth it.

The GTX 960 2GB achieves 95-97% of what the GTX 960 4GB can achieve and in some situations it is the exact same performance.

For slightly higher than 245 dollars you can buy the R9 290 4GB which is truly better than the GTX 960 and actually makes use of the full 4GB it offers.

The GTX 960's small memory bit bus (128 bit) is not useful with 4GB VRAM whilst the R9 290 comes with a 512 bit memory bus which is great with 4GB VRAM.

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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).
 
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No, the 4GB is 100% NOT worth it.

The GTX 960 2GB achieves 95-97% of what the GTX 960 4GB can achieve and in some situations it is the exact same performance.

For slightly higher than 245 dollars you can buy the R9 290 4GB which is truly better than the GTX 960 and actually makes use of the full 4GB it offers.

The GTX 960's small memory bit bus (128 bit) is not useful with 4GB VRAM whilst the R9 290 comes with a 512 bit memory bus which is great with 4GB VRAM.

 
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Solution
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.
 
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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.
 
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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.
 
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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.
 
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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!
 
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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
 
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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.
 
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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.
 
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Ia m very sorry for necroing this thread, but seeing that there are several persons here giving misleading information I just felt the need to give my input with proof. I recently wondered myself how much VRAM is being used in lower, on mid-range cards and here is my empiric result.

Misleading information being the claim that 960 gtx can not handle properly more then 2GB of VRAM is plain wrong. Recent games that I have played, Civ 6 and XCOM 2, both use 73-75% of my 4GB VRAM. Meaning they use 3GB of the 4GB memory.

Also if you plan to record gameplay, it is going to chip away part of the VRAM also. Even with shadowplay, it still uses your VRAM though the hit on GPU/CPU is less than most recording software cause.

And add to the fact that as I, the use of multiple monitors / desktops has significantly risen in numbers, one part being windows 10 in-built support for it (finally).

So many gamers may watch youtube etc. as they are gaming, especially 4x games, where your attention is not needed constantly at screen. (ie. Civ series).

This all affects to the overall experience of using your computer and what kind of videocard you have and what amount of VRAM it has.

gtx 960 is, especially nowadays less-then-desirable with it's performance, but totally worth it, even as 4GB version if you are getting it for reasonable price as used.

Again, sorry for necroing, but just like I, many people will get hits to this thread for years, since 960 are heavily circling used market and people are interested in what is their performance regarding memory use etc. As they are comparing to some other card they might purchase, whether it be new low-mid range or old mid-range card.
 
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